Revet Loc: Fairview Park, Ohio

My daughters wedding is in one month. We have a photographer hired for the event but he will be showing up 2 hours prior to the service for bridal party photos and then stay on for the ceremony and reception. My daughter and future son-in-law asked me last night if I can do some shots of her and her brides maids getting ready at our house and then go over and do the same for the groom and his groomsmen.

I accepted and am quite excited about doing it. The problem is I do mostly landscape and wildlife photography. I do photograph all of our family indoor events and have a good understanding of using a flash or any ambient indoor light. My problem will not be with settings and technique, it is composition. I am a very left brain person with little creativity so I could use a little help on what type of shots I should take. For the bride, I have seen some nice photos with a bride looking into a mirror, standing in front of a window, etc. This is the type of stuff I am looking for. Nothing crazy, just some standard shots that work well for the in house Wedding Party members preparing for the event. I normally would immerse myself in reading materials but don't have that kind of time right now (lots of other wedding stuff to get ready).

I will be using a D7100. I have the following lenses to use. Nikkor 18-200 VRii, Tamron 60mm Macro f/2 lens (nice portrait lens), Sigma 10-20 f3.5 wide angle, and a Nikkor 35 mm f/1.8 prime. If I should leave any of these home with my Sigma 150-600, just say the word. I have a SL-700 flash with off camera capabilities and a good tripod if that is needed. I have 2, 3 and 10 stop ND filters if their is any use for those.

Thank you for any help in advance!!

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Revet - do a google search for some form of a "wedding shooting guide" where the site / post provides coaching on the 'must have' wedding scenes. You might also visit the commercial websites for wedding photographers as you'll see most / all of these shots in demonstration. You've listed having the lenses you'll need for those behind the scene shots of the family getting ready. For your question, I don't know how you'd need a 150-600 at a wedding ... In fact, unless you add a second body, you should limit yourself to just two lenses. Assuming shooting in tight places as the parties get ready, I'd think the 10-20 and 35 would be all needed for the role you've proposed.

jaysnave Loc: Central Ohio

Revet, There are plenty of examples of the typical shots on Pintrest or if you like I can PM you some of mine. If I could give some general advise it would be to remember that you will be telling a story of the early part of the wedding day. You have an advantage in knowing all the emotional connections between your daughter, maid of honor, brides maids, mom, possibly grandma, and don't forget the cute flower girl(s). Try to anticipate and capture those interactions. Oh, and the getting ready time is the best time to get some good pics of the wedding dress hanging in front of a window or other creative spot. The guys don't show much emotion, but they will probably have some interesting moments. There might be cigars present or a bottle of bourbon etc...

As far as the lens, your 18-200 would give your the most flexibility, but the 35 would do nicely if you are not too far away and don't mind foot zooming. Sometimes there are obstructions in and about the dressing area that make foot zooming awkward. I almost always add a 1/4 power of light bounced off the nearest white wall or ceiling.

Mirrors are great. You will have to experiment with angles and such. It seems that I always have to Photoshop myself out of the refection. Here is one shot that works for me every time. You can find a cheap long mirror at Target or Meijer.

(Download)

Bobbee

My suggestion would be to go to Google and Pinterest (spelling) and search and search on the topic. Grab the samples you like and memorize them. This may or may not do you any good as the situations may not arise. One of the most challenging things I find when shooting wedding is posing and composition. You strive for that unique shot. YOu have to not only use your environment to it's fullest but also work with the girls and guys. At weddings I usually shoot the girls and my assistant, female, shoots the guys. this works well as we both have personalities that work well with the other sex.

My daughters wedding is in a month. all my equipment will be in my room in case the photographer does not show,. Otherwise the only time it will be out and in my hands will be at the rehearsal and the days proceeding the wedding. My assistant will be at the wedding and will be using her camera, but just as a bystander and knows to stay out of the way.

Revet Loc: Fairview Park, Ohio

Thanks!! I do say I plan to leave the 150-600 home. Thanks for letting me know which lenses you would bring!!

