My first (and last) Wedding photography experience - update (Page 4): I've only done 1 as the official photographer but have photographed others as a guest. The official one was...

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

I've only done 1 as the official photographer but have photographed others as a guest. The official one was actually work, the others were fun.

Crweber Loc: West Chester, PA

Even more traumatic with film!

tgreenhaw

DirtFarmer wrote:

Don't say you'll never do another, just limit it to not being the primary photographer.

I always take photos at a wedding. I try to stay out of the way of the primary guy but (s)he can't be everywhere. I always get a few shots that are worth passing along to the couple, or even to the primary. I try to include shots of the photographer for documentation.

I have been asked a good number of times to do this for family and friends. I am careful to use existing light (mostly 35mm f1.4) and compose for sooc so I can share them when I get home from the reception or early the next morning. They aren't meant to replace the pro's shots, but those usually take a lot of time before they are seen and people want decent quality shots to share with friends and family.

Cory62 Loc: Surrey, BC Canada

I completely agree as I photographed weddings for 12 years myself and while I loved almost every single one they are exhausting alright.

PhotogHobbyist Loc: Bradford, PA

I have taken photos at weddings, but never took them for the bride and groom for money. Many years ago, in the film days, my half-sister asked me to take some photos of her older daughter's wedding because she did not have much money and had not hired a photographer. I agreed and amazingly everything went smoothly. The wedding party was very cooperative and I think I got some nice photos as a memory for my niece. I did not get the film developed, I gave it to the couple as I figured they could afford that and get all the photos for a small price. That was the only two weddings I ever did, my first and my last.

jack schade Loc: La Pine Oregon

Iv'e shot 7 weddings. That's 7 too many.

jack

nervous2 Loc: Provo, Utah

Thomas902 wrote:

A wedding event is likely the most important day i... (show quote)

nervous2 Loc: Provo, Utah

I did one wedding about 50 years ago for a young friend (I was young then too). Believe me when I say that I learned a lesson that evening that I have never forgotten. Since then, I have had the good sense to politely decline invitations to shoot similar events. My advice to those who invite me to shoot an important event--"If it's important to you, hire a professional who knows what he or she is doing?" I'm glad that your experience was as positive as it was.

cwp3420

Fredrick wrote:

Back in April I posted a topic looking for input/feedback on a wedding I had (reluctantly) agreed to do for one of my wife's nephews. It occurred this past Sunday, in Santa Barbara, CA. Here's an update on that experience:
I have a new found respect for all wedding photographers! I really had no idea how much work was involved in shooting a wedding! While it was an exhilarating experience, it was absolutely exhausting! Granted, I was going through a learning curve, however, standing on my feet (at age 77) for 10 hours (with one 20 minute break for dinner) did take a toll at the end of the night. I took 560 pictures, and after a first pass have done an initial culling down to 310 pictures. I edited 5 pictures of the ceremony today and sent them off to the bride and groom, and they loved them! So, I can now relax a little and go through the process of editing the entire set. I'll probably send them 200-250 pictures when I'm done.
If you might recall, I was told that there would be about 40 people at the wedding and reception...there were 105 people! I did go to the home where the wedding and reception was to be held the day before at the same time as the ceremony the next day, which really helped with me understanding the lighting and places to take the formal pictures, etc. All the family members who said they would help coordinate family members for group pictures...didn't! Thank God for my wonderful wife, who was my assistant and really saved the day!
After taking my first set of formal pictures, my on camera Nissin flash mysteriously stopped working. I totally freaked out into a cold sweat. I changed batteries, but it still wouldn't work. Then I remembered my old adage "when in doubt, re-boot." I turned my camera off, then back on and everything worked fine after that!
Am I satisfied with all the pictures I took...no. In reviewing all of the pictures on my laptop, I saw obvious composition issues I wish I not not made, but fortunately I took enough pictures so I could discard the ones I didn't like. I found myself running around like a maniac to get certain shots. Once the bride and groom kissed, they immediately started walking back up the aisle, and I had to literally quickly run up the aisle in front of them and quickly turn around to get one shot, which fortunately came out pretty good.
The last three hours (8pm-11pm) of the reception was in the dark outside, and the on camera Nissin flash on my Fuji X-T2 and the in camera flash on my Fuji X100V worked surprisingly well. I had very little experience with doing flash photography, so I'm glad that worked out. For all you Fuji shooters out there, I did shoot jpeg and RAW, and used the Pro Neg HI film simulation mode for my jpegs, which I thought came out pretty good.
Two of my wife's cousins approached me during the reception about doing their daughter's upcoming weddings, and I politely but affirmatively said "no." I will leave that to the younger wedding pros!
To all of you who initially responded back in April, thank you again! Your input really did help me!
Once I'm done editing, I'll post a couple of the wedding photos in the Wedding Discussion group.

