How to prepare??? Please help!

[chabelygtz]

Can someone give me recommendations on how to prepare for a photo shoot? One of my friends is getting married and she wants me to do her engagement pics, I said ok, but now she wants me to also take her wedding pics. She is going on a small budget so she doesn't want to spend on a pro photographer. I am not pro by no means but I take decent pics, a wedding is a major deal though.

I found this pro pics so you can see where she is getting married.

Diane McKinney Photography: Beautiful Bride at the Barclay Villa - Bridal Potrait Raleigh NC

How should I prepare? I can rent equipment but have no idea what I would need for the wedding.

I have a nikon D40, SB400 and SB800 flashes and 3 lenses (18-55, 55-200, 50mm 1.8)

Any ideas or recommendations? PLEASE!!!!!

[zona5101]

Hi and welcome.
Best way to prepare is to go watch someone shoot a wedding then go and shoot with someone as a second shooter at a wedding! Weddings are a special animal, no do-overs and all that.

[chabelygtz]

My problem is I don't know any pro photographers.

[zona5101]

Originally Posted by chabelygtz

My problem is I don't know any pro photographers.

have you thought about not doing the shoot until you have more experience? I don't know that you can learn it from a youtube video or a book from Borders!
Not that you need all that, if you know what your doing behind the camera and you warn your friend that there is a chance you will have an epic fail then go for it. [Not that you will have an epic failure!] But be upfront and spell out the worse case scenario. If they still want you to do it then, they assume the risk.

maybe one of the wedding guest will have their camera and save the day

[Michael_2010]

You may be a little short on photographic equipment, but you have no shortage of guts! Kind of a sink or swim approach that I sort of admire, but I sure wouldn't want to be in your shoes. lol

[inkista]

My only recommendation is read. And practice. A lot. And consider backup plans and strategies. You aren't going to get any second chances at shots when it comes to event shooting. If your battery goes flat, if your camera breaks, if a card goes bad, if you drop the camera and break the lens--you better have a backup. Even if it means shooting the wedding on a P&S.

Couple links:

Fred Miranda Wedding Board stickie post:
Please READ Before Posting! - FM Forums

How Jeff Ascough prepares to shoot a wedding:
Preparation - The blog of internationally acclaimed wedding photographer and wedding photojournalist Jeff Ascough, covering Lancashire, Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Liverpool, Cumbria, West Yorkshire, and the whole of the North West.

[Michael_2010]

Originally Posted by chabelygtz

My problem is I don't know any pro photographers.

Do you know someone that might know someone, like a teacher? You could go through the yellow pages and just ask if you could tag along. Maybe help carry equipment, etc. If you could find a mature person that really knows their craft, it would be well worth your time. Of course, if the mature person is still using gunpowder as their primary flash, you might want to look elsewhere. lol

[chabelygtz]

Thank you everybody for your responses. Yes, I did think about not doing it at all, my first response was actually no, but she kept insisting, I was very clear to her and fiance about why I don't want to do it. I got married just last year and I did hire a pro photographer (on the unexpensive side) and even though she did a good job or better than I would have done for not having experience I look at my pics and I wish I had spent a little more money on them, they are ok but I know they could have been much better. And that's exactly what I told her, that I don't want her to regret not spendig the money.
Anyway, I talked to her about it and told her that if she still wants me to do it then ok but I rather not to. Wedding is until May so I have plenty of time to practice, and at the same time plenty of time to convince her to hire a pro. If she decides not to hire the pro then I will at least be somewhat prepared. I am doing her engagement pics in a couple of months, I feel much better about those because I know if she doesn't like them she can still hire someone else to do it.
Anyway, thank you again. I just found this site today and I am definitely coming back :-)

[Michael_2010]

May should give you enough time to prepare. Just read everything you can get your hands on and try the things you learn multiple times. If this is something you would like to do in the future, instead of a one time favor, arrange to tag along with another photographer and watch them work weddings.