“Hey no problem, I’ll do it for you”

[tamcry]

OK I have read several times in the forum about people being asked to do their friends wedding and also the advice that was given by "more experienced" members. The majority of replies were DO NOT DO IT. Well a really good friend of my wife asked me about a month or so ago to photograph their wedding which was going to be in Old Montreal. Being the “pro” that I was because hey I had a web site and I really liked to take pictures. I have a Nikon D90 c/w a 17-55, and I rented a Nikon D700 for my 24-70mm so I would have two cameras. (Which I read on the forum that this was required. And by the way I purchased the D700 upon retuning it to place where I rented it. Fantastic camera). So that was another reason why I said yes. I had two cameras so what could possible could go wrong. Hey I have even sold a few of my photographs in a local framing store and also our local paper used one of my photographs on the front page. So I was a perfect choice to do it right?...WRONG. Ok actually I did get a lot of great shots which I will post after the Bride and Groom return from their Honeymoon and OK them. What I did not know was how much work and responsibilities were involved. Honestly I was sweating as if I had just run a 50 mile marathon through the whole day. Everything is on a schedule. I had to be at the Groom’s room at 2 PM. Then get over to the Brides room by 3:30. Then down to the reception area to get pictures of the layout. Then get to the room where the wedding was taking place by 5. Now the fun starts. The batteries go on my flash. I am having trouble focusing when the bride enters. My hands are sweating so much I fumble and drop the one lens that I had to interchange on one of the cameras. I have to keep switching cameras as the couple gets closer to the front of the room. I had not taken in account the candles and the crazy lights on the walls. I totally forgot that people would be everywhere especially right where I wanted to go for the next perfect shot. With everything going on, and by the way at a wedding it is very difficult to say, “hey can you back up a bit?” or, “just a second I was not ready”. The weight of the responsibly is tremendous and also scary. I have never been so nervous in all my life. You actually feel that time is running faster. Then after the ceremony you have to get the after shots of the Brides and Groom with all the wedding party and the Mother and Father, the Aunts and Uncles and all the kiddies. This I was not prepared for at all. Finding the right locations, who to place where, and who stands where and so on. Now you have the reception with all the speeches and then the first dance with the Mother and the Father. All the time making sure your equipment is still working. Which lens to use where? Adjust your next shot with the lighting. The list goes on and on.
What I actually stated out wanting to say is listen to those “more experienced” members. DO NOT DO IT. That is do not do it until you have done all your homework as to what is required. Go to a few weddings and just watch the photographer. I would even go as far as asking a wedding photographer if you could follow him around on a job. The main piece of equipment and I say the “main” is a second shooter. If not a second shooter then someone who is willing to follow you around and take on the responsibilities along with you.

I guess the thing I am trying to say is it is not as simple as showing up and taking pictures. I take my hat off to all those members who have done it as non-professionals.
This is a very special time moment for the couple and the commitment you take on when saying, “Hey no problem, I’ll do it for you” are a lot more than you know.

[Jim Poor]

Amen! I sooo wish the others who have decided to "do it anyway" would come share their stories (even if they prove us all wrong and it goes swimmingly)!

[candleman]

Could we sticky this?
I’m glad someone finally came back and posted how they felt about their experience.

Oh.. the first one is the easiest, Ignorance is bliss.
The next one you’ll have a vague appreciation of what you are in for. Next time the stress, procrastination and planning time increases dramatically.

[sk66]

Originally Posted by tamcry

OK I have read several times in the forum about people being asked to do their friends wedding and also the advice that was given by "more experienced" members. The majority of replies were DO NOT DO IT.

I guess the thing I am trying to say is it is not as simple as showing up and taking pictures. I take my hat off to all those members who have done it as non-professionals.
This is a very special time moment for the couple and the commitment you take on when saying, “Hey no problem, I’ll do it for you” are a lot more than you know.

At least you had the experience and foresight to get a second camera and basically knew what you were doing..thus all of the "pressure". The completely inexperienced won't feel much pressure because they don't know any better, they just happily muck up the job....
No second shooter huh? It's really hard to be two places at once.

[zona5101]

you pretty much summed it up nicely...but you left out the complete emotional & physical dump that takes place when it's all done...just wiped out, exahausted, mentally spent.

Second one will be WAY easier. By the 3rd you'll feel you're waiting on them to hurry up and get in your shot...

good times!

[candidrachel]

You forgot the bit about making ugly bridezillas look the picture of wedded bliss after the event!

Yep, always take a second-shooter. I don't shoot a wedding without one, and the best photographers I know usually bring one with them as well. There's lots going on during a wedding, and an extra person really takes the pressure off.

And as someone who attends a lot of weddings (my photo booth biz takes me to a lot of wedding receptions), I've seen a lot of good photographers and a lot of bad photographers. The good wedding photographers have an external flash unit and know how to use it (bounce, not direct fire). They'll constantly be switching out lenses for different events and different perspectives.

The bad ones use on-camera flash and a kit lens. The worst photographers I ever saw were professionals. They were both using the exact same camera (50D) and kit lens, on-camera flash (in a very dark building), and standing side-by-side, getting the exact same shot. I figured she was a "friend of the family", but then she gave me her business card and I about fell over.

Being a pro or amateur doesn't make a difference...I've seen good and bad photographers in both categories. If you're a good amateur, give it a shot. I shot my first wedding 18 months ago, and loved every minute of it. I've shot about 7 since then, and have a ball every time. Pretty flowers, people, happiness...there's so much to shoot!

[tuxcomputers]

Ahhh ha ha ha ha... I love reading stories that start out:

"Every expert advised me not to do it but I thought they were idiots who knew nothing and I knew better, so I did it anyway. I wish I had listened because....."

[Stina3246]

I'm SO glad I have had the opportunity to shoot as a second for about 2 years before tried one on my own but it was still very nerve wracking. I brought my own second shooter but constantly worried about missing anything important. Naturally my batteries failed at the worst possible time, the ceremony was in a dim LIME GREEN room (Just aweful) It rained the entire day so taking the pretty out door pictures was out of the question so I had to shoot the formals in that horrible room. (It was a hotel/water park designed for kids so there weren't any rooms painted a normal color!!
The reception was candle lit! Try shooting THAT with a hand held camera. The clients in the end were happy but I certainly will never take shooting a wedding lightly!

[Niresangwa]

Nice post.

Seems like even the memory of it was harrowing as you typed it out

Seriously though, I'm sure your next will be way more fun. I b!tch and complain to my assistant through the whole day, then as I load my gear into the car and sit down with a soda and a smoke turn to her and start talking about how awesome it all was and how much fun I had...happens every time.

Good times.