Phew, 1st big wedding done!

[cambsno]

Weddings are not my main thing, and up till now I had only done smallish ones (think the biggest was around 16-18 people). So having to do one with 100 odd people on Saturday was certainly pushing me outside comfort zone! That said, it was a lovely day and got some great images. Best thing for me was using my harness, able to swap between 2 cameras seamlessly and even used the XPro for a couple as its a lot quieter than the D700. Great venue helped, as did a really nice couple. Thinking about it having just 10 or 12 guests can be quite restrictive on what you can do, but lots of guests means there is so much more you can capture.

Certainly glad I spent time on the smaller ones first though as they do prove to be a good grounding!

 

[Serendipitous Sid]

Who gives a toss about your harness? Let's see the snaps

 

[big soft moose]

So having to do one with 100 odd people on Saturday !

Having that many odd people at your first large wedding was bad luck - usually you'd get a mostly normal grouping with only a sprinkling of weirdos

 

[theurbanclown]

Another wedding shooter in the business section! Don't tell Daryl.

I think shooting weddings with a few guests is much more challenging than wedding parties with greater numbers. Much easier to go unnoticed for the latter.

 

[bertpalmer]

Next stop 200!

 

[Phil V]

Having that many odd people at your first large wedding was bad luck - usually you'd get a mostly normal grouping with only a sprinkling of weirdos

Clearly you've never shot a wedding in Donny - in 100 we're lucky to get a sprinkling of 'normal' folk.

 

[big soft moose]

Clearly you've never shot a wedding in Donny

I didn't realise those happened , isn't it illegal to marry a brother and sister

 

[Serendipitous Sid]

... isn't it illegal to marry a brother and sister

Only if they're related

Can't say as I've thought of this before, but interesting how when you start out, 20-30 guests is alright but 100 seems an awful lot, then 5-10 years down the road, it's only once they get much over 250 or so that you start thinking of them as a big 'un ...

 

[Diving Pete]

& not 'op north'....

Those 'boundaries' only apply south of Milton Keynes....

 

[LASTOLITE]

& not 'op north'....

Those 'boundaries' only apply south of Milton Keynes....

Thats more of a Southern thing from what I understand............

 

[cambsno]

Another wedding shooter in the business section! Don't tell Daryl.

I think shooting weddings with a few guests is much more challenging than wedding parties with greater numbers. Much easier to go unnoticed for the latter.

I think it is as with a larger wedding you have more material to work with, however it is then easier to miss some shots as you dont have the quiet spells you get at a smaller one. Still, glad to have got that out the way!

 

[Jim.]

Are you going to show us your shots?

 

[Andrew Davies Photography]

Smallest wedding i have done this season ... 2 People Bride and Groom, witnesses were from the venue so not strictly counted. Took them off for a location shoot after the ceremony all very intimate and very genuine. I find the smaller weddings normally are.

Like Ben says smaller weddings are more challenging so its a good start for you , the only way now is up, or down, or even sideways - this is after all wedding photography

 

[decigallen]

Another wedding shooter in the business section! Don't tell Daryl.

I think shooting weddings with a few guests is much more challenging than wedding parties with greater numbers. Much easier to go unnoticed for the latter.

i find the opposite. In smaller crowds I find it easier to become part of the day, so people relax around you. In big crowds you're just another person who's working there - no different to a waiter or barman.

 

[theurbanclown]

i find the opposite. In smaller crowds I find it easier to become part of the day, so people relax around you. In big crowds you're just another person who's working there - no different to a waiter or barman.

It depends what you count as a large wedding, but I never find that. Small wedding I'm talking less than 30. Large wedding 90+

At 200+ you're probably right, but I wouldn't know.

 

[Serendipitous Sid]

In big crowds you're just another person who's working there - no different to a waiter or barman.

Forgive me but I don't understand your point.

 

[decigallen]

Forgive me but I don't understand your point.

You're forgiven. I'll clarify. I guess our size definitions are askew. Small to me is less than around 60. Medium is 60-120. Large would be 120+. When a wedding has about 200+ people I find that I get a bit more 'lost.' Guests get in my way more and generally disrespect what we do. At these weddings, everything feels a bit more lost actually - there is a lack of intimacy. You also tend to get less time with the couple as they have a room to work - or if you get time, their heads can be elsewhere. I just find the whole tone to be very different. I also don't find that I go less noticed either because of the crowds.

At small - medium weddings I can often end up having a social relationship with a lot of the guests and this makes candids easier as there's more of an element of trust. You also find people to be less guarded and more relaxed at smaller weddings.

At no wedding is it possible to go completely unnoticed - you'll always be the guy carrying the big DSLR - so my tactic is more one of integration. I personally find smaller weddings much easier.

Anyway, apologies to the OP for derailing the topic, and once again, best of luck. I love seeing work from new wedding photographers, especially those who come in having already honed their talents elsewhere - it's interesting to see your perspective.