RabbitCatCat
TPF Noob!
- Joined
- May 19, 2013
- Messages
- 41
- Reaction score
- 4
- Location
- Michigan
- Can others edit my Photos
- Photos OK to edit
hi there,
This past Saturday I was the photographer at a cousin of mine's wedding. We aren't close, he is my second cousin so it's not like he tricked me into with family bonds or something. He just approached and said his fiance loves my photography and would like me to do their wedding. I told them I have never done a wedding, and that even though my photos of sessions she likes, I don't have the experience to pull off a wedding.. but they also are very humble people and couldn't afford to hire even the most basic professional at $500 so I did do the wedding despite every thing I've ever read advices you not to.
I don't regret doing the wedding. It was a very humble and plain event, as far as scenery, decorations, location etc went. Out in the country, nothing but mosquitos, a brown river, and lots of green trees. The bridal party looked VERY GOOD! I was happy to see that! I think that's where the entire budget went. Now I don't judge people who do not have money for things like a professional and I don't look at this as a black and white scenario, the advice is to say no but remember that's in general. If I hadn't of done their photos, who would? They deserve wedding photo's too, but I don't have the money to hire a pro for them! So, I did it.
I studied hard. I practiced harder! All that practice taught me so much about my camera. I shoot in manual now and prefer it over AP which is what I always shot in before. Now that I understand the relationship between the three elements so much better the manual mode makes me feel more secure over what I am creating in camera.
Anyway it went good, bad and got down right ugly. I knew that they wouldn't be as invested in the photography as I myself am. It was difficult to get everyone to group together when nobody pays attention to my little voice, but, I did bring an assistant and the brides sister is a photographer herself and they both tried to help out gathering up people.. why is this part so difficult? I did prepare myself reading to have the maid of honor and best man to help out with different things, but they were so busy themselves..
I did ok. I did bad. I did good.
What went bad and good at the wedding.. please read if you've never done a wedding and are planning to, this could help you. Please read if you're experienced in weddings and would like to shed some light on these things.
Slight issue: What I kept forgetting was to switch from my outdoor settings back to manual when I would go indoors. I couldn't really save any one setting for indoors on u2 (outdoors was on u1) because there were a variety of lighting situations indoors.. yet I'd have it on u1 and totally forget for a few frames. Luckily nothing was so underexposed that I wasn't able to fix it in post, thank you raw.
My goal is to always get it right in camera of course.
My first worst issue is composition. I may need some help, when we tried to pose them at the bottom of the hill for the river to be in the bg there were too many mosquitos, bride wasn't having it and moved halfway up the hill. Where did my basic posing knowledge go, because I forgot that posing on the side of a hill is a HUGE ugly thing to do.. is there anyway I can salvage these photos? Either the horizon is tilted or if I straighten the horizon they look like they are standing crooked wah. I can't believe I did this.
Slight issue: I did bring water but didn't drink enough and became dehydrated. This might not be an issue for most people, but I have a very sensitive bladder and if I am not constantly drinking water I am in PAIN. (I have ulcers in my bladder sorry for so much info) so part way through I got hit by the pain and had to take a moment to myself, this was when people were just milling about, and I downed water quickly and then bared through the pain until it passed.
DONT FORGET TO DRINK WATER. I didn't see that on ANY advice articles I read.
My second worst issue was where to stand and take photos during the ceremony. I gave my friend my 70-200mm lens to take photos from the front, and I went behind them and took photos. They turned out ok. I feel pretty badly, they are just above snapshot quality in my opinion.
My third worst issue was trying to get the bride and groom to get along.. after the best man said 'you look so lovely in your dress you can't even tell you're pregnant' for his speech, that was his whole speech, they were livid with each other. They wouldn't do any more of the traditional activities.. they did cut the cake but with angry faces, and so I am going to have to crop those in. They wouldn't do the dance even, but I finally talked them into it. They asked me to leave after that because they were not in the mood. Ok.. so I left. Mistake on my part, I was already there for 8 hours though, but it looks like on facebook people took camera phone photos of them doing all the things they wouldn't do for me.. so I was glad to see they patched it up but disappointed in myself for missing those photos of them. (bouquet toss, garter belt, they redid the cake thing, and people finally started dancing where before the DJ was there for 2 hours and nobody danced).. I did get the bride to do a few poses with her leg and garter out, since they were not yet getting along. She was more pliable, the groom was like stony faced and told me they were DONE with photos and that was it.
