jackl101 Loc: The Villages, FL

Make sure you get the list of shots from the B&G before hand because at the wedding they will be busy with other things and they will not remember what they will want. And remember wat cost more the wedding gown or the flowers? Most of the cost of the gown is from the waist up so holding the flowers waist high will hide the gown.

kellyduncan45 Loc: Savannah, NY

Yes

kellyduncan45 Loc: Savannah, NY

Thank you

kellyduncan45 Loc: Savannah, NY

Thank you

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

With all due respect, if you do not have the experience and expertise required to shoot a wedding let the job to a professional.

Dbl00buk Loc: Orlando

Imperative..... Get an experienced second shooter.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

roxiemarty Loc: Florida

And when I was doing weddings, I always planned ahead with the couples to do engagement portraits ; that way they are already comfortable with you, and you get to know them a little better. They could be at a park, garden, or the beach. I usually gave them some ideas for a location, and then they chose, depending on their interests.

tomcat

One thing rarely mentioned on this site is to plan an agenda for shooting the different poses. You should always start at least 3 hours ahead of time, if it's a large wedding. There are a lot of pre-wedding opportunities for shots of the wedding party and getting prepared. When we were doing weddings, we stopped all shooting 45 mins ahead of the bride walk time. This gave us time to recharge our batteries (not the camera's) and get a snack, replace all batteries, sit down for a bottle of water and review who is covering what. Also time to set up the tripod for those shots from the back of the church (we had two cameras). Get a list of shots that the bride wants and especially get a shot of any really important people (a special aunt or a favorite uncle who's paying for the honeymoon, etc). Also ask Dad to kiss his daughter and to hold the kiss for a moment while you get a couple of shots on her cheek. Do not forget the little details of the reception (close-ups of table decorations, the cake by itself, the servers, etc). Also, and this is important, ask the couple to NOT smash cake into each other's faces--they make think it funny at first, but we had a couple of instances of hard feelings between the two when it was unplanned and one thought it to be funnier than the other did. Put a time limit on the reception so that you are not there all night--have them make a fake departure and then return in a few minutes if they want to continue the party--but you don't need to be there all night just for a 5-min departure series of images.

Enjoy the occasion and keep a pad of paper around for notes so you don't forget stuff.

JeffL Loc: New Jersey

All of the above advice from those who have done this are is extremely good and important. You didn’t mention whether you were doing this as a paid professional or as a friend of the bride or groom. If as a friend, paid or unpaid, it is crucial to remember that you are not there as a guest anymore. You will have to be continually vigilant watching for those candid shots that add to the joy of the day. The formal shots as described by other postors are required. The shots that catch a celebration of the event are more emotive. Be constantly alert, not kibbutzing with the guests.

tomcat

excellent advice! You are a member of the staff now and an "unknown", so do your job without getting distracted

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

You have every right to be nervous. Make sure you get lots of photo's of the two families, formal and casual. I always carried three colors of bobby pins, white, black, and brown. I also carried about 30 different color sewing kit, just in case. Water bottles for the bride and groom, little gifts for flower girl and ring barrier (provided they were good for their shots). I also took back up flash units, back up camera's and lenses.
Have bride make of list of MUST HAVE shots and make sure you get every one of them plus your own shots.
Relax and have fun, if you really enjoy your craft, let it show.
Go to the rehersal and take a couple of candids to make sure you settings will be right, also meet all parents and bridal party members. Be a leader at the reception for dancing and cutting the cake, take charge, someone has to.
Above all act professional at all times. You are no longer a friend, you are the guy/gal in charge, act like it.

wishaw

Vietnam vet - excellent list.
The wedding group photos are In this sequence to make it easy and quick.
Bride alone standing looking at the camera, looking away, looking at her flowers. Once positioned and her dress hanging correctly she does not move.
Stand in the groom - a few shots
Add bridesmaids and grooms men - a few shots
Add parents - few shots.
Remove bridesmaids and grooms men
Shots with parents. Move fathers so that brides mother is standing with grooms father.
You can then move on to family groups.
Remember the most important person at the wedding is the bride's mother and then the grooms mother. Always ask them if there is any pic they need e.g. Favorite aunt

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

In #4 did you mean to say "unanimous" or perhaps you really meant "anonymous"

traderjohn Loc: New York City

If I was the father of the bride.....and you ask this type of question. It would be I who would be nervous.