Revet Loc: Fairview Park, Ohio

Thanks Javsnave, Very helpful!!! The guys will be easy to shoot. They are all a bunch of hams and will give me great photo ops. Your advice on the girls is very helpful. They are getting ready in a rented house we have stayed in every summer for a week so I know it well. I will be there 2 days before the wedding so I will scope out the light and get my settings. Great idea on the mirror!! I am pretty sure I have one in the basement. I actually did the photography for the shower yesterday and it was no problem. I got some great shots capturing the moment.

Revet Loc: Fairview Park, Ohio

Thanks Bobbee, Love that photo of the girls on the bed. I will definitely be getting some goofy pictures of the group. The newlyweds are both artists so being goofy is who they are so those are the shots I should capture.

Bobbee

While some of these are the reception and ceremony, there are the Pre-wedding typical shots.

Wedding Photography Shots before the Ceremony
Wedding dress lying over a chair
Zipping up or buttoning the wedding dress
Mother of the bride fastening the bride's necklace
The bride's garter
The bride's veil
A close up of the bride's shoes peeking out from under the dress
Bride (Back of Dress close up)
Bride looking into a mirror
Bride looking out window
Bride and bridesmaids putting on makeup
Bride (Back of Dress-full body)
Bride pinning corsage/boutonniere on mother/father
Bride hugging parents
Bride touching up
Bride and parents leaving for ceremony
Bride with father in background
Groom tying tie
Groom looking into mirror
Bride looking out window
Groom pinning corsage/boutonniere on mother/father
Groom hugging parents
Bride and parents leaving for ceremony
Bride--side view
Bride--front
Bride--with Train elevated over head
Bride with Bridesmaids




Wedding Photography Shots At the Ceremony
Outside of ceremony site
Guests walking into ceremony site
Bride and father entering ceremony site
Parents being seated
Grandparents being seated
Maid of honor walking down the aisle
Bridesmaids walking down the aisle
Flower girl and ring bearer walking down aisle
Groom waiting for bride
Ceremony musicians
Officiate
Altar or canopy during ceremony
Close up of bride, just before she makes her entrance
Bride and father walking down aisle
Groom seeing bride for first time
The back of bride and father walking down the aisle – groom waiting in the distance
Bride's father and Bride hugging at end of aisle
Shot of the audience from the bride and groom's point of view
The unity ceremony
Close up of bride and groom saying the vows
Wide shot of bride and groom saying the vows
Exchanging the rings
Close up of hands
The kiss
Bride & Groom walking up the aisle
Receiving line
Bride & Groom outside on steps
Guests throwing confetti/rose petals/birdseed
Bride & Groom hugging guests, laughing, getting congratulations
Bride & Groom getting in car
Bride & Groom in back seat


Posed Wedding Photography before the Reception
Bride alone (full length)
Bride with Maid of Honor
Bride with bridesmaids
Groom with bridesmaids
Bride with parents
Bride & Groom together
Bride & Groom with parents
Couple with grandparents
Bride & Groom with families
Bride & Groom with entire wedding party
Bride & Groom with flower girl and ringbearer
Groom with parents
Groom with best man
Groom with groomsmen
Bride with groomsmen
Bride--angled over shoulder
Bride sitting on alter-depending on dress
Grandparents being seated
Mothers being seated
Groom images full body and close up
Bridal Party entering
Groom--seated on stool
Bride Entering
Groom--formal
Bridal Party on Alter
Groom--casual
Bride and Groom
Groom--jacket over shoulder
Exchange of Vows
Exchange of Rings
Couple--facing each other
Unity Candle Lighting
Couple--facing each other--looking at camera
Presentation of Couple
Couple--kissing
Exiting the church
Couple--groom on one knee
Receiving line
Couple--angled towards each other
Couple--angled head on shoulder
Bride with Maid of Honor
Bride with Bridesmaid & Flower girls
Groom with Bridesmaids & Flower girls
Groom and Best Man
Groom and Groomsmen
Groom, Groomsmen, and Ring Bearer
Bride, Groomsmen, and Ring Bearer
Groom with ushers
Bridal Party
Bridal Party with Flower girl & Ring Bearer
Bridal Party with Flower girl, Ring Bearer, and ushers
Couple with parents
Bride with father



