Getting Nervous

[Ambrosia76]

I am starting to get really nervous about shooting my daughter's wedding. She knows that I am no professional and that I am going to do the best I can for her, but the closer it gets the more nervous I get.

This is the gear I have to use Canon 60d,18-55 lens,75-300 lens,50 mm lens, 2 batteries with charger,4 memory cards (2 16s and 2 8s) ,my laptop to empty them if needed, a flash I just got and am going to try to practice with as much as possible. I am going to try and get a cord to use it off camera too between now and then.

I have seen the venue,it is a small community center, it is pretty well lit with florescent lights and has windows running up both sides. The ceremony itself will be in the middle of the room so I am hoping the light spilling through the windows won't effect the WB too much. I am planning on doing the formal shots in the park outside as it will be about 7 pm by that time.

Any suggestions,or advice is appreciate.

[dlambert]

One of the obvious problems is that, as a parent, you're naturally going to want to be "in the moment" at some points during the wedding when your photographer duties dictate that you're running around trying to get shots. Do you have an assistant of some sort who could help when you're involved with the goings-on?

Next, I'd consider renting or buying a fast lens -- either a prime or zoom of f/2.8 or faster. You're certain to encounter some low-light situations where the extra light-gathering in a fast lens will be invaluable, and their ability to compress DOF might come in handy, too.

[Rentham]

Originally Posted by Ambrosia76

I am starting to get really nervous about shooting my daughter's wedding. She knows that I am no professional and that I am going to do the best I can for her, but the closer it gets the more nervous I get.

Expect it to get worse. I'm sure you've already had people chime in about the wisdom of shooting your own daughter's wedding, so I won't address it. The anxiety will reach a crescendo right before the ceremony starts. But, in my experience, that's about as bad as it gets. From that point on you're just concentrating on the work. You're too busy to worry.

Originally Posted by Ambrosia76

This is the gear I have to use Canon 60d,18-55 lens,75-300 lens,50 mm lens, 2 batteries with charger,4 memory cards (2 16s and 2 8s) ,my laptop to empty them if needed, a flash I just got and am going to try to practice with as much as possible. I am going to try and get a cord to use it off camera too between now and then.

How long until the wedding? Getting new gear and learning new techniques right before you have to use them could lead you into trouble. How much do you know about flash? It's one thing to get everything working and tested in your living room. But in pressure situations time has a tendency to speed up and that's when mistakes start to happen. My advice is to stick to the things you absolutely know forward and backward. A live shoot, especially a wedding, really isn't the time to learn new gear.

[SJCT]

I'll second what the first two responses said, they have pretty much summed it up. I recently acted as a second photographer on a wedding shoot with a photog buddy. He rented a couple of lenses, one of which he let me use for the day. It was a great lens and I appreciated it a lot, but getting used to the way the new (to me) lens shot made it tough. Especially in a pressure situation like a wedding. In the end, my best shots turned out to be from the gear that I was familiar with.

Speaking of second photographers, have you considered that idea? See if you can find someone else to tag along for the day. It will take some of the pressure off you. Just someone with a decent camera that can snap some shots from angles other than what you're shooting. It will also make it so that you don't have to run around as much during the ceremony. You can each position yourself in a spot and pretty much stay within that area for the duration of the ceremony.

[Ambrosia76]

Her wedding is August 14th, in seven weeks, she decided this 2 weeks ago. She never had patience to wait for anything. The ONLY reason I am doing it is because we can't afford to hire a pro and pay for everything else so this is her only option.

I use to use off camera flash all the time back when I shot film(20 yrs ago) just haven't ventured into it with my DSLR yet. Hoping it is not so different.

I snapped some photos of her and granddaughter in the venue when we went to check it out so I could see what I would be working with and even without the flash I was able to get some decent photos without high iso or slow shutter speed. I am going to try and not use the flash during the actual ceremony as I don't want it to be disruptive.

As far as it being an issue with me doing other things I am pretty good at multi-tasking, at granddaughters birthday I set everything up(decorations etc), helped with the food and still manage to take about 1000 pics. I think my biggest issue is going to be making Grandbaby understand that she has to stay with mom and dad and not follow Grandma around during the ceremony.

My only assistants are hubby and my other daughter,and my son who will be in the actual ceremony,so for that I am on my on. Hubby can help with the formals and daughter will be taking the fuji camera I gave her to take shots during the reception.

[phaither]

where are you located? maybe someone will volunteer to help....

[Ambrosia76]

Not likely I tried to get someone to volunteer from y local photo club to shoot my vow renewal ceremony in February and best I could get is a guy who said he would take pics and give me a CD for $300.

[SJCT]

If your daughter could get two photographers for her wedding for $300, that sounds like a steal to me!

[Ambrosia76]

Originally Posted by SJCT

If your daughter could get two photographers for her wedding for $300, that sounds like a steal to me!

Glad it is for you but it isn't for me. I am shelling out all the dough and the cake alone cost an entire days pay.

[tyasa81]

Ambrosia... i have no idea what sort of means you have left... if you really made up your mind to do the shoot... i know it wont be easy... i wish you the best of luck in it... photography is never easy whenever you are pressured to make the shot at a moments notice..

maybe you could do a payment arrangement of the 300 dollar maybe to pay a month after the event? seriously.. a 2nd shooter... esp someone who have experience will be worth it if you can do that.. might be a little pushing it off the edge though for that person

doesn't a 60d have that flash comander thing to control remote flash?