Shooting a wedding?

friesianfan69

friesianfan69

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Im taking pictures for a friends wedding.
Ive not done this kind of thing before, Im doing it as a favour but want the pictures to be as good as possible.
Ive got a canon 450D, Sigma f4. 70-300 and a canon 50mm f/2.8 prime, also my standard canon lens.
Whats best to use? for inside? outside?
Do i need to use an extra flash.?
 
If you're their only photographer, get a backup camera.

If you need to ask these questions why did you agree to do it?

What standard lens?
 
Phil V said:
If you're their only photographer, get a backup camera.

If you need to ask these questions why did you agree to do it?

What standard lens?
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He asked me, i said i would do it as a favour.
Im not a photographer but enjoy taking pictures.
They will have other people taking pictures, but again just friends, they couldnt afford a photographer.
 
Have they been able to buy a cake?

This seems to be happening so often this days. Photography is easier to a degree with the advent of digital but why people seem to ask "friends" with little experience to capture their wedding day and not be prepared to have any budget is a bit strange.

When's the wedding how long have you got to research and practice?
 
we all know the arguments against doing a wedding unless you know what you are doing, by heart - but lets not go into that again

in terms of what is being asked

for the ceremony shots you almost certainly won't be able to use flash, so you'll need to use your fastest glass, although f2.8 isnt very fast so you might want to look at buying a nifty (50mm f1.8) or even hiring a 50mm f1.4 or f1.2

For the group shots and formals outside (or inside if the weather is crap) you definitely need a flashgun - this should have a poseable (aka cobra) head and can be either cheap and cheerfull (younogou, nissin, jessops etc) or a canon dedicated like the 430 or 580 ex - also make sure you've got a bounce card, and a diffuser (this can be bespoke like a stoften, or DIY out of a ptfe milk bottle) - you might also want to think about getting a reflector for use in formals

lens wise for formals you could use a nifty again, or use your kit lens - however for reception shots, speeches, first dance etc you will definitely need either a bunch of primes or a zoom so use your kit lens or hire something like a 17-55 f2.8

and phil is right you definitely need a back up body so borrow, buy, or hire one - you also need to get plenty of batteries and cards - I was at a wedding a couple of weeks back as a guest where the 'pro' disapeared halfway through the speeches because her batteries had died and she didnt have spares :bang:

Even though you are just doing it as a favour get something in writing laying out what they want , what shots they want, and acknowledging that you arent a pro - you need to cover your arse because its amazing how many 'favour for a freind' type shoots wind up in bitter words and recriminations

if you want to buy second hand kit i suggest mpb photographic (or the classifieds here), and if you want to hire lensesforhire - other dealers are available ;)

lastly be aware that wedding threads on here often go completely to **** - if/when this one does , feel free to pm me if you want more advice without a bunch of argument
 
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friesianfan69 said:
Im taking pictures for a friends wedding.
Ive not done this kind of thing before, Im doing it as a favour but want the pictures to be as good as possible.
Ive got a canon 450D, Sigma f4. 70-300 and a canon 50mm f/2.8 prime, also my standard canon lens.
Whats best to use? for inside? outside?
Do i need to use an extra flash.?
Click to expand...

You will need a backup, and a range of lenses to cover from wide to zoom

You need lots more memory cards and batteries than you will originally estimate

In your situation, don't try to be a guest and a photographer. Be one or the other. I find weddings for people I know the hardest. I have the "photographers look" that makes people fall into place. The "photographers look" doesn't work on friends and family

This will only work if you keep things very simple, and you need to focus and remember stuff, like what ISO setting you are on. Do not accept a list of group / posed shots that has more than 10 things on it

I have a good tip for group shots: start big (everyone), then loose hangers on first, then whittle the group down to close family and then the B&G - n this way, you can be done and dusted in 10 mins

Women tend to be more cooperative than the guys, so shoot all the guys when you have them, and get the women back in afterwards

Gear tends to go in all directions, so a chgaperone / bag carrier, second pair of eyes is really useful

Keep things simple - things like a simple reflector, can do marvels to a shot, and the results are WYSIWYG

Shoot in RAW and AWB, and keep the ISO as low as possible

Figure out the timings of the day, and things like parking, so you can be relaxed and have time to set up and install yourself

