Advice: tips for wedding photography

[frc]

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About a year ago I shot a friends wedding. Never before having done something like that. Although a bit tenced I managed to do it well, given the circumstance the couple was familiar with the photography I do. They wanted to have an informal reportage of their wedding, this was something that fitted into my usual way of taking portraits. An other aspect was that they particulary liked the idea that it was me who would be taking the pictures. Of course you have to be certain of your photographic skills.The printing of their book was done by a professional, since I have no experience with such things.

In the end everybody was happy about the results, warnings like a plain, don't do this, are although sincere not always valid.

Find out what the expectations are, see if you can match them, if so: enjoy yourself.

 

 

cheers

 

Fr.

[frc]

Ahhhh... Forgot to tell: all available light, MP, Summicron 50, fuji 400.

No more!

 

Fr.

[erl]

My simple advice is dont! ...... but if you must, and I guess at this stage you will, expect the unexpected.

 

It may rain, the church may suddenly be covered in scaffolding, the bride may spill pink nail polish down her dress just before you start to take pics, you get a phonecall just as you are leaving to shoot the wedding, telling you that your father just died, etc.

 

All these things, and more, have happened to me in the past and I was still obliged to put up a creditable performance as a photographer. It can be really tough and nobody can bail you out. It is up to you, alone.

 

Good luck,

Erl

[gib_robinson]

My advice is to urge your friends to hire a professional and allow you to shoot candids. Weddings are (with luck) once-in-a-lifetime events. Much better that you be able to contribute a little and enjoy their wedding primarily as a participant. If you are the primary photographer you will miss the wedding! Too much to do and think about.

[gabek]

A good friend and photo buff asked me to shoot his daughter's wedding and I turned him down on the spot. I insisted that he find a professional whose work he and his daughter had seen and liked. He persisted, scaling back his request to asking if I would do candid shots, and let the professional take the normal, more formal shots of all the participants, the ceremony and most of the guests.

 

It was only after a bottle of wine and a lot of cajoling that I finally accepted, but only if I used his Nikon DSLR. I did not yet have my Digilux-2, nor any suitable camera for such an undertaking. I borrowed his camera for a week or so before the wedding and developed a familiarity with it. The 600 RAW shots produced about 250 that they all liked well enough to print for their album, proving that I might not have been a very good choice after all.

 

Fortunately, he is very PS capable and his son has a graduate degree in digital imaging, so only the camera work was left to me. I had no trouble being forceful at times, but when people are having a good time, it is easier to get them to cooperate, I think.

 

Something else they did, as a fall-back, was to place cheap disposible cameras on each table at the reception (sometimes 2 per table) and asked the guests to freely snap pics and pass the cameras to each other to do the same. They were collected at the end of the evening and some fun results were obtained.

 

All of this said, I was terrified I would not deliver and could spoil my friend's daughter's wedding. I consider myself lucky that we had great weather, excellent light and I had a helper who downloaded the images from the memory cards to a laptop as I filled them or supplied me with fresh ones as needed. It wasn't until they showed me the results that I could breathe easily again.

 

In retrospect, I advise against the project, but offer my experience as one way you might work things out.

 

Gabe

[earleygallery]

Do schedule a visit to the location in advance, preferably with the couple so that you can discuss various planning issues.

 

David

 

This is good advice. Well a lot of good advice has been offered, stick to gear/settings/film you know and are comfortable with. Have back up equipment etc.

 

Looks like you're going through with it. Preparation is the key - I always try to visit the location in advance to get some ideas for shots, where to do the group shots etc., saves time on the day and helps you feel more confident as well as looking more professional.

 

Also discuss what the couple want - specific shots/groups they'd like. You/they won't have time to discuss this stuff on the day and again, its preparation. I was once given a complete list of instructions, details shot by shot (first names only as well, like I was mean't to know who all these people were!). I had to politely explain that I was the photographer and I couldn't work to such instructions, they had to trust me to make the right decisions on composition etc. I gave them a list of the shots I would always include and asked them to add to that - in the end everyone was happy.

 

Hope all goes well and please post some of the results here!

[11275]

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You have been offered a lot of very good advice - take it to heart and consider it's implications. Shooting a wedding is not for the weak. It is stressing mentally and physically. You need to be "on" all the time. Even if you are a guest - you are not the guest but the photographer.

 

The suggestions on forward planning are very good - consult the bride as to her expectations and be certain you both understand what you can and will deliver. And you must deliver! There are no re-shoots. Check out the locations, consult the church officials as to what is allowed as well as the reception proprietor. Take your most familiar and dependable equipment. Yes, flash is required. Yes, a tripod. Lots of batteries and backup gear. Keep your equipment simple and stay calm. I normally shoot an entire wedding with my R8/DMR and a 21-35mm shooting RAW.

