fotoman150

It is not necessarily the best idea to be shooting for friends for the first time. But people do it regardless of advice to the contrary. So if you're going to do it brush up on your YouTube tips and go for it! Baptism by fire. LOL. And with that guy said about shooting RAW. Definitely shoot RAW.

OviedoPhotos

I would decline the honor and pay for a pro.

G8keypr

you say the occasion is very informal and very casual, you have obviously taken some great pictures of other family outing, or they wouldn't be asking you, so it might help if you treat it like your other family outing, only focus on the happy couple, if nothing else it might help you to relax. It sounds like you are fairly close to your niece so you need to be aware you are going to be capturing her wedding on film so you won't have time to really experience and enjoy the moments, if it were me and I could afford to I would hire a photographer as a wedding present, that way I could really experience the event, just food for thought.

wapiti Loc: round rock, texas

My advice? Don't do it.

texaseve Loc: TX, NC and NH

My advice would be to rent or borrow a macro lens (100mm), a bracket to get flash up off the camera, and a second body if you don't have one. I agree with looking at Pinterest for modern ideas of wedding photos. That would be my first place to look. Get there early to take some test shots and figure out lighting and where you can be to get good angles. Remember there will be those with their cell phones out blocking your view.

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

I don't know the venue, but you indicated jet skis, so let me add this. Water in the background can be quite bright. If there is a gazebo or other structure that will put a subject in shade, a flash will be needed to fill (bring the light level of the subject up to that of the background). Shooting RAW will help with the dynamic range. I shoot APS-C so my perspective is different but I expect that only a 70-200 won't be wide enough for group shots, the 24-104 should cover most of your needs.

rrayrob Loc: Las Vegas, NV

You've been given great advice by fellow UHHers. One suggestion, you mentioned doing posed shots of bride & groom. Could you do those say the day before when everyone is more relaxed without all the family & friends rushing about wanting to take their own cell photos of the couple being posed by you? These would be photos of just the bride & groom. Then on their spcial day, you can shoot photos of them with family and friends. Nothing worse that trying to get posed photos with other people taking cell phone photos, getting in your shot or their flashes going off just when your shutter goes off and ruining the shot. You mentioned possibly using reflectors - so you will have someone to assist you by holding reflectors - so you will have an assistant then. 2nd camera with other lens is good idea since you said there were other activities like jet skiing which would require telephoto lens, if you can manage it. Don't forget getting photos of bride & groom getting ready. We hired a professional photographer for our casual wedding reception in our home, as we got married at wedding chapel who had their own photographer - he shot casual photos of guests, cake cutting, etc. and his assistant shot photos of rings, cake, flowers separate from him. We were very surprised and pleased with some of the assistant shots that we didn't know were taken. Guess that was more than one suggestion. :-) Just remember - shoot, shoot, shoot and have extra SD card(s) and batteries. Have a great shoot and try to enjoy wedding also.

Expressoman1 Loc: Jupiter, Fl. USA

Run away from this assignment unless you have done lots of weddings. Attend the Wedding drink and eat.

chasgroh Loc: Buena Park, CA

...I shot my first wedding, for a niece/friend, with no expectations, totally KISS method. Just did what came naturally...it was really fun and the shots came out great. So, what's "natural?" Well, I'm a bit of a candid freak, love to get those moments where folks are just themselves...so that's how I went about it, other than the posing (make sure no eyes are closed and they're all looking at YOU). Used my 70-200 f2.8 for most, had another body with a 24-70 f2.8 and did not use flash. Post was some work, but I expected that. Most of all, de-stress and have FUN! it's just the basics...

ecurb1105

I shot weddings in the 1970s and 95 percent of my images were shot with a 50mm normal lens, two or three percent with a 28mm and the rest with a 135mm. As these were all film they were full frame. Speedlight flazh for

markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ

Hi,

I think you have the right equipment with the 5D M IV and f/2.8 Canon 70 - 200. I might suggest either a 50 mm f/1.8 or 1.4 or even better might be 24 - 70 f/2.8 II. One other Canon body would provide excellent options. Probably a speed light using bounce features. Perhaps the most important part is to, if possible, to get the venue prior to the event and explore exposure, with and without flash. Once you feel comfortable with your settings, have fun and relax. I'm sure you will provide them with many excellent photo memories. I might suggest you find a way to share the photos after you have culled through and processed with those in attendance - Dropbox, SmugMug, Shutterfly, ...

