Fredrick Loc: Former NYC, now San Francisco Bay Area

Back in April I posted a topic looking for input/feedback on a wedding I had (reluctantly) agreed to do for one of my wife's nephews. It occurred this past Sunday, in Santa Barbara, CA. Here's an update on that experience:
I have a new found respect for all wedding photographers! I really had no idea how much work was involved in shooting a wedding! While it was an exhilarating experience, it was absolutely exhausting! Granted, I was going through a learning curve, however, standing on my feet (at age 77) for 10 hours (with one 20 minute break for dinner) did take a toll at the end of the night. I took 560 pictures, and after a first pass have done an initial culling down to 310 pictures. I edited 5 pictures of the ceremony today and sent them off to the bride and groom, and they loved them! So, I can now relax a little and go through the process of editing the entire set. I'll probably send them 200-250 pictures when I'm done.
If you might recall, I was told that there would be about 40 people at the wedding and reception...there were 105 people! I did go to the home where the wedding and reception was to be held the day before at the same time as the ceremony the next day, which really helped with me understanding the lighting and places to take the formal pictures, etc. All the family members who said they would help coordinate family members for group pictures...didn't! Thank God for my wonderful wife, who was my assistant and really saved the day!
After taking my first set of formal pictures, my on camera Nissin flash mysteriously stopped working. I totally freaked out into a cold sweat. I changed batteries, but it still wouldn't work. Then I remembered my old adage "when in doubt, re-boot." I turned my camera off, then back on and everything worked fine after that!
Am I satisfied with all the pictures I took...no. In reviewing all of the pictures on my laptop, I saw obvious composition issues I wish I not not made, but fortunately I took enough pictures so I could discard the ones I didn't like. I found myself running around like a maniac to get certain shots. Once the bride and groom kissed, they immediately started walking back up the aisle, and I had to literally quickly run up the aisle in front of them and quickly turn around to get one shot, which fortunately came out pretty good.
The last three hours (8pm-11pm) of the reception was in the dark outside, and the on camera Nissin flash on my Fuji X-T2 and the in camera flash on my Fuji X100V worked surprisingly well. I had very little experience with doing flash photography, so I'm glad that worked out. For all you Fuji shooters out there, I did shoot jpeg and RAW, and used the Pro Neg HI film simulation mode for my jpegs, which I thought came out pretty good.
Two of my wife's cousins approached me during the reception about doing their daughter's upcoming weddings, and I politely but affirmatively said "no." I will leave that to the younger wedding pros!
To all of you who initially responded back in April, thank you again! Your input really did help me!
Once I'm done editing, I'll post a couple of the wedding photos in the Wedding Discussion group.

rwoodvira

I've done 3 - none were fun. I told my nephew if he needs a photographer, I'll do it for him to save money. All were an ordeal and I agree that photographers, if they are good, earn every penny. Otherwise, never again.

bebop22 Loc: New York City

I've done three and they were ordeals, as you say. It is for the pros who know all the ins and outs. That branch of photography is often poo-pooed and that is further from the truth. It is major work!

MrMophoto Loc: Rhode Island "The biggest little"

I've never shot a wedding and never will. It just seemed from the get go that it is much more work, anxiety, and stress than you get paid for. Besides being a somewhat laid back person, the notion of "No do-overs" scares the dickens out of me.

AndyT Loc: Hampstead, New Hampshire

I shot weddings for 32 years. Assuming that you want to do your absolute best, people have no idea how much work shooting a wedding is.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

I have done up to three a weekend for about two years in DC, and quite a few before that elsewhere.

For a photograph the challenge is not taking the pictures but be prepared with chaos of the day. Incredibly, I found it was more difficult to work when there was a 'wedding planner' in the middle. It came top a point when I asked if there was one of these and turned down jobs because of it. These folks who have no knowledge of the needs of those capturing the event (video or photography).

I cannot say it was not fun otherwise, there was always something different out of whack that was a challenge and it was not necessarily 'ceremony or reception' related. I once had to drive the bride in my car when the limo broke down and everyone was gone...

I would be amiss if I did not mention the folks who were from great to work with complete ****. Most of the later were guests or relatives. The B&G were usually good as long as you did not try to take over the event to 'take pictures' as I constantly see photographer do.

One real issue was financial... I did weddings with Sam that ended in acrimony and divorce after a week or so!!! To protect ourselves, one third at the contract signature, one third the day before the wedding and the rest when delivering the albums.

