Shooting a wedding in 8 days!! HELP!!

[WesternGuy]

SabrinaO, years ago a friend of mind asked me if I would shoot her wedding - she couldn't pay me - low budget operation, but she was a good friend and did supply all the film - yup...film, it was that long ago - so I found a list of ESSENTIAL photographs and here it is - note that this represents a minimum of pictures you should take and maybe some you do not want to take for whatever reason. There are also a number you should take of the prep, both the bride's and the grooms, but I cannot help you there. A lot will depend on where the wedding is taking place and where the reception is taking place, but the advice you got earlier is excellent - go and scout the place out and note locations where you need to be to get the pictures that you need to get.

Note that any one of these suggestions, if relevant, may involve/require more than one picture and could cover several shots from different angles. I would take a minimum of two or three pictures (or more) for each of these.

Before and during the ceremony

1. Bride and father arriving.
2. Each person in wedding party coming down the aisle.
3. Exchange of rings.
4. Recitation of vows.
5. Friends reading from scripture.
6. Minister blessing the couple,
7. The kiss.
8. Other rituals.
9. Recessional. (Go to the back of the Church, assuming a Church wedding, or wherever it is happening.)


Formal pictures
1. Bride alone.
2. Groom alone.
3. Bride and groom with bride’s immediate family.
4. Bride and groom with groom’s immediate family.
5. Bride and groom with both sets of parents.
6. Bride and groom with maid of honour and best man.
7. Bride and groom.
8. Bridal couple with all attendants.
9. Bride with her bridesmaids.
10. Groom and his groomsmen.
11. Bride and her parents.
12. Groom and his parents.


The reception

1. Receiving line.
2. Bridal couple entering as Mr. And Mrs.
3. Best man making toast.
4. Other people toasting bride and/or groom
5. Bride and groom’s first dance.
6. Bride dancing with her father.
7. Groom dancing with his mother.
8. Cutting the cake.
9. Bride feeding cake to groom.
10. Groom feeding cake to bride.
11. Bride throwing bouquet.
12. Groom removing the bride’s garter.
13. Groom throwing garter.
14. Man putting garter on woman.
15. Guests at each table.
16. Bridal couple waving good bye.

Note this is not exhaustive and is intended only as an indication fo the types of things you could be taking.

Make sure all your batteries are fully charged and that you have at least one additional set of fully charged batteries for backup.

Have an extra camera, even if you have to rent one - if yours goes screwy you are in trouble, also, take an assistant, he/she can be changing lenses on one camera while you are shooting with the other - make sure you know all the ins and outs of both cameras - practice before the wedding...as well, lots of memory cards (at least 3 4Gb) - 1. for lots of pictures and 2. in case one fails as has been known to happen. SHOOT RAW or RAW + JPG. RAW makes for better editing of final results and jpgs can be shown as proofs if required.

I haven't read all the posts, but there maybe some suggestions as to lenses you might rent or acquire, I suspect something in the 40-70mm zoom, 24-105mm zoom, 80 mm, or even a 135mm might prove useful (you don't say what kind of gear you have - camera and kit lens??)

To all the cynics and naysayers, I would say this, my son got remarried a couple of years ago and shelled out big bucks for wedding pictures and the team included two photographers with an assistant - they were not happy with the results and had to threaten legal action to get a price reduction, the results they got did not match the portfolios they were shown which, of course, would set expectations. It sounds like Sabrina's clients know exactly what they are getting into and what type of results they can expect. As well, friends shoot friends weddings all the time - its a fact of life - not everyone, or couple, can afford the big bucks that pros charge these days, unfortunate in some ways, but that's life.

The only other advice I would give you, Sabrina, is to do some web searches and see what you can glean from this research. Hope all goes well. :mrgreen:

Cheers,

WesternGuy

 

[SabrinaO]

SabrinaO, years ago a friend of mind asked me if I would shoot her wedding - she couldn't pay me - low budget operation, but she was a good friend and did supply all the film - yup...film, it was that long ago - so I found a list of ESSENTIAL photographs and here it is - note that this represents a minimum of pictures you should take and maybe some you do not want to take for whatever reason. There are also a number you should take of the prep, both the bride's and the grooms, but I cannot help you there. A lot will depend on where the wedding is taking place and where the reception is taking place, but the advice you got earlier is excellent - go and scout the place out and note locations where you need to be to get the pictures that you need to get.

Note that any one of these suggestions, if relevant, may involve/require more than one picture and could cover several shots from different angles. I would take a minimum of two or three pictures (or more) for each of these.

Before and during the ceremony

1. Bride and father arriving.
2. Each person in wedding party coming down the aisle.
3. Exchange of rings.
4. Recitation of vows.
5. Friends reading from scripture.
6. Minister blessing the couple,
7. The kiss.
8. Other rituals.
9. Recessional. (Go to the back of the Church, assuming a Church wedding, or wherever it is happening.)


