Wedding Qs - Before, after and the big day

[veryrandom]

Hi all!

So, after assisting at several weddings last year i got really into weddings and have started to advertise myself for doing weddings. I've got a few people interested and have a few small weddings booked for next year. Now the thing is i have a good idea of what am doing, but not a perfect one. I desperately need some question answered and i was hoping against hope some lovely people here could help me shed light on the matter!

1. How many times should you meet the couple before the actual wedding day itself? What is discussed in this meeting/meetings?

2. I understand you go to the various locations several times to check them out, should the couple be with you at these times?

3.On the day of the wedding, what time do you aim to be at the brides house for her preprations?

4.If requested to stay for the meal and first dance, what does this consist of? As in what are you expected to do exactly? How long can you expect this to take? (I have covered all other areas while assisting but have never done the meal/first dance etc so this is new to me).

Ok, so far these are all the biggy's i can think of...am sure theres more!

If anyone could offer any suggestions, advice or help i would be so grateful!

Also just putting it out there but if any full fledged wedding photographers are reading this and are looking for a assistant/second shooter I am (obviously) looking to gain more experience and get to grips with the finer details of the process so would love the opportunity to assist or help out in anyway.

My website is Zenfolio | KathySilkePhotography

Thnx,

K

[3bayjunkie]

These questions can all have different answers due to when and where it takes place and what kind of requests the bride has. I'll try to give you a general answer of what I would do for your questions.

1.) Meet with the bride and groom and discuss who will be attending. Old reletaives they haven't seen for a while? friends and family that are important to them. so you can anticipate good shots of them meeting for the first time in a while. other things you can discuss is how you plan to go about your photography throughout the day, if you haven't already talked about it over the phone.

2.& 3.) I don't think its necissary to go to the location several times. Once should be enough. Go at the same time of day as the wedding will be taking place and scout out your exposure settings. Also try to arrive 30-45 min early to get prepared.

4.) At the reception try to get all the little details before people get in, like the table settings and cake etc. Get the first dance for sure, get people laughing and dancing and the toast.

I'm sure others can add to this.

[Niresangwa]

Originally Posted by veryrandom

1. How many times should you meet the couple before the actual wedding day itself? What is discussed in this meeting/meetings?

How many times? As little as you can while still getting an idea of their needs. Everyone is busy these days, and orchestrating meetings to drink coffee and fluff around asking questions that don't have a bearing on the job waste everyone's time.

For me, at least once, no more than twice; preferably just the engagement shoot, but if it's requested, I will meet a couple before they sign, (or if I can't find anything out about them online). I give inquiries an obscene amount of information and opportunity to get to know what they need to make their decision, so these meetings are usually more about personalities than anything else.

I do as much planning and answering as possible via email, because then it's in black and white, and easy to refer to. I do not do the phone.

Originally Posted by veryrandom

2. I understand you go to the various locations several times to check them out, should the couple be with you at these times?

This depends on how much you're willing to let them make decisions on what you do that day, as to whether they go with you. I haven't ever visited a location to 'scout it out'.

If you have the experience to get paid, there shouldn't be anything that you can't handle on the fly. In time you learn that one dark church photographs much the same as another, and there's nothing you can do to change it.

If you have anxiety about doing your job, it will probably help you in the beginning to get a look at it, in time, you'll probably learn that it' just another few hours out of your day you could have been doing something else.

Originally Posted by veryrandom

3.On the day of the wedding, what time do you aim to be at the brides house for her preprations?

30 minutes prior to the time she plans to put the dress on. This gives me time with the dress, then give it to her and shoot her shoes and bling, by the time you're done with that, she should be strapped in and you can finish that part up..

Originally Posted by veryrandom

4.If requested to stay for the meal and first dance, what does this consist of? As in what are you expected to do exactly? How long can you expect this to take? (I have covered all other areas while assisting but have never done the meal/first dance etc so this is new to me)

This is going to be different if people answering you are in the US vs other countries like the UK or Ireland...

Basically it's just like any other event. Over here it's quite formulaic, and looking through people's portfolios will give you an idea of what's done....

tends to be...

