Wedding photography suggestions please (Page 3): It amazes me how often a OP can ask a simple question that supplies little to no valuable information and everyone has the solution.

The Watcher

SportsMom wrote:

Thanks to all who have responded. Couple of point... (show quote)

It amazes me how often a OP can ask a simple question that supplies little to no valuable information and everyone has the solution. Twenty four posts and thousands of words later, the OP finally supplies the information that should of been in her opening statement. Now is the time to offer your opinion.

David Kay Loc: Arlington Heights IL

SportsMom wrote:

A friend of mine from work would like for me to do... (show quote)

Many, many questions here. If someone said to you, hey you are a pretty good carpenter, so I would like you to build me a house for free, would you? Why do you want to give away your photo talents?
Then, do they want prints? Who will supply the prints? What about a photo book? Will they just take your images and reprint them for who ever wants them? In essence, continuing to give away your work and without any credit either I would presume.

SportsMom Loc: Texas

DanDickens2 wrote:

You might be amazed - if you contact a well established overloaded studio - they might be willing to pay you a flat fee per wedding to assist and learn what they are doing. Many Pro Studios are tight others wanting to ad some part timers - that get good enough to fill in for them when on vaction or out of town assignments. The way I got my foot in the door was I was in a Spring Art Show with entries in Oil Painting, Water Color and Photography - my three favorite 2D worlds. The photographer covering the event for the news paper had a very successful studio. I took 2nd place in photography, and he invited me to come work with him that Summer - his entire family was involved in the Studio Business - his wife taught me retouching, he let me lose in the dark room, as well copy work for this lawyers office using the 4x5 Deardorff photographing big fat checks for record on cut film. By the next Summer he let me shot side by side in a wedding moching every move he made. When the prints came back from the lab - he pulled nearly 50% of my prints to put in the clients album - the he told me that he and his wife had not had a Summer Vacation in years - so he told me to do the next two weddings on my own and help Grandpa and the kids run the studio for the next two weeks.
My stomach began to turn - I asked do you really think I'm that good - his reply - I'm sure you are going to be better than me one day - I just hope you don't set up shop down the street. So in just one Summer and a half - A Pro set me lose - with both mine and his reputations on the line. I did not miss a shot at either wedding - however, one of the double exposures got the groom blinking. Not my fault - but I hated that we could not sell that image - very popular images at the time - NO Photoshoping in eyes back then and retouching such would have cost hundreds. We all have our comfort zones - it was architecture that got my first three international publications - so buildings and nature was my leading efforts as well. I understand that passion and comfort zoning - people don't really get dressed - they put on pressure suits. But that's just the fun part. Weddings and Protrat work - does much better if the photographer has a lot of charisma. Learn as much as you can - go to some weddings and watch what the pros are doing - become a wedding crasher so to speak - no one will know you were not invited - believe me - that works - if you get ran off - so what. Then stay healthy - weddings are exhausting. When you first arrive figure out where the tripod will be needed for that low light part - the KISS and either set it up in advance or leave it ready to set up and do that with as little noise as possible. Use a monipod for everything else.
Take it serious - but have fun with it as well - sounds like a comfortable opportunity of gain some experience - if the bride and groom are truly not expecting professional results. I started buying about a dozen point and shot cameras (no flashes) and gave them to people at the wedding and asked them to shot the entire roll and give the camera back to me before they left - you would be amazed at how well that worked out - got a lot of fun stuff, got a lot of KISS shots - out of a dozen camera plus mine - the dang KISS was not going to be missed. Put together a kind of flip book from those shots as well - the client loved it. Just work and work and work at it - practice with friends make them the bride and groom - that give you some confidence - go to that church and work with some friends with candles - youv'e got till September to get ready - do some practice runs - it's digital - so you are not wasting film. Take this chance to get better over the next two months - learn and gain some confidence - and then go for it. I'll bet you'll do fine - but do read up on some books on the topic - off the top of my head I can not think of a title - Oh go on line and look at some of the pros web sites you'll get a lot of good ideas there - don't worry that you might not think you can be as good - just look at what they do - and dream that you can do it as well - let this be your vision wall as to what you can do or one day do. Sounds like the bride and groom understand your beginner status - take this chance to move beyond the beginner status - that's what I did as well - with cousins weddings as my wedding gift to them - they none could afford the professional at $900 - $3000 plus prints our families were poor back in those days - they all thought I was loaded with money with my Nikon and later Hasselblad. Even I thought I was over addictive to equipment - but today that is a drop in the hat compaired to what this stuff costs today. I hope you take the tight rope and make it without the net. You don't need the net as long as there is a rope to grab. Good luck and post us your favorite results in September - and Pray and pray for the bride and groom that their marriage is successful - these days that is way greater risk than the photographer is taking. Then one day - Go Pro - and be glad you did.

You might be amazed - if you contact a well establ... (show quote)

Thanks for the advice. I am not sure I have the guts to crash a wedding, but I am really going to investigate working with a pro!

