Driving 8 hours to shoot a wedding = terrified.
2 things I hate: Flying and Wedding Photography.
I've done my best to avoid the flying part, but now I'm stuck with the wedding photography.
I generally don't shoot weddings. I did a small one once, and I realized it was a lot more than I was prepared for.
So now, my best friend of 25 years is getting married in a small ceremony in NC. Just 2 weeks ago she had to deliver her still born son at 7 months and 23 days pregnant. So sad. When she asked me if I would do it for her, there was no way I could tell her no. She has been going through a really difficult last few weeks and I knew she needed a familiar face around. (She just moved to NC about 7 months ago for a job opportunity.)
I am very open to suggestions, tips, advice, do's, don'ts, etc. I've already talked to her, and she's so vague. Basically she said as long as she has photos, she will be happy.
The ceremony will be at a small gazebo outdoors in Mooresville. The small reception will take place in Dale Earnhardt Jr's trophy room. (Her dad works for him. Not really my cup of tea, but you know.)
Again, I'm open to anything.
Thank you in advance - Mandi
I've done my best to avoid the flying part, but now I'm stuck with the wedding photography.
I generally don't shoot weddings. I did a small one once, and I realized it was a lot more than I was prepared for.
So now, my best friend of 25 years is getting married in a small ceremony in NC. Just 2 weeks ago she had to deliver her still born son at 7 months and 23 days pregnant. So sad. When she asked me if I would do it for her, there was no way I could tell her no. She has been going through a really difficult last few weeks and I knew she needed a familiar face around. (She just moved to NC about 7 months ago for a job opportunity.)
I am very open to suggestions, tips, advice, do's, don'ts, etc. I've already talked to her, and she's so vague. Basically she said as long as she has photos, she will be happy.
The ceremony will be at a small gazebo outdoors in Mooresville. The small reception will take place in Dale Earnhardt Jr's trophy room. (Her dad works for him. Not really my cup of tea, but you know.)
Again, I'm open to anything.
Thank you in advance - Mandi
i.Candi by Mandi Photgraphy
Seymour, IN
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www.ivarborst.nl & smugmug
As for wedding photography, there are a few tips that I can offer. One is to have a shot list. There are lots of shot lists online and even some here at the forum. Get them and then rearrange them and subtract or add to them in order to help you keep organized. The shot lists will give you an idea of what types of shots people usually take. Also, take advantage of the many wedding photos on this forum - you'll find that they give you ideas and are invaluable! Wear comfortable shoes, don't be afraid to get close-up shots (I'm still trying to hammer that one into my assistants head
So, here's my own take on the "shot list" advice:
Read a few shot lists, just to see if there's anything you haven't already thought of. But DO NOT try and bury your nose in a shot list on the wedding day. If you're truly freaked out about missing something critical, maybe you shouldn't be shooting as the primary photographer. Heck, just hire a 2nd shooter who is an experienced wedding photographer, pay them a bit more than you normally would, and let them walk you through it.
The bottom line is this, in my biased and controversial opinion: whenever you see a photographer publishing a shot list for brides to download and email / print, that photographer is either clueless, or playing a prank on other photographers. Any wedding shooter who has gotten a 5-page, 243-item shot list from a bride's mom two days before the wedding will know what I mean.
Respectfully,
=Matt=
My SmugMug Portfolio • My Astro-Landscape Photo Blog • Dgrin Weddings Forum
My thoughts are... meet with the bride and have a plan for the day. If you don't have a plan, then you plan to fail. A wedding starts on time because a bride starts GETTING READY on time, sometimes early in the morning even. And the photos she wants to make sure to have should be on a list somewhere... and you can make sure they happen. Just don't be afraid to limit the list.
www.tednghiem.com
Just a suggestion that might give you a little more breathing room .....
What Matt said totally!
In any case, if you haven't already, you should read the stickies at the top of the wedding forum to get a TON of incredibly useful information. It really is a great resource.
You're a good friend to do this for her. Best of luck!
Spread the love! Go comment on something!
...But if a bride (or MOB) reminds me to get a shot of "the altar kiss" or "the bride dancing with her father" ...well, that's just insulting. Burn that list you downloaded from uncle bob's website, and let me do my job. :-D
My SmugMug Portfolio • My Astro-Landscape Photo Blog • Dgrin Weddings Forum
Using a shot list is not a bad idea if you have a good list and know how to use it. The standard photos are easy to get, just follow the flow of the wedding. The family shots are a given, just don't leave anyone out. Same for the ceremony, follow the flow. If you are unable to attend a rehersal the bride should be able to give you a basic run down on how things will proceed. Stay near the center aisle and you'll always be near the action.
