Newbie wedding advice please

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jimmy83

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It's suddenly come about that I've got an opportunity to shoot at a wedding this weekend. *The bride and groom have already sorted a pro-photographer for the wedding, but my brother asked the bride and groom I could use their wedding as some practice. Now I've never done anything like this before, and I thought that I would just be helping out the pro guy but as it stands iam going to be doing it all alone. I shouldn't really be nervous as iam not the main guy shooting-I just intend to use it as practice and hopefully get a few shots that I can add to my portfolio.*

So van anyone offer any advice, in last minute tips? *I was thinking about trying to get more candid style shots.
 
dont get in the way of the Pro, and check if the Pro is OK with you being there in your capacity as a shooter
 
Candid's are a good choice.....i second togged for the first time last week, and i did my best to try and NOT get in the way of the main togger.......i mainly was out of the scene taking some candids....

I tried not to stand behind the main togger aswell, as i thought this may distract the B+G, and their eyes may wander a little.....

I take it the main togger has OK'd for you to go along and take pics and use them for your portfolio?
 
You are in a great opportunity as you are not the main photographer to get candids as they will generally be concentrating on the the other guy. So while they are being posed etc, try to catch the looks the couple will exchange. The couple greeting family/friends can be nice candids too. It's quite useful using a bit of a longer focal length for candids but if you're only using 1 body it's a toss up as to what will be best as you don't want to miss the action changing lenses all the time. Whilst you don't want to irritate the main photographer there will likely be lulls, waiting for guests to get sorted on a photo where you can sneak in behind, prefocus and call the couple or one of them and shoot them when they look round. With a narrow depth of field this can look nice. Try to get any laughter, like struggling with the vow, rings or during the speeches. Good candid wedding shots mean you generally aren't taking your eye from the viewfinder that often but it's worth it.
One final idea is to search for say reportage photography and see what other people have done. Before I do a wedding I always look at one or two different photographers work just to help me keep being creative. Not to do the exact same shot but there's always different moments captured or a different angle or lighting. It's always a learning curve though no matter how many you do, you always come away having learnt something.

Above all have fun, be relaxed, smile. Enjoy
Hope I have been of some help
All the best
Andy
 
You need to check in with the pro and make sure they (and the couple) are OK with you using the shots in your portfolio. It's actually part of my contract with the couple that I am the only "pro" photographer and while I positively encourage family and friends to take personal pics, I am the only one with the licence to use them commercially.

When I shoot as a second with one of my colleagues I'm not even allowed to use the images without his and the couple's permission.

So you do need to either pick up the phone or better still go and see the pro if you can.
 
All great points, thanks. Yes the pro togger is well aware I will be there and is happy with that.*

Yes good point about using the images for my portfolio I will need to check on that.

Any tips on flash? I've hardly used my flashgun and I expect that I will need to use it alot.
 
jimmy83 said:
All great points, thanks. Yes the pro togger is well aware I will be there and is happy with that.*

Yes good point about using the images for my portfolio I will need to check on that.

Any tips on flash? I've hardly used my flashgun and I expect that I will need to use it alot.
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A diffuser is very useful for a few quid. Bounce the flash as much as you can. Don't use it if you don't need to. Av mode is good for fill in flash. Beware of over exposing the wedding dress. Experiment with the flash with a family member or friend so your used to the different settings as you don't want to be messing with it when you should be shooting.
 
CHarge your batteries (both those i your body and on your kit), make sure you have plenty of memory and have fun!!

Also, try and watch how the pro works with the couple/ushers etc. to sort out the group shots etc. It is an art unto itself!
 
Play with it as much as you can now! Indoors and outdoors and at different shutter speeds so you can see exactly what effects they have.
 
AliB said:
Play with it as much as you can now! Indoors and outdoors and at different shutter speeds so you can see exactly what effects they have.
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I am glad I know your talking abou his flash here, rather than something else!;)
 
Sounds like a fantastic opportunity, I'm not a wedding tog so can't offer advise from tht respect but I wonder if you might be able to have a chat to the pro tog before hand, he may let you assist him and show you a few things?
 
Thanks people. In general what would you sugguest I use kit wise ive got...

400d and kit lens
50mm F1.8
24-105 L F4
200-300 Sigma
Jesspos flash gun
 
Yours is a slightly different scenario but earlier in the year I offered to take some shots for family friends who were renewing their vows. They weren't fussed about a photographer so it was good that there wasnt any pressure on me.

I took all the obvious organised shots (that I was asked to shoot). Was pretty nervous is suggesting shots etc that needed doing and organising people.

I found candid shots pretty hard, especially when it became obvious most of the party weren't expecting a 'photographer' there. I found the art was knowing your settings and having the shot in your head before even raising the camera to your eye. Once its been there a couple of seconds people become aware of it and act differently.

Inside the church I sat at the back with a 105mm f2.8 lens, manualy focused on the couple/priest and used the remote control release to fire shots discreetly.

For the rest of the day I used my trusty Tamron 17-50 2.8 and was really pleased with its performance. I had my SB600 flash permanently attached to my camera and used it for direct fill flash outside (1.5 - 2.0 stops under) and used it for bounce inside and on the dancefloor later in the night.

I'd adopted 'back button focusing' a while back and that was great for shots of non moving people. Meant I could rattle off lots of shots catching different facial expressions etc and in the group shots hopefully get a few without any blinkers.

I only took 200 shots over the day with little pressure (other than what I had put on myself) to turn out great results.

Once home I sorted through the shots and had about 70 keepers.

Its always been something I've thought about doing in years to come and I got a bit of a buzz from it, although it was stressful and my respect for pro togs has gone up even higher than it already was.
 
I did the same thing at a friend's wedding. Took a lot of candids.

I was surely out of the togger's way as I used my 300mm lens and at the end everyone said that my photos were better, but that's another story :)
 
Candids are the way to go, it's what a lot of people look for anyway these days. As said though, don't get in the togs way, even if standing behind him. I had all sorts of issues with wandering eyes in a wedding I shot last weekend thanks to Uncle Bob standing behind and to the side of me.
 
Yup I will certainly make sure iam not in his way and if he asks will asisst him where I can.

Does anyone have any examples of candids?
 
keep out of the way...but watch for opportunities..
if you say what you said to us to the professional photographer he may then understand you are their to learn and even help
 
jimmy83 said:
Any tips on flash? I've hardly used my flashgun and I expect that I will need to use it alot.
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2p

doubt if you will be allow to use in church

I'd make DOUBLY sure the "Pro" wasn't setting up a shoot before you flash off
 
Interesting tips guys. (Especially, the relationship with the pro togger!!)

I am going to a niece’s weddings next weekend and hoping to get some candids to get together a photo book as a gift.

This will be a dry run as another niece has asked me to take candid shots around the pro togger next July.

Any more tips are welcome
 
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