Shooting my first wedding - Help

This is a discussion on Shooting my first wedding - Help within the Photography Beginners' Forum & Photo Gallery forums, part of the Foundations of Photography category; I am shooting a wedding for my sister in law for free. It is going to be a laidback wedding. I just wanted to toss ...


Go Back   The Photo Forum - Photography Discussion Forum > Foundations of Photography > Photography Beginners' Forum & Photo Gallery


Photography Beginners' Forum & Photo Gallery Brand new to photography, or brushing up on some of the basics? Don’t be shy! Talk to other beginners and ask all your basic photographic questions here. Show us some of the photos you have taken so far and get some review - so you can learn where there is room for improvement!

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 12-16-2009, 07:59 PM   #1
I spend too much of my life on TPF!
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 351
My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit
Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts
My Gallery: (1)
Shooting my first wedding - Help

I am shooting a wedding for my sister in law for free. It is going to be a laidback wedding. I just wanted to toss this out here and ask everyone to give their #1 most important piece of advice they could give for a first time wedding shooter. Keep in mind that this will be slightly traditional but not overly formal. I will be shooting with a Canon T1i with a Sunpak PZ42X flash and I will probably mostly use my 50mm F/1.4 lense. I am going to order a grip and two extra batteries ( so I will have a total of 4 ) and will have 2 16gb cards with a few 2gb cards as a backup.
__________________
Canon T1i - Gripped

-Canon 50mm F/1.4 USM
-Tokina 16-50mm F/2.8
-Tamron 70-300 Macro
burstintoflame81 is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links

ThePhotoForum.com is the premier Photography Forum & Digital Camera Resource! Registered Users do not see the above ads. Please Register - It's Free!
Old 12-16-2009, 08:15 PM   #2
Aut Concilio Aut Ense
 
inTempus's Avatar
TPF Supporter
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Indiana
Posts: 3,388
My Photos Are OK to Edit
Thanked 104 Times in 91 Posts
My Gallery: (10)
Quote: Originally Posted by burstintoflame81 View Post
I just wanted to toss this out here and ask everyone to give their #1 most important piece of advice they could give for a first time wedding shooter.
You're in for an ear (eye) full over this subject. It gets beaten to death at least once a week.

My advice? Find a professional and have them shoot it. Weddings are the most demanding photography gigs known to man (outside of being a combat photographer). You need nerves of steel, great people skills, lots of knowledge and lots of experience with a camera and associated gear.

Screwing up someones wedding isn't cool, and it could likely land you in court. I don't care if they're family... ESPECIALLY family. Wedding photogs are the most sued professionals on the planet.

My second peice of advice: If you insist on going threw with this shoot get a good contract from a competent lawyer. You're probably thinking "they're family, they'll forgive me if a screw a few shots up". Wrong. You need to do a little research on the net if you don't think a contract is important. I don't know how many horror stories I've read where family and friends sue their photog buddy/relative over screwed up wedding photos. Hell, you're better off screwing up a complete strangers wedding photos as you don't have to seem them every year at Christmas dinner.

Get a pro or get a contract.

Good luck, I know few people listen to this sound advice.
inTempus is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to inTempus For This Useful Post: Inst!nct (12-17-2009)
Old 12-16-2009, 08:21 PM   #3
Been spending a lot of time on here!
 
T-town photographer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Tulsa
Posts: 173
My Photos Are OK to Edit
Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts
My Gallery: (0)
Quote: Originally Posted by inTempus View Post
Quote: Originally Posted by burstintoflame81 View Post
I just wanted to toss this out here and ask everyone to give their #1 most important piece of advice they could give for a first time wedding shooter.
You're in for an ear (eye) full over this subject. It gets beaten to death at least once a week.

My advice? Find a professional and have them shoot it. Weddings are the most demanding photography gigs known to man (outside of being a combat photographer). You need nerves of steel, great people skills, lots of knowledge and lots of experience with a camera and associated gear.

Screwing up someones wedding isn't cool, and it could likely land you in court. I don't care if they're family... ESPECIALLY family. Wedding photogs are the most sued professionals on the planet.

My second peice of advice: If you insist on going threw with this shoot get a good contract from a competent lawyer. You're probably thinking "they're family, they'll forgive me if a screw a few shots up". Wrong. You need to do a little research on the net if you don't think a contract is important. I don't know how many horror stories I've read where family and friends sue their photog buddy/relative over screwed up wedding photos. Hell, you're better off screwing up a complete strangers wedding photos as you don't have to seem them every year at Christmas dinner.

