Wedding Photography - Help

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5 Mar 2005 - 12:59 PM

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ginz04

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5 Mar 2005 - 1:16 PM

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Hi phil the place to start after youve had your first anxiety attack is to plan and prepare for this there very special day.

Tip 1 - take 2 of everything - batteries, camera and flashes etc.

Tip 2 - go and suzz out all venues - ensure you know how to get to each how quickly - know where the good spots are for taking pics.

Tip 3 - plan your day like a miltary operation - what pictures in what order with what lense at what venue at what time etc etc etc.

Tip 4 - discuss everything with your couple make sure they agree.

Tip 5 - Plan what ifs - what if it rains where do i take pictures - it can rain september, october, july any month - this is England.

Tip 6 - well ill let someone else come in here ..........




hope this helps ian

dougv (e2 Member)

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5 Mar 2005 - 1:34 PM

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Phil,

You could always sell your camera gear and take up another hobby until after the Wedding...

Just a thought.

;o)

Doug

bpa

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5 Mar 2005 - 1:38 PM

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If you're doing it as a one off, then I wouldn't go down the route of asking to assist or shadow a local pro, but that's not to say you can't go and watch a few local weddings. There are usually a number of the general public watching weddings, if only from a distance, watch how the pro works and pic up as many ideas as possible. You are probably going to concentrate on formals, but don't ignore candids, everytime you have a camera in your hand (probably all the time) there are opportunities for a photo, look for them and don't be shy.

Know your equipment and definitely know your equipment, oh yes and don't forget, know your equipment. I can't stress enough that the wedding day is not the time to try something new with your gear, learn to change settings and function without having to stop the procedings, it should be like driving a car, where the concentration is on the road and other road users, not the clutch or gears!

Talk at length with the couple about their expectations, don't accept that they are happy with whatever you do, because they won't be, no matter how close your relationship, you have one opportunity to get it right and one opportunity to ruin everything!!!

As for posing coules and parties, you need a helper, your own wife, someone to organise people, someone who can be firm but pleasant. Don't forget you are a man on a mission, a mission to provide the best you can. You also need to control other snappers on the day, it's down to you to say; 'Can you all wait until I have taken the shot before taking yours', their flash, small though it may be, will be very distracting to the couple/group and can mess up your exposure.

Look for inspiration on other professional photographers websites, a great number have online galleries where you can view a complete wedding shoot, some great and some not so great, but you will only see the best from that shoot.

There's loads more and no doubt others will advise, if your lucky you'll get the benefit of some of the pro's on this site, most of all, enjoy it!


Stephen

dougv (e2 Member)

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5 Mar 2005 - 1:52 PM

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Phil,
Steven has given you some excellent advice there.
As he says, know your equipment.

If you are buying new kit for the shoot, don't forget to learn how it works.

I did a Wedding last year for some friends.
It was the 2nd time for both of them, so they didn't want to go to the expense of hiring a pro.

My wife said I would do it for nothing!
I did get a new flash and printer out of it, but was way out of pocket.

Good Luck!

Doug

Anthony (e2 Member)

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5 Mar 2005 - 3:23 PM

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Hi Paul, i hope you dont mind, I would'nt mind a copy too. Would it be ok for me to mail you too?

Anthony

paulowen

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5 Mar 2005 - 3:46 PM

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Hi again.

I've posted the file here for anybody that may find it useful. I've changed it from my name to that of ePHOTOzine so I hope nobody minds? If anybody objects I will of course remove the file immediately I just thought it better than me advertising my business at every opportunity.


Wedding List

User_Removed

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5 Mar 2005 - 9:34 PM

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Interesting list Paul

A couple of observations though.

Firstly - you make no mention of photographs during the service - most couples would rate this as pretty essential. In my considerable experience I have only rarely been prevented from not taking photos during a service (i.e. in 75 weddings last year, only on 2 occasions were photos not permitted and in both cases it was due to limitations on space rather than for any other reason).

Secondly, you mention signing the register. In fact, you are not supposed to photograph the register actually being signed. If the wedding is taking place in the presence of a superintendant registrar (i.e. civil ceremonies and most church ceremonies that are not Church of England/Wales) the registrar may prevent you from doing so (he/she does have the power under the Marriage Act) and the majority of professionals usually wait and pose the couple after the signing as a courtesy to the registrar if nothing else.

The reason for this is mainly to prevent the couple being distracted during what is the most important legal point of the entire ceremony. If the couple are not paying full attention, it is possible for the register entry to be completed inaccurately which can effectively invalidates the entry and can cause all manner of future complications.

Hope you don't mind me mentioning it but I don't want to see any person new to the business causing any unecessary upset at a wedding by antagonising the Registrar!

Barrie