How do you do to shoot a first wedding?

[kathyt]

The best bet would be to find a wedding photographer and offer to be their 2nd shooter, even for free. Go with them, learn what it takes...see how "unfun" it can be. lol. Have them show you the ropes. Then when your confident you have the skill and equipment, do one on your own.

My 2 cents.

This, EXCEPT they are very fun. I enjoy them greatly. You get back what you put in.

Yeah I put my own opinion on there. lol. the photogs I have shot with and learned from as their 2nd shooter LOVE what they do. You may love it. I did not. lol.

I do like doing 2nd shooter though. I like the freedom to roam and do what I want.

Yes, second shooting has its perks for sure. Especially when I am sitting in front of thousands of images to cull through and my second shooter is lounging by her pool!

 

[MiFleur]

OMG, you're asking for for wedding shooting advice before going ahead and getting your first booking? Isn't that all backwards?

Definately go second shoot as said aleady.

Also, when you're starting to feel ready to go solo, maybe think about shooting some other events as official photographer - ok, a kids birthday / pub quiz / office event is not same same as a wedding, but it'll build your confidence at being the main / only photographer and working with large groups of strangers, but without the danger of the brides mother killing you if all does go wrong.

I know you've shot events unofficially, but taking money for it and being there in an official capacity can make it feel quite different. Even just being there officially to take photos makes it feel quite different even if there's no money involved as you're expected to deliver.

I am not asking for wedding shooting advice, if you read what I wrote, it says: how do you do to shoot a first wedding, I guess that everybody out there had a first time, if you are in this business you started somewhere!

I never said I would take money, I said , I want to gain experience and want to do it for free, It would be advisable to read what a person says before answering.

But I agree with everybody's suggestion to be a second shooter. If I do not start somewhere I guess the whole thing is going to stall, I am here to go forward.

 

[ralphh]

I am not asking for wedding shooting advice, if you read what I wrote, it says: how do you do to shoot a first wedding

So you're not looking for shooting advice, just advice on how to shoot it....

My goodness, how could i possibly have got confused.... So do you mean how to get your first booking?

I certainly don't see the need for your stroppy response when all i did was try to help by answering what i thought was your question.

If you think i was having a dig at you with the first sentence try re-reading it.. It was a playful poke at the 100's of people that realise they have no idea what they're doing and start asking for basic advice when it's all too late. Ie not you. I even 'liked' you post. Certainly regretting that now.

 

[MiFleur]

First of all, good on you for admitting your weakness in some areas, lots of people won't, many of them are on this forum, and more show up everyday. As some have said talk to other experienced professional photographers where you live, take along a portfolio of what you have and offer to help out, not even as a second shooter, that would still require you to really work, but see if you can just be there and watch, shooting as a third, as long as you don't feel any pressure to work, there won't be any added stress. You'll learn more by watching at this point and shooting a little, than shooting a lot and missing how things are done.

If you are lucky enough to find an experienced full time professional that can help you out, go for it.

thanks for this suggestion to watch and learn, it is a good idea, I am just wondering how many pros are willing to do just that? let someone learn by looking at them

So is it something you pros are asked for and do you allow other photographer to attend your wedding so they can learn.

 

[MiFleur]

My advice is to shoot your first wedding at someone's second wedding. Less pressure.

This is exactly what I am trying to do, my friend is not hiring anybody, she does not want to, and yes I would feel pressure if she was expecting something from me, It is her second wedding and she does not care too much about the pictures.
I do not want to accept any money from her before the wedding, there is no contract, just an opportunity to gain experience. If some of the shots turn out good, she can buy them if she wants, if she does not want.... I will just have a little bit less space left on my hard drive!

 

[MiFleur]

This, EXCEPT they are very fun. I enjoy them greatly. You get back what you put in.

Yeah I put my own opinion on there. lol. the photogs I have shot with and learned from as their 2nd shooter LOVE what they do. You may love it. I did not. lol.

I do like doing 2nd shooter though. I like the freedom to roam and do what I want.

Yes, second shooting has its perks for sure. Especially when I am sitting in front of thousands of images to cull through and my second shooter is lounging by her pool!

I really do not mind the lounging part as a second shooter!

 

[MiFleur]

I am not asking for wedding shooting advice, if you read what I wrote, it says: how do you do to shoot a first wedding

So you're not looking for shooting advice, just advice on how to shoot it....

My goodness, how could i possibly have got confused.... So do you mean how to get your first booking?

I certainly don't see the need for your stroppy response when all i did was try to help by answering what i thought was your question.

If you think i was having a dig at you with the first sentence try re-reading it.. It was a playful poke at the 100's of people that realise they have no idea what they're doing and start asking for basic advice when it's all too late. Ie not you. I even 'liked' you post. Certainly regretting that now.

