First wedding. So nervous!

[JGennuso]

A friend of a friend (we have mutual friends) has asked me to be the photographer at her wedding. The one she had initially hired can no longer do it....and she is having a hard time finding someone else. The one's she has found are charging more than she is willing to pay. The wedding is a week and a half away.
So, my friend recommended me to her. I DID NOT offer...and I have never, ever claimed to be a professional. I spoke with the bride and she seems pretty laid back. I told her that it will be my very first wedding....that I have little experience and that this will be a learning experience for me. She still wants me. She has seen many of my photos on facebook and really likes them.
She wants to pay me...I told her I would take half of what she offered.
I would like to do it. I would love the experience. I believe that I can give them what they want...they aren't very fussy.
I'm so nervous though! Any thoughts, advice ...PLEASE!
I mean, if the pictures are crap...I did warn her...and it's not like I advertised myself right? I mean, my friend practically begged me on her behalf.
On the other hand...I think perhaps I am more capable than I give myself credit for. It's so hard for me to tell!

Thanks guys.

[autofocus]

Don't want to be a downer, but...minimum requirement: 2 SLR's with hot shoe flashes, several batteries, and fast lenses in your bag. Sorry to say, but taking a bit of a risk with one P&S

[JGennuso]

Originally Posted by auto-focus

Don't want to be a downer, but...minimum requirement: 2 SLR's with hot shoe flashes, several batteries, and fast lenses in your bag. Sorry to say, but taking a bit of a risk with one P&S

Thank you for your comment. It is definitely a risk...but for a P&S my camera is pretty capable. It has a hot shoe mount...for which I have the Speedlite 420 EX. I used the Gary Fong Lightsphere diffuser with it. I also have spare batteries...and spare memory card...and I plan on bringing my laptop to upload the pictures to right away.
I've taken some really great shots with this camera. Of course, never Wedding shots.
If you are interested here is the link to my camera....

http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/co...&modelid=15207

Thanks again for your reply.

[candleman]

Originally Posted by JGennuso

I told her that it will be my very first wedding....that I have little experience and that this will be a learning experience for me. She still wants me. She has seen many of my photos on facebook and really likes them.
She wants to pay me...I told her I would take half of what she offered.

I mean, if the pictures are crap...I did warn her...and it's not like I advertised myself right? I .

well, respectfully, you wont do as well as you think. a Facebook portfolio is a collection over time.. and a wedding is a hit all at once, there's mostly only one chance at a shot.
so you need to make sure she understands those are your best.. and she may only get a few like that.

a wedding is extreemly hard.. dont underestimate it.. you cant stop them in the middle of the ceremony to get a shot.
it happens and you need to be anticipating everything in advance, and planning the next..

you may also want to get a dslr.. otherwise you'll miss the majority of the shots whilst waiting for a focus.


its your feuneral if its a botch-up, they are obviously wanting it to be good if they had already hired a pro. they should try harder to find one, or not be so cheap.


all the best if you do decide to do it, dont forget to post the pics

[autofocus]

Originally Posted by JGennuso

Thank you for your comment. It is definitely a risk...but for a P&S my camera is pretty capable. It has a hot shoe mount...for which I have the Speedlite 420 EX. I used the Gary Fong Lightsphere diffuser with it. I also have spare batteries...and spare memory card...and I plan on bringing my laptop to upload the pictures to right away.
I've taken some really great shots with this camera. Of course, never Wedding shots.
If you are interested here is the link to my camera....

http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/co...&modelid=15207

Thanks again for your reply.

I'm familiar with the camera..all I can say is best of luck, I hope it works out well for you. Take her money and go out and buy a DSLR

[JGennuso]

Lol. Thanks autofocus. Just a little background on the photographer she had previously hired. She wasn't able to attend the reception...just the wedding, as she told the bride that it was HER wedding anniversary that day and she had other plans. She is paying me the same as she was going to pay that other lady....but I'll be there much longer...likely 2pm-12am.