Sam did a real 'shotgun' wedding where a few guests ended in jail after starting a fight with... shot guns. I do not know if these two stayed married.

As to work... The day is indeed interesting and demanding, but what comes after is just as bad when it came to get everything together. We did not make proofs, these are income killer, many people wanted the proofs and indeed did not purchase anything after that. Instead, we had slides that we presented to B&G to select in our 'salesroom'. Lois was incredibly good there.

Of note, we used a professional lab in Detroit who had our profile as to what we wanted when they printed. I had a incredible rep there. I do not recall the name. I still see the place and the woman who was my rep. I visited it when we were in Detroit to see my wife's folks.

My wife was my assistant from time to time. She could tell you stories that I am not proud of!!!

As an aside, our clients were 'well-heeled' and we were not cheap, to say the least.

ImageCreator Loc: Northern California

From experience, the worst part of shooting a wedding is the brides mother.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

I did my last wedding just before I went digital, and I’m way too old to take on that physical challenge again, but glad yours turned out well. I did shoot my son’s for pleasure about 5 years ago, but they had a paid pro at my suggestion. Kudos.

bebop22 Loc: New York City

Hey mopoto: I can dig your response to the wedding stories. They are major stressors. I found one of the hardest parts was rounding up relatives for group shots that was such a hassle. It is for real pros.

Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

A wedding event is likely the most important day in a women's life.
Very few males can totally get there head around this.
Thus many of the most successful wedding photographers are young females.

The typical path into this genre is by assisting other established commercial wedding photographers.
It is absolutely a wonderful privilege and honor to capture all the joy latent within a wedding event...
A wedding photographer primary mission is to make the couple's event joyous, fun and memorable.

Wedding photography demands a charismatic gifted ability to direct one of the most complex production sets in existence. This only comes with time and tenure i.e. hands on within the craft.

Fredrick I actually devoted considerable time/effort on your initial post for this event back in April.
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-736912-1.html
Unfortunately you apparently ignored my one plea...
"Hire an experienced second shooter Fredrick... please..."

I even informed you where you could easily located a talented second shooter in your market i.e. Wedding Wire.

This as well as many of my other efforts on UHH has pretty much redirected all my focus to flickr where there are many many gifted active commercial photographers.

To others reading this post if you are actually an active commercial photographer please join us on flickr
UHH is merely a relic of another era and sadly overrun by countless excessive/compulsive souls driven by Gear Acquisition Syndrome.

My very best wishes to all on your photographic journey whereve it may take you.

Wallen Loc: Middle Earth

I've done many events during my youth, most of them as videographer. Christening, Birthday, Graduations, Weddings, Concerts, etc., even Funerals. They all have their challenges and it helps to know beforehand the schedule and highlights. I'm with you on weddings. Those were the hardest to cover, either with video or stills.

With so much time on an evf, shooting for the right composition while moving around people and other obstacles, I learned to consciously control dominance with either eye and actually carried that over to shooting rifles and pistols that I shoot with both eyes open, even with scopes.

My last wedding was November last year. Did it as a gift to the couple.

Fredrick Loc: Former NYC, now San Francisco Bay Area

Thomas. I did appreciate your input back in April, and told you so. I didn’t ignore your one plea to hire a second shooter. I gave it some consideration but simply chose not to.
OK, you’re a great commercial photographer as evidenced by all the photos you constantly include in your responses. Good for you.
But what I don’t understand is why you feel the need to denigrate the members of UHH? Does that make you feel superior? Does pushing people down make you feel better? UHH is really a relic of another era? Really? How disappointing to hear you say that.
Your decision to redirect your focus to flickr sounds like a good idea for you.

Doyle Thomas Loc: Vancouver Washington ~ USA

years ago i went to my nephews wedding and made some Photos. they had hired a "pro" and i chatted him up. it did not take me long to learn that this guy had no clue what he was doing. i was using a Demage 7 Minolta and shooting casually, my nephew told me later that my work was 10x better that the "pro".

Vaun's photography Loc: Bonney Lake, WA

Sounds as if you did the job well enough to please the couple. I believe that counts a lot.

Yes it's a lot of work, especially if you shoot RAW and do post processing.

I don't blame you for deciding not to do another wedding shoot.

george19

Great feedback!

I was asked to do a prom shoot back in May, last minute when the pro backed out.

I picked the time and location, about 100 shots in an hour, came out just fine…glad it wasn’t a bigger affair.

Now I know…never to weddings.