Been asked to do a wedding...I only shoot landscapes....help!!!

Granty_

Granty_

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James
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Well after months of saying no to the newlyweds to be....my uncle and to be aunt...have persuaded me to do their wedding photography as the can't afford a proper photographer.

The idea is that me and the bridges son will be doing a lot of shots, as well as some family using their point and shoots and collating the album at the end of the week.

I've finally caved in because they're happy with my statement that I won't be much cop having never done portraiture/weddings before.

Its something I've always shied away on and concentrated on my landscape photography. To me a wedding is the best day of someones life....so to spoil it with bad photos scares the cr*p out of me!

Anyway, anyone got any basic tips I may need? A dumb ass guide to shooting a wedding if you know how to use a camera?

My kit consists of:

Sony A700
Sony 16-105mm f3.5-5.6
Sigma 10-20mm f4-5.6
Minolta 70-210mm f4
Benro C357 Tripod and Manfrotto Junior Geared Head
Remote shutter

Thats about it really, got filters that will be of no use at a wedding.

I can't help but feel I really need a flash and a 50mm f1.8 for low light stuff and creative stuff.

Any thoughts appreciated.

James
 
If its that important, hire something like a Sony equiv of the Nikon 24-70 2.8. That and the 70-200 2.8 tend to be the lens of choice for wedding togs.

You will need a flash unit for indoor stuff too. Dont even think of using the inbuilt one.
 
Get a good flash and the 16-105 should be enough for most situations although you'll want something like a 50mm 1.8 for indoors low light.

To be honest, shooting a wedding in a situation like this is all about crowd control and not making any stupid mistakes.

Concentrate on the basics of composition and framing, i.e. don't cut peoples feet or heads off, make sure you get all the brides train in, make sure you don't have crap things in the background etc etc...
 
Whilst others are suggesting what lenses, etc., you will need to do a proper job I have a different take on the job. You don't take portraits normally and the happy couple are aware of that so why would you go to the expense/trouble to get hold of lenses/flashes that are of no further use to you?

It's not your fault that they can't afford a wedding photographer so unless they offer to pay for equipment hire I would suggest you do the best you can with the gear you've got ... and hope someone else gets the shots you can't :)
 
Granty, you will be fine, if only because you care but also because you are a good photographer.

There are lots of threads here with the tips for controlling the crowd and getting the major shots, read them, they made sense to me and I wasn't interested!

Of course we will want a peek at the photos too ;)
 
Goodness..If you really can't get out of it, I would suggest you get yourself a plan of action. There are plenty of wedding shots here you can brouse, decide which ones are a must. Get some of the bride getting ready (the groom too if someone can help you) the bride in the car, signing the book shot...there's loads, so get working and go to the venues and rehearsals and check the light, take shots and see what works.

What's the worst that can happen...
 
Don't panic, you've made them aware that it's not usually your thing and they're happy with it.

You could hire kit but that's up to you, certainly don't buy just for the occasion if you won't use it again.

Get organised, if you fail to prepare then prepare to fail, check out the venue(s) if you can to get familiar with them and find the best places to shoot, go at the same time you would be there on the day to check light, position of the sun etc.
Get a shot list from them, there's plenty of standard ones on the net too, this means that everything they want is covered and gives you something to tick off on the day so you don't forget anything.
Be bossy. No-one wants to be eating hours late because you spent ages getting everyone together and also no-one wants to be hanging around either.

It will be a bit stressful but you've got your skills to rely on and they will shine through in the pictures you take. Besides, there'll be enough people there with cameras to get anything you miss (you can't be in two places at once!).

Oh and try to enjoy it - don't forget you're a guest too!
 
You've told them that it's not your area and they've accepted that. You can't be expected to shell out loads of money on kit you won't use again.

As has already been said get a shot list together and make sure you do the best you can with your existing kit. Check the venue out to see if they have any large windows for available light. Maybe see if you can borrow a flash from somebody.

I was in a similar position a couple of years ago with my Sister-in-laws wedding. I told her I'd never shot a wedding and she didn't care. I actually shot it on a Fuji S7000 bridge camera as I didn't own a DSLR at the time :eek: You are better equipped than I was and mine turned out OK. I got mine printed up as a photobook and they loved it.

Andy
 
Bristolian said:
Whilst others are suggesting what lenses, etc., you will need to do a proper job I have a different take on the job. You don't take portraits normally and the happy couple are aware of that so why would you go to the expense/trouble to get hold of lenses/flashes that are of no further use to you?

