Wedding Photography - Tips?

[Marc.W]

(Hopefully in the correct section)

Have never done anything like this but my Mum has asked me to do the Photography for her wedding, she has only asked for a few pics but I would like know what Wedding photographers actually look for in their shots (other than the bride and groom etc)

What if the weather is crappy and in the church there isn't enough light for anything other than High ISO or Flash

I Haven't actually seen the church yet so I have no Idea what the lighting is like inside or where I can actually stand/crouch/whatever for the pics

She has given me a rundown of what all she wants (in the car/family/B&W etc.) but I want to give her some great shots she can be pleased with for the rest of her life.

I think I'm just getting a bit nervous as the day draws near

Thanks in advance.

*EDIT* Forgot to mention she doesn't want any Photo's of her in her wheelchair so that rules out anything other than close-ups really

 

[User Name]

Hi Marc,
Number one rule should be "don't ask for tips on here" Just kidding.

I'd start with ...
1) Borrow a second camera. Don't rely on one camera and one lens to take photos on the most important day of someone's life.
2) Scope out the church, visit it a few weeks before hand and work out where you can stand, where the light is coming from, speak to whoever will be conducting the ceremony and ask them if flash is allowed.
3) A photo of the bride in the back of the car is a common shot, and one which won't show a wheelchair.
4) Find a nice place outside for formals + portraits if the weather is good. Have a contingency plan if the weather is bad - this is where your church visit will help.
5) Practice your people skills. (Making a joke to help people relax, asking them to move where you want etc).
6) For family shots, start with the largest group first and send people away, it's much faster and everyone can get back to their drink sooner.

Others will add to this, but above all, don't forget to enjoy the day yourself.

 

[Marc.W]

Thanks Mark, I still have my 400D with 18-55mm lens, but that's for sale and will probably be gone in the next few days, not to mention I only have the one Memory card at the moment too lol so I may be a bit stuck on that bit, I will take a run down to the Venue maybe this weekend and get a few snaps to use as a reference (i.e time of day/weather obviously the latter is a huge variable so I will keep on top of the weather reports )

 

[icnoble]

Make sure you also have spare batteries for both flash and camera. Many members on TP post their wedding photographs, well worth looking at for ideas.

 

[Sparkles33]

A nice shot (after the guests leave the church building) would be your mum transferred onto a pew with her new husband. That way she's not in her wheelchair and you can get a Churchy shot (try different vantage points and DOF )

 

[andiphoto]

i did my first wedding yesterday (with daz on here helping me second) and i was really nervous.

But when you get there everything starts to calm down, everything was fine, just have a good joke and a laugh with the B&G to make them relaxed which worked.

Alot of this will be easier for you with alot of the guests being family etc so i think you should be fine.
(sorry if this doesnt make much sense lol, im trying to do this on my phone whilst waiting in the car lol)

 

[Slimbert]

What if the weather is crappy and in the church there isn't enough light for anything other than High ISO or Flash

I Haven't actually seen the church yet so I have no Idea what the lighting is like inside or where I can actually stand/crouch/whatever for the pics

Homework.....

You need to get in touch with the vicar and find out what he/she allows inside the church with regards to positioning/flash/parts of the service. Also, you need to have a good look round the grounds to see where you'll pose any shots.....backgrounds/scenery are very important!

If the weather turns bad, you need to have somewhere to go to get some shots, again, you need to do your homework on this one to see what else is in the area!

She has given me a rundown of what all she wants (in the car/family/B&W etc.) but I want to give her some great shots she can be pleased with for the rest of her life

Don't forget, you are there as a photographer to document her day.....not to please us lot who will rip apart any photo that isn't 100% perfect! Wedding photos don't have to be perfect, sadly some people on here think they do and it starts all sorts of arguments! :bonk: I think your mum will look back on those photos and not worry about things like exposure being slightly off or the framing not being quite right.....she'll be more happy/proud about the fact that you've taken them!

I think I'm just getting a bit nervous as the day draws near

I'd be more worries if you weren't nervous! It shows you care about what you're are doing, at that you aren't underestimating the task ahead.....that's very good start if you ask me!

Two biggest tips: Firstly (if you don't already), shoot RAW.....much easier to rescue shots in post production should you need to......Secondly, try to take 2 or 3 clicks of each shot, as people blinking nearly always happens and having a couple (or 3 or 4) versions of each shot will improve your keeper rate.....I don't mean machine gun it on high speed continuous, I mean re-compose each shot at least a couple of times.....It'll be well worth the effort!

Few more tips would be to have a decent breakfast, carry a bottle of water in your camera bag, make sure your batteries are fully charged, get your kit ready the night before (doing it in a rush on the day can be a big mistake) and relax (or at least try) and enjoy the day.....

One other thing, buy another memory card.....they only cost a tenner! http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=777_6&products_id=103277

 

[Aj photography]

i did my first wedding yesterday (with daz on here helping me second) and i was really nervous.

But when you get there everything starts to calm down, everything was fine, just have a good joke and a laugh with the B&G to make them relaxed which worked.

I second this!!! We were soo worried about the weather too as the reports had been saying for HEAVY rain!!! and the butterflies i felt!! well i dread to think how the B&G felt if i felt like that!! But the whole thing will go like a dream i promise!!! this one was a nightmare leading up to it and didnt even get the breakdowns until 2 days before the wedding and they kept messing us about but just keep a cool head and once you get into it you will love it!!!

Good Luck!!!


Oh yea and def look at other work on here!!! it was a major influence for ideas for me!!! esp Yv, Hacker and spxxxx are amazing!!!!

 

[Marc.W]

Thanks for all the Tips Guys, appreciate it all

 

[The Matt]

Just a thought, you could scope out a scenic location with a bench for some group portraits that would avoid the chair.