During the Reception (list these shots in the order they will happen)
Outside of reception site
Bride & Groom arriving
Bride & Groom greeting guests
Table centerpieces
Table setting
Bride & Groom's table (head table)
Musicians or DJ
Guest book
Place card table
Close-up of bride and groom's place card
Wedding cake
Groom's cake
Gift table
Decorations (specify which _________________________)
A shot of bride & groom with guests at each table
Bride with college alums
Groom with college alums
The buffet or, if having table service, a dinner serving
Bride & Groom's first dance
Bride & Father dancing
Groom & Mother dancing
Guests dancing
Bride & Groom cutting the cake
Bride & Groom feeding each other cake
Toasts (specify who is giving them: ____________________)
Bride & Groom drinking champagne
Signing the marriage license
Bride throwing bouquet
Groom retrieving garter
Groom tossing garter
Garter/Bouquet dance
The getaway car
Bride & Groom leaving party
Bride & Groom driving away
Couple--Bride in front Groom behind on side Cake
Couple--Groom sitting
Bride arms around neck/chest
Couple with cake
Couple--Groom sitting Bride with hand on shoulder holding flowers
Cutting Cake
Couple--on floor using legs as back rest
Feeding Cake
Couple--on floor back to chest
Toast(s)
Couple Kissing
Head Table

Revet Loc: Fairview Park, Ohio

Perfect!!! I think all this advice is plenty to get me started!! Thanks to all

Szalajj Loc: Salem, NH

This is your daughters wedding, do you really want to be running around like a crazy person, when you should be trying to be her father, cool, calm, and collected, as you escort her to the church, and walk her down the aisle? Or isn't this a church wedding?

What kind of a pre-wedding ceremony schedule are they planning on?

Trying to shoot both sites with only one photographer isn't wise, then to ask the father of the bride to do it might make a sane person go crazy.

How far is between both sights? How will you get back to your daughter to escort her to the ceremony on time?

Revet Loc: Fairview Park, Ohio

I have nothing much to do that morning so taking a few photographs at each house is no big deal. The houses are a mile apart so I plan to do both in an hour or so. If it turns out I can't do it, it is not going to ruin the day. My daughter wasn't that interested in the bride/groom prep photographs. If she was, we would have gotten the photographer for longer for sure. Thanks for your concern. Personally, I think it will be good for me to take my mind off the events later in the day!!

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

As a veteran of literally thousands of professional wedding assignments and a father of the bride and a father of the groom (both of our kids are married)- I gotta agree wholeheartedly
with the above quoted SAGE advice! You don't know it as yet but as the bride's dad, you will have PLENTY to do on that morning! You will have your hands full- believe me!

The professional wedding photographer who is ostensibly hired to do the job properly and comprehensively, if he or she is worth their salt, will employ a properly trained and competent second shooter or arrange for the additional time to cover both the male and female bridal parties prior to the ceremony.

OK- so you won't listen to me! Multitasking is a new euphemism for "running around like a chicken without a head" or "working like a one-armed wallpaper hanger". Both scenarios are counterproductive! Good luck!

Congratulations on your daughter's upcoming nuptials. Ed

Revet Loc: Fairview Park, Ohio

Thanks for the advice!! We have the photographer hired for a set time period which covers the event and reception nicely. He is quite a distance from the venue and where my daughter is staying so we would have to add about 3 hours to his time to photograph the getting ready part. My daughter didn't want to do that. She is not so interested in those pictures and either is her husband to be. If I can't do it; so be it. If I can snap a couple of pictures off of both groups; why not. Thanks for wishing me luck!!!

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

my 2 cents would be to do as mentioned above and look to google/pinterist or other wedding photographer's sites, but realize that you need to just pick out a few to do really well. Don't ruin your day, or theirs, by taking a ton of time trying to recreate every "cute" photo you find. Grab a few (since they aren't that interested in anyway) at each location, then step aside and do your "dad duties" I've been father of the bride twice, and will have a third daughter's wedding under my belt soon. (engaged, but no date) We are hiring someone else, and I will grab a very few that are important to me, and leave the rest to the pro we hire. I foolishly thought I could swing it all during one of my daughters weddings, and although it was "OK" I don't ever want to do it again. Grabbing a few is another story. Then, I enjoyed it. Trust me, if you try too many posted "cute" shots, they will all be so tired of pictures, that they won't want to cooperate with the pro when he/she gets there.

Congrats on the new son-in-law, and good luck. (but mostly, enjoy the day)