 

Don't get fancy or outside your comfort level - stay with what you know you can do. Learn all the participants, families, special friends. Act as if you are in charge. Move things along and keep to a schedule. Everyone puts down the "posed shots" but a lot of money has been spent on flowers, dresses, cakes, etc and the bride will want a record of these. To make regular people look attractive and well mannered you must pose them. Photojournalistic style came into vogue with Jackie Kennedy's wedding - most people don't look that well on their best day so forget the idea that if I shoot enough surely I'll get something good. Set down and plan, make a list, shoot the list and when you have the "money shot" in the can then you can try to be creative.

 

Best of luck! It's a wonderful opportunity to be forever associated with the couple, their memories and their life. This day can be a day when you will be their very best friend.

[jim_royer]

I shot a wedding for one of my granddaughters recently. How could I turn her down. I told her I really would rather not take the photos but she insisted. I am not a professional photographer.

 

However, I relented. I used my Digilux 2 and had my M6 with 400 Fuigi film as a back-up. Here are suggestions based on the results of my attempt.

 

Set down with the bride and groom, if possible, and get them to tell you specifically what shots they really want to be good. My older duaghter, who worked for an advertising agency for several years, and directed "shoots" for them, took care of that part. Once you know the kind of shots, and where they will be taken, then you have an idea of the bride's expectations.

 

I used just the D2. DO NOT set it on automatic focus, like I tried to do, when taking shots of the bride's maids and bride coming up the isle to the altar of the church, use manual focus and at least a monopod attached to your camera. A tripod might be better. The church where I shot the actual wedding was very dark inside and that created all kinds of problems. I did use my Leica flash on all the "up the aisle shots. I was nervous through the entire ceremony.

 

The group family pictures were easy. We took them all outside where it was a beautiful, sunny, cool day. My granddaughter was very happy with all the results but I know she was just being kind, in some instances. I WOULD NOT do it again. jim

[francisco01]

You may have said it somewhere further up in the thread but there are other very important questions. Where will the wedding be? Will it be inside or outside? What will the lighting be like? That's the most critical. What flash capability will you have? How far up in ISO can you go with the two cameras? I've shot three weddings and all three were a frightening experience. But the results came out okay.... http://www.pbase.com/danielwickwire/wedding_images . Advice? Take a film back up camera with flash capability so you can get a few really nice portraits (in case the lighting sucks). As others have indicated...lower the expectations on the part of the bride and groom. Scout the location once or twice at the same time of day as the wedding. Shoot images there, bring them back and process them, perhaps even print them. Script out what you want to do. Make a list of the pictures you want. Ask the couple what pictures they absolutely have to have. If possible, have a wife or friend help you with organizing the shots during the wedding. This allows you to concentrate on the technical side. You said that you're a little nervous. If you're a good photographer you will come back with good images as long as you stay in your comfort zone. Experimenting is for another time. It's hard to back out when you want to help friends, isn't it? All three of mine were like this. So, just like me, go for it and it will very likely turn out great. Dan.

[grober]

Santiago,

 

I can't comment on using digital because I haven't, but I've shot plenty of weddings with my Leica film kit. (My M8 is on order from a local dealer.)

 

1. A wedding event in like combat: It's you against the clock.

 

2. Work ONLY for the Bride. Take direction/suggestions/dictates from NO ONE else. NO exceptions to this universal rule!

 

3. Convince the Bride that the family group shots should be taken BEFORE the wedding. This allows the wedding to flow right into the reception without you, the phototographer, being viewed as holding up the parade. You are there to record the event and not direct the entire saga as the Wedding Czar.

 

4. Don't fret over the shots you have bungled or just plain missed. If one out of ten shots is truly great, then you've done your job.

5. Take the next two days off to recover from the battering your body will take during the event. Rethink how easy you were to sign on for this shoot before you do it again. Having re-thought that, take the next wedding assignment as an opportunity to improve your overall effectiveness in combat. (You think I'm kidding, don't you?)

 

-g

[mwilliamsphotography]

Go into it prepared. With many "must have" shots you will get one chance. "Great Shots" is a relative term when it comes to weddings. The Bride being escorted down the asile by her father doesn't have to be great, but it does have to be properly exposed and in focus ... and be taken in a narrow window of opportunity.

 

Additional pressure comes from being thrown off balance by unforseen circumstances, but maintaining your cool through it all.

 

If you are not good with a flash, get good fast. I love available light ... when it's available. When it's not ... then what?

 

Pop on over to the photo.net wedding forum and do a search. You are not alone in your question posted here. The difference is that the contributors there have done thousands of weddings not just two or three. There is excellent advice in the search archives that'll help you prepare.