For the reception, eccept for the cake cutting and flower toss the rest can be shot PJ. The list, use index cards, check them when you can be inconspicuous, don't pull out a long sheet of paper and keep checking it every time you take a shot. This just looks completely unprofessional. There will be plenty of time to check your cards like when the bride has to take a bathroom break or before the ceremony when they are waiting for everyone to get organized, etc. And finally, if the bride sees you checking your list it's no big deal, she should be familiar with your experience level. Good luck and remember, just go with the flow.
Natural selection is responsible for every living thing that exists.
D3s, D500, D5300, and way more glass than the wife knows about.
how long do you have to prepare for this wedding?
Shot lists are fantastic....as long as it is in your head and not on paper......but since you are not a seasoned wedding shooter you need to memporize a list and also be ready in a heartbeat to be able to change from a shot on the list that just will not work to something that will work...............
There is no way to carry a shot list, shoot and mark off the list and not have people grumbling that the pix are taking to darned long...........I speak from experience.....as I was handed a shot list by a past studio I contracted from.....had to follow precisely and exactly and had to check off each shot as it was done........I did 2 weddings...copied the list turned in my film and the original list and quit....found out that even my boss could not follow his own list and the time constraints he put on the shooting........
Have her appoint someone to help you with gathering up faily members and friends for the formal shots......Do most of the formals outside at the Gazebo.....also make fill flash for the shots out doors as the sun can be hard on you especially shooting into the shade of the Gazebo........
Even tho your friends Dad works for DE Jr. doesn't necessarily mean that it is HER cup of tea either, but if it is.....work it.......a wedding like this could wind up in a Bride Mag just do to the location......
Good Luck!!
Long story short, I shot a friend's wedding (as a HUGE favor) a few weeks ago after a year or so of us batting ideas around to each other. I asked her a few weeks before the wedding if she wanted any particular shots and she said she'd send me a list in a few days. Fast forward to a week before the wedding and I still have no list. Due to our schedule, we were going to be out of town for three weeks, with her wedding falling in the middle week, so whatever we needed to bring to the wedding, had to be packed a week before - no turning around to get it at the last minute. During the formals, she asked if I got the list and I asked her how she sent it to me, to the only email address I don't have linked to my phone and the one I *rarely* check. Come to find out, she sent at 2 am the the morning of the wedding. I love her dearly, but with such a late notice, her list didn't get printed (I didn't even see it until days later).
I'm not anti-lists, I'm just saying that it's probably a bad idea. Sure, there's going to be a few she's going to ask to you to get (as with any bride) but I agree about the comment about it being a scavenger hunt, that's what it will turn into whether you think it will or not.
So, onto the wedding advice - be confident, and don't freak out. The more nervous you look, the less they trust you, regardless of how well they know you.
Send her my regards about the still birth, I know the pain of a miscarriage, your heart never recovers.
Good luck and have fun!
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These are some of the shots I used to take. Probably your wedding won't have them all but. you may get some ideaa. I don't suggest showing this list to the bride. Just peruse it yourself to get an idea of some shots you might want to include. Best of luck...
Wedding Photography Part I – Pre-Ceremony and Ceremony<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
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These are just some of the necessary shots. There are sure to be others. However if you get all of these shots, you should not be lacking coverage. I am most familiar with traditional American Christian weddings and receptions; although I have shot two Jewish weddings and receptions. Other ethnic weddings or receptions have their own particular ambiance and required shots. <o:p></o:p>
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Pre Wedding Day Photos:<o:p></o:p>
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Informal portraits of the bride and groom. <o:p></o:p>
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Location is often outdoors in a scenic location<o:p></o:p>
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Formal portraits of bride in wedding dress. Specific shots dependant on type of dress.<o:p></o:p>
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Full length showing wedding dress<o:p></o:p>
Front <o:p></o:p>
Rear with Bride looking back – showing train<o:p></o:p>
Each side<o:p></o:p>
Three quarter length<o:p></o:p>
Head and shoulders<o:p></o:p>
Bride sitting on floor with dress swirled around her<o:p></o:p>
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Wedding Day – Pre-Ceremony<o:p></o:p>
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Bride:<o:p></o:p>
General shot of bride’s maids helping bride dress<o:p></o:p>
