Daughter wants so-so amateur dad to take wedding photos (Page 7): As the father of the bride you are part of the wedding, and will likely have other responsibilities. I have shot 3...

Rich43224

As the father of the bride you are part of the wedding, and will likely have other responsibilities. I have shot 3 weddings both as the primary and as a candid photographer for friends. Photographers don't get to see and enjoy the wedding. This is your daughter getting married. Hire an assistant for the photographer to shoot candids.

rrayrob Loc: Las Vegas, NV

Trust your instinct. Having not shot wedding before, this is NOT the time to start especially at your daughter's wedding. Hire a professional and let them do their job. Take photos if you must. But you should enjoy the event and the day. Besides, if you are the photographer then you won't be in any of the photos - no father & daughter shots etc. unless someone else is taking photo. Gently decline since this is your daughter, but be firm. And enjoy being Father of the Bride.

jackpinoh Loc: Kettering, OH 45419

It may be more important to your daughter to have wedding photos taken by her father than to have "perfect" wedding photos by a professional. Take some photos of her outdoors with and without flash so she can see what to expect before she makes a final decision.

In my opinion, the D610 with 24-70mm f/2.8 and off-camera speed light is your best option. Avoid shooting in direct sunlight. Watch lots of YouTube videos on lighting and wedding photography to understand lighting options.

tinwhistle

I skipped 6 pages of reply's 'cause you have already received a ton of advice, but I just want to concur with all the others that have urged you to gently but firmly decline. This is a special day for your entire family, you need to enjoy it.

Ron Dial Loc: Cuenca, Ecuador

Some Wedding suggestions:

Make a list of the shots you need. If possible, look at someone's wedding book to get ideas. The hotel where you are staying may have samples you can see that feature the local settings.

During the event, things get chaotic and you will forget a key shot you need.

Remember, you HAVE TO GET the shot. Take two or three of each key shot as backups.

Take Charge. At the event you are the photographer, not the father. You will need to be polite but somewhat forceful when telling people to line up etc. Really think about having a helper that is doing nothing else but helping you.

Practice practice practice. If it is outside, practice using a strobe set to minus 1.5 stops to fill shadows.

Have extra batteries and extra cards in your pocket.

Lastly, people are passionate about their weddings. Mothers in law especially want to see their kids wedding pics. Don't screw up. You cannot go back and get a shot that did not turn out.

Lots of pressure on you.

jaycoffman Loc: San Diego

It should be fun and since you are not the primary photographer you should be able to participate and take those candid shots. The first thing to do is to introduce yourself to the photographer and tell him/her what you've been asked to do and assure him/her that you will stay out of the way and that you are not trying to duplicate his/her shots. I did this at my niece's wedding and the photographer was very accommodating and even fun to talk too and I did get some good candid shots. Because I wasn't official I had to work with low light rather than flash so think about that when choosing your equipment although because you'll be in the Caribbean there probably will be more light there. Shoot as much as you can without interfering with your fun and then pick the pictures carefully when you pass them on to your daughter. A few of mine were not as flattering as possible so I just hit the delete button--which was better than someone else who got me with their phone after I moved my tie from my neck to become my new headband.

pamelaj

So now that I see that most experienced are saying "Just Say No!" If this is the best way to go, and your daughter still wants a few shots taken by her dad.....if the only reason she wants a few shots is a personal and emotional one, then decide ahead of time a few shots that only you will take and NOT during the ceremony or any time that you want to enjoy, rather make it a time convenient for you and her to savor a few last moments together, but have someone to take a few pics of you two together right after to always remember this special moment.......this could only take like 5 to 10 minutes, so yes the guest can wait. Maybe you could be the one to take several of just her and her mom, I don't know, maybe she can decide, or you two together can decide, she will understand if you do not want to miss out on her very special day. Good Luck and would love to know what you decide and see the beautiful pictures no matter who took them!

CatMarley Loc: North Carolina

quenepas wrote:

Dear Fellow Hogs,

As in the past, you’re my first “go-to” advisors on photography matters. This one relates to my daughter asking that I be her wedding photographer. I’m an average amateur plus if things go afoul, the last one you want to complain that her wedding pictures are junk is your daughter.

The wedding takes place at the Coco Cay beach (Caribbean) during a cruise with family and friends. She contracted a photographer from the cruise line. However, she still insists that I take pictures of the wedding. She thinks my shots will be better and more candid. I’m not keen about getting in photographer’s way. That’s a no-no. However, I can take some shots before, during and after the wedding. I’ve never done weddings as a “job”. I’ve taken fashion shots of a granddaughter for a contest. So, whatever advice I get from you folks will be appreciated. Advice requested encompasses, pre-event prep, equipment, use of flash, settings, cameras, poses, and whatever else you believe to be important if I want to make every shot a “keeper”. (Not likely, but good to think positive.)

I have two months to practice.

I have 3 go-to cameras: Nikon D610, Sony a7R, and a Fujifilm X100F. Lenses are somewhat scarce.

