Most useful threads for advice on first wedding photos

Elines

Elines

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Chris
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(I know this happens a lot but) I have been asked by a friend to do the photos at her sister's wedding.

I have had a look on this forum and found that I could easily spend a year just reading all the threads with 'wedding' in them somewhere - and the wedding is next July.

So could you please help me to shortcut my reading of the most useful threads by maybe providing links to them here?

If it helps, at the moment I have a Canon 550D with standard lens 18 - 55 mm plus the 75 - 300mm lens that came with it (but I haven't used the second lens much at all)

I don't have any flash except for pop up flash. My back up would be my other camera, a Panasonic tz 30, so I know that I don't anything like the kit that some would regard (maybe correctly) as essential.

I don't (yet) have much experience at photographing people.

I have a few days to think about it before I commit to doing it or just say 'thanks but no thanks'.
 
If you want to do it say yes and practise for a year, get a couple , take them to a forest/beach/on to the streets and then a few dark indoor places .
If the results are good and you felt comfortable posing them etc then that's a start

If you've no interest in doing it just say no :)
 
Just to add , no amount of reading books or trawling websites is going to prepare you for it.
Just get out and practise. It's as much about working with the couple as it is about the photography.
 
stumac said:
Just to add , no amount of reading books or trawling websites is going to prepare you for it.
Just get out and practise. It's as much about working with the couple as it is about the photography.
Click to expand...

That really.

There's no such thing as 'wedding photography' as a photographic genre or style. You'll need the following skills:

  • Macro (flower details and ring shots)
  • Candid portraiture - the ability to shoot without drawing too much attention
  • Posed group shots and couple shots - the ability to quickly, politely but firmly take control of a situation and demand the attention of the entire party (not for the shy)
  • Interior and exterior architecture - the venue
  • Still life - table settings, wardrobe, cake.

There's a few threads written by people in your position who shot their first wedding you might find useful, try a search for 'first wedding'.

You will succeed with a positive attitude, confidence and enough photographic knowledge to shoot in whatever conditions you're faced with.

You will fail if you haven't got the confidence, skills or appropriate gear - are you a 'people person'? (if the answer is no; turn her down now, you'll never succeed, no matter how good your photographic skills).

As for gear, a faster lens and a flashgun are essential. (and the ability to use them)
 
Thanks for the comments so far - some good stuff - ??any more??
 
My advice would be:

1) You don't have the right kit
2) You don't even have 'much experience at photographing people'

So... unless you are really going to commit to:

a) Buying the right kit
AND
b) Spending a year commiting to really learning all the area's Phil mentioned + how to use an external flash gun, how to deal with rapidly changing conditions, and practice, practice and practice shooting everything from outdoor candids to high ISO shots in dark venues.

Then I'd refuse and wait until you have more experience and more of an idea of what you're getting yourself in to.

There's nothing to say you can't / won't learn enough before the big day, but it would require you to really commit to getting up to sratch before then... personally to me it sounds like it's come too soon for you. Could you not refuse but take your camera along and do a bit of shooting on the day alongside the main tog (get his / her permission first and not get in their way or shoot over their shoulder)
 
take a read of my post about being a guest and a photographer......you cant do both!! or at least you cant do both well.
 
gpc1 said:
take a read of my post about being a guest and a photographer......you cant do both!! or at least you cant do both well.
Click to expand...


Hi thanks for the suggestion - can you please give me a clue as to which post you mean - you have about 140 threads you started, and 836 posts? I have looked at the started threads but didn't see which one you are referring to (but then I have just come back from the pub!:))
 
Bumpety Bump

Some useful stuff so far - ?any more suggestions or views please
 
ajax_andy said:
My advice would be:

1) You don't have the right kit
2) You don't even have 'much experience at photographing people'

So... unless you are really going to commit to:

a) Buying the right kit
AND
b) Spending a year commiting to really learning all the area's Phil mentioned + how to use an external flash gun, how to deal with rapidly changing conditions, and practice, practice and practice shooting everything from outdoor candids to high ISO shots in dark venues.

Then I'd refuse and wait until you have more experience and more of an idea of what you're getting yourself in to.
Click to expand...


:plusone:
 
Yeah I definitely don't think you have the right equipment as others have said. I can stand there and say I have just completed a wedding that I went along for experience and I still struggled after a few years experience in the portrait field.

Weddings should be a speciality, not something you can just step into when you feel when the opportunity arrises - speaking from experience :lol:

Everything is so fast pace, you really need to be well and truly prepared for everything. Having the right equipment, knowing the settings for each shot, having great communication skills are key!
 
Ok thanks to all respondents - plenty to chew over
 
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