Hi all
So, I shot another wedding at the weekend and thought I would share the experience and lessons learned. And basically to share the pain lol!
The most obvious mistake was to be a guest and photographer. Before you all jump in it wasnt supposed to be that way. They are my neighbours, they have been married before and they are not photo people.
I offered to do it as a gift .not a guest ..unbeknown to me they then formally invited myself and my wife to the day and evening uh oh! Should have bailed at that point but didnt want to let them down at the short notice and they were happy with my skills and quite looking forward to me doing it
It was a small group, about 30 people max. Wedding was arranged quickly and booked at a local Registry office, then on to a manor house venue for a buffet and drinks. Bride wore ivory, her young daughters were bridesmaids, no best man, and a few close family and friends.
Weather was bright sunshine outside, inside was low ceilings and dark .very dark and very warm
Informal reception, no speeches, no handouts, no first dance and not too worried about cake cutting or so they said
5dmk2, 580EXII for some bounce flash taking inspiration from NVK little black foamy thing .(I had sofboxes, backup camera, light stands etc)
What could possibly go wrong!!!!!
Turned up at the brides house for the getting ready shots at the agreed time she opened the door already dressed and ready .the car will be here in 20mins so where do you want me and can you take my daughters friend in your car ..
A quick 15 min photo session produced some, at best, ok results ..not what we had planned
Arrived at the registry office. Brides car turned up in the back of the venue (I was at the front where every other wedding car turns up) and out popped the bride and was mingling with her groom and guests
None of the guests were inside so the bride was already amongst them
The 25-30 guests were dispersed over about half an acre of grounds, the bridesmaids were nowhere to be seen, the bride just wanted to get some quick shots and the groom just wanted to get to the bar!!
A few quick group shots and into the reg office .boy was it warm, everyone was wilting and smiles were few and far between
Ceremony ..tiny reg office, done and dusted in a few minutes .ring shots ..the rings were whipped out of a plastic bag and placed on a cushion daughter handed them to the B&G and then stood in front of me .I managed to step to the left and was sandwiched between a desk, plant pot and the daughter just managed to get the rings going on, B&G hugging, kiss etc phew
Dived out of the reg office to get B&G walking out hand in hand .errrr ..make that everyone coming out at same time.
Confetti and clapping ..errr ..none .in fact where had the B&G gone they were in the car about to drive away already ..just managed to get a few car window shots ..
Jump in the car and head to the venue in hot pursuit .
Get to the venue, B&G are mingling so grab them for a few shots in the gazebo ..6 shots in and the groom has had enough .(I knew I had a couple in the bag so not too much of an issue)
You can knock off now I was told. Come and have a beer as you are a guest he said. What about the first dance and cake I asked noooo dont worry about that .have a beer .:nono:
Thank god I kept the camera close as sure enough, cake cutting was a main event as it was cut using a traditional sword ..first dance was emotional and I managed to get a few of those as well despite everyone else joining the dance floor after the 1st 3 beats of the music and the brides maids again insisting on standing in front of me every time with their camera .
Fist dance finished .put camera down .all over finished .and relax!!!!
So, did I enjoy it ..in a way yes. Its great to shoot the day and try and capture the story. In other ways it was a nightmare ..
Was it a huge learning curve Yes like no other wedding I have shot. Small wedding party, small wedding venue and a very compressed time frame means you have to be quick on the spot.
The so called relaxed, informal wedding still follows a set of rules and key points, they just dont seem to fall in the same structure / order so again you need to be super flexible and quick.
Not having a best man to help get people organised means its down to you .and if people know you as a guest they seem to be harder to organise. They all want a chat rather than following your lead.
Would I be a guest and a photographer again ..NO NO NO NO (although I am committed to one other this year but the approach will definitely be different!)
Are the images any good? .I am pleased with some, not pleased with some, and missed a few too I dont seem to have a single shot of the groom with his mother!!
So all in all a bit of a nightmare day, lets hope they like the images!!!!
thougt i would share, dont know why lol!!!
anyone else had a shocker.....?