Get a pro or get a contract.

Good luck, I know few people listen to this sound advice.



Michael
__________________
let me know what you think http://s244.photobucket.com/home/sardivr/index
T-town photographer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-16-2009, 08:36 PM   #4
Been spending a lot of time on here!
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 138
My Photos Are OK to Edit
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
My Gallery: (0)
It won't take long to realize that if you are asking questions in this part of the forum you should not be the one photographing the wedding. It might not be a bad idea to follow the photographer around for the day and learn a thing or two but weddings are a different animal.
__________________
Canon XS
18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 EF-S IS
75-300mm f/4.0-5.6 III EF
50 mm f/1.8 II
430 EX Speedlight
Manfrotto 3021 Pro

flyin-lowe is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-16-2009, 08:46 PM   #5
Been spending a lot of time on here!
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SE Missouri
Posts: 217
My Photos Are OK to Edit
Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts
My Gallery: (0)
well looks like they covered it lol

I recently had a friend ask me to shoot her wedding and I told her I don't think it's a good idea, and that was that

I told her to hire someone she doesn't know personally but to make sure it's a sound photographer
clbd39 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-16-2009, 08:50 PM   #6
No longer a newbie, moving up!
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: San Diego Co, CA
Posts: 63
My Photos Are OK to Edit
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
My Gallery: (0)
If you are going to do the wedding, I recommend getting a backup camera and lens. Would hate to see the camera get dropped (or anything else) at the beginning and miss the wedding!
__________________
~Scout~

Canon 5D Mark II, 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM Lens

Canon Xti, EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6, EF 75-300 f/4-5.6, EF 50mm 1.8, Kenko extention tubes

Scout is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-16-2009, 08:59 PM   #7
I spend too much of my life on TPF!
 
Darkhunter139's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 499
My Photos Are OK to Edit
Thanked 13 Times in 8 Posts
My Gallery: (0)
Quote: Originally Posted by inTempus View Post
Quote: Originally Posted by burstintoflame81 View Post
I just wanted to toss this out here and ask everyone to give their #1 most important piece of advice they could give for a first time wedding shooter.
You're in for an ear (eye) full over this subject. It gets beaten to death at least once a week.

My advice? Find a professional and have them shoot it. Weddings are the most demanding photography gigs known to man (outside of being a combat photographer). You need nerves of steel, great people skills, lots of knowledge and lots of experience with a camera and associated gear.

Screwing up someones wedding isn't cool, and it could likely land you in court. I don't care if they're family... ESPECIALLY family. Wedding photogs are the most sued professionals on the planet.

My second peice of advice: If you insist on going threw with this shoot get a good contract from a competent lawyer. You're probably thinking "they're family, they'll forgive me if a screw a few shots up". Wrong. You need to do a little research on the net if you don't think a contract is important. I don't know how many horror stories I've read where family and friends sue their photog buddy/relative over screwed up wedding photos. Hell, you're better off screwing up a complete strangers wedding photos as you don't have to seem them every year at Christmas dinner.

Get a pro or get a contract.

Good luck, I know few people listen to this sound advice.
How are they going to sue him if he does it for free....
Darkhunter139 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-16-2009, 09:09 PM   #8
No longer a newbie, moving up!
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 49
My Photos Are OK to Edit
Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post
My Gallery: (0)
Have them hire a pro.

Then you can roam at free, for free, and take candids. Surprise them afterwards with some nice candids.

DO NOT BE THE PHOTOGRAPHER OF RECORD.
Aritay is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-16-2009, 09:09 PM   #9
I spend too much of my life on TPF!
 
chip's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Cypress, CA
Posts: 359
My Photos Are OK to Edit
Thanked 8 Times in 8 Posts
My Gallery: (0)
you will need two persons to cover a wedding. Divide the coverage between the two of you. You should have two cameras apiece. You need one camera with a 24-70mm 2.8 and another with a 70-200mm 2.8. No time to change lens during the ceremony. You will also need a tripod.
chip is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-16-2009, 09:25 PM   #10
TPF Junkie!
 
Derrel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: USA
Posts: 2,658
My Photos Are OK to Edit
Thanked 275 Times in 244 Posts
My Gallery: (7)
Well, there's always a first time. MY best advice would be to abandon the idea of shooting the event with a 50mm lens on a crop-body Canon,and buy yourself a Sigma or Tamron 17- or 18-50mm f/2.8 zoom lens, and PRACTICE shooting with the lens indoors using the flash before the day.

