First Wedding This Saturday

Paul Tomlinson

Paul Tomlinson

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Paul Tomlinson
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Hi Folks,

I have my first wedding this Saturday it is at a registry office and also its a second wedding and the couple are in there forty's so they are not after having a expensive wedding.

I am OK with the camera side of things but what i need a little advice on is what photographs to take at the registry office inside and out who stands where and all that.

From the registry office i will be going the the happy couple to the reception to take a photograph of them cutting the cake, and then they want some photo's of their guest candid shots.

Any advice would be most grateful.

Paul:thumbs:
 
With that gear list i suspect you know a thing or 2 about taking pictures. Then my advice is not the technical kind but i suggest you take a look at as many wedding websites/photographs as you can to get some ideas of shots you want in your mind.
 
I did my first wedding a few weeks ago, that was also in a registra office.

Mine went really well, so the only things I woudl say is, shoot lots (it is much easier to throw away 100 pictures that you have duplicates of than get the 1 photo you missed out on) I shot using burst, and that worked for me.

Also, make sure you stamp your pressence early.

When I first started (before the ceremony) everybody was getting in the way and I was having a hard time.

After the official stuff had been done, the registra said ok every body feel free to take photographs, I quickly stepped up and said in a loud (btu not shouty ) voice, something like If you coudl all hold off for a moment, and I will get the official shots first.

After each pose i moved out of the way and let eveybody take their shots, then set up the next pose. That worked very well for me, and for the rest of the day every body showed me a lot of consideration.

As for the shots.

As the bride and groom, if they mind taking the ring back off and stage putting them on (some people dont like taking them off once they are on) from where the registra woudl stand geting the guests in.

and signing the book are mandatory lol

a few by the table with the flowers and registre with various members of the family / best man etc. And some of them walking back down the isle towards you (remember to ask them to walk slowly)

Lots of the bridesmaids and at least a couple of the back of the brides dress (they dont get to see the back very often)

there are loads of posts on here with what shots to take once you get outside.

Shooting in RAW is definatly my advice

I think with weddings, its all about confidence, if you feel confident then that shows through and the folks will feel more confortable doing as you ask.
 
at the table
1) bride and groom
2) b&G with bridesmaids
3) B&G with best man
4) B&G with Brides parents
5) b&G with Grooms parents
6) say anybody else you want a shot with (they may a pic of auntie flo and uncle tom giving the bride a cuddle)
 
The registrar will most likely tell you when it's ok or not to take photographs in the registry office, the only one I did, all the shots had to be 'staged' after the actual ceremony as no photography was allowed during.

Shots you will want to get.

Bride and her father.
Bride and family.
Groom and best man.
Groom and his family.
Groom bricking it before she arrives.
Ceremony shots, couple looking at registrar, ring going on finger kinda stuff.
Outside B&G poses, couple leaving the building, confetti flying if any inc at least one large group shot and one of the two families inc B&G
Cake on it's own, couple by cake, cake being cut, any flower arrangements and or table settings.
Speeches followed by first dance....

/edit well spotted bolerus, don't forget the Bride and Bridesmaids!
 
just from my own perspective, I spent a lot of the evening trying to get a shot of the bride looking pooped. Was actually quite difficult she was glowing the whole day. but when I did, that was one of the ones that people who haev seen them comment and smile about, including the bride.

try to get some comedy shots as well (again the comedy ones have gone down very well - for me it was one of the bridsemaids boyfriend holding her flowers and looking at them kind of bemused, while just behnd him the bridesmaids shoes were onthe grass minus the bridesmaid)
 
Might be an idea to nip down to the registry office and find out what their rules are on photography. While you're there, see if you can have a peek at the room (ideally at the same sort of time as the ceremony'll be) to get an idea of light direction and level as well as to plan shooting angles etc.
 
speak to the bride and groom, ask what shots they want , family, kids, them etc etc then once they are out of the way just try get some candids of people, usually old people and kids people love. make a note of the shots you/bride/groom want as you WILL forget!!
 
:thumbs:Thanks a million folks for all the advice you have given me, i have wrote down the order of which people to photograph first.

I will be visiting to the couple tonight for a chat and to see what they want in regards to the photography, i have also been down and priced up the album and a price on the photos.

Do i need to tell then its my first wedding?

Thank you all very much for your help and i will keep you all posted

Paul Tomo
 
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