As far as the pictures she saw that I have taken on Facebook...they are not Wedding related at all....and very few portraits. But she still wants me. Should I back out? Should I just do it and see how it goes? YES, I will be responsible if the photos aren't up to her standard...but that's a risk she is willing to take.

[JGennuso]

The truth is, I go from feeling confident in my skills, to feeling totally freaked out at the thought. But, if this is something that I would like to pursue further, I have to start somewhere right?

[Chip]

I'm a bit confused. Are you working just the reception, or just the wedding?

If just the reception, and if you experience problems caused by shutter lag and/or auto focus, then why not play the role of a pro,"take over" and get them to pose for you for just a second? For example, when they're cutting the cake, if you need them to stop for a second just before they cut so you can get the shot, why not do just that?

And if you explain to the bride what you'll do ahead of time, and if let her know this will increase her chance of getting some good shots, then that might work out best for both of you . . . and decrease your stress level a bit.

If I was in your shoes (and I've never shot a reception or wedding before) and if there was another pro who could do the job, then I'd defer and let the pro do it. But if there is no pro as an option, if I was the only option, and if the bride and groom have had their expectations appropriately minimized, then I'd take the "I have to start somewhere" approach, too. And I'd also be as nervous as hell.

Do you think it might help to practice with your flash ahead of time, bouncing it and such?

And do you have a good feel for how long each of your batteries would last when you're using a flash? Would hate to start firing off tons of shots at the beginning and run out of battery power later in the evening. Can you bring a battery charger, too?

To me, if you're shooting only the reception, then it's much easier to say "yes." My 2 cents. (But, since I've never done it before, I certainly could be overlooking things.)

Good luck!

[autofocus]

Originally Posted by JGennuso

Lol. Thanks autofocus. Just a little background on the photographer she had previously hired. She wasn't able to attend the reception...just the wedding, as she told the bride that it was HER wedding anniversary that day and she had other plans. She is paying me the same as she was going to pay that other lady....but I'll be there much longer...likely 2pm-12am.

As far as the pictures she saw that I have taken on Facebook...they are not Wedding related at all....and very few portraits. But she still wants me. Should I back out? Should I just do it and see how it goes? YES, I will be responsible if the photos aren't up to her standard...but that's a risk she is willing to take.

Can you borrow an equipped DSLR,...? and use your P&S as a backup. Before we had a second DSLR I helped my wife shoot a wedding using my Canon G2, (also a nice camera like yours, but without IS) and 50% of my shots were blurry...mostly from shutter lag. If you can't get your hands on one, I think the prudent thing to do is say "thanks, but no thanks."

[peeperita]

i wouldn't back out,....

she's giving you an opportunity and you're giving her fair warning about your experience level....everyone seems to be on the same page there.....

a couple of thoughts.....it is a very fast pased event so you should be up on what's going to happen when.......i strongly suggest that you go to the rehearsal and start shooting then.....just to get a feel for the enviroment and it's lighting.....

go ahead and use your flash and lightsphere the entire time....do take the "lid" off the lightsphere as it will dramatically cut down on your flash's output.....

shoot at f4 or higher......

set your flash output at -3.....

shoot in raw if you have the capability to edit in raw......exposure mistakes will be easier to correct.....

make sure you have ample memory cards......my last wedding i used 6 gig.....but, again i was shooting in raw.....

do have a spare camera......be it another point and shoot.....or dslr......just make sure you can handle it quickly and accurately......practice with it is a must......

be aware of the recycle time of your flash........i always put fresh batteries in and a spare set in the bag......

most likely, you won't be using your laptop......again, weddings move quickly and stepping away to load your images in may cause you to miss a shot......

talk again with your client and make sure you two are together on what shots are important to her aside from the obvious.....

the after the service portraits will take some "manning up" on your part......don't let everyone get away to the reception before you get those staged images.....smile, but be firm until you have every last possible combination of people....

if there are children involved in the service.....get the shots of them first....they tire quickly....

i'm sure there's more....but, that's all i have for now....

good luck!

peeper