Another tip - you can speed pose a B&G by placing them in the shade under a pretty tree (for example) you get them to have a cuddly kiss, what you do is walk round them in a circle, shooting, varying your height. the second time round, you get the B&G to look at you as you go round. IN this way you will get 20 different shots of the B&G in under a minute (different as in different lighting, background, pose, angle)

Another tip - find the shade, and shoot your groups / portraits in it. Under a tree is great

Another tip - use the whole of the environment... shoot in close, and then shoot wide, use the sky, the lines in the buildings, the trees. It is easy first time out to get stuck in a rut of shooting the same shot over and over again

Another tip - wear comfy shoes, and make sure you have some water, its an exhausting day

Do NOT drink booze

Another tip, use a dual camera strap - this is the single bit of kit I would not leave behind for a wedding. you can have a different set up on each camera, and it saves a lot of faffing about, and reduces what needs to eb in your camera bag, and saves your back
 
Thankyou lots of very useful tips , sorry my prime lens is the f/1, my mistake.
Thankyou again,
What's the normal to wear? I am a guest to though I'm told I can take a friend I'm going to go alone.
 
I wear a smart suit. black shirt, tie, my wife wears a black Karen Millen dress & jacket

I take a change of clothes for the evening, often swapping the shirt for a black short sleeved shirt, and swapping the suit for a tougher but smart pair of black trousers. (I tend to be on the floor a lot in the evening)
 
friesianfan69 said:
Thankyou lots of very useful tips , sorry my prime lens is the f/1, my mistake.
Thankyou again,
What's the normal to wear? I am a guest to though I'm told I can take a friend I'm going to go alone.
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Some very comfortable shoes for starters.

Take groups shots if they want some at your earliest convenience so everyone's there - you can then relax a little. Make sure you get the Ushers and Bestman to help with organising people for you- find the one with the most confindent loud voice.
 
Richard King said:
(I tend to be on the floor a lot in the evening)
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I thought we said not to drink :lol:

My attire is pretty much the same as richard - smart suit and shoes - girls have more leeway but i'd suggest trousers not a skirt, and flat shoes not heels.

also think about how you are going to carry your kit - you want it easily accessible for lens/card/battery changes - and comfortable to carry. If you can take someone with you, use them as your porter/reflector holder/assistant.
 
big soft moose said:
I thought we said not to drink :lol:
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lol - I do anything for the shot - ranging from standing in the rain, the sea, a muddy field, climbing a tree, a belltower, or rolling about on the floor... Hence the change of clothes and a pair of wellies in the car

I now even have a high viz in the car, after some prick tried running me over in a field whilst shooting fireworks
 
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I do think people go a bit OTT on wedding threads - saying you need backups, extra this and that and questioning if the B&G have cake!!

Going back about 7 years some friends were getting married. Not 'on the cheap' but they were keeping costs down. I had recently got a camcorder so said if they liked I could film it as a favour. I did, despite having just used it on holidays etc... Edited it and gave them a DVD they were very happy with. Compared to a pro one its probably pants but they liked it and it came out ok. Did the same at my sisters one too. I guess the advantage I had in both is that I knew who the important people were and also shot some very funny stuff in the eveing after a few beers (which you wouldnt have got from a pro).

Now thats not to diss a pro or say I am better but the same goes for photos. The B&G obviously put very little value in pictures so are happy for a guest to take. They would rather spend the money on other things, and I am sure on cake forums or car forums there is the same converation going on (well, they can afford a photgrapher but are getting Aunt Mabel to make a cake, tut tut). Come to think I used my Merc as the bridal car for the friends wedding too!!

The average person with a kit lens DSLR will get better pics than a person with a compact - and as its a favour for someone just use what you have and concentrate on both enjoying the day and getting some good pics. Keep shutter speed to at least 1/60 (1/125 if poss).
 