Honestly, I think you might be unprepared and unqualified to shoot the wedding--but hey....it happens all the time. Stay calm. Check the LCD periodically. KEEP THE ISO AT 400 INDOORS, and do not tempt the fates. Do not worry about ISO 100 quality being better than 400. Shoot EVERYTHING in RAW mode, as a CYA security measure. Stay calm. Realize that you as the official photographer,payed or not, can help stage and direct the action. On the cake-cutting shot, best man's toast,garter and bouquet toss, first dance, etc,etc, YOU must instruct the couple on what to do,and you must ensure that your shooting position is not interfered with by some guest with a camera. THINK about your shutter speed and do not let it get too slow.

Make sure you have spare batteries for the flash,and a backup system would be really,really,really nice to have. Ideally, I would try to convince them to hire a professional, but these days, many "pro" wedding shooters are really just weekend warriors of very modest abilities. Oh, and no alcohol...
Derrel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-16-2009, 10:11 PM   #11
No longer a newbie, moving up!
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Cleveland
Posts: 76
My Photos Are OK to Edit
Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts
My Gallery: (0)
There's absolutely nothing wrong with shooting a wedding on a "crop-body Canon". I know 2 men (actually my father and a friend's father) that have shot 20-30 weddings a piece (my dad's well over 50) on Canon's 40D/50D line. They both have a good selection of glass, but the point of discussion here is that both of those cameras are cropped frame.

I'd definitely agree on as wide a zoom-lens as you can get, especially with a crop body (my father uses a 17-50mm f/2.8 Tamron as his base lens with another quick lens and an 18-200 f/3.5 for his zoom), but the full-frame is not a requirement.
__________________
http://www.flickr.com/photos/DerekSalem
Canon EOS Rebel T2i/550D
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5 DC AF OS
DerekSalem is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-16-2009, 10:41 PM   #12
I spend too much of my life on TPF!
 
fiveoboy01's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Waunakee, WI
Posts: 664
My Photos Are OK to Edit
Thanked 16 Times in 13 Posts
My Gallery: (0)
17-18mm isn't really that wide on a crop sensor. More like 10-12mm. I guess I should say it's not considered ultrawide like a 14mm would be on full frame.

I wants me a FX camera just so I can use the 14-24, though I could use it on my body, i'd be paying a lot to use the center of the image... But that's off topic, hehe.

Quote:
How are they going to sue him if he does it for free....
How couldn't they? The fact that he's doing it for free won't matter if the bride is unhappy and wants to make him pay for it.
__________________
Bill
Nikon D300 / 18-55 VR / 70-300 VR / 50mm 1.4G / 35mm 1.8G / SB-900 / CYBERSYNCS


D300s>D700
fiveoboy01 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-16-2009, 10:46 PM   #13
I spend too much of my life on TPF!
 
Darkhunter139's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 499
My Photos Are OK to Edit
Thanked 13 Times in 8 Posts
My Gallery: (0)
If he is doing it for free there wont be any kind of contract involved. How would they have any kind of case if they tried to sue him? He doesn't have to shoot their wedding for them if he does not want to. If they are not paying him anything and are unhappy what are they going to sue him for, to get their $0 back?
Darkhunter139 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-16-2009, 10:50 PM   #14
***** Tool
 
Bitter Jeweler's Avatar
TPF Supporter
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
Posts: 1,927
My Photos Are OK to Edit
Thanked 125 Times in 111 Posts
My Gallery: (0)
Wake up and smell the world we live in.
Bitter Jeweler is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 12-16-2009, 10:54 PM   #15
I spend too much of my life on TPF!
 
Darkhunter139's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 499
My Photos Are OK to Edit
Thanked 13 Times in 8 Posts
My Gallery: (0)
Who me? How would it even be a case if someone tried to sue their brother who took pictures at their wedding FOR FREE?
Darkhunter139 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Lower Navigation
Go Back   The Photo Forum - Photography Discussion Forum > Foundations of Photography > Photography Beginners' Forum & Photo Gallery


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Sponsored Links

All times are GMT -6. The time now is 06:36 AM.

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2010, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.3.2
Celebrity Gossip - United States Message Board - Parrot Forum - Honda Motorcycle - iPhone Forum - Motorola Droid Forum - Nintendo Wii Forum - Apple iPad Forum