Formal pictures
1. Bride alone.
2. Groom alone.
3. Bride and groom with bride’s immediate family.
4. Bride and groom with groom’s immediate family.
5. Bride and groom with both sets of parents.
6. Bride and groom with maid of honour and best man.
7. Bride and groom.
8. Bridal couple with all attendants.
9. Bride with her bridesmaids.
10. Groom and his groomsmen.
11. Bride and her parents.
12. Groom and his parents.


The reception

1. Receiving line.
2. Bridal couple entering as Mr. And Mrs.
3. Best man making toast.
4. Other people toasting bride and/or groom
5. Bride and groom’s first dance.
6. Bride dancing with her father.
7. Groom dancing with his mother.
8. Cutting the cake.
9. Bride feeding cake to groom.
10. Groom feeding cake to bride.
11. Bride throwing bouquet.
12. Groom removing the bride’s garter.
13. Groom throwing garter.
14. Man putting garter on woman.
15. Guests at each table.
16. Bridal couple waving good bye.

Note this is not exhaustive and is intended only as an indication fo the types of things you could be taking.

Make sure all your batteries are fully charged and that you have at least one additional set of fully charged batteries for backup.

Have an extra camera, even if you have to rent one - if yours goes screwy you are in trouble, also, take an assistant, he/she can be changing lenses on one camera while you are shooting with the other - make sure you know all the ins and outs of both cameras - practice before the wedding...as well, lots of memory cards (at least 3 4Gb) - 1. for lots of pictures and 2. in case one fails as has been known to happen. SHOOT RAW or RAW + JPG. RAW makes for better editing of final results and jpgs can be shown as proofs if required.

I haven't read all the posts, but there maybe some suggestions as to lenses you might rent or acquire, I suspect something in the 40-70mm zoom, 24-105mm zoom, 80 mm, or even a 135mm might prove useful (you don't say what kind of gear you have - camera and kit lens??)

To all the cynics and naysayers, I would say this, my son got remarried a couple of years ago and shelled out big bucks for wedding pictures and the team included two photographers with an assistant - they were not happy with the results and had to threaten legal action to get a price reduction, the results they got did not match the portfolios they were shown which, of course, would set expectations. It sounds like Sabrina's clients know exactly what they are getting into and what type of results they can expect. As well, friends shoot friends weddings all the time - its a fact of life - not everyone, or couple, can afford the big bucks that pros charge these days, unfortunate in some ways, but that's life.

The only other advice I would give you, Sabrina, is to do some web searches and see what you can glean from this research. Hope all goes well. :mrgreen:

Cheers,

WesternGuy

You are AMAZING!!!! Thankyou for taking the time out to respond like this! HUGE HUGE HUGE help :hugs:
You really lit a fire under my butt...lol. I'm confident more than ever now going into this. Thank you so much!

 

[Rekd]

Excellent post, WesternGuy. I don't do weddings, but my friend's kid asked me to shoot theirs in 2012. I initially turned it down but I may take her up on it. I've got plenty of time to practice.

 

[sobolik]

I'm getting paid MAJOR money so I want the pics to be PERFECT because I never shot a wedding so I just need tips!
I'm shooting a wedding in someones home. I have two lenses... my kit lens and my 35mm 1.8. Which do you reccommend? If flash ISNT allowed, what do I do? And if flash IS allowed... what should my lighting setup be? I have an sb600 speedlight, an alien bee 800, shoot through umbrellas, a softbox, "the best DIY beauty dish" and a 5 in 1 reflector kit.
HELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLP!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am assuming this is digital? And I assume it is a decent megapixel? (for cropping)

W-I-D-E A-N-G-L-E
First of all " a wedding in someones home" tells me to break out my Tokina 12-24mm. I highly recommend that you get one first. I find it essential - period - must have. I did a wedding in a Door County wedding chapel almost exclusively with this lens. The Bridal Chapels of Door County & Green Bay - Door County Bridal Chapel Which included 2 receptions after as well. For tight spaces and indoors it is a must. You can get by with an 18mm but it is no where as wonderful as a 12mm. Have I made my point?

Furthermore the 12mm allows you to point it at a person and the others nearby don't think they are in the photo. THEY ARE! I get some of my best most expressive shots this way. I crop out several compositions from wide angle shots that still have enough resolution for 4x6 prints. I always shoot wider than what textbooks tell us to do for good compositions. You will fail to get those good compositions when under the gun of a wedding's pace. It is so easy to shoot wide and crop out the PERFECT crop in PP. I mean it can be the perfect crop. But if you shoot tight that crop is no longer an option. There will not be enough to work with. Shoot wide.