No I am not asking how to get my first booking, I am asking how to acquire the experience to eventually do that. I answered after reading your first comment, may be I should have wait to read further. I thought it was clear that my question was how to acquire the proper experience. I did not get your little smily
Wrong interpretation of someone's thought have lead to more wars than actual aggressiveness and this is not my goal. But yes I became stroppy ( thanks I learned a new word of english today) that is mainly because you answered "OMG" I did not get your sense of humour.

Hopefully I will find someone who want to have someone as a second shooter..

Once I have done a few weddings I am sure I will be back here with more questions.

 

[ralphh]

In that case I'm sorry for any upset i caused you.. I could have made it clearer what i meant rather than trying to be clever :hug::

 

[2WheelPhoto]

Big watermarkets, such and such photography facebook page is a great start too

 

[Tee]

A pro in 10 steps:

Step 1: Purchase Canon Rebel (preferably the T2i cause they're cheaper now and come with a rad kit lens) - take pictures of flowers and your children

Step 2: Upload pictures to Picassa or some other free editing software and add "flashy effects"

Step 3: Post pictures on Facebook where friends feel obligated to say nice things like "kewl" and "you have talent"

Step 4: Take nice comments from friends to heart and actually believe them - Offer free photography sessions to Facebook friends

Step 5: Open Facebook photography page and start calling those free sessions "shoots" as it sounds way cooler

Step 6: Token poor friend is getting married and asks you to "shoot" their wedding

Step 7: Sign up at TPF with opening post titled "HELP!"- claim you really don't want to do it but secretly you want to. Ignore members advice

Step 8: Shoot friends wedding with kit lens and pop-up flash

Step 9: Post results on TPF expecting pats on the back but instead receive harsh critique. Counter with "my friends are over the moon with the results"

Step 10: Create ad on Craigslist with a selling point of they get copyright, raw images, unlimited hours, and wallet sized photos for the low, low, price of $500. Display images on a cheap website like WIX or Weebly.

The end.

 

[MiFleur]

Tee,

Lol, I am a Nikon shooter, can't follow your advice!

 

[pgriz]

MiFleur, I have gone to many family weddings, and was the official "family" photographer. Meaning that the wedding already had their official "wedding" photographer (and usually a second), and I was free to shoot whatever I felt like shooting. My observation of the performace of these photographers have given me a great appreciation for the skill of the good ones. In no particular order the good ones:
- know the flow of the ceremony beforehand, and have choreographed where they will be to shoot each of the shots that need to be.
- have a clear list of "must" shots, and get them
- have the right equipment for the light situation, and have enough backup equipment when (notice that I did not say IF) things go south.
- have excellent skills at herding cats and handling drunk relatives, moving them into and out of position with little fuss and no missed moments
- are sufficiently unobstrusive that they are able to do their job without becoming the "stars" of the show.
- AND produce the promised materials (CD's, prints, albums, etc.) on time and without drama.

The not-so-good ones... mess up on one or more of the above.

It's pretty awesome to see the good ones go through their paces - smooth, focused, effective, and at the right place at the right time pretty much all the time.

 

[sandraadamson]

I am always looking for assistants and second shooters to help me on weddings so I'm sure you will be able to find a wedding photographer in your area to assist. I love wedding photography. Enjoy your friends day and photographing it!

 

[MiFleur]

MiFleur, I have gone to many family weddings, and was the official "family" photographer. Meaning that the wedding already had their official "wedding" photographer (and usually a second), and I was free to shoot whatever I felt like shooting. My observation of the performace of these photographers have given me a great appreciation for the skill of the good ones. In no particular order the good ones:
- know the flow of the ceremony beforehand, and have choreographed where they will be to shoot each of the shots that need to be.
- have a clear list of "must" shots, and get them
- have the right equipment for the light situation, and have enough backup equipment when (notice that I did not say IF) things go south.
- have excellent skills at herding cats and handling drunk relatives, moving them into and out of position with little fuss and no missed moments
- are sufficiently unobstrusive that they are able to do their job without becoming the "stars" of the show.
- AND produce the promised materials (CD's, prints, albums, etc.) on time and without drama.

The not-so-good ones... mess up on one or more of the above.

It's pretty awesome to see the good ones go through their paces - smooth, focused, effective, and at the right place at the right time pretty much all the time.

Thanks so much for your precious sense of observation, I specially like the one that says handling drunk relatives, It is true that many people photograph a wedding with the right equipment, but to get the most out of people, I think it is important to learn the human skill of knowing how not to steal the show!

I hated my photographer at my own wedding, now when I look at my wedding pictures, the memory is still there. I agree so much with you!

thanks for sharing your experience!

 

[MiFleur]

I am always looking for assistants and second shooters to help me on weddings so I'm sure you will be able to find a wedding photographer in your area to assist. I love wedding photography. Enjoy your friends day and photographing it!

Glad to know there is one out there that is looking for assistants. It gives me hope that there may be others as well.