First wedding this weekend - have I missed anything?

[scootermcq]

Originally Posted by graciousness

Trying to find out if I can use iphone or iPad to keep the raw files there....

The Ipad will, if you have the camera kit adapter

Originally Posted by graciousness

8 hours of shooting you'd think I would have some time to save files....maybe.

You will have lots of time, there are only so many shots you can take of a receiving line, or people dancing or eating etc. I use a hyperdrive and back up my cards through out the day when you have lulls.

You are going to be ok Grace relax and have fun.

Originally Posted by graciousness

The only thing I'm deadly worried about is the group shot of 60 people. Never shot anything that big.

For the large group shot, do you have some place to get up and above them (like a balcony or ladder) so you can shoot down on the group? This way you will be able to see everyone, and you don't have to worry as much about DOF and light fall off.

[graciousness]

Originally Posted by scootermcq

The Ipad will, if you have the camera kit adapter

So far, I have only seen SD ones and still looking for compact flash! I hope I find one soon.

Originally Posted by scootermcq

You will have lots of time, there are only so many shots you can take of a receiving line, or people dancing or eating etc. I use a hyperdrive and back up my cards through out the day when you have lulls.

You are going to be ok Grace relax and have fun.

Funnily enough, I'm not as nervous as I think I would be. A little paranoid, but not quite as nervous. I do think there must be something wrong with me or over confident or ignorant or what. I think I've been preparing for so long I'm just looking forward to doing it now.

Originally Posted by scootermcq

For the large group shot, do you have some place to get up and above them (like a balcony or ladder) so you can shoot down on the group? This way you will be able to see everyone, and you don't have to worry as much about DOF and light fall off.

Yes, I have asked for a ladder to be there. Also, there's some stone pedestal I saw in one of the venue pics that I saw I could possible stand on. I'm glad I borrowed the wide angle lens for this. Now it's only the lighting that is tricky as I have very, very limited amount of time to take photos. 45 minutes to do formal bride and groom, families, friends and group shot!!

Thank god for alcohol.

Thanks for your encouragement and reply

[BigFuzzy]

Talk to your friends (bride and groom) and ask if you can 'borrow' someone to be your assistant during the formal posed shots.

This way you can have them move the light/lightstand and make any adjustments to hair/clothes/environment without you having to run back and forth. Plus they can be used to herd all the people for their photos when you do the group/family/friends/flying spaghetti monster shots.

Otherwise, there's no such thing as overkill (it's a soldier thing!). Bring whatever makes you feel good that doesn't negatively affect your ability to kill.. uh, shoot...uh, do the job.

And, though I'm sure you've done it.. BE PREPARED with shooting ideas. Have 10-20 images already in your head (or printed out on a cheat sheet) that you want to take.. this makes it sooooo much easier than winging it (not saying you were going to do this )

Lastly, have fun! Bring positive energy and all will be good.
Worst that can happen is you learn something from all this (even if it's an ability to dodge friends who're trying to kill you for bad wedding photos haha! )

[Biomech]

ask if you can 'borrow' someone to be your assistant

+1 this, I always ask who is involved that has the loudest mouth. I've been fortunate to have military captains and martial arts instructors belting out my commands in the past

[scootermcq]

Originally Posted by graciousness

I have very, very limited amount of time to take photos. 45 minutes to do formal bride and groom, families, friends and group shot!!

Thank god for alcohol.

Speaking from experience..... that's cutting it a little too close if you are doing family shots.

The ceremony is going to run late (cause it never starts on time) and your 45 minutes will become 35.

Some Uncle that has to be in the pictures is either going to be drunk and you can't find him or in the washroom and you can't find him. While you are trying to organize 60 strangers that you have never met and have no clue who is who you are gonna blow that 35 minutes just trying to get them organized and have no time left for the formals. In my contract, I have that someone needs to be assigned the duty of keeping people together and get the right people in the different family shots, but it still never comes out smoothly.

When I am given an hour, I fight tooth & nail to get 2 hours. You need to make them understand that unless all they are looking for are candids, or make themselves available during the evening and reception you will not get the best shots for them, nor will you probably complete the shot list.

[graciousness]

Thanks guys!!

Yes, I have designated a herder for the 'formal' shoots. We have other friends attending so at least, it's easy for me to go to them for help.

I will have hubby help with some minor lighting set up but unfortunately, just not the whole time as he has to look after our little one. I know there's going to be plenty of backlit shots against the ocean and/or beautiful house so I need my off camera flash set ups for those.

Funnily enough, the bride/groom didn't even want any formals with family and group. I had to talk to them and said, "Look, you have families flying from other countries just for this occasion. Possibly once in a lifetime gathering. I don't think you want to miss the chance." So there you go. Otherwise, everything is candid. Even bride and groom as groom is very, very anti-pose. I'll get him eventually. They're going to be so gushy after the vows he'll eventually give in.

My saving grace is that yes, I do have time before and during reception to go for more group shots (family, friends, etc). Otherwise, they said they will take any shots I get. They don't care. Bride only wants one black and white photo she can hang in the living room. (Yeah right!)

It's me who want to do this properly, hence, I invested a lot of gears and time on this. I want to see if weddings are something I can possibly do a few of times a year. If I end up hating it to the teeth, then at least I can say I tried.

Cheers guys!