Advice on shooting a wedding

JonBowles

JonBowles

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I have been asked to shoot my sister-in-laws wedding next weekend. The couple don't have enough money to hire a proper wedding photographer, so I am doing it for free. However, my only experience of wedding photography is one time as second shooter. Although I got some good images that ended up in the wedding album, I decided I would not like to have been the primary shooter. Too much stress. The couple know this but still want me to shoot their wedding. I have a lot of experience shooting candid pics, but I am not very good at getting people to pose. My wife will be handling that side of it (she is very good at that sort of thing, has done it for me before, and has a good eye for a photo).

The wedding is taking place in an old building with quite nice grounds. As for equipment, I have an A7rii, A7s, 24-70mm f4, 90mm f2.8, and a 70-200 f4. I also have an adapted 50mm f1.4. lens. I have no flash, though I can use my wife's Pentax KR with a TTL flash. I have some reflectors and an umbrella. However, I don't use flash in any of my my personal or commercial photography, so have limited knowledge as to setting up lighting etc. I am hoping to shoot all or most of the wedding with ambient light, including the reception, which is probably going to be at our house.

Obviously I want to get the best images possible. Any advice/ideas would be much appreciated.
 
With your Sony, make sure you have extra batteries. When doing your group shots try and do it away from the other guests otherwise you will end up with your subjects eyes and faces looking at their cameras. Make notes on approximate times each event(speeches, cake cutting, first dance etc) will take place so you have an idea where you need to be. There are numerous websites and forums to explore for information as this topic frequently comes up.
 
Stick with what you're good at. If you've got experience with candids just do that and tell the story. I'm sure the group shots wont present you with a problem.
I'm not a wedding photographer but I would suggest enlisting the help of the best man (Or someone competent and sober) to marshal the guests plus I would imagine it would be best to start with the big group and gradually "release" them to the bar.
Can't really advise you on cameras, lights and stuff but I don't think it would be a good time to try something new to you.
 
I have 7 batteries so that shouldn't be a problem. Thanks for the tips! I will probably stick with available light, using the A7s where the lighting isn't too good.
 
Don't worry about it too much and try to enjoy the experience. Good luck.
 
Good advice above plan your group shots most people seem to like them do what you are good at. It will be harder as it is family to get people to herd around. Plan for bad weather too
 
Graham W said:
Stick with what you're good at. If you've got experience with candids just do that and tell the story.
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Excellent advice, to which I'll add ...

Don't put more pressure on yourself by taking reflectors, light modifiers or whatever. Keep it simple with either available light or on-camera flash.

Don't rely on the best man or ushers to do anything to help with the group photos. Get a short list of must-have (preferably small) groups in writing from the bride and work to that with the assistance if needed of either the chief bridesmaid or one of the mums. If you have trouble getting folks to co-operate, remind them that you're doing the snaps for the bride - it's not your idea.

Don't rely on the timings the bride gives you. They will go out the window early on, so just take that list as a guide to what's supposed to be happening in what order.

Take lots of pictures, but don't sweat it if you miss something you think of as vital.

Be prepared for both the procession and the recession to take less time than you imagined they would, and for the confetti-chucking to be a shambles.

Drink when you can and pee when you can. Have a muesli bar or similar in your pocket to keep you going, and a couple of cans of Red Bull or similar in your bag.

Keep an eye on your gear at all times.

When it comes to posed shots of the couple, the minimum you need is just one or two of the couple looking respectable to go in frames, and a few more casual ones of them. If I were you I'd burn into your brain examples of the classic Newly Married Couple pose and try to get that 100% (which includes checking the groom's pockets for mobile phone bulge, making sure he has his bride on his left, and making sure the bride's got her bouquet). It's usually a good idea to get a sensible female (CBM or a mum) to check the pair of them over before you do this.

Check the sit-down time with the caterer/function manager and make certain you've finished the posed shots at least 10 minutes before that.

I could go on for loads more, but if there's anything in particular you're worried about, I'll see if I can help a bit ...

johnnypanic said:
These short videos, which are free this week, might be useful? -

https://theweddingschool.net/course...hide=true&mc_cid=3c0ccd2c0f&mc_eid=5c47bd51ae
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Gosh, Susan Stripling's still around! Anyhow, FWIW I reckon that while those videos might be helpful if you're in the US shooting an American couple with the help of an experienced assistant, they're not a lot of help for an inexperienced Brit shooting yer average Brit couple on his own for the first time ...
 
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why not see if you can"recruit" someone to assist you as an extra guest a friend/fellow photographer may offer to help if you ask no fee just "mates" practising hth mike
 
Where abouts in country are you?
 
The only thing I'll add to what Dan said...
That list of group shots; ten at the most. They'll take anywhere from 2 minutes to 5 minutes each depending on venue and how well organised you are. Be very forthright if you don't want to spend over an hour shooting them and you think your bride might hate it too.

Organise the groups too. Our worst bride not only gave us a list of over 20 groups, she also insisted the BM's would collect guests in the list order, which meant people were continually dismissed then recalled.

Suggest Brides extended family, then immediate family, then parents, then with grooms parents, then just grooms parents, grooms immediate family, grooms extended family. Smooth and efficient.

Keep the sun over their shoulder, it's not 1975,
 
If you can, visit the venue(s) beforehand to get an idea of some shots you can line up.

I was Best Man at my friends wedding at a Chateau in Belgium and the pro 'tog missed the opportunity to shoot the couple on a little bridge over a moat with fantastic reflections on offer. I grabbed my camera later in the day and took them back for the shot, it was the one they had framed on their wall :)

Knowing the venue is really useful.
 
Try and anticipate moments and be in position, capture emotion...

Brides reaction when the flowers arrive- when she sees her makeup for the 1st time- when she opens her card from hubby to be - when she comes down the stairs in the dress and Dads at the bottom- when she looks at her groom for the 1st time as shes coming up the aisle- when the minister says you are now husband and wife I could go on forever and these are all moments and great shots that you dont need to do anything for other than be there and be ready for them.
 
Echoing what others have said a bit, but don't use flash if you don't use flash. Forget the umbrella etc. Do what you're good at and don't stress.

My first ever wedding was my sisters, I was terrified before but had an absolute blast. I just used the kit I had and got stuck in. 6 weddings and plenty of future bookings later it's fair to say it was a great decision.
 
aliengrove said:
I have a lot of experience shooting candid pics, but I am not very good at getting people to pose. My wife will be handling that side of it (she is very good at that sort of thing, has done it for me before, and has a good eye for a photo).
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Theres not much i'd add to what Dan and Phil said - other than to pick up this bit, assuming that the bride is your wife's sister (I assume you arent photographing your brothers wifes wedding ;) ) the people concernedwill know her and will not therefore respond to her as they would to a 'pro' (this is one of the areas where doing jobs for friends and family is harder than doing strangers).. if they know you less well, it might be a good idea to direct groups etc yourself
 
Thanks for the replies....but as all the couple have done so far, after asking me to shoot the wedding, is send me a link to a page where all the guests can upload pictures, and the wedding is this afternoon, I've decided not to bother.

After three ignored emails and a comment that they'll tell me what to shoot after the actual ceremony, I have totally lost interest. I'll take a compact.
 
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