Need Imput - Shooting a wedding Sunday

[Jayden]

A friend has asked me to take photos at her wedding this coming Sunday, July 4th. She won't be hiring a professional. I told her I was limited with what my camera can do, but I'd be glad to take photos for her.

I'm looking for ideas, hints and tips that may help me with this project. They will be getting married at a small church. This is a 2nd wedding, and they are an older couple. It's going to be a small wedding.

I know I want to do the hands over the marriage licence with the wedding rings showing, and also get a shot of the rings tucked in a rose. Any other ideas like that?

I don't have a bounce flash or anything like that...so I'm going to have to pull them outside to get some nicer shots.

help!!

[Sime]

Crumbs. You have your work cut out for you.

1. Get a list of photos that they MUST have
2. Tick those shots off
3. Get some others
4. Relax

But seriously... there's a great wedding checklist on dPS but I honestly think it'd overwhelm. So basically, get the shot list from them, go to the church before hand, check out the available light, see what you can and can't achieve, relax, shoot.

Good luck!

Sime

[mwonderman]

1. A zoom lens is your friend. You can stay out of the way, and get some natural non-posey shots of the couple. Candid photos tend to be the most memorable.

2. It may be nice to get a few shots of the atmosphere, the interior etc, but remember not to go overboard with those shots. A couple wants to see photos of themselves, their friends and family, and the proceedings of the evening.

3. Arrive a little early and take a few test shots in the available light.

4. Remember to let the day follow a natural course. I've been to a few weddings where the photographers essentially told everyone what to do, where to stand and how to behave the entire night to get a lot of unnatural, uncomfortable looking photos. This is fun for no one.

5. A photographer should be non-interfering. Ask to allocate a specific time for the posed photos if you haven't done already. That way everything is efficient and prepared, and so you or anyone else for that matter wouldn't have to be running around posing for photos and grabbing people to pose for photos.

6. Take extra memory cards and batteries [if you can].

And as for ideas?
-If you're pulling them outside, try experimenting with several different extreme angles [always ensuring that they're flattering!]
-don't forget your getting ready shots! they can be lots of fun
-You can experiment with composition to have some rather adorable images like this
-your shots of the details like the bride's shoes, bridesmaids dresses, flowers, reception room [full and empty if you can get there before everyone arrives] etc

[Kellyj69]

[QUOTE=Sime™;1023030]Crumbs. You have your work cut out for you.

1. Get a list of photos that they MUST have
2. Tick those shots off
3. Get some others
4. Relax


I love this list! thanks!

[Jayden]

I'm posting an album from Flickr of the photos I took at the wedding.

Dean & Becky's Wedding - a set on Flickr

[candleman]

beautiful location! love that stone building.
with exception of your indoor WB problems i think you got some nice images.

[BigVinnie]

I think you did pretty well.

It looks like there were other people taking pictures at the same time on your group shots. The reason I state that is because you have people looking in all different directions.

That is always a problem and what you need to do is make sure to inform everyone that you are the official photographer. They need to understand that YOU take your shots first then others are welcome to snap away. You have to be assertive or the guests will make your life miserable.

I think being a wedding photographer is one of the most demanding fields. But once you get proficient it is very rewarding.

[Jayden]

Originally Posted by BigVinnie

I think you did pretty well.

It looks like there were other people taking pictures at the same time on your group shots. The reason I state that is because you have people looking in all different directions.

That is always a problem and what you need to do is make sure to inform everyone that you are the official photographer. They need to understand that YOU take your shots first then others are welcome to snap away. You have to be assertive or the guests will make your life miserable.

I think being a wedding photographer is one of the most demanding fields. But once you get proficient it is very rewarding.

Yes, someone else was taking pictures. I was told when I arrived at the wedding that they did hire someone to take pictures. They referred to her as the professional. I was fine with that, because I went into this whole thing with her knowing not to expect much from me because I wasn't a professional, and that I am very very limited with my point and shoot camera. So the "professional" showed up with a massive huge camera which I would love to own, and a bounce flash. I guess we were competing. Mine actually ended up being better.

I really can't wait to have a camera that can do more than what my little sony point and shoot does.