Wedding tips: Hi, I am looking for some tips. My mom is getting married and asked if I take the photos. This would be my second wedding as I shot my sister but my first as the only...

frogcw321 Loc: Riverside

Hi, I am looking for some tips. My mom is getting married and asked if I take the photos. This would be my second wedding as I shot my sister but my first as the only photographer. At my sisters I was the 3rd one and shot mostly macro and a prim 200mm lens for the rest. I am shooting with 2 d300. I am thinking of shooting one with 70-200mm 2.8 vr and the other with 17-55mm 2.8 and using a macro for the small things. Is this enough? Or should I have another lens and/or speedlight(s)?
It will be a outdoor event at a villa with pool. The ceremony and reception will all be held in same area by the pool with only about 50 people. Any tips or suggestions greatly appreciate. Thanks in advance

jim quist Loc: Missouri

Show us your best shots from your sisters wedding

Reinaldokool Loc: San Rafael, CA

frogcw321 wrote:

Hi, I am looking for some tips. My mom is getting ... (show quote)

It's been years since I paid for my graduate degree by shooting weddings so take my advice with a grain of salt.

However: Most churches are not cool with flash DURING the ceremony, but otherwise, I would never shoot without the flash. Even if it is outdoors in natural light, the flash will provide fill light. It will make an enormous difference. Bounce flash for shots as the bride gets dressed in a room in the villa. Or hanging with the bridesmaids.

The lenses are a great choice.

frogcw321 Loc: Riverside

Will have to run the photos down as it was close to 8yrs 10yrs ago when started to really take my photography series but my organization at that time was the greatest but still have them backed up on a hard drive somewhere.
Thank you Reynaldo Kool for the recomend on the flash. I will order a bracket for off shoe for it. Should I run both cameras with flash or do you think one will do on the 70-200mm?

frogcw321 Loc: Riverside

Sorry I ment was not the greatest at that time

lev29 Loc: Born and living in MA.

frogcw321 wrote:

Hi, I am looking for some tips. My mom is getting married and asked if I take the photos. This would be my second wedding as I shot my sister but my first as the only photographer ... Any tips or suggestions greatly appreciate. Thanks in advance

Welcome to the Hog! :-D

You are the second individual in less than a month who's been asked to be the Wedding Photographer for what I presume is a close(?) loved one. The last one was the sister of the bride and now you're the son of the bride. I realize you want to help, but your mother appears not to value you that much if she & her fiancé can't fork over some moolah to hire someone else. I don't want this to come across as being too taunting, but tell us, WHEN do you get to ENJOY the Wedding as the Son of the Bride (or if you prefer, as a humble Guest,) i.e. without having to spend even a millisecond thinking about what you've got to do to prepare for the next set of shots? Just think about it ... and good luck getting up the nerve to decline her request.

frogcw321 Loc: Riverside

I did think about. I originally told her no because of that but decided to ask her what she wanted. Thankfully she only wants a few photos before but mainly just the ceremony and some of the reception,that way I could still enjoy and not have a lot of pressure since it is her 2nd marriage. That was what changed my mind and honestly I'd rather be behind the camera anyways. She offer to cover my hotel cost for the week since will be traveling and not close to home. I just want to make sure I can deliver high % rate of photos since I won't be shooting absolutely everything and get photos of the main things for the album.

frogcw321 Loc: Riverside

Thank you for the welcoming

Leitz Loc: Solms

frogcw321 wrote:

Hi, I am looking for some tips.

Check out the Wedding Photography forum for the best advice. Click to subscribe, and you can ask specific questions and post pictures for critique. It is not recommended to post pictures here as Admin may move them to the appropriate forum. Welcome, and enjoy!

http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/s-118-1.html

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LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

Reinaldokool wrote:

It's been years since I paid for my graduate degree by shooting weddings so take my advice with a grain of salt.

However: Most churches are not cool with flash DURING the ceremony, but otherwise, I would never shoot without the flash. Even if it is outdoors in natural light, the flash will provide fill light. It will make an enormous difference. Bounce flash for shots as the bride gets dressed in a room in the villa. Or hanging with the bridesmaids.

The lenses are a great choice.

It's an outdoor event by a pool.No church involved.
8-)

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

Your lens choices are fine, Great, actually!
Get a flash to use as a fill for the camera with the 17-55.
Then learn how to use it.
I find I usually have my flash compensation turned down by about 1.5 stops when used as a fill flash. Your mileage may vary.

GENorkus Loc: Washington Twp, Michigan

Sounds like your Mom either want you to get involved and be concerned about who certain relitives are, or she wants you to not play around on a cell phone.

A good wedding photographer will become very involved in recording memories and not be part of the event itself.

Since Mom's can be very smart, I think this will indirectly MAKE you part of the event.

jaysnave Loc: Central Ohio

Sounds like a very unique situation and possibly awkward situation, but only you can figure that out. Your equipment looks fine. I prefer to use the 70-200 during the ceremony so I am not part of the ceremony. However, if I could give you one piece of advice, well actually two it would be first clearly understand mom's expectations, then come up with a game plan and rehearse the game plan. That includes getting to the venue a day early to check the lighting and where everyone will be positioned including you. Hopefully you can practice during the rehearsal.

lev29 Loc: Born and living in MA.

Leitz wrote:

... (Click on "Quote Reply" when replying to a particular person, so everyone will know to whom you are replying.)

PLEASE TAKE LEITZ' ADVICE TO HEART, newbie. Otherwise, no one will know whom you are addressing. There will be times when others' posts will show up in a thread between the response of the "Quotee" and your reply.
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cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

One other lens I would suggest having handy is a 24-70, or something that covers that range. Flash, outside, is good advice, using it inside at a ceremony is distracting to the participants and the guests and should be avoided, even if allowed. Getting you flash out of the hot shoe is also good advice. Best of luck.