Also you set it at 12mm and hold it high above your head to get shots in tight spaces. The wide angle allows post processing to crop out a straight shot from the crooked original. I wish the D90 and the D7000 had the flip screen then I could see the scene even when held high over head. Do it! It gives you photos a Hollywood look with all the unusual angles. Especially when indoors and cramped.

Forget all you lighting gimmicks. umbrellas etc. The opportunities will have come and gone long before you have adjusted anything. People are not there to be models. They are not the slightest bit interested in being your photo shoot guinea pig.
Use bounce flash.
Pay attention. For example: If at all possible place a white sheet over a key window (attractive and professional) if the lighting coming through that window is going to produce difficult complications.
You must bring your A game. You must be on a roll. You must roll with the unfolding events rather than in any way shape or form expect that those events will wait for you. Forget the complicated lighting toys and aids. This is not a studio shoot.

 

[WesternGuy]

Sabriana, you are very welcome. It has always been my philosophy that forums such as this one are for sharing and so I try to share where I can. All I can do now is wish you good luck and hope that lt all turns out for the best of all concerned.

Cheers,

WesternGuy

 

[Tulsa]

I haven't read all the posts

WesternGuy

You really should have before you took all that time.

 

[OrionsByte]

I would stick to techniques you're familiar with rather than making the wedding your first attempt at something you've never tried before. Same with equipment; you don't want to be trying to figure out the capabilities of some rental equipment as you shoot the wedding.

How long have you known you would be doing this?

 

[Tulsa]

I haven't read all the posts

WesternGuy

You really should have before you took all that time.

I would stick to techniques you're familiar with rather than making the wedding your first attempt at something you've never tried before. Same with equipment; you don't want to be trying to figure out the capabilities of some rental equipment as you shoot the wedding.

How long have you known you would be doing this?

Really? Did you read the thread?

 

[OrionsByte]

I haven't read all the posts

WesternGuy

You really should have before you took all that time.

I would stick to techniques you're familiar with rather than making the wedding your first attempt at something you've never tried before. Same with equipment; you don't want to be trying to figure out the capabilities of some rental equipment as you shoot the wedding.

How long have you known you would be doing this?

Really? Did you read the thread?

Did you? She was playing up some of the details for laughs, but she's still doing a wedding next weekend, and she's still asking for advice. I wasn't being sarcastic or mean, I was just pointing out that there are photographic techniques that she knows better than others, and a wedding is not the time to try to go outside her comfort zone. I'm sure she'll do a fine job.

Sabrina, I wish you luck, have fun!

 

[Tulsa]

Did you? She was playing up some of the details for laughs, but she's still doing a wedding next weekend, and she's still asking for advice. I wasn't being sarcastic or mean, I was just pointing out that there are photographic techniques that she knows better than others, and a wedding is not the time to try to go outside her comfort zone. I'm sure she'll do a fine job.

Sabrina, I wish you luck, have fun!

I see where she says she is shooting a wedding, but nowhere she is asking for advice on how to do it

 

[sobolik]

Look, I am a newcomer here, but I'm shocked at some of the responses around. The person here is asking for help. Money consideration is their own personal issue mentioned in passing -- that of the person paying it and that of the person receiving it. Whether they're satisfied with the service provided or not, who're we to decide?

What money they get paid for doing a job is not our business and shouldn't have any role in giving advice on the forum.

The fact is that forums are full of predators ready to pounce and attack. One might assume that we are here to help beginners but the proof in the pudding is that a bunch of predatory attack dogs lurk internet forums.

 

[redcoat36]

They are all correct, I'm afraid. I agreed to do a wedding this summer even though I swore I never would...hardest day EVER! It is a TON of work and the stress is huge knowing that if you screw up, they don't have images for the most special day of their life. Money is a major component and I am glad she mentioned it because it appears the clients aren't expecting a "freebie" from someone they know is just starting out. Get yourself some good equipment, study lots and be prepared for lots of roadblocks, ie. bad weather, clients preoccupied, family interfering. There is a reason professional photographers get paid a lot, because it is A LOT of work! I'll never do it again! Good luck, my dear!

 

[WesternGuy]

I haven't read all the posts

WesternGuy

You really should have before you took all that time.

I eventually did read them all and, rest assured, it didn't take me a lot of time to put that post together - old list - cut and paste and a bit of editing. I don't want to get involved in all previous "discussion" but my philosophy is that forums are "people helping people" - I know I have gotten a lot of help over the years from people on different forums and as I said in my original post, as long as the people know what they are getting why should anybody else care, after all, no one is really going to change anyone's opinion or approach. Maybe that is not the best approach on my part, but it's their life and their wedding, who am I to tell them, or anyone else what to do. I am a live and let live kinda guy - that's all.

WesternGuy