I knew this would happen one day but not so soon!

[Agata]

Hello everyone!

I had a wonderful opportunity given to me today.

I was asked to come as a photographer for someone's wedding. I don't know the date but I know that it's sometime soon.

I was very honest with the couple and told them that I am not great at photography, I have no experience in weddings, and mostly take photos for fun when I have time to do so. I even offered a few contacts of people who have the experience and talent.

The couple insisted I do it, and I should just treat it like a fun project. (I wasn't born yesterday, weddings are not fun and relaxing projects, it's a lot of stress and responsibility.) So, I agreed (silly me). I would like to take nice photos for them because it's an honor to do so and it's such a special day in their life.

It's not a paid gig, I would love to help out and the experience is going to be more valuable than any thing -- I just don't want to disappoint them!

So, I was wondering if you guys could help me out.

This forum is packed with so many extraordinarily talented, experienced photographers who I was hoping could maybe find a couple of minutes to give me a few tips :P
What would recommend to someone who feels like a completely talentless newbie (turning this down would be the smart option, I don't think they have anyone else though).

I asked a few friends to come out with me in the next few weeks for some couple shots as practice and I am going to look into a few books. I have no idea what else to do.

I should probably get a flash, any recommendation? Any articles you might know on how to use them properly? I never really looked into flash photography.

Totally lost and panicking

-- Ags

PS

I'm sorry that this is such a long letter like post.

Please, feel free to look at my photos on Flickr, I don't have many but if you have anything to comment on I will listen and try my best to learn and improve. Link is provided in the signature.

Thank you and thank you again!

[Captured]

Hi Ags
I felt like I was reading something I had written then - I've been asked to do the same thing so i will be following this tread

I am actually going out this weekend to the place that the Bride & Groom want their photos taken at the same time they will be taken to have a practise run! Will keep you posted on that too

Potsy

[Agata]

I look forward to hearing form you! Have fun and all the best!

[natek313]

Um, well...

My opinion is that you humbly bow out. Now, don't take offense to that. I am by no means a professional photographer. I just think that you're in a little over your head at this point.

If you haven't had much experience with portraits, let alone weddings, it will be very difficult to pull something off. I mean, sure, you could do a lot of research online as far as poses go, and you could even search photo sites for ideas. I just think it would be very, very stressful. Regardless, you're going to want to check out the locations for the ceremony and reception ahead of time so you can start getting ideas for photographs. That is, of course, assuming you accept the responsibility of doing the photography.

Flash photography can be a complex area to learn, and if you don't even own a flash currently, I think it would be pretty hard to just buy one and use it essentially off-the-cuff. Lighting has to be experienced and learned; I'm finding that out currently. But, if you do decide to go through with this, I would say go for the Canon 580EX II flash. Or, if you're on a tighter budget, go for the 430EX II; that's the flash I use right now, and it's great.

I'm pretty confident in my abilities as a photographer, but I wouldn't even think of shooting a wedding at this point in time. I can't really offer any specific tips/advice because I have no experience shooting weddings. Hopefully some of the wedding photographers here will give you some information.

Hope this helps. I'm really sorry if this is discouraging; that is not my intent at all.

[JCatara]

Friends were getting married, they asked me to take the pictures. Well first I told them that I aint a people shooting photographer. they insisted. I asked if they had other friends that would be taking photo's. They said yes there would be others there with camera's. Well that turned out to be a stroke of luck for me. There was one guest that must have done wedding photography. He sent me the link to his web-site and I was floored by his photo's. I got the main shots, bride entrance, groom and best man at alter, candle ceremony, cutting the cake. I got shots of the guests. Then I saw the other guy's photo's. He had better shots of all of the aforementioned items. There is an art to this type of photography. I shoot drag racing. Cars, burnouts, starts, finishes. Thats alot easier than a wedding. The thing that I saw in the other guys photos was his ability to capture the moment. I have some easy to use flash slideshow programs, by using alot of his photo's and a few of mine the slideshows turned out pretty good. Had I not had his photo's the slideshows wouldn't have been as good. I would highly recommend you get a flash if you do it. It's not an easy event to do though, if you don't have experience. Taking pictures vs capturing the moment. If you're confident you can do that go for it. I also told the groom to get some disposable cameras and put them on the table at the reception, so the other guests could take shots. He did that and I got even more photos. So it can be done, but I would never volunteer to do another wedding. I was lucky to have the other guys photo's. Hope this helps.

[AlphaBjerke]

Well, Agata, when I first read your post I was concerned for you, but then I looked through your photo stream on flickr and saw that you are a very proficient photographer. Your post was much more humble than your photos! You have a wide variety of subjects in a wide variety of conditions. You show creativity too! I think you have the ability to pull this off. I am not saying that you will come off looking like a pro, but I bet the couple will be very pleased. Never having done anything like this myself, I offer a couple of points of advice that I think I would start with if it were me:

1. Go to the location on both cloudy days and sunny days to check out the lighting situation.

2. Do an internet search on a shot list for a wedding and go over that with the couple. I am sure they have a list of typical shots that are taken at weddings.

That's all I got except one last thing: I might not worry about the flash. If it is in a church if won't be allowed anyway (make sure you have a fast enough lens, or borrow or rent one). I guess you could use the pop-up flash on your camera for fill if you are outdoors for a reception or something.

Good luck! You will learn a lot!

[natek313]

Yeah, I just looked at your Flickr Photostream, Agata. I didn't see it the first time I posted. You definitely have the ability. You have some wonderful shots!

That definitely changes my opinion about you, but it doesn't change the difficulty of the situation. Haha. I would still consider getting a flash unit. Also, you have the 50mm f/1.8 lens which will help you out; I'm sure of it. You may want to consider borrowing/renting/purchasing a fast, wider angle lens - perhaps the Canon 35mm f/2.0 or the Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L USM lenses.

Just some thoughts.

[ukglyn]

I have also just looked through your flickr to, you can pull this off no problem, go for it, i am sure you will get shots the couple will love, as said speak to them about what they are hoping you to get for them.

[auntyjud]

I'm not an expert...by a long shot...but I have done a couple of weddings solo and assisted with a couple and learned that weddings are the most stressful, exhausting and demanding situations for photographers. Would I do it again...probably...but it's understandable why wedding photographers charge big bucks. And then there's the editing afterwards....
Go for it! It's a good, and humbling, experience.

[TheManny]

Hi!

I'm far from an expert, but I had the opportunity to shoot as the secondary photog for a wedding and oh... my... goodness... the pressure (even as the non-primary shooter)!!!

When I "assisted" I had what the primary photog said was his standard amount of equipment (2 camera bodies: 1 with a 24-70mm f/2.8 lens and the other with a 70-200mm f/2.8... plus some other lenses, flashes, and extra equipment in a bag). It definitely was not an easy feat, but in the end it paid off to be some valuable experience and a lot of fun... not to mention the pictures came out good and the happy couple were... well... just that... happy.

You've definitely got some shooting talent based on what I've seen in your photostream, you should go for it! You've got a lot of great shots in a huge range of different conditions and settings so you shouldn't have any problems there.

I assume you know the bride and groom and I'm sure they've seen your work and trust what you can do... just make sure you have a very good line of communication with them so you know what their expectations are.

Good luck with everything and I hope that we get to see some of your finished pictures!