1st wedding experiences

vRSG60

vRSG60

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Shaun
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This is directed at those that have shot 1 or 2 weddings. NOT those that are well versed in the art.

What's your story regarding shooting your 1st wedding.
How did you get involved?
What research did you do?
What would you do differently?
etc etc.
 
Just curious, why exclude people with the most experience in the subject?
 
Because they only want to gather information/opinions from those who have done 1 or maybe 2 weddings
 
I would have thought asking those with more experience about their recollections of their first couple of weddings and how they have actually changed would be more useful. But each to their own I guess.
 
Long post, but you asked....

I was asked by a friend to photograph her wedding. Despite my protestations that I was not good enough and it would be a disaster, she insisted.

Having set the bar quite low I felt more relaxed about doing it.

I read everything I could find on wedding photography, both on the net and in photo magazines.

I looked at many other photographers websites to get an idea of the kind of shots typically required.

I then had a meeting with the B&G and wrote down a running order for the day, contact numbers for B&G, best man and ushers and a list of shots they required. I also asked who the’ important ‘ guests were to ensure I got some shots of them.

We had a written agreement (via email, not signed) that I was not liable if it all went wrong, there would be no payment and I was free to use the images for my own use.

I did the shoot with a photography student. Using the running order for the day I worked out times and positions for both of us. We did this at the venue together with the B&G (obviously before the big day). I also arranged for this meeting at the venue to be the same time as the wedding so I could see where the sun was likely to be in relation to the back drops for the photos.

We also worked out a ‘plan B’ which was about where to take group photos if it rained.

Before the day I bought extra CF cards and a Nikon 24-70m (had been looking for a good excuse!). I used a Nikon D3 with the 24.70 and a Nikon D200 with a 70-300. I also had a Sigma 10-20mm but didn’t need to use this much. I had a Nikon D80 with kit lenses as a back up and loads of batteries for all cameras and both flash guns (SB600 and SB 900).

Learning points.

Speak to the vicar or registrar before the day to see what you can and cannot do. I spoke to the registrar on the day, but didn’t really have time.

The whole day really was ‘full on’. I arrived at 08.00 and finished at 22.00. We took well over 2000 shots between us and it took several days to PP.

One thing that gave me some confidence was looking through the sample albums, left by ‘pro’ wedding photographers at the venue. Some of their shots were awful and they were using these to promote their business.

I should have been more assertive when we did the group shots as videographer and guests were frequently getting in the way and also drawing the B&G’s attention from me. This lack of assertiveness is not typical of me and was due to my lack of experience/confidence.

You CANNOT rely on an usher to sort the groups.

Talk to the DJ about lighting the first dance, I was going to use available light as the venue was quite bright, just as they got up to dance the DJ turned most of lights off. Although I had my flash gun handy it was not on my camera.

Overall it was one of the most stressful days work of my life. This was due to it being a new experience for me and not wanting to let down the B&G.

And they loved the photos!
 
Brians got that pretty much spot on and saved me a lot of typing :naughty:

I must however reinforce his point about the group shots. Wedding photography, especially at that point is not for the shrinking violet type. The group shot is after the actual ceremony and days of tension and nerves by the wedding party and guests suddenly disappear at this point and all they want to do is chat, congratulate the couple, speak to uncle bob and aunt betty whom they haven't seen for 10 years and ALL want to get to the bar asap..... You get the idea and realise that assertiveness is paramount. Just don't be rude and overbearing. For very large groups 50+ i have in the past used a refs whistle (a short blast about a second or two before you hit the shutter works wonders) the extra second lets the surprised looks subside :wideyed:.

Ps. ....and for that group shot try to get an elevated vantage point to shoot from, not too high mind.
 
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BBR said:
You CANNOT rely on an usher to sort the groups.

Talk to the DJ about lighting the first dance, I was going to use available light as the venue was quite bright, just as they got up to dance the DJ turned most of lights off. Although I had my flash gun handy it was not on my camera.
Click to expand...

Ha ha, so true. Ushers are usually useless at it and i find it better to just shout louder.

As for DJ, those chuffing laser dot lights.....bane of my life. Always ask them to turn them off.
 
Gazamonk said:
For very large groups 50+ i have in the past used a refs whistle (a short blast about a second or two before you hit the shutter works wonders) the extra second lets the surprised looks
Click to expand...

I've heard do many horror stories from brides about whistles and groups..... They always use it as example of pushy photographers 'he shouted at us and even got a whistle out' is a pretty common one. And then we laugh about them.

I think it's a great way to alienate an entire wedding party. Just don't do it
 
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boyfalldown said:
I've heard do many horror stories from brides about whistles and groups..... They always use it as example of pushy photographers 'he shouted at us and even got a whistle out' is a pretty common one. And then we laugh about them.

I think it's a great way to alienate an entire wedding party. Just don't do it
Click to expand...

I have found that the opposite is true and the bridal party are delighted that in a group shot of up to a hundred people nearly all are looking at the camera and smiling.

Do remember that this is only on occasion and for very large groups (at a time in the day when many have already had a drink and most at this time are on there first flutes of free bubbly, they are also in full chat mode and all feeling very euphoric)

I have always approached the bridal party beforehand prior to using such a technique and have NEVER had an issue. I approach weddings (and indeed any job) by conveying a light and gently humourous persona and with weddings in particular I get the party and guests onside as early as possible on the day.

I suspect the brides you speak of who have been 'Shouted at' ! have been at the hands of a photographer who has little people skills and spends equal amounts of time behind the camera as he does up his own ****. Lets be honest we know or have heard of the type I speak of and I have been a guest at weddings where the togs people skills leave a lot to be desired.


