First Wedding..

[SourKraut]

Hi all

I've been asked to take photos for someone's wedding. I've never done anything like it, so it's very daunting, but I'm tempted to give it a go.

Any good reads, or websites with tips on how to tackle the shoot? It's in August next year, so I have time to prepare and practice..

Thanks

[Starie1975]

I'm going to ask my friend to do my wedding. All we want to abput 25 shots max. Spending a couple of grand on photo is mental me thinks.

[SourKraut]

that seems to be my sister-in-law's idea as well. I'm worried that I'm not even half good enough to do it, but as long as the expectations are low enough, I suppose...

[squareballoon]

Originally Posted by Starie1975

I'm going to ask my friend to do my wedding. All we want to abput 25 shots max. Spending a couple of grand on photo is mental me thinks.

hmmm but you want 25 great photos don't you? it's harder than you would think and a lot of couples have regretting not getting a professional to take their photos when they get images that haven't captured the day at all.

To the OP make sure you double up on your equipment even if it means hiring extra stuff. I'm sure others will have expert advice as I have only shot 4 weddings.

[KarmaGarda]

There's a lot more to it than you would imagine. Here's a link to a post by Fajitas in regards to what a photographer does.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showp...3&postcount=50

Outside of that, what type of equipment do you have? What type of shots does she want as standard?

To me, a photographer is the MOST important person on the day. 20 years down the line the photographs will be the 1 thing that they will still be looking at to recapture those memories. I'd be trying to convince them to reconsider and get a professional. It's not an easy job at all.

[Morrisseeee]

<oh I love wedding threads>
/gets popcorn...........

Seriously though, to the OP, what experience have you in photography, I took it up a year ago and wouldn't attempt to do a wedding.....yet !!
But.........if like Starie1975 has said, ie. that only a few photos are needed and a budget needs to be kept, then by all means give it a go.
You will need a camera that has good ISO, 800 at least, and a few (at least 2) good fast lenses. There are plenty of folk here with wedding experience and no doubt will provide you with expert advice, good luck

[Paulw]

Originally Posted by KarmaGarda

There's a lot more to it than you would imagine. Here's a link to a post by Fajitas in regards to what a photographer does.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showp...3&postcount=50

I've been at 3 friend's weddings in the last few years who were unhappy with the end results from the photographers, and ended up using the shots I took (I only went as a guest).

A wedding is a very important event, normally a once in a lifetime thing, and to make a mess is something that you will never be forgiven for.

Our wedding is next year, and I made sure to book the best photographer I could, after talking to a number of other photographers. We decided early on that we would be willing to pay for quality.

If you think the couple won't want good photos, even when they know you're only a beginner, think again. They will still expect results.

My best advice - read as much as you can, practice as much as you can, make sure you've as much backup equipment as possible, and make sure you have full proper and professional insurance. There is a reason why wedding photography can be expensive - because it's not as simple as just taking a few snaps.

[KarmaGarda]

Oh, another bit of advice. If you do end up doing this, offer yourself up as a free assistant on as many weddings as possible before this event. It will be worth so much experience to you on the day.

[SourKraut]

Originally Posted by squareballoon

hmmm but you want 25 great photos don't you? it's harder than you would think and a lot of couples have regretting not getting a professional to take their photos when they get images that haven't captured the day at all.

To the OP make sure you double up on your equipment even if it means hiring extra stuff. I'm sure others will have expert advice as I have only shot 4 weddings.

I'm looking at hiring stuff, maybe a nice lens or two.

Originally Posted by KarmaGarda

There's a lot more to it than you would imagine. Here's a link to a post by Fajitas in regards to what a photographer does.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showp...3&postcount=50

Outside of that, what type of equipment do you have? What type of shots does she want as standard?

To me, a photographer is the MOST important person on the day. 20 years down the line the photographs will be the 1 thing that they will still be looking at to recapture those memories. I'd be trying to convince them to reconsider and get a professional. It's not an easy job at all.

Will look at that link, cheers.

I've a Canon 40D, the 17-85 lens that came with it and a 50mm 1.4. No flash yet, i've been using the old 480 EX from my film camera and getting the exposure with trial and error when needed

I disagree somewhat with the idea that the photographer is the most important person of the day - even allowing for the fact that the bride is just a bit more important , I don't know how many couples actually look at their wedding album that often. As long as there are some photos that capture the day, and trigger real memories, is that not enough

[SourKraut]

Originally Posted by Paulw

I've been at 3 friend's weddings in the last few years who were unhappy with the end results from the photographers, and ended up using the shots I took (I only went as a guest).

