I'm gonna shoot a wedding! What do I need to know?!!

[pgriz]

I got a DSLR camera - check.

I got a zoom lens - check.

I got three 8GB memory cards - check.

I got a flash - check.

I got a client who likes my snapshots - check.


Woohoo, let's party!



Um. No, I’m not. Sure, I have a camera. And a bunch of lenses. And flashes. And I have photoshop. And I have years of photographic experience. And I also have the sense to know that I will not be able to do the job properly. Any activity that is a one-time event, conducted under uncontrolled conditions, with a large number of people who may or may not be inebriated, in several different locations, and where social status and presentation is really important, is not a place for the unprepared.


I’ve been at a number of weddings, and have seen both successful and not-so-successful examples of wedding photography. The successful ones planned the snot out of the event, had backup equipment and backup shooters and backup transportation. They had a preplanned list of “key” moments, and they went through the entire process with the B&G, their wedding organizer, and the Maid of Honour (in many cases the conductor/director of this event). The bridal party knew when the shots would be taken and what they needed to do for the photos to work. And after all was shot, the post-processing was done quickly and the deliverables were in the hands of the wedding party within a month.


The less stellar performances usually involved nice, well-meaning people, who were “going with the flow” to not intrude on this solemn occasion. They forgot that Murphy and his cousin were showing up, uninvited. They were surprised that the conditions were not what they were expecting. They didn’t have a clear shooting schedule and some key moments were missed as the wedding party wasn’t trying to coordinate things. They got lost getting to the reception due to an unplanned detour, and ….


If you want to shoot weddings, wonderful. But this is a little like competing at the Olympics. A lot of stuff has to go right and be planned and prepared for, and until you’ve got the experience (read: scar-tissue) behind you, you just don’t know what has to happen, what WILL happen, and how to recover. So do yourself a favour and learn the trade of being a wedding photographer – you will have a better results, have happier clients, and even make some money.


If you really want to do it, then also learn from others. A small list of possible information sources is below:

Wedding Photography -- A Primer - Photo.net Wedding and social event photography Forum

A Wedding Photographer Primer: Tips for Photographing Weddings | Suite101.com

Wedding Photojournalist Association® | WPJA® | Wedding Photojournalism Photos and Wedding Photographers Resources | Reportage and Candid (Lots of really good articles here)


Over the years, I’ve made my living providing project management services to various enterprises and businesses. In terms of planning and dealing with the unexpected, weddings are high up on the list of “potential disasters in the making”. Wedding photography is about 10% photography and 90% planning, preparation, execution and coordination. I know I can do the photography part, “if everything goes well”. That’s why I don’t do wedding photography. There’s just too much other stuff to deal with if it’s not my main profession.


For those of you who do it, and do it well, you have my profound respect, and appreciation. For the rest – learn the trade, go through an apprenticeship, and aquire the necessary technical resources and skills. But don’t let your ego screw up somebody’s lifetime memories.


Oh, and the above is just my opinion. But I've been a witness to enough train-wrecks to recognize that good intentions do not always end up with the desired result.

 

[PhotoTish]

Aaaaargh! Wait! You forgot the supersized watermark!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Just kidding

 

[sanderso]

Looks like this is destined to be a sticky thread.

 

[madbalsam]

You have to check out the lighting in the venue especially if you do not own lights. Also, it is always a nice touch to keep shots candid. Oh yeah...and a watermark seems to be a nice idea. LOL

 

[The_Traveler]

If you can't look at any (and I mean any) situation and know exactly how you would nail the shot with the equipment that you have and are absolutely familiar with using, you aren't ready to do that kind of event for money.

 

[2WheelPhoto]

I see the link resources that appear informative. Hopefully you'll share some pics afterwards.

 

[vtf]

Looks like this is destined to be a sticky thread.

It may, but people don't read how to upload photos so the threads will keep coming. :er:

 

[sanderso]

Looks like this is destined to be a sticky thread.

It may, but people don't read how to upload photos so the threads will keep coming. :er:

Ah yes...good point...

 

[flea77]

The phone number to a good attorney would be helpful in this situation

Allan

 

[Kerbouchard]

If you can't look at any (and I mean any) situation and know exactly how you would nail the shot with the equipment that you have and are absolutely familiar with using, you aren't ready to do that kind of event for money.

One small nit...It's not so important that you know exactly how to nail whatever shot you are taking in whatever situation. That should be a given.

The important part is to know which shots you can't nail and to choose a better shot. Nothing worse than taking horrible shots just because those were the best you could get given the situation. Just because the mother of the bride thinks all of the formals should be taken in direct sun with the Pilgrim's Pride Plant in the background doesn't mean that's where all the formals should be. The, well, uh, that was the best I could get because the situation sucks just isn't good enough. It is up to the photographer to find a good location, properly light it, and give stellar results.

Too often, 'pseudo-pros' do the best they can under the circumstances when if they would have just used their expertise to make the circumstances better, they would have ended up with vastly different results.

Sometimes the shot just isn't there, and no amount of Photoshop is going to fix it...Pick a different shot.

 

[pgriz]

I see the link resources that appear informative. Hopefully you'll share some pics afterwards.

If that statement was directed at me, the OP, then no. I plan to leave the official wedding photography to the true pros.

 

[Derrel]

If you can't look at any (and I mean any) situation and know exactly how you would nail the shot with the equipment that you have and are absolutely familiar with using, you aren't ready to do that kind of event for money.

Well-stated. Well-stated.