Help wanted for Involuntary Wedding Photographer
Mar 9, 2020 09:19:14 #
zumarose wrote:
I'm a hobbyist photographer. My friends ask me fro... (show quote)
...look for a used nikkor AF-S 24-120mm f/4G VR...it is a FX lens that came with most of the full frame Nikon cameras...It’s a 46-180mm lens on a DX camera...perfect range for a wedding...but you will still need the Tokina 11-16 for group shots...
Mar 9, 2020 09:25:01 #
genocolo
Loc: Vail and Gasparilla Island
Keep it simple.
Take many, many more shots than you might ordinarily.
Consider using continuous shooting to make sure you get one good one.
Don’t be shy about asking people to group and pose.
Be sure to do a video of the entrance and ceremony. You need to be reasonably close to record audio of the ceremony.
Ask the couple to give you a list of the people or family members they want to be sure are photographed with them, usually after the ceremony.
Take many, many more shots than you might ordinarily.
Consider using continuous shooting to make sure you get one good one.
Don’t be shy about asking people to group and pose.
Be sure to do a video of the entrance and ceremony. You need to be reasonably close to record audio of the ceremony.
Ask the couple to give you a list of the people or family members they want to be sure are photographed with them, usually after the ceremony.
Mar 9, 2020 09:26:09 #
zumarose wrote:
No. Somebody didn't have to say it. I don't know your culture or environment but sometimes people fall in love and want to marry and they don't have money. I'm happy to make my wedding gift to them to be a few months of study or a new lens and that might eventually mean more to them than a set of steaknives
I have shot a lot of weddings as a guest. Many years ago I shot two weddings of friends as the primary photographer (not the pro, I was never that). I was working with a speed graphic and a limited number of film holders. I probably got 35-40 shots total. I'm sure I missed a couple group shots but it was what it was. They were young and without money and they got at least some shots of the wedding. I did not produce an album. They got an envelope full of photos (with some duplicates for the families). The photos filled the need for them. Both marriages lasted over 50 years so the photos were not the determining factor.
It's a lot easier now to take lots of shots. Even using a 35mm film camera you had to stop and reload every 36 shots or so (loading my own I could sometimes get 40). You can buy cards now that will hold 1000 shots and more.
When I was married we had a hired photographer. We got an album. We looked at that album fairly frequently for about 6 months, then it went in a drawer. Got pulled out maybe a dozen times in the next 50 years. I am the repository of a lot of family photos, and some of these will go into the collection I am trying to put together of family photos. Some date back to around 1860. I will probably produce a PDF to send around, and also some annotated photos (group shots from the 1800s with people identified). Digital copies will get spread around to as many of the family as I can find.
Most weddings are really for the family, the bride and groom are secondary. It's a chance for the family to get together. For that reason, the group shots are important. It's nice to have great scenery for the wedding, but the people are the subjects that will be looked at 50 years from now.
The biggest problem with wedding photos is picking out the ones to include in the final product. First of all, you will want to take a couple shots of everything. If one shot has a problem, the next might be better.
The biggest problem with taking photos at a wedding is that you miss a lot of the action. And you are not really a guest. You are working. So you will have to take breaks from work to enjoy the wedding.
Also, nowadays everyone takes photos of the wedding. It's likely that someone will get some shots that you miss. Try to let people know that you will be happy to include some of their photos in the final product.
PS: When you visit the site to check it out, take someone with you and take photos of them. See what the shadows look like. Try out fill flash. It's always good to be in danger of learning something new.
Mar 9, 2020 09:32:01 #
First off, good luck in this adventure.
Make sure you don’t have the 18-200 lens lever set to manual focus. Clean the contacts on both the lens and body. If this isn’t the problem send it to Nikon for repair immediately. You have time to get it fixed. How old is this lens? It may still be under warranty. This is the main lens you will use for this shoot...use this lens on your favorite body...
Use your favorite lens on the body.
Have a couple extra batteries for each body.
You can buy a really good Sunday flash from nest buy for 59.00 each. I have 2 of them and they work great. They are powerful and would be good as fill flash. I also have the sb700 flash that I use when I only need one flash. Learn how to use as fill flash. Fill flash really helps in bright sunny situations to eliminate harsh shadows on faces. Make sure you have plenty of extra batteries for these also...you can hope for an overcast day, but I wouldn’t hold your breath.
Enlist someone to be your assistant. Make sure they are familiar with your shot list that you have developed with the bride to be.
One other thing you might want to be sure you do is get a candid or posed photo of everyone attending the wedding.
If your assistant can use a camera set em loose with a camera while you are doing some candid shots as well.
Post some results here. I’m sure others are interested in your results also.
Chuck
You tube and books will help you
Make sure you don’t have the 18-200 lens lever set to manual focus. Clean the contacts on both the lens and body. If this isn’t the problem send it to Nikon for repair immediately. You have time to get it fixed. How old is this lens? It may still be under warranty. This is the main lens you will use for this shoot...use this lens on your favorite body...