A wedding is a very important event, normally a once in a lifetime thing, and to make a mess is something that you will never be forgiven for.

Our wedding is next year, and I made sure to book the best photographer I could, after talking to a number of other photographers. We decided early on that we would be willing to pay for quality.

If you think the couple won't want good photos, even when they know you're only a beginner, think again. They will still expect results.

My best advice - read as much as you can, practice as much as you can, make sure you've as much backup equipment as possible, and make sure you have full proper and professional insurance. There is a reason why wedding photography can be expensive - because it's not as simple as just taking a few snaps.

Originally Posted by KarmaGarda

Oh, another bit of advice. If you do end up doing this, offer yourself up as a free assistant on as many weddings as possible before this event. It will be worth so much experience to you on the day.

Excellent advice, both.

I am still thinking of convincing them to go pro. I was a bit shocked when they asked me.

[smelltheglove]

Daunting is the right word for your first wedding, scary is another, its not impossible if you have the confidence for it and you still have almost a year so who knows where you'll be at then.

As mentioned already double up on everything, you need to have a good fast lense for the church and iso is handy, I used to never use high iso but since upgrading I have reaked its benefits. It makes the job much easier. Recently a member here covered a wedding and his flash failed, so backup is essential.

As for needing only 25 great photos, a lot of albums would only have this years back, ok in the digital age its easier to get more, my albums often have 60+ but it is definitly not easy to get 'only' 25 great photos, a lot of planning is required, practice, confidence and also a huge part of playing a wedding photographer is people skills in abundance, you need to deal with people on the best but potentially most stressful day of their lives.

Plenty of reads out there, I mean search wedding photography advice and you'll come up with loads, search I wish I got a pro or the likes and you'll probably come up with the reasons why you need to be prepared.

[Paulw]

Originally Posted by SourKraut

I've a Canon 40D, the 17-85 lens that came with it and a 50mm 1.4. No flash yet, i've been using the old 480 EX from my film camera and getting the exposure with trial and error when needed

Beg/steal/borrow another camera and 1-2 more lenses, fast lenses (f/2.8). You'll also need a flash for each, plenty of camera batteries, memory cards, flash batteries, etc. The kit lens is seldom great for DOF or sharpness.

Originally Posted by SourKraut

I disagree somewhat with the idea that the photographer is the most important person of the day - even allowing for the fact that the bride is just a bit more important , I don't know how many couples actually look at their wedding album that often. As long as there are some photos that capture the day, and trigger real memories, is that not enough

Ok, photographer is probably 4th most important person behind bride, mother of the bride, mother of the groom. The guys don't care as much.

As for the big day and the photos, there have been many cases where brides have taken the photographer to court (and won) for not producing quality images. So, they obviously do care a lot about what they get.

You have plenty of time at least. Here's a course you should consider - http://www.iop.ie/courses/wedding_beginners.htm It's been recommended by a number of people on here (who now do weddings).

[AnCatDubh]

Originally Posted by SourKraut

Hi all

I've been asked to take photos for someone's wedding. I've never done anything like it, so it's very daunting, but I'm tempted to give it a go.

Any good reads, or websites with tips on how to tackle the shoot? It's in August next year, so I have time to prepare and practice..

Thanks

There's an excellent post in the FAQ under the weddings section (wooo hooooo, I knew there was sense in reorganising the FAQ ))

Originally Posted by Starie1975

I'm going to ask my friend to do my wedding. All we want to abput 25 shots max. Spending a couple of grand on photo is mental me thinks.

In addition to what you've been provided with there's an excellent post in the FAQ under the weddings section.

[SourKraut]

First realisation from what I've heard: I need to sit down with them and get their expectations clear.

[KarmaGarda]

Originally Posted by SourKraut

I've a Canon 40D, the 17-85 lens that came with it and a 50mm 1.4. No flash yet, i've been using the old 480 EX from my film camera and getting the exposure with trial and error when needed

That and a backup camera, backup flash (are you reading this Fenster? ) and backup lenses etc should be good I reckon. But as mentioned before, practice and practice. There may be good folk on here that will take you as an assistant for free to get you the experience. With a LOT of work, there's a good chance you could do quite a good job of it. But be prepared to realise why photographers charge as much as they do

Originally Posted by SourKraut

I disagree somewhat with the idea that the photographer is the most important person of the day - even allowing for the fact that the bride is just a bit more important , I don't know how many couples actually look at their wedding album that often. As long as there are some photos that capture the day, and trigger real memories, is that not enough

Well, I meant the most important person outside of the wedding party . Ok, we'll not debate whether or not they are the most important person, but people only realise how important they actually are when they end up with bad photos.