My fourth worst issue was taking prep shots. How does one go about this in a crowded, cluttered, messy room, of people wearing pajama's and not even cute ones, with stuff all over the place.. how does one get such lovely photos? Mine did not look lovely, creative cropping is going to have to come into play here. Any advice on this?
My fifth worst issue I had was dealing with impatient parents of the children in the wedding, not wanting them in their nice clothes for too long, rushing the photos because of it, and over my shoulder every 2 minutes asking me how long it will be. I told her.. look this is her wedding, we need to get more photos.. but because of that the bride/groom photos were cut short.. and I didn't get nearly enough variety. I also went blank on poses, I read advice to take photos of poses you like with the memory card you plan to use, then when you get a blank just look at the images and you'll refresh yourself. I should have done this. PLEASE do that if you are going to do a wedding for the first time!
My sixth worst issue was not knowing how to make a very inexpensive wedding in a very dirty venue look good. I did ok. Like the cake was in a concrete garage type room, with spiderwebs, old plastic chairs, beat up equipment, etc etc
What went correctly:
1. I felt confident with my camera and lens, prepared with batteries, back ups, memory cards etc
2. Having an assistant was good just for moral support alone so bring one!
3. I did manage to get many nice photos and I will be able to create a story type album for them.
4. People skills were very good other than my soft voice.
5. I didn't forget how to work my camera or freeze up or forget the exposure triangle or anything like that. I knew how to compensate for the glaring sun at the 3:00pm outdoor ceremony. Some hot spots that were unexpected did show up in one set of photos though.
I think this is a thread to help those who are in the same position I was in. Can people with more experience give some input on the things that went wrong, and how others in the future can handle it (myself included) if I ever do a wedding again. Yes, I would like to one day be a professional wedding photographer, but I know my limits.
Thanks for reading, I'll share photos later. Still processing them.
This past Saturday I was the photographer at a cousin of mine's wedding. We aren't close, he is my second cousin so it's not like he tricked me into with family bonds or something. He just approached and said his fiance loves my photography and would like me to do their wedding. I told them I have never done a wedding, and that even though my photos of sessions she likes, I don't have the experience to pull off a wedding.. but they also are very humble people and couldn't afford to hire even the most basic professional at $500 so I did do the wedding despite every thing I've ever read advices you not to.
I don't regret doing the wedding. It was a very humble and plain event, as far as scenery, decorations, location etc went. Out in the country, nothing but mosquitos, a brown river, and lots of green trees. The bridal party looked VERY GOOD! I was happy to see that! I think that's where the entire budget went. Now I don't judge people who do not have money for things like a professional and I don't look at this as a black and white scenario, the advice is to say no but remember that's in general. If I hadn't of done their photos, who would? They deserve wedding photo's too, but I don't have the money to hire a pro for them! So, I did it.
I studied hard. I practiced harder! All that practice taught me so much about my camera. I shoot in manual now and prefer it over AP which is what I always shot in before. Now that I understand the relationship between the three elements so much better the manual mode makes me feel more secure over what I am creating in camera.
Anyway it went good, bad and got down right ugly. I knew that they wouldn't be as invested in the photography as I myself am. It was difficult to get everyone to group together when nobody pays attention to my little voice, but, I did bring an assistant and the brides sister is a photographer herself and they both tried to help out gathering up people.. why is this part so difficult? I did prepare myself reading to have the maid of honor and best man to help out with different things, but they were so busy themselves..
I did ok. I did bad. I did good.
What went bad and good at the wedding.. please read if you've never done a wedding and are planning to, this could help you. Please read if you're experienced in weddings and would like to shed some light on these things.
