Wedding Photography Without Tears

Yes, in the good old days a wedding photographer would drag a tripod around. But in the good old days, the vast majority of wedding images were planned and posed, not spontaneous and candid in feel. For photogs who are hired for the latter (which at least in the US constitutes the vast majority) it's much more likely that a tripod will be a hindrance rather than a help for most of the day.

I prefer to instill confidence in my clients and their wedding guests by simply being confident, carrying myself well, and knowing what I'm doing. Body language is everything. I don't need a tripod to make me look like a capable photographer. Bear in mind that my clients already know that I know what I'm doing by looking at a great deal of my work and via word of mouth from friends.

Keep in mind, too, that in my style of photography, I don't necessarily want to be noticed at all. People act differently (and rarely for the better) when they know a photographer is pointing a camera in their direction. I'd far rather blend in than look like an obvious professional in those situations.

When I need to step up and be in control, i.e. for formals and such, I do so by simply being authoratative and efficient.

Again, I'm not saying you shouldn't use a tripod at all. I'm simply saying that one should use it because it's needed, not because it looks professional.
 
I always used a tripod with medium format cameras as they're just more awkward to hold than 35mm. When I switched to 35mm, I always took the tripod, but mostly it stayed in the boot, or on the occasions when Jan came with me to assist, she'd end up humping the thing around - often for nothing. :D

I never felt really comfortable without it being available if required for the odd low light shot and sometimes to help in setting up the really large groups, but I much preferred the flexibility of working hand held.

Reminds me of a wedding I did once where I'd just about finished the shots in the church grounds after the service and everyone was moving towards their cars to go to the reception venue. At this point the guests were arriving for the next wedding. The middle aged tog had two young lads as his assistants and they were humping great aluminium cases of gear and lights from the car. The tog was already getting quite stressed and was snarling and snapping at the two lads, before he'd even started,

One of the lads said to me "Where's your tripod?" I was standing there with just the camera round my neck. I told him I much preferred to work handheld, but the tripod was in the car,

Nodding in the direction of his tormenter He said "Have a word with him will you?" :lol:
 
LOL. It's a great pod, but you really need a lighter head for it and it'd be the nuts. Mind you with that head it's capable of supporting anything. :D
 
CT said:
I always used a tripod with medium format cameras as they're just more awkward to hold than 35mm. When I switched to 35mm, I always took the tripod, but mostly it stayed in the boot, or on the occasions when Jan came with me to assist, she'd end up humping the thing around - often for nothing. :D

I never felt really comfortable without it being available if required for the odd low light shot and sometimes to help in setting up the really large groups, but I much preferred the flexibility of working hand held.

Reminds me of a wedding I did once where I'd just about finished the shots in the church grounds after the service and everyone was moving towards their cars to go to the reception venue. At this point the guests were arriving for the next wedding. The middle aged tog had two young lads as his assistants and they were humping great aluminium cases of gear and lights from the car. The tog was already getting quite stressed and was snarling and snapping at the two lads, before he'd even started,

One of the lads said to me "Where's your tripod?" I was standing there with just the camera round my neck. I told him I much preferred to work handheld, but the tripod was in the car,

Nodding in the direction of his tormenter He said "Have a word with him will you?" :lol:
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Ha ha! love it..... ;)


So, is it more "professional" to have the 'pod in the boot of the car or at home? <tongue in cheek mode off> :lol:
 
Chuckles, if that last bit was for my benefit, it was off the mark. For weddings, I keep a tripod in the car just in case. I've never had to go get it and use it, but I could if I needed it.
 
I wasn't getting at anybody really ~ it's horses for courses! I'll use one if I feel the need to and will try and give myself the liberty I enjoy if I use a camera handheld.

I was thinking last night there is definitely a cultural difference across the pond. I've consulted with two separate couples in the last two days about their weddings. Both have specifically requested we do traditional formal groups even though the trend over there (US) seems to be for more of a narrative story.... strange. :shrug:

Perhaps us Brits hang on to our traditions.... I don't know. Not a snipe, just an observation... so don't take offence, please! ;)
 
No worries. I was just wanting to clarify that.

FWIW, most couples here say that they don't want any formals. They always do. They just don't want their whole wedding shot that way. I shoot maybe five or six formal shots per wedding, excluding some portrait-like work that I enjoy doing with the bride and groom.

I do have to say that I'm surprised that some of my friends who are at the top of the wedding photography world and happen to live in the UK aren't able to charge anywhere near what we can get in the US. Jeff Ascough is a prime example. He's an incredible shooter, and is the nicest guy you'll ever meet, but he could probably charge at least double his rates over here.
 
Times are hard over here! Haven't you seen the rags us togs are wearing these days?

So many people have bought digi cams and have said they can do weddings for a smidgen of what the going rate should be... they haven't got a clue and the proper guys can't get the work... loads of reasons, far too many to enumerate here.

Then there are those that think they cut the mustard, charge the earth and end up ruining the couples special day. I know of one guy who shot the wedding of a couple who had hired a League Football Ground as their sppecial venue (Everton in Liverpool) that was in the spring last year and, as far as I know at this moment, have still not got their shots! Then he was having all the proofs done at Asda supermarkets. Not ashamed either to have "Asda" printed on the reverse side! The last i saw there were around 40 couples after him. He started off with a Fuji 602.....

I could go on...... some say I usually do! :lol:
 
Yeah, but we have all those things going on over here, too. Just as bad, honestly. I ran across a website yesterday for a photog here in Colorado charging US $2500 for his top wedding package, which wouldn't be too terribly low except that he was including three albums, all the proofs, all images at hi-res on CD, a dozen 8x10-'s, several framed wall portraits, unlimited time, an engagement session, and lots more. At the end of the day, he was pretty much paying the client for the privilege of shooting the wedding. LOL. It's insane.
 
cjnicolai said:
Keep in mind, too, that in my style of photography, I don't necessarily want to be noticed at all. People act differently (and rarely for the better) when they know a photographer is pointing a camera in their direction. I'd far rather blend in than look like an obvious professional in those situations.

When I need to step up and be in control, i.e. for formals and such, I do so by simply being authoratative and efficient.
Click to expand...

That is exactly how I work, just try and blend in on the periphery using a 70-200mm zoom on one body and shorter zoom on the other and watch for those special or intimate moments that no posed shot would give you. The results are what matters, how you get them or how 'professional' you look lugging around loads of kit shouldn't even enter the equation.

I'm no expert, but so far I've had good results which I (and the clients) have been happy with. Like others the tripod is always nearby, either in the car or tucked away somewhere should I need it.
 
That's what I hope to achieve when I do mine in August. I am actually a guest at the wedding so want to nip about almost unseen really.

Not a huge number of guests.

I only have one camera body, so will have to change lenses unfortunately.

The only lenses I have are canon 75-300, Tamron 28-75mm F2.8, Canon 50mm F1.8, and Sigma 10-20mm F2.8.

Should I pick just 2 lenses, and change between them.....keeping the unused one in my pocket? (which ones??)

Flash on the camera always, with a Stofen omnibounce on/off depending on the situation, turning the flash on and off when not needed.
 
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