I'd ideally want something with a wide aperture, particularly for indoor low light stuff. If you don't have one, see if you can borrow a 50mm f1.8 from someone.

 

[boyfalldown]

Don't forget, you are there as a photographer to document her day.....not to please us lot who will rip apart any photo that isn't 100% perfect! Wedding photos don't have to be perfect, sadly some people on here think they do and it starts all sorts of arguments! :bonk: I think your mum will look back on those photos and not worry about things like exposure being slightly off or the framing not being quite right.....she'll be more happy/proud about the fact that you've taken them!

I understand what you are saying about, in this case, the OP's Mum being happy - but with comments about exposure, framing and 100% perfect no wonder people don't like posting meaningful C & C as much

 

[paul_g]

You mention you only have one memory card. I don't know what size it is but memory is very cheap and so I wouldn't let that be a limiting factor on how many images you take.
On purpose I took many more images at my last wedding than I had before and its made life much easier in editing. I've got more choice of shots and by shooting each key image a number of times non are spoiled by people having their eyes closed or not looking. Thats saved loads of time not having to swap heads and eyes in photoshop

 

[Slimbert]

I understand what you are saying about, in this case, the OP's Mum being happy - but with comments about exposure, framing and 100% perfect no wonder people don't like posting meaningful C & C as much

:nono: I didn't mean it like that.....

Obviously, if you put photos up on here for crit then things like that need to be addressed, but sometimes things like that don't matter to brides and grooms, and I got the impression that this was one of those occasions! :shrug:

On here, we can get caught up in striving for perfection when we take our own and look at each others work, which is fine as it's a great basis for improving and learning.....but we should also understand that we aren't looking through the customers eyes and that perfection isn't always required, again, I don't think the OP's mum will care too much if the OP doesn't match the standard of a well practiced successful £3k a day wedding photographer, and knowing this will help the OP relax and IMHO, help him get better results.....

What I said wasn't a blanket statement meant for everyone, it was meant for the OP, and in this instance!

 

[Matt Taylor]

Make sure you get a list from your mum of what shots are the 'must haves' and which family group shots are a priority, then ensure that you get those shots. Ultimately it is her day and you should be doing what she wants.

 

[Betty]

Your MUMS wedding? How are you going to be in the photos if you're taking them?

 

[Jaffster]

(Hopefully in the correct section)

Have never done anything like this but my Mum has asked me to do the Photography for her wedding, she has only asked for a few pics but I would like know what Wedding photographers actually look for in their shots (other than the bride and groom etc)

What if the weather is crappy and in the church there isn't enough light for anything other than High ISO or Flash

I Haven't actually seen the church yet so I have no Idea what the lighting is like inside or where I can actually stand/crouch/whatever for the pics

She has given me a rundown of what all she wants (in the car/family/B&W etc.) but I want to give her some great shots she can be pleased with for the rest of her life.

I think I'm just getting a bit nervous as the day draws near

Thanks in advance.

*EDIT* Forgot to mention she doesn't want any Photo's of her in her wheelchair so that rules out anything other than close-ups really

Being nervous is perfectly normal. Being a photographer at a wedding is a HUGE weight on your shoulders, especially when it's somebody that you know.

There's been some great advice given so far, take note. There's some fantastic, skilled wedding photographers on here who's advice you should really take on-board.

I'll offer some of mine. Children, watch them closely. At a recent wedding I did I managed to catch them playing Army. Some of the best child candids I've ever taken, especially when they were lay on the floor pretending to be dead. The bride loved these.

Be prepared to take 2/3 of the same shot as I guarantee that you'll get 'blinkers' in many shots.

When trying to organise groups of people use your big voice. If you're quiet then people will listen, move into position and then carry on with their conversations. Use a big voice, get the people how you want them to and then count down. Don't give them a chance to look away, there's nothing worse than people not looking on the group shots.

If some of the shots are going to be outside, don't shoot into the sun as you'll just end up with under exposed faces and blown highlights. Prepare, work out were you'll be doing the group shots and were the sun will be (clouds will save you).

Don't be afraid to think out of the box. What your mum has asked for is good, but give them something extra. Take some props. Even if it's just an umbrella or some sunglasses - something to lighten to mood and allow them to relax and have fun infront of the camera.

Constantly be thinking about your composition. Don't take 100 shots of them looking at eachother during the ceremony. Keep your eye on the viewfinder and WAIT for a cheeky smile from the groom and a loving glanse from the bride. Keep your camera on continuous during the ceremony just incase you miss that special shot.

Don't stay in the same place. Show a little respect for the churches wishes, move quietly (don't drop your diffuser like I did at the last one ) and get shots from a few different angles but make sure you're in your chosen spot for the "you may kiss the bride" part. Get shots from the back of the room (looking down the walkway) and from either side.

The best advice that I can offer you though, is to look at other peoples work. Take note of their composition. If something strikes you as a good shot, take a mental note or write it down. I'm sure your family won't judge if you have to check your notes.

I've got limited experience compared to many of the professionals on here but these are some of the things that I've found to work for me.

Head on into the 'people and portraits' section and check out some of the topics started in there by people like Spxxxx and Hacker and you'll be amazed. Look, examine and learn.

 

[Jaffster]

Oh, and I forgot to add, the best of luck to you

 

[Marc.W]

Many thanks again for all the advice, I have a 4gb Memory card which will hold about 180 Raw shots (also have a 2gig, but seems to have corrupted randomly one day)

@ Danielle - Tripod and Delayed shutter should prove a good laugh when it comes my turn (or get my Girlfriend to take these as she has a bit of know how round a camera thanks to me forcing her to learn the basics lol)

@ Matthew - These will be my first priority before any arty farty shots

@ Danny - love the Idea of some random shots, i'll keep an eye out, thanks for the tips