fotoman150

I look at other photographer’s websites and often times I see cool shots that I never seem to have time to do during a wedding.

For instance bride kicks and groom jumps back like she kicked him, the bridal party in the distance shot though one of the rings. Or beautiful shots of the bride and groom where the venue is beautiful and the light is just right and the pose is perfect. You know, cute stuff you see on Pinterest.

Who has time for this stuff? Are many of those shots carefully staged after the wedding? Are these models? Or am I just a sucky photographer and just need more experience?

I have noticed that photographers always show these shots on their websites but when I have retouched their weddings for them they look as boring as mine. You know shots of people talking or hugging.

Often the venues I get are not conducive to great shots. Or again am I just incapable of turning bad venues and bad light into good light? Sometimes the bride gives me 20 minutes to shoot the whole bridal party and the bride and groom together.

I just feel like my weddings are boring. I get some useable shots for my site but not as good as some photographers I see online.

I think experienced, well seasoned photographers don’t shoot trick shots. They just set up for great lighting and shoot the couple naturally. Not silly trick shots. I also suspect that some of the best shots are set up after the wedding.

I hope I’m clear enough about what I’m asking. Has anyone else ever had these feelings or is it just me?

dnathan

I respectfully suggest that, if the bride & groom like your samples well enough to book you, that you tell them how much time you need to produce them. If they tell you that you have 20 minutes on the wedding day tell them (with a pleasnt smile) that, of course, you need x minutes to create the images they want. In my experience you'll be given the time you need.

Shutterbug1697 Loc: Northeast

Often during the busy spring and fall wedding seasons, a Bride will have a tough time trying to book her two main venues, church or service site and the reception hall.

By not allowing sufficient time for the service, post service posed shots, driving time to the reception, and pre-reception shots, photographers are left to scramble to try to get in their shots in the few minutes that the bride thinks it will take to shoot everything.

If a photographer is involved earlier in the planning process, where he/she can discuss how much time they'll need to set up shots, based on bridal party and family sizes, then they can help the bride to schedule their venues and the needed time slots in the busy schedule on the day of the wedding.

Will there be shots at home of the bride getting dressed, doing her make-up, shots of the bridal party helping the bride to attach her veil, that last fond look out the window of their childhood home? Is there a cherished pet at home that the bride wants included in the photo's on her special day? Does the bride want shots leaving the house, getting into the limo, arriving at the church? All of these take time to set up and shoot.

At the church or service, have you taken the time to discuss what the church or site will or won't allow to be shot during the service? Flash or no flash, can task lighting be set up to supplement what is available on site?

Post service shots. Will you recreate some shots from the service that will need a flash? Will you pose the bridal party and family at the service site?

Will you stop at a park on the way between the service and the reception? How much time has been allowed for this stop, getting there, setting up, shooting, getting to the reception from this site? Is there sufficient parking located near the photo shoot site? How long will it take to gather all of the bridal party and family together to do this shoot? How many different poses do they want?

Now you're at the reception. Does the bridal party need/want shots of the bridal party arriving, posed shots, or just the promenade to the bridal party tables? Shots of the bridal party sitting at their table(s), the cake before being cut, the guests at the reception, dancing, the DJ, presents that guests have brought with them to the reception instead of sending to the bride's home? The traditional post meal shots of the first dance, father daughter dance, bouquet toss, the garter retrieval, and the garter toss? Does the bride want shots of her going away outfit, and the bride and groom leaving the reception? Will you be expected to stay until the end of the reception, shooting the wild and rowdy crowd?

Time is money, but you also need to build in sufficient time to shoot what the bride and groom expect to see in their "Wedding Album".

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

A lot of this is actually worked out well in advance. I let the couple know that the day of the wedding, will mostly be spent telling the story of that day. Not all, but a good part of it will just be photojournalistic. I explain that the "trick shots," (honestly, that term kind of bugs me, I think of them more as the creative, artistic shots....there isn't normally a lot of "tricks" needed unless they want something completely unrealistic, like being photoshopped onto a mountaintop, since we live in flat old Indiana)

Sorry, I digressed a little bit there. Anyway, if they want the "artistic" shots, then we need to build that into the package, as either "first looks" where we start a lot earlier, and the B&G as well as the party WILL see the bride in advance, or, I have also scheduled a secondary shoot for later, where the couple may have to re-rent the space, and/or the tuxes, wrangle the entire wedding party to get all dressed back up, hair and makeup, etc.... Yes, they do that sometimes, but they also pay. The best bet is "first looks"

If they say "but we have 1/2 hour between the wedding and reception, I calmly explain the realities of how little time there actually is, and that the time between ceremony and reception is filled with the Formals, and trying to get everyone in the right place at the right time, including little johnny who can't sit still for 30 seconds, and the "party dude" groomsman who shows up with a flask and starts drinking before the ceremony even begins. The more you can do before hand, the more likely they will be able to get the "Pinterist" type shots that they have been conditioned to want because of the internet.

If there is an objection, it's actually a parent, not the bride that objects to first looks. I do explain that the whole "can't see the bride before the wedding" is from the days of arranged marriages, and it was bad luck, because they were afraid that if the groom didn't like what he saw before hand, he may run away....... It gets a chuckle, but most couples these days don't really believe in all the formalities, and I would bet over 99% of brides shouldn't be wearing white if you know what I mean, so if it is them in control, and not a mother, you have a pretty good chance of having the time to do all the creative shots you want.

As for the "perfect shots in the church" that's also not a "trick" That's actually just knowing how to properly use lights. You wont' get it with "luck" or "natural light" you will absolutely need to control the light to accent what you want to show up, as well as to not lose the bride in the background. Again, the vast majority of the issue is time.