Slight issue: What I kept forgetting was to switch from my outdoor settings back to manual when I would go indoors. I couldn't really save any one setting for indoors on u2 (outdoors was on u1) because there were a variety of lighting situations indoors.. yet I'd have it on u1 and totally forget for a few frames. Luckily nothing was so underexposed that I wasn't able to fix it in post, thank you raw.
My goal is to always get it right in camera of course.
My first worst issue is composition. I may need some help, when we tried to pose them at the bottom of the hill for the river to be in the bg there were too many mosquitos, bride wasn't having it and moved halfway up the hill. Where did my basic posing knowledge go, because I forgot that posing on the side of a hill is a HUGE ugly thing to do.. is there anyway I can salvage these photos? Either the horizon is tilted or if I straighten the horizon they look like they are standing crooked wah. I can't believe I did this.
Slight issue: I did bring water but didn't drink enough and became dehydrated. This might not be an issue for most people, but I have a very sensitive bladder and if I am not constantly drinking water I am in PAIN. (I have ulcers in my bladder sorry for so much info) so part way through I got hit by the pain and had to take a moment to myself, this was when people were just milling about, and I downed water quickly and then bared through the pain until it passed.
DONT FORGET TO DRINK WATER. I didn't see that on ANY advice articles I read.
My second worst issue was where to stand and take photos during the ceremony. I gave my friend my 70-200mm lens to take photos from the front, and I went behind them and took photos. They turned out ok. I feel pretty badly, they are just above snapshot quality in my opinion.
My third worst issue was trying to get the bride and groom to get along.. after the best man said 'you look so lovely in your dress you can't even tell you're pregnant' for his speech, that was his whole speech, they were livid with each other. They wouldn't do any more of the traditional activities.. they did cut the cake but with angry faces, and so I am going to have to crop those in. They wouldn't do the dance even, but I finally talked them into it. They asked me to leave after that because they were not in the mood. Ok.. so I left. Mistake on my part, I was already there for 8 hours though, but it looks like on facebook people took camera phone photos of them doing all the things they wouldn't do for me.. so I was glad to see they patched it up but disappointed in myself for missing those photos of them. (bouquet toss, garter belt, they redid the cake thing, and people finally started dancing where before the DJ was there for 2 hours and nobody danced).. I did get the bride to do a few poses with her leg and garter out, since they were not yet getting along. She was more pliable, the groom was like stony faced and told me they were DONE with photos and that was it.
My fourth worst issue was taking prep shots. How does one go about this in a crowded, cluttered, messy room, of people wearing pajama's and not even cute ones, with stuff all over the place.. how does one get such lovely photos? Mine did not look lovely, creative cropping is going to have to come into play here. Any advice on this?
My fifth worst issue I had was dealing with impatient parents of the children in the wedding, not wanting them in their nice clothes for too long, rushing the photos because of it, and over my shoulder every 2 minutes asking me how long it will be. I told her.. look this is her wedding, we need to get more photos.. but because of that the bride/groom photos were cut short.. and I didn't get nearly enough variety. I also went blank on poses, I read advice to take photos of poses you like with the memory card you plan to use, then when you get a blank just look at the images and you'll refresh yourself. I should have done this. PLEASE do that if you are going to do a wedding for the first time!
My sixth worst issue was not knowing how to make a very inexpensive wedding in a very dirty venue look good. I did ok. Like the cake was in a concrete garage type room, with spiderwebs, old plastic chairs, beat up equipment, etc etc
What went correctly:
1. I felt confident with my camera and lens, prepared with batteries, back ups, memory cards etc
2. Having an assistant was good just for moral support alone so bring one!
3. I did manage to get many nice photos and I will be able to create a story type album for them.
4. People skills were very good other than my soft voice.
5. I didn't forget how to work my camera or freeze up or forget the exposure triangle or anything like that. I knew how to compensate for the glaring sun at the 3:00pm outdoor ceremony. Some hot spots that were unexpected did show up in one set of photos though.
I think this is a thread to help those who are in the same position I was in. Can people with more experience give some input on the things that went wrong, and how others in the future can handle it (myself included) if I ever do a wedding again. Yes, I would like to one day be a professional wedding photographer, but I know my limits.
Thanks for reading, I'll share photos later. Still processing them.