If you can think of a way of getting the attention of every person in a very large inattentive group without employing volume of any sort,
vocal or otherwise (not shouting rudely, it can be done with gentle hunour) then I'm all ears.
 
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We'll just differ then. A whistle has no place in a photographers kit bag :)
 
Well not in yours anyway ;)
We all get results in different ways and if the clients happy thats all that matters.
Not so much technique but how you employ said technique.
Agree to disagree :D
 
not sure why you asked this question but heres my take if you are doing it for a friend or relative then you been given some good advice if you want to start as a business then i would look at doing some second shooting
 
Shaun, I just read this thread, http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/threads/photographer-lost-our-wedding-photos.514430/

Reminded of something I omitted from my advice above.

Have loads of memory cards, change them regularly (don't wait until they are full) and back up as soon as you can.
I uploaded the raw files to my laptop and to my back up hard drive. I then put the CF cards away safely until I had processed all the photos and were happy with them and backed them up again.
I would have thought it obvious until I read that thread.

BTW I am normally the worlds worse at backing up images!!!!
 
I've done 2 weddings now, the first for a friend in December 2012, which I wrote about in detail here
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/threads/first-wedding-shot.461078/

And then a second wedding for my sister in October 2013.

I wouldn't make a habit of it and didn't charge either time but I enjoyed both occasions and would do it again if asked. Not sure I'd enjoy it so much if it wasn't for the fact I knew the majority of people at both events so I always felt as guest in the first instance and a photograph second.
 
wave01 said:
not sure why you asked this question but heres my take if you are doing it for a friend or relative then you been given some good advice if you want to start as a business then i would look at doing some second shooting
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Just interested in experiences. I have no plans to shoot a wedding, but my name keeps being put forward to couples who haven't hired a photographer and plan on guests taking pictures.
 
I did a friends wedding last October. I offered to cover it about 6 months before hand thinking I've got loads of time to prepare and read up on things. I also had a mate who is an up and coming wedding tog who offered to help me out for free as long as he could use the pics for advertising and portfolio work etc which of course was not a problem. Closer to the date I chickened out of taking the lead and my mate stepped up. All of a sudden the pressure was off me and I think it helped me with my pictures in the end. I'm more of a candid shot grabber than organising people in groups and the like so it suited me a lot more. I learned alot on that day which I would have over looked if it hadn't have been pointed out to me. Definately a great experience to have under your belt and watching someone else take the lead is a great way of learning new techniques.

I met the couple at the church and had a look around it and then also around the reception venue and grounds. A must in my book. I also asked for a list of shots they wanted. We were quite lucky that the usher was really loud and had the knack of organising people for the shots. Neither of us knew anyone (apart from the b&g) so picking out people for the specified group shots would have left us running all over the place trying to find them.

BBR has offered a great run down and fab advice.

Imo, if you get asked, then do it. It's a great experience.
 
This is my first wedding back in 2011. http://www.dkh-photography.com/galleries/sj-wedding/
I started photographing at 10am and finished at 11.30ish. What I learn't was that it was a hard graft - I loved it but knew I had to learn so much to get to where I wanted to get. lighting techniques, better ideas of what I wanted to achieve and to become more confident in my initial meetings - to charge better.

I know I've improved but, the road ahead is long.
 
I did my first wedding in July for friends. Like Brian #5, I didn't really think I was ready but they'd seen my pics on Flickr and, though they aren't of a similar subject to a wedding, were very impressed with them. I agreed to do it and arranged to shoot with a friend as a second shooter and was good to go (this went tits up the day before the wedding as he was taken into hospital for an appendectomy) . I went to see the church way before the date and also scoped out a nice area in a park to do some group and B&G shots and also had a look in the venue for the reception. I had my 5D3 with Sigma 24-70 f2.8 EX HSM and a 7D and various lenses as backup with plenty of batteries, cards and a couple of flashguns as well. I covered the bride getting ready (no underwear shots though) to go and leaving the house, got a fast car to the church and got the 5D3 set up on a tripod and took the 7D out to shoot the assembled guests and to be ready for the brides arrival. After shooting the bride getting out of the car and getting ready to come into church I nipped in through the back door and was on the 5D3 to shoot her coming down the aisle. Afterwards it was outside the church for some group shots, I started off with all of the guests and then worked down to just the two of them as I thought it would be easier than finding everybody for their few minutes when it was time.

We went off to the park and did the same again, but this time really concentrating on immediate family and the important guests rather than just everybody. They all got their photos taken eventually and I almost got all the kids looking my way and smiling at the same time, only one wouldn't cooperate in the end. Then onto the reception, which was basically an all afternoon affair with some fun for the kids in the afternoon and then the fun for the adults in the evening. I finally made it home just after midnight so it'd been a 16 hour day for me and that's without the PP to the photos. It was hard work for nothing at the end of it (well I did get fed and watered) but it was worth it for the experience. I did the PP to the pics over the following week and they collected the discs etc on the weekend. When the bride was going through the shots she was so emotional she was crying, they were both thrilled to bits with the photos. I received a thankyou card not long after, with a few pounds in for expenses, and I've kept that in my bag as a reminder of the day.

I've since done another wedding for another couple of friends but that worked out a lot easier as it was a registry office wedding and I had my wife as a second shooter as well. It was just as much hard work but I enjoyed doing it even more than the first. I've been asked to do 2 more weddings this year and already one for next year and that's from friends and relatives of the first two weddings. It's never going to become a job for me, but I do enjoy taking photos so it's not really a hardship either. I think I will actually start giving a price though when people ask how much I'd do it for instead of just saying I'll do it all as a present lol.
 
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