Need urgent advice for wedding shots

[ccting]

The below is the schedule:

1. Morning session

7.30 - 8.00 am : Groom to arrive at bride's house
8-930 am : . Games session
...
12.30-2.30 : Halal buffet at groom's house ( I won't require you to stay to take pics for the buffet as you need 5 hours to prepare for the montage)

2. Evening session :

6- 6.30 pm : Tea ceremony ( bride side only)
7- 730 pm : Cocktail reception ( just some light dessert of cupcakes only) - please help me capture some pics of the cakes for personal keeping. thanks
7.30- 10.30pm : Dinner

Role : as 3rd photographer.

I don't have any question as I am totally BLANK right now..

Questions:
a) What questions should i ask???
b) What should I prepare?


Ty

[RichardTaylor]

From a hobbyst.

Questions

(1) Can I see the locations before the wedding day. This will let you know what you are in for. What's the lighting like and how much space you have to work with.

(2) Can I use a flash gun?

(3) Any thing specifically (beside the cakes) you need me to cover.

(4) Possibly - what clothing am I expected to wear.

(5) What does a 3rd shooter normally do.

(6) What's involved with the montage (I don't know what the monatge would be like)

-----------------

"b) What should I prepare?"

(1) Be prepared for anything including difficult lighting and shooting conditions.

(2) Make sure you have enough gear to cover any eventuality including back ups.\
Multiple bodies, lenses or alternatives and flashguns.

(4) Lots of memory cards and batteries etc.

(5) This looks like being a very long day..... you will need food etc to keep yourself going.
Make sure you get plenty of rest the night before.

(6) Practice - lots of it so you are totally familiar with your gear and how to use it with a no of messing arround. Practice shooting people so it becomes second nature. Possibly improve your people skills (ir needed)

(7) Think about how you are going to keep your backup gear secure and yet easily accessible.

(8) Possibly - Have you organised transport and parking for yourself etc?

[ccting]

Thanks Richard for promptly reply.

(1) Can I see the locations before the wedding day. This will let you know what you are in for. What's the lighting like and how much space you have to work with.

No, at first i planned to do so, but the location is just too far away and they give no permission to visit the places before the big day. Furthermore, as i am unpaid so, i am not that willing to travel few hundred km to see the places.

(2) Can I use a flash gun?

They told me "just use theirs", and I will ask them for more specific detail when "just to use theirs".. thanks

(3) Any thing specifically (beside the cakes) you need me to cover.

ya,, I think this is a bit unclear, as they told me to be there during makeup @ 6am..

(4) Possibly - what clothing am I expected to wear.

Asked - they told me any clothes will do , but i think i will wear dark clothes to avoid reflection of clothes in subjects' eyes?

(5) What does a 3rd shooter normally do.

they told me before, but will ask them again -- See and learn how they shot..

(6) What's involved with the montage (I don't know what the monatge would be like)

I also don't know.. :|
-----------------

"b) What should I prepare?"

(1) Be prepared for anything including difficult lighting and shooting conditions.

I told them but they told me that "it just like the norm settings, and they shot at f/2 up to ISO 500 with their continuous lighting where no flashes should be used".

(2) Make sure you have enough gear to cover any eventuality including back ups.\
Multiple bodies, lenses or alternatives and flashguns.

OMG... I have only D5100, D3000, 18-55mm kit lens & 50mm f/1.8G. No backup batteries for cameras. But i have lots of flashguns. Planning to buy only if i make 1 cent out from photography.

(4) Lots of memory cards and batteries etc.

Hmm.. :-| Planning to buy the extras only if i make 1 cent out from photography.

(5) This looks like being a very long day..... you will need food etc to keep yourself going.

Make sure you get plenty of rest the night before.

What happen if I can't even stand anymore (too tired.).. Anything that I can take to keep myself working

(6) Practice - lots of it so you are totally familiar with your gear and how to use it with a no of messing arround. Practice shooting people so it becomes second nature. Possibly improve your people skills (ir needed)

People skills??? Such as?? What should I do to improve people skills within a week?

(7) Think about how you are going to keep your backup gear secure and yet easily accessible.

Ya.. if I am going to bring my lightstands + flashes, softboxes, umbrella, beauty dish.. how would you recommend me to keep those stuff safe??

(8) Possibly - Have you organised transport and parking for yourself etc?

Well, I will travel to and fro at least 4 hours to the destination. Yes,, parking is an headache because I never been to the city before..