Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

Seriously soba1,
If you need answers to those questions you're not ready to photograph a wedding. Most successful wedding photographers have spent a few years working as an apprentice/assistant to a professional wedding photographer and have learned the nuances by watching and eventually shooting under direction. I wish you the best of luck and hope it works out for you, but I'm afraid you're in over your head.

jmsail365 Loc: Stamford, Ct

Be prepared for this to be a very long day. Whether paid or not you are essentially a vendor at the wedding not a friend or relative. Make sure the couple is familiar with your work and since this is your first time they should understand you may not achieve the results of a top notch professional on your first attempt.

davidrb Loc: Half way there on the 45th Parallel

In most modern weddings grooms are incidental and usually attend in absentia. Some use the proxy method of attendance. Some even remember being in attendance. But grooms never, ever area given the authority to guarantee what you just claimed this one said. Under oath he will deny ever saying it. You will be left to twist in the wind. You are facing complete financial ruin and damnation forever in the industry. Shoot a birthday party instead. At least everyone will be happy to be there and not under duress. And at birthday parties there are no mothers of the bride! Some buddies of mine think there ought to be open seasons on those people. :lol: :lol: :lol:

josephpaul

Probably true but by the same token, learning is a process and everyone has to start somewhere. I think anyone that shoots their first "solo" wedding is over their head. I shot for two years under a seasoned pro before my first solo. But in my "first" , my bride was a blinker that I had never experienced before. If I had 200 pictures of this girl, 195 of them had her eyes closed. This was back in the days of film even before we started scanning to go to photoshop. There were limited "fixes" available. 'But it was a learning experience and now I know what to do with situations like that. Experience comes from mistakes. I wish you this dude luck. He's in for a ride!

edazz Loc: Florida via New York

Throughout my career shooting close to 900 hundred weddings, I have always shot manual. If you are technically savvy with your equipment then you will produce more creative images. I have shot more than 150 choice images at each and every wedding. I notice today there are usually one to three photographers getting in the way of the couple's important day, shooting well over a thousand images. Too many choices leads to less additional orders and enlargements and steers the client toward buying all the proofs or disc of the entire affair and sticking to the original package. Of course the formal images must be perfectly posed and lit, technically and aesthetically perfect to be suitable for enlargements up to 16x20. The rest of the wedding must be shot with a good command of inside lighting. Your flash strength is something you need to take command of indoors in a range of three feet to fifteen feet in manual mode using fill flash whenever possible, especially at close range when shooting couples, to eliminate harsh shadows under the eyes and behind the couple. Bounce and fill flash also brings out the Lacey texture in the very important bridal gown and wedding cake. Creative Manual shooting is a must if you want a successful shoot that will generate extra orders and more referrals. Good luck!

Mmatu

Have you gone to location of the wedding? Sunset in Oct. should be around
06:00 pm. Check out any part of the location that may be an issue. Take some images in Raw and Green that might help you how you capture your first wedding. That is what I do, research first. 8-)


PS: do you have a wedding contract? That is also a necessary tool for success.

DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX

Search out the protocols for shooting a wedding on YouTube. There are certain shots you must make. You've been given some very good advise here and you have been teased. A wedding project is difficult at best and very stressful. Make a list and check it twice. Make sure you assume control or the wedding party will have you scattered all over the place and you will have a fubar situation. Don't run out of battery power for your cameras or flash. Have extra SD cards just in case. Aperture priority will be your best friend and if you get rattled or confused switch to program mode. Make lots of shots. Don't drink anything but water and dress appropriately for the occasion. Good luck.

soba1 Loc: Somewhere In So Ca

Thanks each and every one of you for your input.
I didn't seek this out lol. My friend asked because
I guess he didn't have the budget for a photographer.
His quote " dude would u shoot my wedding you are the only person
I know that has a camera that you can change the lenses on".
I shoot pictures every year at our golf tourney fundraiser.
Thanks again everyone

JC56 Loc: Lake St.Louis mo.

Don't shoot weddings......Brides mothers are the spawn of Satan.

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

http://www.knotforlife.com/planning/checklists/photography-poses.shtml

Here is a check list that you may find useful.

Shoot raw with jpg and make sure you have enough memory cards.

You will need a flash. If you don't already have one, get the most powerful one you can afford. Nikon is preferred, but Metz is also good and has a model with more power.

Shoot aperture priority supplement by manual. Bracket critical shots.

Visit the wedding site before hand and check out the lighting by shooting images.

Go to the practice, the dressing place, ceremony and reception. Shoot as much as you can.

Cull and post process before sharing the pictures. Only pass on the best you have.

Its OK to be nervous it shows your brain is working.

Wedding photography is tough but don't let people discourage you. Every wedding photographer was in your shoes at one time.

Do your homework so you don't have to rely on luck alone.

Weddingguy Loc: British Columbia - Canada

There was a very elaborate and friendly discussion on this subject a while back that I recommend that you read totally.

http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-213468-1.html

Someone here sugggested that you shoot Manual and then suggested Aperture Priority. Aperture priority is an automatic setting . . . not manual.

Manual is used by pros because of it's consistency of exposures.

Good luck

fromo1946 Loc: Sacramento, CA

First of all, have a plan B, because Mr. Murphy will be at the wedding, and just when you think you've got it under control, along comes Mr. Murphy.... After shooting weddings in the 70's by film and in the 80's by video, I gave it up because of the responsibility. Remember you're taking on someone's "Biggest Day" and they're giving you all their trust in shooting the "Big Moment".

It'll take to to the greatest heights when you see their smiles after presenting them their wedding book, but also be prepared in hearing some harsh realities or critiques of your work. I've had them all, and then, why didn't you take any pictures of my best uncle Harry or cousin Mary? Yup, this will be a test of your wits, have a back-up flash, that you've tried in that church, same lighting of the wedding day. Also have a good back-up camera, just in case your primary takes a dump, it will happen.

The saving grace is that you can see your work when you get home and start sorting out your shots, putting them in chronological order and setting up your prints or whatever means your presentation will be. My forte now is shooting flowers in macro, my dog and cats have become my subjects, no complaints as of yet.
I don't mean to be a "Debbie Downer", but just relaying my experience without giving all the heart aches in detail, good luck!

gemlenz Loc: Gilbert Arizona

I assume you're getting paid for this event. Do you have a contract with a 50% deposit. Have you met with the clients to discuss their needs? Create a checklist to follow during the event. Lots of good ideas from others here. Manual does give you the flexibility, but AV may be useful too. Fill flash will probably be necessary. Good luck.

jamesl Loc: Pennsylvania

"Green Mode" I take it is "Program Mode"?

canon Lee

The most difficult shots are the procession where the wedding party as well as the dad and bride walk down the isle. First they walk too fast, so be ready to take lots of shots. If its a low light setting I shoot in aperture priority setting my lens to F2.8, keeping my eye on the shutter speed so it doesn't go slower than 1/60th. Most important is that you get as close as possible when shooting. I like to start the shooting mid way up the isle so I can get close and back up. I always go back to the awaiting wedding party and tell them to walk slow. Lowlight shoots are difficult,but since most of the ceremony are still shots, then I can revert back to my comfort zone and shoot Manual.