wedding photography

If someone's paying you to 2nd shoot, you're asking the wrong people for advice:).

Your 'employer' will be able to tell you all you need to know, have a look at the 2nd shooter discussions, you'll see that what's expected of you could vary quite a lot. But for me, if you have to ask these questions I wouldn't be paying you, other photographers opinions will vary though (most would agree with me - I can think of at least one member here who'd be charging you for the experience).

Good luck (and speak to the 1st photographer - they're the only one with an answer that's worth anything to you).
 
Thanks a lot phil. I am in touch with my primary shooter but wanted some additional tips on the kit.
Any info on D600 ll be helpful *** i ll be using that for the first time.
I have not used a full frame camera yet. So thts a problem. And the company is providing that one day before the event only. And yes i ll be hiring lenses so advice on that will also be helpful.
 
jeet said:
Thanks a lot phil. I am in touch with my primary shooter but wanted some additional tips on the kit.
Any info on D600 ll be helpful *** i ll be using that for the first time.
I have not used a full frame camera yet. So thts a problem. And the company is providing that one day before the event only. And yes i ll be hiring lenses so advice on that will also be helpful.
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The D600 manual will tell you all you need to know about the camera. What precisely do you really need to know that you think a forum can help with?

Are you shooting groom prep?

Will you meet the photographer beforehand?

A wedding isn't 'a single event', at a typical wedding I will shoot (not exhaustive)

  • Genuine reportage photography (blending into the background)
  • Low light portraits
  • Still life
  • Macro
  • On and off camera flash portraits
  • Mixing flash with ambient (natural and man made) for effects ranging from a little fill for eye sockets in the sun, to using the DJ lights as abstract backdrops for dance shots.
  • Posing individuals, couples, small and large groups (probably just be the 1st's job)

How much of this is expected of you is key - will you be left to just shoot reportage, will you be expected to help organise groups, will you be a voice activated lightstand? If you're just shooting reportage, you'll need an understanding of how a wedding 'works' and how to position yourself for capturing 'things happening' if you're interacting with people you need to be friendly and confident.

Like I've said before, IMHO 2nd shooters require paying, but that's because I expect them to turn up, understand what's required of them and deliver. If they can't do that, they're not a 2nd shooter and I personally haven't got time for a trainee at a wedding (other photographers will differ):).
 
jeet said:
Any info on D600 ll be helpful *** i ll be using that for the first time.
I have not used a full frame camera yet. So thts a problem. And the company is providing that one day before the event only. And yes i ll be hiring lenses so advice on that will also be helpful.
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It's imperative that you know the camera inside & out before the event and I think you will struggle only having the camera one day before the event if you are used to a D3100. They are very different operationally. Buttons are in different places. There are many more buttons and modes with the D600. Even the focus points are vastly different. It's like asking what is the best way to drive a BMW M3 round a track when right now you have a Ford Fiesta. Both perfectly capable as car's but how can someone sensibly give you tips? And can you reasonably expect to get behind the wheel of the BMW and do a professional job if you don't get to drive it until the day before?

So I'd advise you to get hold of one before hand. If you are struggling then do you have anyone who can lend you a D7000 for a bit? The two are more similar and a jump less scary than the jump from D3100 to D600.

The one lens I'd say is a must have at a wedding is a 24-70 f2.8 (or equiv). As 2nd shooter I think you can get away with the 70-300 but a 70-200 would be better.
 
Credit where it's due..

at least Jeet came and asked for advice before doing a wedding...rather than having done one that went all wrong and needed advice on how to correct errors....

At least with the D600 you'll be better off for taking those wider shots... less chance of headless or limbless guests....
 
Thanks phil and gadgeteer...
All those points will be helpful for me for sure... Finally got something what i needed... :-):-):-)
 
welshwizard645 said:
At least with the D600 you'll be better off for taking those wider shots... less chance of headless or limbless guests....
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LOL, so that's why some peoples shots come out like that, they must be shooting on crop sensors :naughty:

And there was me thinking it was something to do with composition and skill :cuckoo:

:D:D
 
gadgeteer said:
It's imperative that you know the camera inside & out before the event and I think you will struggle only having the camera one day before the event if you are used to a D3100. They are very different operationally. Buttons are in different places. There are many more buttons and modes with the D600. Even the focus points are vastly different. It's like asking what is the best way to drive a BMW M3 round a track when right now you have a Ford Fiesta. Both perfectly capable as car's but how can someone sensibly give you tips? And can you reasonably expect to get behind the wheel of the BMW and do a professional job if you don't get to drive it until the day before?
...
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See, that's where my age is a disadvantage, it never occurred to me that a photographer can't just pick up a camera and use it. Particularly from the same manufacturer.

Then I've also had plenty of years in both FWD and RWD cars too.
 
Well I'm not the legend which you are Phil. I still get confused sometimes where a button is on my d600 cos I'm so used to my d700. And never ask me to pick up a canon camera since I'd probably struggle to find the on button. Of course I'd find it eventually but more seriously at a wedding is not the right time to be thinking "where's the ISO button...."
 
gadgeteer said:
Well I'm not the legend which you are Phil. I still get confused sometimes where a button is on my d600 cos I'm so used to my d700. And never ask me to pick up a canon camera since I'd probably struggle to find the on button. Of course I'd find it eventually but more seriously at a wedding is not the right time to be thinking "where's the ISO button...."
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I'm not a legend, just old, and I've been through some camera brands. On Saturday morning I had my first real play with a CSC when a guy I was giving advice to was struggling to change modes, I just picked it up and did it. I suppose when you've seen so many you concentrate on the similarities rather than the differences.

That said, focussing with the shutter button still freaks me:gag:
 
Generally the more expensive the DSLR the easier the basics are to use as there are more buttons, specific LCD screen etc,.

