Wedding Photography tips

eyeball kid

Hi All,
I sure some of ye learned people here have done weddings before. I've been asked to do photograph a wedding for a friend in the next 3 weeks. Silly them! But I'm looking for some general tips and if anybody has some specific ones based on the equipment I have, I'd really appreciate it.

The equipement I'll be using is a D200 with a 18-200mm lens and a D70s with a 50mm prime lens. I'll also have a SP600 flashlight with a Stofen Omni bounce diffuser.
Are priests ok with Flash during the ceremony?
Would it be better to have the camera in Aperature Mode or fully manual?

I'm starting to panic at bit at this stage as I went to the church recently and found it hard to take clear and bright pictures (although most of the church lights were off as it was empty) so any tip or suggestions would be greatly appreciated

Thanks...

Fajitas!

Priests should be grand with flash.

As for manual or aperture priority, it depends what suits you best - When I'm using flash, I prefer using shutter speed priority.

If I were you, I'd have the flash on the D200 with the zoom, and shutter speed priority, and the 50mm on the D70 on aperture priority.

Just make sure to stay calm - Practice all your tricks and techniques before the day, and just take as many photos as you feel nessicary.

quilmore

using your camera in manual mode will probably give you the best result, but will give you more than probably bad results as you may rush into some shoots without the time to make the best seletion
specially in a stressfull event as a wedding
I'd leave some of the criterias to be decided by the camera (A or S depending what you're aiming to, like flash or portraits)

Borderfox

Deep breaths before, during and after

elven

I wonder why I put that FAQ thread together...

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055184390

Eirebear

Not all Priests are ok with flash. Make sure you speak to him before hand.
Always make sure everything is in place well before the wedding, some priests will allow you to take shots at key times (exchanging rings, kiss etc) Some wont allow you to shoot at all and youll need to "stage them". SOme priests will aloow you to snap away all you want.

eas

One equipment based recomendation - Use your D200s auto iso feature. Very handy.

eyeball kid

Some good tips here. Thanks to all.

sunny2004

My advice is not to do it..
But if you insist, firstly go up to the Priest, explain you are looking after the photography, and will stay out of his way, but does he have any special rules.
Never go behind him

Then work to a list and shoot in order..

Look at other albums or online albums..

Dont bother praying, just PLAN !

RoryW

if you fail to plan, you plan to fail !

so good to see you are planning

Roen

Read this for starters if you haven't already

elven wrote: »

I wonder why I put that FAQ thread together...

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055184390

1. Try get as au fait with balancing flash and natural light as you can in that time.
2. Get a contract drawn up if you are doing it for money, friend or no.
3. Scout the primary location, know it's lighting at the time of day you'll be there.
4. Have a fall back interior location in case of bad weather.

Not sure if those were covered in the above sticky but I could go on all night, so I better call a halt to it now.

mikeanywhere

Don't use flash for every single shot whilst you are at the altar, try some using just natural light (obviously depending on what light is available of course). Also introduce yourself to the priest before hand, always good to have "him" on your side.

Good luck!!

Hugh_C

The Four Golden Rules for Wedding Photography:

1. Make a list of formal shots (in-laws, out-laws, friends, foes, exes) - it's easy to forget someone in the heat of the moment.

2. Get an accomplice to help organise the group shots. If you're trying to do it solo it can be a nightmare.

3. Tripod. Absolutely essential for group shots - it gives you an air of professionalism even if you aren't.

4a. Get the priest on side. I neglected to do this last year and got some vibes from him during the ceremony. No harm setting the ground rules beforehand.

4b. Get the bride on side - see 4a above

4c. Get the bride's mother on side - see 4a and b.



I'm assuming the 50mm is a f/1.8 which is great for candids later on when everyone has drink on board and the guard is down. Some of the best photos from the wedding I did last year were taken after hours with the 50m on a high ISO and aperture mode.

I wouldn't make a habit of it.