Brian Platt Loc: Poole/Verwood, Dorset, UK

Don't do it.. Wedding photography is primarily management of the day. You can take lots of photos and yu should get an albums worth of photos. That is the easy bit! Timings, permissions etc are paramount to arrange up front. The wedding and reception venue will not care if it is only your second event they have a schedule and you will have to fit into it. The meal time is set in stone and you must get all the family group photographs done before that, if you don't you will be onto a looser as alcohol will win! If you really want to do this go out with another experienced photographer and see what is involved in the organisation. The is no such thing as mates rates . Charge properly and get at least 50% up front

SportsMom Loc: Texas

David Kay wrote:

Many, many questions here. If someone said to you, hey you are a pretty good carpenter, so I would like you to build me a house for free, would you? Why do you want to give away your photo talents?
Then, do they want prints? Who will supply the prints? What about a photo book? Will they just take your images and reprint them for who ever wants them? In essence, continuing to give away your work and without any credit either I would presume.

they would pay for all prints and/or enlargements (at cost), but my services would be free. I guess I could see it as a learning experience...

DanDickens2

This is good advice as well - building that charisma is important. However, if it wrecks pound out the finder and keep going - sometimes if they see you working hard - they warm up to someone trying hard. But do learn as much as you can about them - likes and dislikes.
Visit a Studio - act like a potential client - ask to look at their sample books - usually they are setting on the coffee table in their guest area - pick them up and breeze through them - you might find a former wedding they had done at the very church or location for your wedding - always good to see how they handled that location. Remember this as well - they are all in a hurry to get to the reception - and the bride and groom are in an even bigger hurry - wonder what for? So after the pastor is done the heat is on everyone pushing you to hurry - up - but move at a comfortable pace - hurry creates issues. OH the rule on eye blinking is this - if their are 12 people in a group pose - take 6 minimum 12 max - photos of the group - this way one is bound to turn out. Also so, do a count down for them - but you pick the count say for example "on the count of three." Then you start 1 (take the shot) -2 - 3 for this reason - low and behold - as soon as someone sees your finger moving down on the shutter control - they will blink. So come up with tricks to trick them into blinking after the shot. My brother - is and forever, is a blinker - he reacts to that finger going down on the shutter control. So I always point at something behind me just slightly over my head to tell folk to look at object - to take their eyes off my actions - cause I promise you - if some see your finger going down on that control - they will blink - Now I learned that the first Summer I worked in a Pros Studio.

Children - OK there is Ritalin (I do not recomend) then there is your kind heart and williness to put up with the fidgets. Tell everyone to remain ready - because you are watching little Aaron and when little Aaron finally stops to take a breath - SNAP - it is your only chance. And guess what - someone in the group is bent over watching Aaron - keep reminding them - to watch the wall behind you - ask that they not watch the child - to stay ready because you are concentrating on Aaron.

Again, you need to learn as many names as you can - especially the children - parents don't mind if you can not remember their name - but if you forget their child's name - well then you must be a child hater for sure.

Learn some short quick jokes - build up a bunch of these - and use them to get folk to lighten up - you will be amazed that someone always shows up at a wedding in a bad mood and they are somehow in charge. So even if others laugh - they will be forced into a better social setting.

If the punch lines are not working - ease back into a stern professional pattern of behavior - you've landed into the land of unmakebelieve bent conservatives that still think that public laughter is shameful - and they have never understood why the Monia Lisa was cracking a smile - for even in Da Vinci's day women were scored for public laughter or even smiling in public - this is why Monia Lisa was a small portrait that Da Vinci kept with him at all times in concern for the public outrage of a portrait of a woman smiling in public - and even in our day and time there are still those living in the Dark Ages. This is ture look it up. Da Vinci was among the first males to advocate for women's rights. The church did not like for women to smile but young studs like Da Vinci liked it when women smiled - lighten up church - women are beautiful when they smile. It was after all God who gave us that ability - and wanted us the be fruitful and multiply - better done with a smile if you ask me - but then that is just me.

And remember to give the bride and groom good marriage advice - such as you know God told Adam and Eve to go forth, be fruitful, and multiply - he didn't tell them to get married. And even more shocking with regard to marriage: Hitler and Ava Brawn were not married but for a few hours when they shot themselves - in the head.

Annie_Girl Loc: It's none of your business

SportsMom wrote:

Thanks to all who have responded. Couple of point... (show quote)

A canon rebel t3i, 50 1.8 and the kit lens is going to make taking on weddings really hard. Typically they dont allow for flash photography, its best to plan on NOT being able to use a speedlight and being surprised if the Officiate allows it.

Is this wedding a church wedding, if so Im going to go right out on the limb and say it, you do NOT have the equipment to even start thinking about taking on weddings, even for free, pass on the event and go as a guest if invited.

A starter kit for a wedding photographer looks something like this:
2 camera bodies
17-55 cropped body, the 24-70 for FF
70-200
A couple of strobes, umbrellas and light stands.
extra batteries and memory cards
tripod
triggers to fire lights

not needed but nice to have would be a macro lens for detail and ring shots.