So, I shot another wedding at the weekend and thought I would share the experience and lessons learned. And basically to share the pain lol!
The most obvious mistake was to be a guest and photographer. Before you all jump in it wasnt supposed to be that way. They are my neighbours, they have been married before and they are not photo people.
I offered to do it as a gift .not a guest ..unbeknown to me they then formally invited myself and my wife to the day and evening uh oh! Should have bailed at that point but didnt want to let them down at the short notice and they were happy with my skills and quite looking forward to me doing it
It was a small group, about 30 people max. Wedding was arranged quickly and booked at a local Registry office, then on to a manor house venue for a buffet and drinks. Bride wore ivory, her young daughters were bridesmaids, no best man, and a few close family and friends.
Weather was bright sunshine outside, inside was low ceilings and dark .very dark and very warm
Informal reception, no speeches, no handouts, no first dance and not too worried about cake cutting or so they said
5dmk2, 580EXII for some bounce flash taking inspiration from NVK little black foamy thing .(I had sofboxes, backup camera, light stands etc)
What could possibly go wrong!!!!!
Turned up at the brides house for the getting ready shots at the agreed time she opened the door already dressed and ready .the car will be here in 20mins so where do you want me and can you take my daughters friend in your car ..
A quick 15 min photo session produced some, at best, ok results ..not what we had planned
Arrived at the registry office. Brides car turned up in the back of the venue (I was at the front where every other wedding car turns up) and out popped the bride and was mingling with her groom and guests
None of the guests were inside so the bride was already amongst them
The 25-30 guests were dispersed over about half an acre of grounds, the bridesmaids were nowhere to be seen, the bride just wanted to get some quick shots and the groom just wanted to get to the bar!!
A few quick group shots and into the reg office .boy was it warm, everyone was wilting and smiles were few and far between
Ceremony ..tiny reg office, done and dusted in a few minutes .ring shots ..the rings were whipped out of a plastic bag and placed on a cushion daughter handed them to the B&G and then stood in front of me .I managed to step to the left and was sandwiched between a desk, plant pot and the daughter just managed to get the rings going on, B&G hugging, kiss etc phew
Dived out of the reg office to get B&G walking out hand in hand .errrr ..make that everyone coming out at same time.
Confetti and clapping ..errr ..none .in fact where had the B&G gone they were in the car about to drive away already ..just managed to get a few car window shots ..
Jump in the car and head to the venue in hot pursuit .
Get to the venue, B&G are mingling so grab them for a few shots in the gazebo ..6 shots in and the groom has had enough .(I knew I had a couple in the bag so not too much of an issue)
You can knock off now I was told. Come and have a beer as you are a guest he said. What about the first dance and cake I asked noooo dont worry about that .have a beer .:nono:
Thank god I kept the camera close as sure enough, cake cutting was a main event as it was cut using a traditional sword ..first dance was emotional and I managed to get a few of those as well despite everyone else joining the dance floor after the 1st 3 beats of the music and the brides maids again insisting on standing in front of me every time with their camera .
Fist dance finished .put camera down .all over finished .and relax!!!!
So, did I enjoy it ..in a way yes. Its great to shoot the day and try and capture the story. In other ways it was a nightmare ..
Was it a huge learning curve Yes like no other wedding I have shot. Small wedding party, small wedding venue and a very compressed time frame means you have to be quick on the spot.
The so called relaxed, informal wedding still follows a set of rules and key points, they just dont seem to fall in the same structure / order so again you need to be super flexible and quick.
Not having a best man to help get people organised means its down to you .and if people know you as a guest they seem to be harder to organise. They all want a chat rather than following your lead.
Would I be a guest and a photographer again ..NO NO NO NO (although I am committed to one other this year but the approach will definitely be different!)
Are the images any good? .I am pleased with some, not pleased with some, and missed a few too I dont seem to have a single shot of the groom with his mother!!
So all in all a bit of a nightmare day, lets hope they like the images!!!!
thougt i would share, dont know why lol!!!
anyone else had a shocker.....?
) to a pre-arranged spot for some informals.
