Wedding Advice
dragon300zx
Registered Users Posts: 2,575 Major grins
No I am not getting married.
However, I still consider myself a very fresh newbie to the serious photography thing and will until I have a few more classes under my belt (and some intern time would be great to). I was just asked today for the second or third time to photograph a wedding. Now needless to say the thought of this makes me nervous as all hell as this is a big day in someone's life and to be the person in charge of capturing these moments in time so that they can look back on them visually for the rest of their life well....... I would love to try wedding photography, and possibly intern with someone way more expeirienced (don't even really wanna get paid for it at first just learn, observe, and practice). I am not comfortable with saying yes when I have never done this sort of thing before. Should I flat out say no, should I offer to help her find a photographer and then see if I can get that photographer to let me assist at the wedding, should I say that if she find a photographer who wouldnt mind me tagging along I would love to go and just shoot candid's or offer another point of view (set of photos other than the other photographers)? The other two weddings ended up not happening so I didn't have to worry about it, but this one has already been planned and had a date set. Help....
However, I still consider myself a very fresh newbie to the serious photography thing and will until I have a few more classes under my belt (and some intern time would be great to). I was just asked today for the second or third time to photograph a wedding. Now needless to say the thought of this makes me nervous as all hell as this is a big day in someone's life and to be the person in charge of capturing these moments in time so that they can look back on them visually for the rest of their life well....... I would love to try wedding photography, and possibly intern with someone way more expeirienced (don't even really wanna get paid for it at first just learn, observe, and practice). I am not comfortable with saying yes when I have never done this sort of thing before. Should I flat out say no, should I offer to help her find a photographer and then see if I can get that photographer to let me assist at the wedding, should I say that if she find a photographer who wouldnt mind me tagging along I would love to go and just shoot candid's or offer another point of view (set of photos other than the other photographers)? The other two weddings ended up not happening so I didn't have to worry about it, but this one has already been planned and had a date set. Help....
Everyone Has A Photographic Memory. Some Just Do Not Have Film.
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Comments
FWIW I think your idea of offering to help find another photographer and shoot candids (if the primary photographer doesn't mind) is the way to go.
I would agree with Cletus. I've been asked a few times myself, and have always turned it down. While at the wedding, I've always brought my camera and got a few shots the bride & groom loved.
I always feel this works out best for everyone. These were my friends, and I wanted to enjoy the wedding and hang out. In the end, the happy couple preferred it this way.
Dave
http://www.lifekapptured.com (gallery)
Im with dave...i always take heaps when the paid photogs not shooting & offer them to the folks to download free of course.
I've done only one wedding. For good friends who had low expectations. And I was the second photog (would not have wanted to been the primary photog). The primary photog was another friend who worked as assistant to an established photog for a year to learn how to do Becky's wedding. Weddings aren't easy to do. There is a lot to learn. If I were you I'd tell your friends no. The idea to assist the primary photog is a good one though. I learned a lot doing it.
A former sports shooter
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But they still wanted me to do it and so I did. I only asked for $100. It was a small informal one in a house, so that made it easier. And the couple really liked the results!
I say you have to have confidence in your work! One thing that helped is that I had taken pictures at 2 weddings already (as a spectator...not the main photog.) and both couples loved my shots. (in fact, my nephew and his wife liked mine better than the paid photogs!)
If you don't have the setup for formal portraits, just make sure you skip that part. But as far as candids go (and those are usually the most fun), just make sure your settings are on full auto and you've got an external flash. Shoot a LOT and hopefully you'll get some that will turn out.
There's really no need to be afraid, unless you set the wrong expectations, sign a contract, and leave yourself open to a lawsuit.
Personally, I think I'd hate shooting a wedding. Unless the bride was a real babe and set my CMOS on fire.
"The Edge... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over."-Hunter S.Thompson
I did it and they were pretty happy with the results.
Later one of my studio partners asked me to help her shoot a wedding, she just wanted a back up because it was a large wedding. I did this as well and had fun doing it. I have not heard what the client's reaction to the shots was.
If you do it I recommend a stroboframe flash bracket that holds your flash farthe off of the body and also allows you to keep the flash above the body even when shooting verticles. It will help reduce any ugly shadows from the flash.
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Great! Now that the pressure is off, just concentrate on having fun and don't get stressed-out. Take shots that YOU like, not that you think THEY would like, and you'll do fine. I've seen a number of your photos and I have lots of confidence that you'll do a bangup job.
Oh...one more tip: take a lot of photos before you start drinking. BUT, don't stop taking them when you start drinking...you'll be amazed at what you think is funny and actually turn out okay
"The Edge... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over."-Hunter S.Thompson
www.zxstudios.com
http://creativedragonstudios.smugmug.com
www.zxstudios.com
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New Years was over 6 days ago. Get over it! Ok, so fish is a pro (and I'm
working on it ).
Seriously, a wedding is someone's special day. If you're invited to be a guest
that means they want you to share in their special day. However, if you're
'working', you cannot. That doesn't mean you can't take pictures, you should. But the expectation should be set early on. Either you're a guest or
you're a professional photographer. You cannot be both.
What ever you choose, best of luck!
Ian
www.zxstudios.com
http://creativedragonstudios.smugmug.com
Think about (and discuss with the couple) what shots you want to get. WRITE THEM DOWN! You will not remember them all in the heat of the moment.
ALWAYS THINK ONE STEP AHEAD. Make sure you are in position to get the shot IN ADVANCE. No point trying to get a shot of the wedding couple getting out of the car, if you arrive after them.
Visist the venue and see what you can shoot where, and try shooting a couple of shots there to help you plan what kind of light you're going to have, what speeds you need to work at etc.
the suggestion of attending the rehearsal is an excellent one. Also gives you the opportunity to meet the best man. USE HIM on the day to help you get people together for group shots. He'll know who most people are.
And most importantly, shoot with confidence. If you trust yourself to get the shot, and you've planned your day, then there's nothing to panic about and you are in control .
CONTROL is EVERYTHING.
Good luck and enjoy it!
some of my wedding stuff is at www.yblume.smugmug.com/weddings
www.zxstudios.com
http://creativedragonstudios.smugmug.com