It's not your fault that they can't afford a wedding photographer so unless they offer to pay for equipment hire I would suggest you do the best you can with the gear you've got ... and hope someone else gets the shots you can't :)
Click to expand...

:agree:
 
Granty_ said:
My kit consists of:

Sony A700
Sony 16-105mm f3.5-5.6
Sigma 10-20mm f4-5.6
Minolta 70-210mm f4
Benro C357 Tripod and Manfrotto Junior Geared Head
Remote shutter

Any thoughts appreciated.

James
Click to expand...

Take from someone who had the shutter fail on their D3 at last week's wedding, the most important thing missing from your equipment list is a decent backup camera.
 
Where in Derbyshire are you James and when is the wedding? I might be willing to lend you a suitable flash if you're not too far away and I'm not away working at the time. Seeing as I've not come across you on the forum before I might want some security too.

Harsh, but the offer is there if you need it. You might also want to borrow my grip to make portrait orientation photos easier and give you some extra battery life.
 
Thanks for all your advice and comments, all taken in!

Kev....I'm from Alfreton(ish) and the wedding is on September 11th. Its a hugely kind offer and I appreciate your sentiment on security! I usually hang around mainly in landscape forums so that may be why you've not come across me!
 
simple - set up a few formal shots with nice background then take pics of the event people enjoying themselves plus the usual first dance, cake cutting etc. you don't have to do anything fancy all wedding couples want is a good record of their day.
 
Mate - go for it.
I was in you situation recently. My pal asked me to do their wedding. Never done one before. Me always being up for a challenge, said yes of course!!

My 2p worth - get a good flash gun (although I barely used mine at the wedding - which was a lesson learnt).
And have a look through the forum at some of the amazing stuff our members do.
You'll get some good idea's from them, I did!

GOOD LUCK :thumbs:
 
I just found this link on a Google search

http://www.hireanalphalens.co.uk/

If you could hire an extra body, one with similar controls to the A700, then that would be peace of mind. I would also ask your uncle and aunt to pay for the hire - in a nice, subtle kind of way. There are also various lenses that may come in useful.

Good luck,

Andy
 
andy700 said:
I just found this link on a Google search

http://www.hireanalphalens.co.uk/

If you could hire an extra body, one with similar controls to the A700, then that would be peace of mind. I would also ask your uncle and aunt to pay for the hire - in a nice, subtle kind of way. There are also various lenses that may come in useful.

Good luck,

Andy
Click to expand...

Thanks for that!
 
I'm in the same position so I appreciate how you feel, as long as they undertand what you can offer they should be pleased with what you do.

I would get that flash gun, especially if you are doing lots of indoor and evening shots.

Hope it goes well
Dunc
 
Hi James - saw your post re my meet with Kev and followed it here...I should be back from Scotland during wk b4 your wedding shoot, and could lend you a 50/1.7 and/or 28/2.8 if you want...

Cheers

IDM
 
ianmiddy said:
Hi James - saw your post re my meet with Kev and followed it here...I should be back from Scotland during wk b4 your wedding shoot, and could lend you a 50/1.7 and/or 28/2.8 if you want...

Cheers

IDM
Click to expand...

Thank you very much, I'll keep that kind offer in mind.
 
Bristolian said:
It's not your fault that they can't afford a wedding photographer so unless they offer to pay for equipment hire I would suggest you do the best you can with the gear you've got ... and hope someone else gets the shots you can't :)
Click to expand...

:agree:
 
Sounds like a result if your folks will agree to his reasonable rate. :)
 
Of course they can afford a wedding photographer. It's a matter of priorities - they can probably afford a cake/dress/reception for ???/honeymoon/new clothes. They are just making the phography a low priority. Why don't they get friends who are poorly equipped to make the cake/drive the car/make the wedding dress/pront the invitations . . . you get the picture. Everytime a friend/relation agrees to shoot for zilch then you are re-enforcing the value of photography = O.
 
Granty_ said:
Thanks for all your advice and comments, all taken in!

Kev....I'm from Alfreton(ish) and the wedding is on September 11th. Its a hugely kind offer and I appreciate your sentiment on security! I usually hang around mainly in landscape forums so that may be why you've not come across me!
Click to expand...

I have no input on the wedding but im from alfreton too:D.
 
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