Back in April I posted a topic looking for input/f... (show quote)

I’m glad you made it through and kept your sanity, Fredrick. My granddaughter is getting married next June, and since I seem to be the “official” family photographer, she asked if I would do it. I explained that I like shooting landscape photos, but since I’ve never shot a wedding, I told her it would be better if she got a professional. I told her I would bring my setup and get incidental shots, as some have suggested, but I don’t want the stress of being the official photographer.

cwp3420

Fredrick wrote:

Thomas. I did appreciate your input back in April,... (show quote)

Dennis833 Loc: Australia

I did 20 years of it shooting on medium format, printing all of the photos and assembling the wedding albums. I moved into book and calendar publications in 1998 but I still have bad dreams about problems with film and cameras shooting weddings.

PAR4DCR Loc: A Sunny Place

Glad all turned out well for you and the newly weds Fred.

Don

bobfitz Loc: Kendall-Miami, Florida

You are sooo right, and at the end of the day your work is far from over.

gwilliams6

Fredrick wrote:

Back in April I posted a topic looking for input/feedback on a wedding I had (reluctantly) agreed to do for one of my wife's nephews. It occurred this past Sunday, in Santa Barbara, CA. Here's an update on that experience:
I have a new found respect for all wedding photographers! I really had no idea how much work was involved in shooting a wedding! While it was an exhilarating experience, it was absolutely exhausting! Granted, I was going through a learning curve, however, standing on my feet (at age 77) for 10 hours (with one 20 minute break for dinner) did take a toll at the end of the night. I took 560 pictures, and after a first pass have done an initial culling down to 310 pictures. I edited 5 pictures of the ceremony today and sent them off to the bride and groom, and they loved them! So, I can now relax a little and go through the process of editing the entire set. I'll probably send them 200-250 pictures when I'm done.
If you might recall, I was told that there would be about 40 people at the wedding and reception...there were 105 people! I did go to the home where the wedding and reception was to be held the day before at the same time as the ceremony the next day, which really helped with me understanding the lighting and places to take the formal pictures, etc. All the family members who said they would help coordinate family members for group pictures...didn't! Thank God for my wonderful wife, who was my assistant and really saved the day!
After taking my first set of formal pictures, my on camera Nissin flash mysteriously stopped working. I totally freaked out into a cold sweat. I changed batteries, but it still wouldn't work. Then I remembered my old adage "when in doubt, re-boot." I turned my camera off, then back on and everything worked fine after that!
Am I satisfied with all the pictures I took...no. In reviewing all of the pictures on my laptop, I saw obvious composition issues I wish I not not made, but fortunately I took enough pictures so I could discard the ones I didn't like. I found myself running around like a maniac to get certain shots. Once the bride and groom kissed, they immediately started walking back up the aisle, and I had to literally quickly run up the aisle in front of them and quickly turn around to get one shot, which fortunately came out pretty good.
The last three hours (8pm-11pm) of the reception was in the dark outside, and the on camera Nissin flash on my Fuji X-T2 and the in camera flash on my Fuji X100V worked surprisingly well. I had very little experience with doing flash photography, so I'm glad that worked out. For all you Fuji shooters out there, I did shoot jpeg and RAW, and used the Pro Neg HI film simulation mode for my jpegs, which I thought came out pretty good.
Two of my wife's cousins approached me during the reception about doing their daughter's upcoming weddings, and I politely but affirmatively said "no." I will leave that to the younger wedding pros!
To all of you who initially responded back in April, thank you again! Your input really did help me!
Once I'm done editing, I'll post a couple of the wedding photos in the Wedding Discussion group.