Enjoy.
Mark

Jerry Coupe

in preparation for the wedding there are many resources you can check out. Check the photography section at your local library. There almost always books on weddings and portraits that will give you ideas. You Tube has many videos on wedding photography. Also check out Pinterest for examples.

Then meet with the bride and groom and make a list of shots they would like. i.e. the main ceremony, and then shots with parents, bridesmaids, groomsmen, other friends, family groups. Have a second person have the list handy for you. it is a great help to have this in advance.

Good luck with the event.

aberration

Formal programmed weddings usually include both enough relatives and friends to keep you shufflling groups into herds, hopefully all enjoying themselves. The informal photos can be a joy to look at many years in the future, with expressions and the awkwardness we all have. Get a list of specially wanted or not wanted photos. Ask when it's not appropriate to take shots with flash or hot lights in use. Inevitably some salient moment will be missed, unless you are a machine gunner. So shoot thoughtfully, but don't spare the memory chip from a workout. It's easier to delete, and impossible to re-create. Hopefully, it's all about love, so make that show.

Reinaldokool Loc: San Rafael, CA

There are a lot of different answers to your questions. Mine are not the final word. But. . .

I would mount the 24-105. My usual goto lens for events like this is an 18-200. The 24-105 is the better range. The 70-200 will not let you broaden the shot for groups unless you stand back. In any event I've shot, I find myself shooting a table of folk and then almost immediately going for a closeup of one person or a two person conversation. The 105 will handle that situation, the 70 is just too tight. (If you have to back off, someone will almost certainly, though inadvertently, get in the way.)

One of the things I like about my a6300 is that I can set it to shoot silently. I can shoot in burst mode and often do for something like an event--not the high-speed 11fps but the middle setting of about 6fps. That fraction of a second will sometimes capture a fleeting expression that is priceless. I don't know the Canon lineup. Nikon has not figured out how to quiet the mirror. In fact both of them have dropped the ball for mirrorless.

Use a flash, but put some light modifier on it. This can be a small camera mount softbox, a Gary Fong Lightsphere, or a Light Genius. Anything that will soften the light, but better if it also emulates bounce flash. Choose your flash exposure to provide fill light, not the main light. You don't want to overcome the sun, just provide definition and soften shadows. This will soften the shadows to overcome the problem of overhead sun. (I've come to appreciate the Light Genius, but even a white handkerchief is helpful.) I used the GF lightsphere for years, but in the last six months have been using the Light Genius and like it better.

Go over the ceremony with the bride and groom. Create a shooting script. Try to know what and where your next shot is. In the thick of the action, it is very easy to get lost. Of course, make sure you have enough space on your memory card. Better yet, copy all the older images onto your computer, then reformat the card. Changing a card as the shot you were anticipating disappears is very frustrating. Having one fail is even more so. Same with batteries. Make sure they are fully charged--and bring a spare. Also, spares for the flash.

Make sure to focus on the eyes. I like to use shallow depth of field to keep viewer attention on the subject I want them to see.

Don't be shy about "'chimping". Sure, the pros and the purists will poo-poo that. But there is no better way to be sure you are actually getting something worthwhile.

A week or more before the event, set your rig up, get a couple volunteers to stand in and try it, then practice a little, especially the main poses.

I haven't shot a wedding in many years--though it helped pay the bills during grad school--so there are surely many pros out there with better advice. I also am no longer shooting Canick cameras, so YMMV (Your Mileage May Vary)

Good luck.

canon Lee

You are most humble & I get the idea that it's not your photography skills in question, but how to shoot a wedding. Don't over think it, just talk it over with the bride as to where to stand & be aware of what is going to happen next. Anticipation is key! By all means use a fill flash especially at that time of day. The trick to shooting events like yours is to anticipate what is going to happen next, and to be in the right position to take the shot. By all means enjoy the after ceremony festivities. Just to let you know, even the most seasoned wedding photographers get stressed. But you will do great. Take lots and lots of photos. I suggest to use your long lens to be far enough away as to be candid.
For your water shots check out his link.https://photographylife.com/lens-filters-explained/
Some will say hire a pro as a wedding gift and enjoy the occasion, but you are a photographer, how else will you learn, & progress. Take the chance and you will benifit .