When someone books me, they get me and my team all day, but if they want another day, it will cost them. Again, I do this, to TRY (barring mothers) to get the artistic shots that I want to get. In the end, they will be a lot happier, will show the artistic shots to other friends that are "marrying age" I will get better shots to put on my advertising, etc.

I agree that your advertising should represent your work, but you also need to communicate and let the couple know up front, how/why you were able to get those artistic shots. If they won't/can't work with you on time, you will still do the absolute best you can do given the time allotted, but it isn't false advertising, if you don't have the tools (time) to work with.

It's about education, and communication. I meet with my couples at least twice between the time they sign the contract, and the wedding. Sometimes it's combined with a meeting with a DJ, sometimes it's just me. We come up with shot lists, rough timing (which never actually follows the actual schedule, but it helps) and expectations. By the time the wedding day comes, we are all very close friends, they are comfortable with me, and know exactly what they are going to end up with, based on what they agree with.

If they decide they want to go with someone else, who may be over promising, or not.... I never lose sleep over it. At least my conscience is clear, and I understand their expectations, and they know exactly what I am able, or not able to do, based on their decisions.

Beercat Loc: Central Coast of California

I've made a 'tips' page on our site. It explains the time element ..... I do have a long conversation with the B&G finding out what they want/expect. But even then I've made it a habit to have the photo punch list and the timeline sent to me prior to it being finalized and sent to everyone. I can look at the list and knowing what their expectations are I tell them if they've built-in enough time to facilitate the photo list.

Just two days ago I went over a wedding photo list and time line with a bride. I told her where there needed to be some modifications ..... she is making modifications and then will send to me prior to sending out.

It's all about proper planning ;)

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

I always ask for the punch lists, and timing as well. Of course, the timing thing can be a guideline at best, but at least it's something to go off of.

The funniest thing was last year I did an out of town wedding. The Mother of the Bride had a list that was broken down to the minute. She literally gave people like 7 minutes to eat... like 6:00 to 6:07, everyone eats. Not sure if Mom was a fireman in a past life, but 7 minutes for a meal where people had to go through the line??? Of course it didn't work out, but at least it gave us an idea of what order things were to happen, and if something went on waay too long, we could kind of move things along.

Proper planning, and communication BEFORE HAND, not at the event. I never bother the couple with any "problems" on the wedding day. If needed, I make executive decisions, and will go directly to the DJ and say "it's time to do the cake cutting" or something like that. If someone is being rude, I "in my best big boy voice" will calmly handle it. In our state, no alcohol without security, so if there is a drunk getting disorderly, I find security and get it handled. The bride and groom shalt not know or have to deal with anything negative on the big day. (the 11th commandment)

fotoman150

Ok it seems I do not get email alerts from this wedding forum. So I checked it for replies.

How much time do you ask for to get the first look and the bridal party formals. I’m thinking at least an hour. If you ask for an hour you will get half of that right?

fotoman150

fotoman150

Ok let’s learn how to post. Geez

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

Hello Foto (reminds me of the "Hello Moto" commercials)

That's an excellent question. It really depends on a lot of factors, and what type shots they want. None of them are an issue, people don't book me by the hour, they book me to capture the whole day. My rule of thumb is that you tell them to plan a minimum of 2 hours for a first looks session. Here's why:

You will still need to get the "getting ready" photographs.
In 33 years, I've het to have the hair and makeup done on time.

Flowers are often late, Groomsmen are notoriously late
(see a pattern)

A lot depends on how many artistic shots, and locations you want. One of my favorites was in a local hotel, we got shots using the elevators, some downtown. There were some boudoir shots of the bride between the hair and makeup and getting the dress on, (my daughter does those), while that was going on, we got a lot of the guys in the hotel bar (sans alcohol, but beer mugs and fun stuff) Then we did the actual first looks using elevators. had to get the hotel to use a key to get both doors to open at the same time, they peaked around the corner, and the magic happened.

We did another one, actually on the basketball court (outdoor), where the couple ended up playing some one on one hoops. It was a weird, one, not elegant at all, but it captured exactly who they were, and they LOVED them. With just an hour, we couldn't have done the locations.

Now, if it was all done at the Church, and EVERYTHING went perfectly (again, it never does) an hour would probably work, but I wouldn't ever plan on it happening that way, or you'll be right back where you are with "not enough time to do the trick shots"

Just this past summer, we were going to do a wedding where they agreed to first looks, 2 hours ahead, and the bride showed up to the venue an hour AFTER the planned start of the wedding. Nobody was concerned, because they knew the bride and everyone said "watch, she'll be late" They were disappointed by the lack of the artistic shots, so .........I charged them another $500 to go back 2 weeks later, they rented the tuxes again, brought everyone back, and we did the shots then. It is what it is, and your contract needs to clearly state that if the time schedule isn't met, then they may not get the type/style photographs they wanted, or it may require an additional fee.

I hope that helps.

Beercat Loc: Central Coast of California

Where is that 'special' picture?

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

The elevator shot?

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

These are the elevator shots. Actually, they aren't the final, final versions. These are from my back up copies on my cloud drive.

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

These are from the basketball shoot. Not final version, I photoshopped the white sheet out from under her dress in the final. There were a few more with Jerry (groom) dribbling and shooting, but there was way too much mottling of light for me to want to use them in the album.
This was a very fun couple. The bride is a basketball playing, motorcycle racing, ex-nun... who could probably kick all of our rear ends, but probably one of the prettiest brides I've gotten a chance to shoot.

fotoman150

Cute. Very original idea. Never seen that before.