Shot of each bridesmaid helping <o:p></o:p>
Bride interacting with Maid / Matron of Honor<o:p></o:p>
Bride in dress looking in mirror alone<o:p></o:p>
Bride in dress before mirror with bride’s maids<o:p></o:p>
Mother adjusting veil<o:p></o:p>
Putting garter on<o:p></o:p>
Humorous cut-up shots<o:p></o:p>
Bride’s maids and bride making one last toast<o:p></o:p>
Bride and father interacting<o:p></o:p>
Bride interacting with anyone else – especially kids<o:p></o:p>
Bride in environmental portraits if there are photogenic areas available<o:p></o:p>
Bride’s maids applying their own make up or adjusting their hairdo’s<o:p></o:p>
Bride with multigenerational group (mother, grandmother, g-grandmother if applicable.<o:p></o:p>
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Groom:<o:p></o:p>
Groom’s father pinning boutonnière on groom<o:p></o:p>
Groom with each attendant<o:p></o:p>
Interaction between groom and his mother<o:p></o:p>
Interaction between groom and best man<o:p></o:p>
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Attendants:<o:p></o:p>
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Shots of attendants escorting ladies to their seats<o:p></o:p>
Shots of soloist and organist if applicable<o:p></o:p>
Groom, Best man and ushers waiting at altar<o:p></o:p>
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Ceremony shots – depending if flash photography is allowed during ceremony<o:p></o:p>
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Processional:<o:p></o:p>
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At least one shot of each member of the wedding party <o:p></o:p>
Especially rig-bearer and flower-girl<o:p></o:p>
More than one shot of bride and father (or person escorting Bride)<o:p></o:p>
(I like to ask Bride and father to pause momentarily at a predesignated point and look at me – don’t be surprised if they forget to do it)<o:p></o:p>
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Actual Ceremony: (If flash is allowed)<o:p></o:p>
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Father lifting veil and kissing Bride at altar<o:p></o:p>
Groom and Bride’s father acknowledging each other – hugging or shaking hands<o:p></o:p>
Official from behind couple framed with couples backs<o:p></o:p>
Overall view of ceremony <o:p></o:p>
Use assistant or remote camera<o:p></o:p>
Choir loft is great otherwise low angle from back of church<o:p></o:p>
Available light is often best<o:p></o:p>
Couple facing each other holding hands<o:p></o:p>
Placing rings on fingers<o:p></o:p>
Lighting of candles <o:p></o:p>
If possible – a shot from the choir loft. (assistant or remote camera on tripod)<o:p></o:p>
Official blessing couple if applicable<o:p></o:p>
The first kiss<o:p></o:p>
Any special event in ceremony – drinking sip of wine, receiving communion, breaking of glass in Jewish ceremony<o:p></o:p>
Couple and official sanding at altar and facing guests<o:p></o:p>
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Recessional<o:p></o:p>
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Bride and Groom leaving altar<o:p></o:p>
Others coming down aisle (Bride and Groom are the most important – if you get them and no one else leaving, you should be O.K.)<o:p></o:p>
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Ceremony Reenactment<o:p></o:p>
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Whether or not flash has been allowed – this is the time to shoot mock ups of the ceremony. You can get any or all of the above shots as a repeat or as initial shots if shooting during ceremony was not allowed. You can also get reverse angle shots from the altar side of the bride and groom.<o:p></o:p>
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Stained glass windows – get a shot of one or two of these if they are photogenic.<o:p></o:p>
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Signing of Ketubah<o:p></o:p>
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This is a significant event in a Jewish wedding and should be fully covered with shots of everyone signing.<o:p></o:p>
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Breaking of Glass<o:p></o:p>
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Another significant event in a Jewish ceremony<o:p></o:p>
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Lighting of Candles<o:p></o:p>
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All weddings do not incorporate the lighting of candles but, if there is a candle lighting, it is a very romantic and photogenic occasion.<o:p></o:p>
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There are often variations in wedding ceremonies between different religions and even between different individual places of worship. The following advice was given to me by a Rabbi regarding variations in Jewish ceremonies but, holds true for all weddings despite the religion or denomination, “Certainly, for the most
part, the Orthodox and Conservative clergy stick to fairly straight-forward scripts, with which you're no doubt familiar; but the Reform, Reconstructionist, and Renewal Jews tend to do a lot of ritual innovation. So my only advice, belaboring the obvious, would be to carefully review the program in detail beforehand--which, of course, any professional would do as a matter of course.” Reviewing the program of any wedding ceremony is absolutely necessary in order to avoid missing portions of the ceremony that are important to the participants. Surprises during ceremonies are no fun and can be easily avoided.
