Wedding Qs - Before, after and the big day

veryrandom

Hi all!

So, after assisting at several weddings last year i got really into weddings and have started to advertise myself for doing weddings. I've got a few people interested and have a few small weddings booked for next year. Now the thing is i have a good idea of what am doing, but not a perfect one. I desperately need some question answered and i was hoping against hope some lovely people here could help me shed light on the matter!

1. How many times should you meet the couple before the actual wedding day itself? What is discussed in this meeting/meetings?

2. I understand you go to the various locations several times to check them out, should the couple be with you at these times?

3.On the day of the wedding, what time do you aim to be at the brides house for her preprations?

4.If requested to stay for the meal and first dance, what does this consist of? As in what are you expected to do exactly? How long can you expect this to take? (I have covered all other areas while assisting but have never done the meal/first dance etc so this is new to me).

Ok, so far these are all the biggy's i can think of...am sure theres more!

If anyone could offer any suggestions, advice or help i would be so grateful!

Also just putting it out there but if any full fledged wedding photographers are reading this and are looking for a assistant/second shooter I am (obviously) looking to gain more experience and get to grips with the finer details of the process so would love the opportunity to assist or help out in anyway.

My website is www.silkephotography.net

Thnx,

K

Borderfox

1. How many times should you meet the couple before the actual wedding day itself? What is discussed in this meeting/meetings?

Once at least, talk about what pictures they like and if they have any particular locations they like where the reception is held.

2. I understand you go to the various locations several times to check them out, should the couple be with you at these times?

I go to a location once to have a look around, try to check it at the same time as you will be there eg for churches have a look around at the time of the ceremony (direction of sun for group shots outside) Its nice to have the couple with you but that might not be always possible

3.On the day of the wedding, what time do you aim to be at the brides house for her preprations?

Generally 2 hours beforehand, get shots of the dress (before its on/putting dress on) family/guests in the house

4.If requested to stay for the meal and first dance, what does this consist of? As in what are you expected to do exactly? How long can you expect this to take? (I have covered all other areas while assisting but have never done the meal/first dance etc so this is new to me).

If I stay till the first dance (price option on this) then during dinner I back up all the shots to a laptop with a portable hard drive and leave the images on the cards too and then shoot the speeches/ cutting of the cake (not staged) and if the light is good I organise a couple more shots of the bride & groom (if they want) and then the first dance, I usually shoot for around 5-6 songs till I have shots of all the bridal party on the floor. Then go home

veryrandom

Thank you so so much! This has been incredibly helpful for me! I am going to keep bombarding you with random questions i remember, if thats ok. You've really helped me out!

5.How to you approach the contract? When/how do you give the contact to the couple? And when (and in what format) do you expect them to give you the deposit?

6. What information do you need to get from the bride and groom before the wedding? Obviously details like numbers, address, location addresses etc. But what else?

7. If you go to the church/locations alone to have a look will they show you around if you say who you are? Or do you need the bride and groom with you?


Can you suggest any other tips, tricks, advice i need to know?

Very grateful,

K

Hugh_C

veryrandom wrote: »

4.If requested to stay for the meal and first dance, what does this consist of?

Normally beef or salmon, sometimes a vegetarian

Borderfox

5.How to you approach the contract? When/how do you give the contact to the couple? And when (and in what format) do you expect them to give you the deposit?

Deposit is handed over to secure the date, whatever format they or you prefer cash/transfer/cheque

I would give them the contract to look over at that stage

6. What information do you need to get from the bride and groom before the wedding? Obviously details like numbers, address, location addresses etc. But what else?

You have a pm for this

7. If you go to the church/locations alone to have a look will they show you around if you say who you are? Or do you need the bride and groom with you?

for the church no, in the hotel either ring ahead and make an appointment or drop in and have a look around. I wouldnt need the bride and groom to do this

Borderfox

One other thing I would say is that the more weddings you complete the calmer you become on the day, dont get me wrong I still am nervous on the day but you start to know the flow of the day and you can be more creative in between the set parts of the day