First Wedding | Tips? How should I be prepared?

[MLeeK]

I wouldn't recommend lithiums as they are not rechargeable (bad for the environment).
Just get a few good sets of NiMH batteries. I've been using the newest version of NiMH from Energizer. They hold their charge like Eneloops but have a higher capacity.

Mike-How is the recovery time with them? Are they as good as the ULD Eneloops for that?

This is why I like the lithiums... the recovery rate is insanely fast. Though these days I only use them as backup as I have the external battery pack and I get about 1000 flashes out of that.

See, I didn't have the greatest luck with the recovery on the Lithiums. That's where I switched to ULD/Eneloops. I need to get a battery pack, but so far? I have other uses for my equipment budget. It'll wait while I keep recharging!

 

[leeroix]

care to provide an example of a proper contract? or where to get one? or what you guys use? how its worded etc...

 

[tirediron]

With the high ISO capabilities of modern cameras, F4 is often going to be good enough. Although, you may find that 24mm just isn't wide enough in situations where you can't back up (indoors).

First off, I think that "I AM DOING THIS FOR FREE (just to get that out of the way, because it is my first wedding)!" is a bad idea.

If you were getting paid (or if you want to be perceived as professional) you will want to rent/borrow some form of back up equipment. This is someone's special day, are you willing to risk the photos, knowing that if the camera/lens/flash stops working (for any reason), you would be out of luck?
That is a big part of 'being prepared'.

Also, this may not matter, as you're doing this for free, but you should have a contract in place. At the very least, it should outline the expectations for you and for them...so that there are no surprises and/or hurt feelings afterward.

As for 'being prepared'...this is always what wracks my nerves before a wedding. Did I pack everything I'll need? The camera gear is the easy part. What about extra clothes, in case something happens to the clothes you're wearing. What about medication for something that might come up...headache, nausea, diarrhea etc? I always bring a small cooler with water and something with sugar (juice or pop). A tripod can often come in handy. A step ladder is a very useful thing to have.
Be prepared for any likely weather...jacket, umbrella in case of rain...maybe and extra shirt if it's so hot that you sweat though your first one.

My last wedding was a 4 hour drive away and I was there for two nights. I went over everything, trying to think of what I might need. I was 3/4 of the way there when I realized I forgot to bring any sort of jacket (forecast called for rain). I had to stop and buy one.

This is the difference between being a professional and just being a guy with a camera. A professional is prepared to get the job done.
But as you're doing this for free...I'm not sure your and their expectations will be...

Scary. Of all the weddings I've shot so far... clothes... was one thing that never even occurred to me. Great advice, Mike. (all of it- not just the clothes) Thank you.

BTW, I personally bring a cooler with two medium size bottles of gatorade and no less than three high-protein snack bars. Like 20g+. Weddings are a lot of work and moving around and you have to be on your game, and being undernourished and dehydrated is a no-win situation.

You know, I don't carry extra clothing or a change of clothes as a part of my kit either. Although after reading Mike's response I think I should have been doing it! I guess I've been damn lucky!

To add on: a kit with white & black thread, shoelaces and safety pins as well as band-aids, some Pepto pills and so forth. If something important is going to let go, it's going to do it at the wors possible time, and as one of the few sane people there, you can gain a HUGE amount of good karma (and word of mouth) if you can simply reach into your gadget bag and pull out something that will save the day.

 

[Big Mike]

Mike-How is the recovery time with them? Are they as good as the ULD Eneloops for that?

I've never used actual Eneloops. I've used Alkaline and several brands of NiMH.

The old Energizers/Duracells (& some other brands that I have) work well, as long as you charge them up before the wedding. I'm likely going to do this anyway, so it was never an issue that they will self discharge. I looked at the Eneloops, but they had a lower capacity and cost more. Sure, the Ultra Low Discharge is great, but for a wedding photographer's flash, you're going to want them fully charged anyway. But for things like remotes, meters or anything that won't typically run dry in a days shooting, they are great.

In the last year, I've picked up some new Energizers. They don't actually say ULD on the package, so I wasn't sure what I was getting. But I've found that they hold a charge much better/longer than the old ones.

The recharge rate with all the NiMH batteries I've tried, has been very good. The big benefit is that they maintain a pretty consistent recharge, until they are down to 10-20% (almost dead)....then they slow down, so I know to change them right away. With Alkaline, the recharge rate slows down gradually, which is a PITA. Back when I used them, I would use them in a flash until I noticed the slow down, then I'd put them in remote controls or kids toys and they would last another year. Plus, they usually end up in a landfill, which doesn't sit well with me.

The one thing about lithium, is that they are light. In the odd case that I had to measure every ounce I carried, lithium might be an option...but again, not rechargeable.
Too bad they can't make lithium Ion batteries in a AA format.