Wedding Photography II – Post Ceremony Coverage<o:p></o:p>
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Altar or Church Step Portraits (These can be shot in another place like a garden if desired)<o:p></o:p>
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Bride (You cannot have too many shots of he bride ever)<o:p></o:p>
Bride and Groom<o:p></o:p>
Bride and mother<o:p></o:p>
Bride and father<o:p></o:p>
Bride and other family members – siblings, grandparents, etc.<o:p></o:p>
Groom (as above)<o:p></o:p>
Bride and Groom with their parents<o:p></o:p>
Bride and bride’s maids<o:p></o:p>
Bride and maid / matron of honor<o:p></o:p>
Groom and attendants<o:p></o:p>
Groom and best man<o:p></o:p>
Entire wedding party<o:p></o:p>
Bride and Groom with any other significant person such as priest or minister<o:p></o:p>
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Leaving Church<o:p></o:p>
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Bride and Groom exiting<o:p></o:p>
There may be some ceremony involved with this such as throwing rice or exiting under crossed swords for military weddings – be sure you know about and get shots of this. If rice is thrown – often using a slower shutter speed will show it better.<o:p></o:p>
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Romantic shots<o:p></o:p>
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Shots of the Bride and Groom interacting. Often outdoors in scenic settings.<o:p></o:p>
The above are often difficult to arrange what with the stress of trying to get to the reception. It is great for the photographer if there is sufficient time between end of ceremony and start of reception to allow this.
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<o:p>Wedding Photography III – The Reception:<o:p></o:p>
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Overall shot of empty hall decorated and set up with tables, flowers etc.<o:p></o:p>
(IMO this is really a low priority shot)<o:p></o:p>
Several shots of wedding cake<o:p></o:p>
Shots of any specific decorations<o:p></o:p>
Guests signing book as they enter<o:p></o:p>
Shot of presents on table<o:p></o:p>
Bride and Groom arriving at hall<o:p></o:p>
Close up of the Couple’s hands with rings with flowers and perhaps invitation/program<o:p></o:p>
Arrangement of flowers, invitation etc.<o:p></o:p>
Reception line if there is one<o:p></o:p>
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I shot one wedding wherein the Bride’s mother wanted a separate shot of each couple or small group of guests as they arrived. She arranged a location for these shots decorated with flowers and a banner with Bride and Groom’s names. She then had me print individual thank you cards using the best image from the ceremony as the cover and inside, each guest group’s picture on left with the words on the right side of card. It was expensive for her but, it really seemed classy to me and would have been a lasting memento to the guests.<o:p></o:p>
Shot of food or buffet line if it is photogenic<o:p></o:p>
Best man toasting couple<o:p></o:p>
Shots of guest individuals/couples – standing, sitting at tables and interacting.<o:p></o:p>
(Always ask specifically whom the Bride and the mother of the bride want photographed; Grandma and Grandpa, Aunt Gertrude and Uncle Gus, etc.)<o:p></o:p>
The food line with people filling plates (IMO low priority)<o:p></o:p>
I don’t usually shoot people eating. Half emptied plates and food in mouths are not photogenic to me – I use this time to get my breath and make sure my equipment is in order. I do not eat at receptions but will drink a soft drink or water)<o:p></o:p>
Cutting cake – several shots from close ups of hands to overalls of couple<o:p></o:p>
Bride and groom feeding cake to each other <o:p></o:p>
Note: I hate cake smashing but, get a shot of that if it happens<o:p></o:p>
Band or entertainers if any<o:p></o:p>
Anyone toasting couple<o:p></o:p>
Couple with arms entwined giving each other a sip from their glasses<o:p></o:p>
Bride and groom first dance<o:p></o:p>
Note: at some weddings guests pin money on bride’s dress - get shots of that<o:p></o:p>
Bride dancing with her father<o:p></o:p>
Bride dancing with father in law<o:p></o:p>
Groom dancing with mother<o:p></o:p>
Groom dancing with mother in law<o:p></o:p>
Other shots of Bride dancing – especially with little kids<o:p></o:p>
Other shots of Groom dancing<o:p></o:p>
Members of bridal party dancing<o:p></o:p>
Various couples dancing – kids are great<o:p></o:p>
Groom removing Bride’s garter prior to garter toss<o:p></o:p>
Garter toss and catch<o:p></o:p>
Flower toss and catch<o:p></o:p>
Sometimes the man who caught the garter places it on the lady who caught the flowers.<o:p></o:p>
Any other significant thing that is happening<o:p></o:p>
Any romantic shots of couple<o:p></o:p>
General shots of opportunity – kids are especially photogenic<o:p></o:p>
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Leaving reception<o:p></o:p>
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Couple getting in vehicle<o:p></o:p>
Couple kissing in vehicle<o:p></o:p>
Couple waving from vehicle<o:p></o:p>
Vehicle leaving from behind (if there is a “Just Married” sign or other wedding related decorations) <o:p></o:p>
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i.Candi by Mandi Photgraphy
Seymour, IN
If I were near you, I'd shoot it with you in a second. There's been enough advice here -- so I just had to say good on you for helping her out
Bobby
Come with on the Raddest Photo Trip Ever!!!