Wedding photography tips...

[amdhappy]

I am taking some photos for a friend at his wedding soon and I am just looking for some tips and hints on the subjects.

Any advice?

Thanks

w.

[Benji]

K.I.S.S. is the best advice. Better to have lots of "safe" images than a bunch of shots where you attempted to get "artistic" and failed. Believe me I have been there and done that. Nothing is more heartbreaking than having the bride's joyous face turn to tears upon seeing your "artistic" images. So, I suggest getting the standard formally posed images AND then if you have the time get some "artsy" images also. That way everyone will be happy. Remember, not only does the bride need to be "picture happy" so does her mother!!!!

Benji

[Seltzer]

For us uninformed masses, what is "K.I.S.S." (the term, not the action)?

Okay, after posting I remembered, but I'll let you list it if you like.. :)

[mdwsta4]

KISS- Keep It Simple Stupid

i'd probably give you the same advise i recently gave another poster which is don't do it. or make sure they know you're not a pro (not sure what level your photography is at). like others have said, the bride and her family will be devastated (and upset!) if the photos don't come out the way they were hoping. go through typical poses and try getting some of your own style. make sure you have plenty of batteries, plenty of memory, the right kinds of lights (flashes, umbrellas, etc), the right kind of backdrop if necessary, the right kinds of lenses (low f-stop, wide angle, telephoto, whatever's necessary), etc.
i'm a fan of taking pictures at my friend's weddings for them, but not for being the main photographer. it's a lot of work and you won't be able to enjoy the wedding at all (most people want to enjoy friend's weddings) because you'll be running around. once you get a few friend's weddings under your belt, you'll feel more comfortable and will be better prepared for the next one. when the bride and her family (grooms typically don't care as much ;)) are pleased with the majority of your photos, i'd say you're ready to move on.
so i guess to summarize my rant, practice, practice, practice. once you've got some good photos under your belt, then you might be ready to do it on your own (or realize you don't want to do it on your own).

think i may have come off a bit rough in this post, but i still stand behind my words: http://digital-photography-school.com/forum/showthread.php?t=275

cheers,
matt

[Nicole]

I think the best thing you can do is make sure you have lots of memory cards, and your battery is fully charged (even better if you have a second battery).

Other than that, know what sort of shots you want (http://www.weddingsgalore.com/photos.html) to look for, take lots of candids (http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/11-tips-for-better-candid-photography/), and make sure that your settings (http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/learning-exposure-in-digital-photography/) are appropriate for the venue/situation. Be prepared to work with your photos afterwards because the lighting may be difficult.

I'm sure other people have more tips, but all I can say is good luck, and don't be afraid to try new things :)

[nacre]

The first thing I do when preparing to shoot a wedding is to get together with the couple and ask them what kind of photos they like. I then have them prepare a list of the shots, ie. the kiss, the signing of the registry, throwing of rose petals etc. that they would like to have. I then make sure I get those shots and I do whatever I can to catch the essence of the day by doing some candid shots of their friends and family.

Another tip is to go to the wedding location before so you can see what the lighting is like and some of the best locations for group shots, etc.

I would recommend getting a few books on the subject so you can get up to speed.

The wedding is one of the most important days of their lives and you do not get a second chance!

[Photobill]

What I have done a number of times that works well for new ideas or new equipment. Find out the wedding schedule for your local church or hall and tag along with the wedding, not as a crashier, but as a second photographer. I have worked with some of the planners explaning what I was doing and ALWAYS forwarded some of the shots to them as well as some for the wedding party. This is the homework part of getting it right the first time, remember be the student first. Take notes and work one aspect at a time, like outdoors, indoors, etc. Don't be afraid to say "it dosen't look right" when setting up a shot.
You may also pick up some business once the know your face, I had 2 jobs in November where I was fooling around and the contracted photog did not show.

[PixelsPhotog]

The first thing I do when preparing to shoot a wedding is to get together with the couple and ask them what kind of photos they like. I then have them prepare a list of the shots, ie. the kiss, the signing of the registry, throwing of rose petals etc. that they would like to have. I then make sure I get those shots and I do whatever I can to catch the essence of the day by doing some candid shots of their friends and family.

Another tip is to go to the wedding location before so you can see what the lighting is like and some of the best locations for group shots, etc.

I would recommend getting a few books on the subject so you can get up to speed.

The wedding is one of the most important days of their lives and you do not get a second chance!

I would echo these words with one disclaimer, you must make them aware of what they can realistically expect. If you are not a pro, then make sure they understand that. I also would recommend back up equipment, and fast lenses, at least a 2.8 or faster. For myself I would always have a few weddings under my belt as 2nd shooter before attempting this. Of course all this is IMHE&O.

[GTA1911]

K.I.S.S. is the best advice. Better to have lots of "safe" images than a bunch of shots where you attempted to get "artistic" and failed. [...] So, I suggest getting the standard formally posed images AND then if you have the time get some "artsy" images also. That way everyone will be happy. Remember, not only does the bride need to be "picture happy" so does her mother!!!!

Benji

I could not agree more. I just got married, and let me tell you that there is nothing more important to the bride and groom when they ultimately get those pictures is to have good formal pictures that they can put into frames for themselves, their parents, etc. If you look in any wedding photo album, it's the standard shots (maybe a few artsy ones) that get into the album -- bride getting ready, bride with her family, the procession, the ceremony, the kiss, and all of the formals.

Take as many shots as you can for each moment (like bride coming down the aisle) in case their eyes are closed or their expression is unflattering. Using a digital camera should make that easy. My photographer was good but if I had to change one thing, I would have asked them to take MANY more shots of the classic shots and formal portraits. The bride and groom will want certain pictures to be perfect – give them as many to choose from as possible.