 

[Big Mike]

To add on: a kit with white & black thread, shoelaces and safety pins as well as band-aids, some Pepto pills and so forth. If something important is going to let go, it's going to do it at the wors possible time, and as one of the few sane people there, you can gain a HUGE amount of good karma (and word of mouth) if you can simply reach into your gadget bag and pull out something that will save the day.

Good point. I always have a 'kit' like that too.

 

[tirediron]

Something else I thought would have been posted by now, but I didn't see (if I'm duplicating someone, sorry). As soon as you can before the event, at the time of day the wedding will happen, scout the location. Bring your camera/light-meter and meet with the Rector/Deacon. Find out where you can stand, and where you can't stand and what the churches 'dos and don'ts' list is. Find out where the guests are going to be, what the route of the processional and recessional will be, as well as where the register signing will take place. KNOW WHAT YOUR CAMERA'S MAX USABLE ISO IS!

Find out where & when the bride will arrive and be waiting. You do NOT want to be sitting on a back pew waiting and hear "Here comes the bride" start up. Know where you're going to park, have change for the meter if required. What about formals? Do they want/are you doingformals and if so where? Do plans change if it rains? Are you shooting the reception, if so do you know where it is, where you will park and how to get there. Talk to the couple and find out if there are 'must have' shots, when & where the boquet toss & cake cutting will be.

Plus a bunch more stuff I can't remember right now.

 

[MLeeK]

care to provide an example of a proper contract? or where to get one? or what you guys use? how its worded etc...

Try looking here

 

[leeroix]

hahaha yeah i know... just wondering if anybody with extensive wedding experience had a less generic, more polished version or some other info or insight to provide but now that i think about it, that pretty much sums it up...

CYA right?

 

[MLeeK]

You really have to have an extensive contract reviewed by an attorney and that has a lot to do with why we don't share them. Legalities vary by state, etc. That and it costs us quite a bit in legal fees to get our stuff to that perfect point... Kind of something I am not gonna give away, KWIM? There are some really great ones on the internet that you can purchase and tweak from there very cheap and if you really dig with google you'll find some great ones free that you can use and tweak.

 

[macpro88]

again thanks everyone for the continued notes and suggestions It means a lot. I am deff learning and gaining knowledge from you guys that I never knew existed haha

 

[DiskoJoe]

Do a shoot with couple before the wedding so they get used to you pointing the camera at them. You want them loose and comfortable around you.

Dont screw up the ceremony.

Tell them to hold the kiss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You need flash for the party and may need to rent an extra.

 

[joshhuntnm]

get comfortable shoes.

 

[manaheim]

get comfortable shoes.

omg yes. Good point. You can be on your feet for like 12-14 hours, easily... with maybe 2-3 breaks. Get some shoes that will allow you to stand for a long time without too much pain.

DON'T WEAR FRIGGIN' SNEAKERS.

For that matter, don't wear anything casual. You should be dressed in at LEAST business casual. For most of my weddings, I wear suit pants, a white shirt, dress shoes and a tie. If it's a dressier wedding I will wear a suit coat as well, but I try to avoid it as it is restrictive and photography is hot work.

And yes, I've seen photographers and videographers show up in jeans, sneakers... and one guy even had a bag that said RUSH 2112 on the side in giant letters. UNACCEPTABLE.

 

[bratkinson]

How's your white balance skills? My first/last/only/never again wedding shoot with my DSLR was 5 months ago, as 'family', rather than 'photographer'. I didn't know snot about white balance at the point. I left my 60D in Auto White Balance and fired away. The incandescent lighting turned the shoot into a complete disaster...especially the wall sconce lights I hadn't notice when taking pictures. Fortunately, I had learned to shoot in RAW+JPG, so I managed to sort-of salvage what I shot with Lightroom...which was also completely new to me a month earlier. Learning about white balance and Lightroom "under fire" is =NOT= the way to do it!

 

[macpro88]

More excellent points, thanks guys. And yeah, I know to wear to appropriate dress attire lol I wear business casual for work everyday so no biggie there.

AND HOLD THE KISS. Got it. DO NOT WANT TO FORGET THAT! haha

How's your white balance skills? My first/last/only/never again wedding shoot with my DSLR was 5 months ago, as 'family', rather than 'photographer'. I didn't know snot about white balance at the point. I left my 60D in Auto White Balance and fired away. The incandescent lighting turned the shoot into a complete disaster...especially the wall sconce lights I hadn't notice when taking pictures. Fortunately, I had learned to shoot in RAW+JPG, so I managed to sort-of salvage what I shot with Lightroom...which was also completely new to me a month earlier. Learning about white balance and Lightroom "under fire" is =NOT= the way to do it!

I will deff check my WB for sure. I only shoot RAW though and with CS6+ACR7 I'll be able to fix the WB. I've screwed up WB several times and ACR has saved those images big time.



Thanks again everyone!