 Posted 8/7/2008 8:11:19 PM
|
|
|
|
The day is finally here tomorrow. I'm shooting my first wedding as the paid photographer. If anyone has any little last minute tips to give me that would be great. I have been doing my homework but it seems even after lots of research and reading, I hear something new that helps. Are there any things that you wish you would have known before your first few? I'm excited and looking forward to it but I'm also nervous. Surprisingly I'm able to hide nerves and can seem confident even when It is lower than it should be.
The wedding is outdoors in the couples back yard. I have already been there at the same time of day as the ceremony will be and took some test shots. It is mostly shaded. Originally the guests would have been facing North and there was a little sun peeking through from the West. Now she changed it and they are standing in a little clearing in the trees and the chairs are facing the West. I can have my flash off camera with an SB600 for fill and also have a couple reflectors, and an assistant. I have a wider angle lens for the groups and for the ceremony I have a 80 - 200 2.8 lens. The ceremony is at 4 pm and formal pictures are right after. That is the part I'm nervous about because I have no experience posing large groups. The largest group is 14 people, then a couple 8's, one 7. The rest are between 2 and 4 which I'm less concerned about. It is all organized well, I'm mainly concerned about posing and positioning. I see a lot of triangle shaped groupings which looks pleasing to me. The wedding party I'm shooting at 5 at a park overlooking a river. Only one large group of 12.
One of the shots she wants is their hands with the rings. Any good ideas or tips for that shot?
Thanks,
Linda
|
|
|
Posted 8/7/2008 11:56:11 PM
|
|
|
|
I wouldn't use any flash for the hand/ring shot. You're going to be close for that shot and flash will just make it look unnatural.
For single person shots, especially of the bride, I would shoot wide open to isolate them and give it that soft romantic bokeh.
For the group shots, stop down to perhaps f/5.6 or f/8 to increase DoF.
Do NOT over power the ambient light with your flash.
For the posed shots, meter off of the brides skin (face). Make sure not to blow out her dress.
The most important thing to remember........Take the lens cap off. 
|
|
|
Posted 8/8/2008 6:31:29 AM
|
|
|
|
Besides the above, try something original, different, so we get something to give the points for originality to ....
But who am I to talk, the only wedding I ever did (I jumped in for a friend who had an accident, as I normally don't do weddings) it was with three empty cameras ....
If you have a problem with reality, quit taking photos and take up painting
|
|
|
Posted 8/8/2008 11:02:58 AM
|
|
|
|
| Thanks guys! We have a nice cloud filtered sunny day with no rain expected until the middle of the night.
|
|
|
Posted 8/8/2008 11:42:35 AM
|
|
|
|
I don't have any dos and don'ts to tell you, but a little all the best from my side...
A person who loses god loses everything, and a person who gets god gets everything.
|
|
|
Posted 8/8/2008 12:27:14 PM
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted 8/8/2008 2:42:17 PM
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted 8/8/2008 8:45:20 PM
|
|
|
|
Thanks for all the added tips and for the encouragement and support. I actually left before the last couple replies but the tips and link will still come in handy because next week is my daughters wedding and I will be doing most of the photography. I thought I would have a bigger role as the mob, but times have really changed. The groom's mom has been trying to run the show and rather than getting into it I decided I would rather be busy doing what I love.
I haven't downloaded any images yet but I think I got some good ones. The groom said he thought I was doing a great job and that he loved the engagement photos too. I really had a great time. I never thought I would want to do wedding photography but with candids being more popular now it is more in line with what I like. It is so enjoyable to be at and part of such a happy occasion. I'm such a sap, I got a little teary eyed. Some things didn't go poorly but I was thinking about things I might do different next time to make it even better. I will add more after I see them.
My photography instructor said something that is so true and I want to pass the tip on to my DA family. He said networking is everything and that you never know when something will practically fall in your lap if your open to it. It has happen twice now for me. The first was a job on craigs list. Someone wanted someone to run around all over the twin cities taking pictures of buildings. He said he didn't have high expectations and the pay he was offering barely covered the gas. I think most people didn't want to bother with it so I got the job. It turns out he was a wedding planner and an officiant! He liked the images so much he said what he was going to pay wasn't enough so he gave me almost double and said he was going to give me credit on his site and would be willing to send couples my way if I ever want to do weddings. The buildings I shot were places to hold weddings. He has them on his site free for couples to see when they are planning their weddings. Later he contacted me again to shoot some restaurants that he likes for rehearsal dinners. If I had only thought about money I wouldn't have never got the opportunity.
The other one was the wedding I just did. I was at a Tim and Faith concert and I was taking pictures with a coolpix. As I was reviewing some of the shots on the camera screen someone from behind me was looking over my shoulder and got my attention and commented on a shot of Faith Hill I took. I told her if she gave me her email address I would send it to her. I did, and then said I was in the process of building a website (this was July 07) and if she would like I could let her know when it is up and running so she can see more of the concert photos. I didn't know it then but it turns out she had just got engaged. She liked the concert ones and decided to look at some of the other galleries because of their upcoming wedding. Then, believe it or not she was looking at some pictures of a play my daughter was involved in at school and saw a picture of her cousin/maid of honor!! She was in the play; too funny. So if you want to do photography professionally leave yourself open for possibilities and that silver lining.
One other thing I learned, don't wear something on your feet for shooting a wedding that you haven't broke in yet. My feet are killing me!
Thanks again!
Linda
|
|
|
Posted 8/9/2008 3:27:36 PM
|
|
|
| | |