And i'm sure just because you arent getting paid , the B&G will be awfully understanding when your camera breaks and they don't get images of their big day [/sarcasm]

you only have to look at the problems that get raised by people in talk business to see that that isnt so

bottom line if you are just a guest of course you don't need backups etc - but if they think you are 'covering their wedding' its imperatative that you deliver, and that you use a contract regardless of whether you are being paid

Don't want to go to the hassle of getting backs ups, decent lenses, and knowing what you are doing ? - Don't agree to "cover" someones wedding in the first place - simples
 
big soft moose said:
And i'm sure just because you arent getting paid , the B&G will be awfully understanding when your camera breaks and they don't get images of their big day [/sarcasm]

you only have to look at the problems that get raised by people in talk business to see that that isnt so

bottom line if you are just a guest of course you don't need backups etc - but if they think you are 'covering their wedding' its imperatative that you deliver, and that you use a contract regardless of whether you are being paid

Don't want to go to the hassle of getting backs ups, decent lenses, and knowing what you are doing ? - Don't agree to "cover" someones wedding in the first place - simples
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Disagree. How many times have you used a friend to help on something? Ever drawn a contract up? Last 2 times I moved house I hired a van and used a couple of mates. What if they had broken something? Damn, should have made sure they were trained and had insurance. Maybe should have ensured I had a fall back person in case one broke an arm.
 
how many people have fallen out with freinds because they ****ed up their wedding though - based on business threads it isnt that uncommon

its not like helping your mate out with a car, or shifting a sofa where the worst that can happen if you let him down is that he gets you to do it another day , or gives a different mate a call, or you do it a bit later - its a one off event with one chance to get it right and if you cock it up because you've only got one battery and it goes flat , then they arent likely to be too forgiving.
 
big soft moose said:
how many people have fallen out with freinds because they ****ed up their wedding though - based on business threads it isnt that uncommon

its not like helping your mate out with a car, or shifting a sofa where the worst that can happen if you let him down is that he gets you to do it another day , or gives a different mate a call, or you do it a bit later - its a one off event with one chance to get it right and if you cock it up because you've only got one battery and it goes flat , then they arent likely to be too forgiving.
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Not really. If you move you can't easily put it off just like that. If someone will fall out over a favour not working out then they weren't friends in the first place.
 
My first ever wedding taught me the lesson that backups are not optional, they are mandatory. For some reason my camera stopped letting me change lens. It wouldn't click into place. Sorted it later but for a while it was touch & go. And my memory card corrupted itself. One I'd used faultlessly for months before. More recently I had a lens just simply stop working. If I didn't have spare equipment, how could I have continued?

The reason you need backup gear is simply because this is something which cannot be repeated. So even if you are a friend whose been asked to step up because the couple cannot 'afford' a real professional then I'd still at the very least take a bridge camera as a backup. Beg, borrow one from another friend.

Put aside whether or not the B&G will be upset. I'm telling you for a fact they will. But let's assume they are understanding and good friends who wouldn't get upset at you....Personally I'd be more worried about the guilt. I'd feel forever guilty that I'd let them down.
 
I have to interjetc here. (this isnt aimed at anyone on this thread, but recently i have seen requests for advice threads on here degenerate into what a B&G will or wont want) I think one thing that people fail to understand is that every wedding is different. Every bride and groom have different values on different things. Some would rather spend money on a cake, some on photographer, some on a free bar etc etc.

To simply say the B&G will not be happy if they dont have photos is incorrect. How can anyone possibly say this without meeting the B&G and understanding their needs.

If the B&G have asked for a friend/guest to try and take a few decent shots then so be it. That friend / guest comes on here looking for a bit of advice and like so many wedding threads on here it ends up in a debate about what a B&G want or will be upset with. You dont know this unless you have spoken to the B&G. They may have spent 10k on a cake, because thats what they love.

I think this forum needs to accept that friends get asked to photograph other friends weddings. In current times when people dont have the cash available they have to prioritise. How do you know if the B&G havent spent all their budget on a round the world honeymoon because they value that experience over and above photos of the day.


On the flip side, anyone who is being asked to photograph a friends wedding needs to absolutely, unconditionally spell out their skill level to the B&G, show examples of photos, explain that they have only the basic kit and have no, or little, experience of weddings.(always good to do it via a friendly chat followed up by an email confirming the friendly chat)

If the B&G understand that then who are we, or anyone else for that matter, to lecture the OP asking for help on what their B&G expect.