My preference is for the Nikon D610 with a Nikon 35mm-70mm 2.8D and Nikon SB-700 Speedlight (image quality, long-lasting battery, versatile lens). As a backup, I would have the Fujifilm X100F (fixed 23mm lens). And that’s it.

I’m not considering the Sony a7R. Nice camera but all I have is a 28-70mm 3.5-5.6 kit lens, and a Samyang 85mm 1.4 all-manual lens. Plus, battery life is shorter than that of a fruit fly. Have no speedlight for this camera.

Due to reduced travel gear, I haven’t considered a tripod nor light reflectors. But I will if your advice is to do so.

The wedding is a day event; before noon. So, light may be ok. Hopefully, no rain.

I’m one of those that’s intimidated by speedlights and TTL or manual adjustments, so I better get some practice in before the wedding.

Well, seems like a lot. Sorry. But would greatly appreciate your insights.

Best to all. Val

Dear Fellow Hogs, br br As in the past, you’re my... (show quote)

Do it, but hire a professional wedding photographer "as your wing man". You and your daughter will both regret it forever if you mess up!

TheStarvingArtist

Leave your camera home and just go enjoy the wedding.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

quenepas wrote:

Dear Fellow Hogs,

As in the past, you’re my first “go-to” advisors on photography matters. This one relates to my daughter asking that I be her wedding photographer. I’m an average amateur plus if things go afoul, the last one you want to complain that her wedding pictures are junk is your daughter.

The wedding takes place at the Coco Cay beach (Caribbean) during a cruise with family and friends. She contracted a photographer from the cruise line. However, she still insists that I take pictures of the wedding. She thinks my shots will be better and more candid. I’m not keen about getting in photographer’s way. That’s a no-no. However, I can take some shots before, during and after the wedding. I’ve never done weddings as a “job”. I’ve taken fashion shots of a granddaughter for a contest. So, whatever advice I get from you folks will be appreciated. Advice requested encompasses, pre-event prep, equipment, use of flash, settings, cameras, poses, and whatever else you believe to be important if I want to make every shot a “keeper”. (Not likely, but good to think positive.)

I have two months to practice.

I have 3 go-to cameras: Nikon D610, Sony a7R, and a Fujifilm X100F. Lenses are somewhat scarce.

My preference is for the Nikon D610 with a Nikon 35mm-70mm 2.8D and Nikon SB-700 Speedlight (image quality, long-lasting battery, versatile lens). As a backup, I would have the Fujifilm X100F (fixed 23mm lens). And that’s it.

I’m not considering the Sony a7R. Nice camera but all I have is a 28-70mm 3.5-5.6 kit lens, and a Samyang 85mm 1.4 all-manual lens. Plus, battery life is shorter than that of a fruit fly. Have no speedlight for this camera.

Due to reduced travel gear, I haven’t considered a tripod nor light reflectors. But I will if your advice is to do so.

The wedding is a day event; before noon. So, light may be ok. Hopefully, no rain.

I’m one of those that’s intimidated by speedlights and TTL or manual adjustments, so I better get some practice in before the wedding.

Well, seems like a lot. Sorry. But would greatly appreciate your insights.

Best to all. Val

Dear Fellow Hogs, br br As in the past, you’re my... (show quote)

NO, NO, NO. The father of the bride should only be, THE FATHER OF THE BRIDE. Do not do this, you will regret it for the rest of your life. I was a professional wedding photographer for over 40 years and I wanted nothing more than to enjoy my kids weddings. PLEASE, DO NOT DO THIS.

traderjohn Loc: New York City

pamelaj wrote:

So now that I see that most experienced are saying... (show quote)

When my first daughter had married 17 years ago in addition to the wedding photographer we put 3 disposable cameras on each table. The cameras were to be deposited in a box. There was a total of 36 cameras. We got back 32 cameras. We had them all developed and some of them were fantastic. In addition to the photographer albums, we had him put together a few albums of the Kodak disposable camera.
We were unable to use a few pictures. I'm sure it was my dumb ass nephew and a few of his friends. To this day he plays dumb.

muysabio Loc: Mexico DF

If you take the pictures you are not in them! That's the issue.

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

I have taken my camera to a few weddings. I have even been approached by the wedding photographer and asked who I was shooting for. All was OK when told I was an invited guest, not the competition. I always was able to shoot the wedding as long as I stayed out of the way of the hired photographer.

Yet, as the father of the bride, I would rather leave the task of not missing anything to a pro so I could enjoy the event and take a few shots when the mood hit me!

cbw60

It will be fun to take some pictures. BUT you are the dad you must be in many of the pictures. Let the pro do his job. Take the Nikon and have some fun. And don't forget to smile when your picture is taken

cbw60

It will be fun to take some pictures. BUT you are the dad you must be in many of the pictures. Let the pro do his job. Take the Nikon and have some fun. And don't forget to smile when your picture is taken