PhotoMan1929 Loc: Virginia, USA

SportsMom wrote:

A friend of mine from work would like for me to do... (show quote)

If you do not feel competent - DON'T do it! If you simply do not want the bother - DON'T do it! Why take on all that stress for nothing? Your so-called "friend" is looking to save money at your expense. He and/or his lady will be the first to denounce you if the results are not up to their "standards." You are a free human being, not a slave. Use your own good sense.

A wedding shoot is a major operation, as you suspect. Properly organized, it requires a minimum of two photographers, each equipped with TWO complete camera/lens outfits, plenty of spare batteries, memory cards, etc. If you cannot match those requirements - do NOT do the wedding.

So, be strong - say NO. Better to have your "friend" angry now rather than to have him harm your reputation later.

DanDickens2

Yes - we humans are flawed in such a wonderful and awsome way. Some days we step on that land mind and bingo the brain goes through every thought that ever made it to the top of our heads. It's are way of showing the love or our topic as sort of Assbuger you might say - be sometimes a simple question does have the most complex of answers - and the multiple choice is always all the above.
Overload is a problem - but then there is a lot to cover - to make a 90 day wonder in just 60 days. I think at the heart of this is - we are all wanting the best for our fellow solider in photography. Onward now - let's get back on our heads.

h2odog Loc: Brooklyn NY

As your friend I would think he would want you to enjoy the wedding as a guest, not have to work it. Believe me, it is work. Did it for a number of years back in the day...can be very, very stressful even if you know what you are doing. If he is counting on you, you know that without a backup for every piece of equipment, you run the risk of having nothing if there is a mishap.

Annie_Girl Loc: It's none of your business

The Watcher wrote:

quote=SportsMom Thanks to all who have responded... (show quote)

I agree, unless the OP is planning on renting equipment she is ill prepared to take on a Church wedding, she owns a consumer grade DSLR with a kit lens and the nifty fifty lens. Not ideal. She doesnt have a lot of experience using a speedlight (doesnt mention if she has experience using it off camera or not), doesnt own a tripod at all and is thinking of trying raw. She has also taken on one wedding before and admits she had a hard time with it, sigh

jimmya Loc: Phoenix

SportsMom wrote:

A friend of mine from work would like for me to do... (show quote)

I'm coming into this conversation a little late but in my personal opinion:

I gave up wedding photography for several reasons but the biggest, for me, was you can never please the mother - never.

I would advise, since you don't feel up to it skill wise, don't.
If he still insists tell him $500 for the wedding and $300 for the reception. Then let him compare with professional groups and he'll find they're charge him double that.

Best of luck

Bill gomberg

A request roughly equivalent to asking you to do brain surgery on him .

Bill gomberg

Sensible advice .

PNagy Loc: Missouri City, Texas

SportsMom wrote:

A friend of mine from work would like for me to do... (show quote)

1. A wedding shoot entails such enormous work that doing it totally for free is ridiculous. If you were paid $200, it would be an uneconomical fee, as so much work is involved you could not possibly pay for your living expenses at that rate.

2. If you were paid a fair amount, it would be important to have a second shooter. Even with no pay, it would be good for you to find another shooter with decent equipment and with him plan a strategy for how you will cover the event. A starting point could be to determine which shots will be covered by whom, including which will be covered by both.

3. Confer with the minister, or whoever is performing the service about the use of flash. Direct flash will leave you with too much shadow that you can eradicate only with great effort or not at all. Bounce flash (off the ceiling or a wall) is always vital, but especially if the camera is not a top pro model and the lenses are not the highest quality available. If flash is proscribed, but should not be, you are in trouble, as there will not be enough light to achieve the kind of exposures you need. A lowlight event, such as a candle-lit one you mentioned, is not problem so long as you bounce the flash off the ceiling and the ceiling is not painted black.

4. Two cameras are preferable to one, even if there is not second shooter. Moreover, each camera will have a different lens to cover different shooting situations.

5. I have found the best lenses to have are the 24-70mm F2.8 for most shots, and the 16-35mm F2.8 for large groups such as the ones posing with the bride and the groom after the ceremony. This holds true especially if both cameras have a crop factor. If one camera is a top quality full frame, such as the Canon 1DX, it may be able to sneak through with only the 24-70mm lens.

6. Plan the shoot. Talk to the bride and groom to determine what shots they really must have. They may have to pose some of them after the ceremony. Write down the shots that cannot be missed.

7. Shoot hundreds of shots, but all with a purpose. Compose them carefully, instead of just aiming, firing, and hoping. Also shoot the shots, if possible, with the intention of limiting post processing. You will be left with round the clock work anyway for up to a whole week.

8. Make sure you have enough juice to cover the event. If your SLRs do not have a battery grip, or the large capacity battery that comes with a top of the line Canon or Nikon, bring extra fully charge batteries for them. Also bring plenty of extra batteries for you flash units.

9. Either ask a knowledgable person's advice, or research creative poses, which are especially important for the bride.

If There is something important I have missed, I hope someone else will cover it. Good luck with your shoot. Doing it totally free is an excessively generous gift.