And, like i have said many times, Pro does note mean good and amateur does not mean bad...FACT!

I have seen some shocking pro photos that have been well and truly trumped by amateurs.

However, saying that in amongst the tit for tat arguments on some of these threads there is a wealth of information and advice.Search, research, and then reserach some more.

Like i said, this isnt aimed at anyone on this thread. I just think as a forum we need to be a little more 'accomodating' when people in the OPs situation ask for our help and advice. I have seen some quite nasty comments from so called wedding pros on other threads and all that does is make me think that i will try harder to help those who are learning and share an interest in this great artisitic medium.

To the OP - When and where is the wedding? Depending on dates /times / location and my availabilty i may (i cant promise anything) be able to come along and help you out. If you are interested PM me.
 
There is a lot of good advice in this thread, and a lot of posts from people spoiling for an argument

GPC's comments about pro's and amateurs are about right.

However , to answer the anti-pro camp.. Pro's bang on about stuff like backups, because we know how hard and demanding shooting a wedding is. I shoot more frames a weekend than most amateurs shoot a year. I expect gear to fail, I expect to drop things, I expect batteries to die and memory cards to fill up. Because of this I mitigate the risk by duplicating gear. It isn't snobbery, or being holier than thou... it is an expensive but common sense business practice. If we didnt have duplicate gear, one day we would be sat at a wedding in a deep pile of crap with a camera saying ERR (or similar)

If you ask a pro how to do a job, expect to be told how to do it properly
 
Richard King said:
If you ask a pro how to do a job, expect to be told how to do it properly
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I can't believe how many wedding threads I've read through without someone pointing out this simple obvious truth.:clap::clap:
 
Originally Posted by Richard King
If you ask a pro how to do a job, expect to be told how to do it properly

Absolutely right. And there is no substitue for being helped and advised by a pro who has experience. And many pros do help. Many moons ago a pro who shot my wedding allowed me to accompany him on one of his other weddings so i can get more expereince. It was an amazing lesson watchiing him work and the advice he provided is still at the forefront of my mind today.
 
Massive thread hijack gone on here. Apologies!

Th the OP - My offer still stands so PM me if interested and back to advice - Have a search under my name as there was a thread a couple of days ago that contained more usefull advise and tips that any off the shelf book ever will.
And dont be afraid to ask more quesitons
 
I was asked by a friend to shoot their wedding to, they wanted group shots B&G, speech, evening the lot.

I said no, nice and simple.
 
Thank you Meno for demonstrating my point exactly!

Constructive help.....:clap::clap:
 
it might be good to get a definitive 'wants' from the B&G and what you are both potentially prepared to live with or without..

what if it is raining and the B&G say 'chuff it' get some shots anyway outside of us being covered in rain and confetti, are you prepared to potentially ruin your camera to do this?? I know its a strange thing to think about but this is how my mind works.
 
If they start providing a list of 'wants' you are beyond the realms of 'a friend with a camera...' surely?
 
cambsno said:
Disagree. How many times have you used a friend to help on something? Ever drawn a contract up? Last 2 times I moved house I hired a van and used a couple of mates. What if they had broken something? Damn, should have made sure they were trained and had insurance. Maybe should have ensured I had a fall back person in case one broke an arm.
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But it's about degrees of competence and the perception of that competence.

If your mate has seen you've got some cool pictures on Facebook and one of those 'pro' cameras, he might assume you can produce pro quality results. No matter how much you say 'look I'm not a pro' his perception is already set.if you have a major equipment failure, your mate could either:

Say 'no worries mate, get a beer, at least you have no more work to do'.

Or go running to the papers with a 'my wedding photographer ruined my life' story. That's not because he's 'not a mate' its because he'd made a massive assumption regarding your ability to do a professional job.

If a mate asks me to shoot a party, they have expectations based on my previous experience and gear (their perception of it).

If he asks me to do the brakes on his car, he knows to expect a proper job, because I trained as a mechanic.

If a mate asks me to help him move house, he knows its just dumb muscle and I might scrape some stuff lifting it out of the van, but I'm just a mate doing a favour.

If I mess up the car or photos, he probably has a right to be p155ed off at me, even at mates rates.
 
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