Cocktail Hour - Candid shots. Shoot the details of the tables before the guests are seated
Guests Seated - Find Bridal party and discuss with them and DJ about the...
Bridal Party Entrance - Usually lame, occasionally entertaining.
Cake Cutting - Make sure you got your cake shots before this. Expect them not to know what to do.
First Course Served - Take a breather
Speeches during Second Course - Shoot not only the speaker, but the B&G and attentive guests
Dessert Served - Get your lighting set up for...
First Dance - Helps to talk to the B&G to ensure they don't spend the whole dance with their backs to you, and also clue you in if they're doing something wierd.
Father-Daughter - as above
Mother-Son - as above
Open Dancefloor - 30-45 minutes. Make sure they and the DJ know that you're out of there soon, and if they want the bouquet toss/garter toss covered they have to bump it up. Shoot the alcohol fueled mayhem to get a representative sample, pack up, say your goodnights and go home and back up everything immediately.

[NathanFranke]

Originally Posted by Niresangwa

How many times....Back up everything immediately[/B].

That has got to be the most concise yet complete explanation of wedding photographer duties I've ever seen. +1.

[mshockley]

Steve your the best. Very helpful responses to questions. I read these wedding one's from you just for the heck of it because they are so informative.....and I don't do weddings

[andyw]

Let me preface this by saying I don't do weddings, have only ever done one wedding, and would never ever ever ever ever ever ever ever (you get the idea) do a wedding again.

But my tuppence worth

Originally Posted by veryrandom

Hi all!

1. How many times should you meet the couple before the actual wedding day itself? What is discussed in this meeting/meetings?
At least twice - 1st time is when they book you and you get the contract signed
2nd time - to go over timings and what exactly they require, list of "must have" guest shots etc.
Possible 3rd meeting depending on how big, involved etc etc


2. I understand you go to the various locations several times to check them out, should the couple be with you at these times?

Not necessary - but advisable for at least one visit. You are mainly going to check lighting, permissions to shoot during ceremony, check out locations etc,

3.On the day of the wedding, what time do you aim to be at the brides house for her preprations?

Whatever time is arranged during meetings in 1.

4.If requested to stay for the meal and first dance, what does this consist of? As in what are you expected to do exactly? How long can you expect this to take? (I have covered all other areas while assisting but have never done the meal/first dance etc so this is new to me).
It consists of staying for the meal and first dance
Taking pictures of speeches etc etc etc


K

Now no doubt all the wedding snappers will come on and shoot me down in flames

[veryrandom]

[QUOTE

If you have the experience to get paid, there shouldn't be anything that you can't handle on the fly. In time you learn that one dark church photographs much the same as another, and there's nothing you can do to change it.

If you have anxiety about doing your job, it will probably help you in the beginning to get a look at it, in time, you'll probably learn that it' just another few hours out of your day you could have been doing something else.


[/QUOTE]

This is actually the most helpful thing! Its calmed me right down! Cheers!

[FlyingKiwiGirl]

Originally Posted by Niresangwa

Basically it's just like any other event. Over here it's quite formulaic, and looking through people's portfolios will give you an idea of what's done....

tends to be...

Cocktail Hour - Candid shots. Shoot the details of the tables before the guests are seated
Guests Seated - Find Bridal party and discuss with them and DJ about the...
Bridal Party Entrance - Usually lame, occasionally entertaining.
Cake Cutting - Make sure you got your cake shots before this. Expect them not to know what to do.
First Course Served - Take a breather
Speeches during Second Course - Shoot not only the speaker, but the B&G and attentive guests
Dessert Served - Get your lighting set up for...
First Dance - Helps to talk to the B&G to ensure they don't spend the whole dance with their backs to you, and also clue you in if they're doing something wierd.
Father-Daughter - as above
Mother-Son - as above
Open Dancefloor - 30-45 minutes. Make sure they and the DJ know that you're out of there soon, and if they want the bouquet toss/garter toss covered they have to bump it up. Shoot the alcohol fueled mayhem to get a representative sample, pack up, say your goodnights and go home and back up everything immediately.

Great lot of advice, love the humour. So weddings are the same the world over then?

[Niresangwa]

Originally Posted by FlyingKiwiGirl

So weddings are the same the world over then?

Sadly it would appear that they are. They're all the same, and all different at the same time. They're also equally irritating and challenging in their own way, which is why they're fun to do...

[slugger]

Seriously Steve...write a book. Actually you could probably copy and paste all your posts and have it done in no time. Super helpful and detailed explanation!