I always put this down to professional photographers needing all the help they can get due to them being a bit on the dim side?
 
ernesto said:
Generally the more expensive the DSLR the easier the basics are to use as there are more buttons, specific LCD screen etc,.

I always put this down to professional photographers needing all the help they can get due to them being a bit on the dim side?
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You're probably right - not being a pro myself I wouldn't know ;). (WW's FTW)

It might be that they need to be able to get to functions quickly though :thinking: ? Not having 'all the time in the world' to get a shot :thinking:
 
First appologies for assuming this was a wind up last night
Can't stress enough my agreement for getting to know your camera for weddings. Changing iso, wb, mode etc, must be second nature as the day flies by at great speed, quite often it can be a bit overwhelming especially if you're not prepared
Make sure well in advance batteries are charged, with plenty spares, along with more memory cards than you think you'll need, theres always room for error or eqipment failure that way
Also good advice on fast lenses, especially for indoors low light but also for backround bokeh. A couple of varying telephoto f2.8s are ideal
Its good you're second shooter as a lot of the pressure's off, just be well prepared and you'll be fine
Practice beforehand changing settings from room to room and outside inside just to know exactly where everything is on camera and maybe even using off camera flash, which could come in really handy
Good luck, look forward to seeing the results of the shoot
 
Donnie said:
LOL, so that's why some peoples shots come out like that, they must be shooting on crop sensors :naughty:

And there was me thinking it was something to do with composition and skill :cuckoo:

:D:D
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I remember my first experience with a DSLR...., normal viewfinder tiny sensor and not everything you see in the viewfinder was recorded:bang::bang:

Although I've got over that, my composition, exposure and focussing skills escape me:suspect::bonk:
 
ernesto said:
Generally the more expensive the DSLR the easier the basics are to use as there are more buttons, specific LCD screen etc,.

I always put this down to professional photographers needing all the help they can get due to them being a bit on the dim side?
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So that makes every iPhone photographer out there a genius, right? :thinking:
 
I say good luck to the guy on his first wedding shoot. Looking at my experience, I was what I suppose you might call a second shooter at my grandson's wedding.

In this instance the pro tog did not seem to mind me standing "almost" alongside him for the shots, after all he was getting £2k for the job.

At the time I only had a Nikon D90 and a 55-200 lens. It has been said by not only friends and relations that my shots were equally as good as the pro tog. Because the pro tog was organising the groups etc all I did was shoot (except when he took my camera off of me to join a group photo).

After processing my shots I loaded them all to DVD and whoever had them were very pleased.

Should add I have not tried to carry out any wedding photography myself since (don't want to) and I don't suppose I will, although we still have one more grandson to get married yet, so one never knows.
 
swiftflo said:
In this instance the pro tog did not seem to mind me standing "almost" alongside him for the shots, after all he was getting £2k for the job.

At the time I only had a Nikon D90 and a 55-200 lens. It has been said by not only friends and relations that my shots were equally as good as the pro tog. Because the pro tog was organising the groups etc all I did was shoot (except when he took my camera off of me to join a group photo).

After processing my shots I loaded them all to DVD and whoever had them were very pleased.
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You're assuming that the only skill of the photographer is taking the shot, whereas in reality what you refer to as organising the groups is a big skill in itself. One of the major skills of being a wedding photographer is man management, getting the right groups, with the right people, where you want them, at the right time, in the right poses.
 
Tigger.ufo said:
This would be a good thread to read first (and any others you find)

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=461078

...and some answers for Phil too, the sooner the better.

Heather
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The thread from my first experience has already been referenced by Heather and I hope it will help. I can't stress just how much is going on and how fast the day goes, you really do need to be prepared. There really is a huge amount of info on this site, but I would say that you certainly need to get your hands on a D600 to practice, it's in another league to the D3100, and consider your lens choices.

Oh and good luck, you are going to be on a very steep learning curve!
 
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markmullen said:
You're assuming that the only skill of the photographer is taking the shot, whereas in reality what you refer to as organising the groups is a big skill in itself. One of the major skills of being a wedding photographer is man management, getting the right groups, with the right people, where you want them, at the right time, in the right poses.
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Surely not!:nuts:

It's easy, you can stand at the side of any photographer shooting anything and just copy their shots - that's exactly the same thing as visualising, planning, organising, communicating and then capturing:cuckoo:

Seriously it makes me chuckle - less than 10% of being any kind of professional photographer (sports / landscapes / whatever) is taking pictures.

The odd thing is, a good amateur knows this, because a good amateur isn't taking a few lucky good shots a year, they're previsualising and planning shoots as well. They're examining light all the time and working out the best way of shooting stuff. Many 'camera owners' think it starts as you lift the camera to your eye and everything else is done in Photoshop :lol:.
 
swiftflo said:
In this instance the pro tog did not seem to mind me standing "almost" alongside him for the shots, after all he was getting £2k for the job.
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Did you get eye contact? The pro tog will be wanting eye contact with all. By havign another photographer alongside you may be distracting members of the groups.
 
Byker28i said:
Did you get eye contact? The pro tog will be wanting eye contact with all. By havign another photographer alongside you may be distracting members of the groups.
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Yes I did get eye contact and a smile. Probably just tolerating me.
 
markmullen said:
You're assuming that the only skill of the photographer is taking the shot, whereas in reality what you refer to as organising the groups is a big skill in itself. One of the major skills of being a wedding photographer is man management, getting the right groups, with the right people, where you want them, at the right time, in the right poses.
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No way was I assuming the skill of the pro tog was just taking shots. I admire the way he cojoled everyone into place.
In fact I admired the way he went about his business, he certainly had a lot more patience than what I have.
 
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