First wedding

[Kellidascope82]

I was asked to take pictures for my best friends sister's wedding. The wedding is at the beginning of Auguest.
I was wondering if there are certain questions that I should be asking the bride and is asking now to early?

[RexK_Cozumel]

No it is not too early. Especially if this is your first wedding. First off you will want to know where the wedding ceromony and reception is going to be and the times of day etc. Will they be getting ready at the church or some place else? Clear directions to all the locations. What is the size of the wedding party? How long will you be expected to shoot? Create a shot list and go over it with the bride and groom. If you get the chance get some polaroids of the family it can help when trying to chase them down for formals. How much are you going to get paid for the shoot? Do they know that you are not a professional? What are they expecting as far as prints? What are they expecting as far as retouching?

I am not going to get into the gear that you will need since it has been posted on a lot already.

[trelaflip]

oh i remember my first wedding. very scary.

the best advise i can give has nothing to do with taking the pictures and comes from personal experience.

1. an obvious of course. be sure they have see your work. sounds stupid but i booked a wedding before and the couple never seen 1 photo i ever took. they booked me mainly on word of mouth.

2. specific photos?? ask ask ask and keep asking about any specific photos they need. the bride always has one photo they really want. usually its some cliche or cheesy photo to.

3. have clear times on everything and make an agenda. i been lucky and most brides usually provide me with one. yay to bridezillas

4. like stated above ask size of party. try and get a good what the largest group photo will be. be sure your locations will handle it.

there are so many things that i cant even think right now. it definitely comes with time and after doing one or two you start creating your system that works best for you. every one is nervous the first time. just be sure to take lots of pictures.

also be very clear as to what they will receive when the wedding is over. do they get prints or do they get them all on cd. will they get any edited photos?

lots of resources on the net to. check this out. gives you kind of an idea of photos to get.

http://www.usabride.com/wedplan/w_photolist.html

[candleman]

use the time to practice with low light, motion, brigt light sources.. learn to work with the extremes.. and get natural results.
definatley use the time to practice


1. be sure to get the "legals" sorted.. what rights the the pictures you're handing over. (never give all rights)

2. take snacks.. you're gonna be crazy busy, so a muesli bar ans gulp of water goes down well after a few hours of stomping around like a madman.

3. GO TO THE REHERSAL you will see the lighting arrangements, who is standing where and get an order of events. this gives you opportunity to plan your shots and where you will stand.

4.make a shotlist list the shots they want, and the ones you know you should get, and plan out when/where these could be taken. (brides house? grooms house? reception? formals?

5. sounds stupid, but i've got an "inspiration" page to give me ideas if i hit a blank. basically thumbnails of artistic shots i admire. (and you will.. i'll bet on it)

6. swap SD cards.. if you use only one and it dies.. you could loose everything

7. a spare body is preferable.. but hey, we all have budgets. but if Aunt betty spills her champaine on you pride and joy, you may as well go home. in saying that, i dont yet have an adequite back-up

8. ask the celebrant if you can use flash, and if he/she prefers certain times of "no shots".. personally i dont take shots during the prayers anyway. you can get kicked out, and some celebrants even have lists of "banned" photographers because of their infringements.

9. stay low, wear black. dont stand in the way where nobody can see the couple, keep low and pop up every now and then to pop off an importat shot. you can get booted for interfering with the view of the witnesses. its not all about you.

10. shoot the kids early, before they get tired, and get dirty.

11. be sure you "delicatley" ask if there are iny family dynamics you should be aware of. you dont want o make a divorced couple smile happily together nexto eachother.. they wont smile.

12. when you have a downtime use it! shoot details, and architecture... never stop shooting.

13. ask about party sizes, travel arrangements, arrival times, locations, colour schemes.. know the wedding before you get there.

14. ask if they want you to pose them, or mostly do candids etc etc.. ask ask ask.


thats about all i can brain dump for now..

all the best with it! be sure to post some pics.

[PhotoJunkieJen]

I've not done a wedding yet... but just a good general rule... always bring an extra battery. *laughs*

Yeah, it seems so 101... but man, so essential.

I'm sure you've also seen this on the main page... but in case you haven't.....
http://digital-photography-school.co...tography-shots

[Kellidascope82]

Thanks everyone for the imput. I will definitly be using this time to practice. I will be taking all of you advice with me. Thanks again!