Back in April I posted a topic looking for input/f... (show quote)

Glad you made it through like a champ. Yes I was one of those that responded with a wedding shoot list, but also said it would be nearly impossible to do it all without a second shooter.

From your report it sounds like you did an amazing job, and at 77 (I am 71 myself) . I have done countless weddings over the decades ,but shy away from them now because of the effort vs profit factor. I try to do more corporate and editorial work, where I still have to work fast and hard but usually not a full eight hours, and I use assistants to help with setup and lighting, saving my bad back.

When you finally catch your breath, we would love to see a few of your favs from the shoot. That wedding couple was lucky to have you.

Cheers and all hail to you, your the man.

(Download)

peter pat Loc: Miami Beach

Fredrick wrote:

Back in April I posted a topic looking for input/feedback on a wedding I had (reluctantly) agreed to do for one of my wife's nephews. It occurred this past Sunday, in Santa Barbara, CA. Here's an update on that experience:
I have a new found respect for all wedding photographers! I really had no idea how much work was involved in shooting a wedding! While it was an exhilarating experience, it was absolutely exhausting! Granted, I was going through a learning curve, however, standing on my feet (at age 77) for 10 hours (with one 20 minute break for dinner) did take a toll at the end of the night. I took 560 pictures, and after a first pass have done an initial culling down to 310 pictures. I edited 5 pictures of the ceremony today and sent them off to the bride and groom, and they loved them! So, I can now relax a little and go through the process of editing the entire set. I'll probably send them 200-250 pictures when I'm done.
If you might recall, I was told that there would be about 40 people at the wedding and reception...there were 105 people! I did go to the home where the wedding and reception was to be held the day before at the same time as the ceremony the next day, which really helped with me understanding the lighting and places to take the formal pictures, etc. All the family members who said they would help coordinate family members for group pictures...didn't! Thank God for my wonderful wife, who was my assistant and really saved the day!
After taking my first set of formal pictures, my on camera Nissin flash mysteriously stopped working. I totally freaked out into a cold sweat. I changed batteries, but it still wouldn't work. Then I remembered my old adage "when in doubt, re-boot." I turned my camera off, then back on and everything worked fine after that!
Am I satisfied with all the pictures I took...no. In reviewing all of the pictures on my laptop, I saw obvious composition issues I wish I not not made, but fortunately I took enough pictures so I could discard the ones I didn't like. I found myself running around like a maniac to get certain shots. Once the bride and groom kissed, they immediately started walking back up the aisle, and I had to literally quickly run up the aisle in front of them and quickly turn around to get one shot, which fortunately came out pretty good.
The last three hours (8pm-11pm) of the reception was in the dark outside, and the on camera Nissin flash on my Fuji X-T2 and the in camera flash on my Fuji X100V worked surprisingly well. I had very little experience with doing flash photography, so I'm glad that worked out. For all you Fuji shooters out there, I did shoot jpeg and RAW, and used the Pro Neg HI film simulation mode for my jpegs, which I thought came out pretty good.
Two of my wife's cousins approached me during the reception about doing their daughter's upcoming weddings, and I politely but affirmatively said "no." I will leave that to the younger wedding pros!
To all of you who initially responded back in April, thank you again! Your input really did help me!
Once I'm done editing, I'll post a couple of the wedding photos in the Wedding Discussion group.

Back in April I posted a topic looking for input/f... (show quote)

Wow, sounds like you did ok, I had a similar experience at a friends Bat Mitzvah ceremony, the ceremony started earlier than I was advised and I thought I was early and ended up 20 minutes late. Then the Rabbi approached me and stated no flash allowed, this was expected. The Temple was dimly lit. Luckily I had some pretty fast prime lenses and got good shots by wide aperture and use of a monopod. Afterwards my friend asked for photos of every guest. I was able to comply but felt somewhat used and abused at the end. Lesson learned stay away from friends and family type work, too much expected for free. This never happens with paid jobs with a good contract.