Use your favorite lens on the body.
Have a couple extra batteries for each body.
You can buy a really good Sunday flash from nest buy for 59.00 each. I have 2 of them and they work great. They are powerful and would be good as fill flash. I also have the sb700 flash that I use when I only need one flash. Learn how to use as fill flash. Fill flash really helps in bright sunny situations to eliminate harsh shadows on faces. Make sure you have plenty of extra batteries for these also...you can hope for an overcast day, but I wouldn’t hold your breath.
Enlist someone to be your assistant. Make sure they are familiar with your shot list that you have developed with the bride to be.
One other thing you might want to be sure you do is get a candid or posed photo of everyone attending the wedding.
If your assistant can use a camera set em loose with a camera while you are doing some candid shots as well.
Post some results here. I’m sure others are interested in your results also.
Chuck
You tube and books will help you
Mar 9, 2020 09:45:33 #
zumarose wrote:
I'm a hobbyist photographer. My friends ask me fro... (show quote)
Don't do it. Suggest that she "crowd source" the wedding images. Everyone will have their cellphones out anyway. She should invite everyone to take pictures. She'll get better coverage and lots of fun candids, and it won't cost her a dime other than for any she may print.
This is not a situation where you'll be trying out new techniques, in an unfamiliar setting, fighting with the wedding paparrazzi and not really prepared with gear (redundancy) for when Murphy arrives on the scene. And he always does. Trust me. You want to turn this down and remain friends.
Mar 9, 2020 09:46:20 #
wds0410
Loc: Nunya
zumarose wrote:
I'm a hobbyist photographer. My friends ask me fro... (show quote)
This may help. I have to be honest I have no idea what the cost is but I've watched a lot of his videos and he seems to be knowledgable and a good teacher. https://www.mattgranger.com/wedding
Mar 9, 2020 09:56:34 #
zumarose wrote:
No. Somebody didn't have to say it. I don't know your culture or environment but sometimes people fall in love and want to marry and they don't have money. I'm happy to make my wedding gift to them to be a few months of study or a new lens and that might eventually mean more to them than a set of steaknives
Mar 9, 2020 10:34:34 #
I've worked a few weddings as a photographer's assistant and I've never worked so hard in all my years. It is truly easier herding cats.
Here's some advice that you and the Bride may find to be valuable which is to provide a list of 'staged sessions' that the Bride would like to have taken at the wedding as well as the reception (Mother with Bride putting on vale, Best Man putting flower in Grooms lapel, etc., etc.) More importantly....get an assistant for yourself to help get the subjects together when needed and to be your scout for things that may detract from the shots like unwanted clutter in the background or people walking into the scene.
Get a good nights sleep the night before for you will need all the energy possible for it will be a very, very long day.
Here's some advice that you and the Bride may find to be valuable which is to provide a list of 'staged sessions' that the Bride would like to have taken at the wedding as well as the reception (Mother with Bride putting on vale, Best Man putting flower in Grooms lapel, etc., etc.) More importantly....get an assistant for yourself to help get the subjects together when needed and to be your scout for things that may detract from the shots like unwanted clutter in the background or people walking into the scene.
Get a good nights sleep the night before for you will need all the energy possible for it will be a very, very long day.
Mar 9, 2020 10:52:12 #
Years ago, I did weddings, sorority pledge dances, etc. for pay, using a Hasselblad 500c with a 70mm back (approximately 70 frames/roll). My suggestion is, forget the light boxes and deflectors. They will only draw your attention away from the goal, which is to get some good frames. In an outdoor setting, however, some fill flash could be a definite advantage. At least a week or two before the shoot, sit down with the bride and discuss the types of photos she wants (prep before the wedding starts, shots during the wedding, shots with brides maids, shots of the groom with the groomsmen, shots with various members of the family, shots of the reception). Start with a pre-prepared list of the shots you'd expect to get, but don't make promises for specific shots. Visit the venue with the bride ahead of the shoot and learn how/where the wedding will orient the hilltop and the time of day the wedding will occur. Envision the landscape and how you can take advantage of angles, DOF, etc.. The more you are familiar with the venue, how the wedding will orient with it, and envision the shots you want to obtain, the better you will do.
Mar 9, 2020 10:59:44 #
Tell 'em you have the virus, so, sorry. Their expectations will probably be so high that nobody will make them happy.
Mar 9, 2020 11:03:34 #
For Nikon camera owners, with Nikon flashes, this is the best way to learn how to use a flash that I now of. He also has video classes (for a fee) on Nikon flash.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1461829-REG/mike_hagen_9781937538668_book_the_nikon_creative.html
https://www.creativelive.com/class/nikon-wireless-flash-for-creative-photography-mike-hagen
Regarding lenses, I would consider renting or buying a Nikon 85mm f1.8 and maybe a 70-200mm f4. For DX cameras, the 35mm f1.8 DX prime is a great lens. If they want closeups of rings and cakes, maybe rent a macro lens, like a 40mm DX or 60mm.
Make sure you know what kind and variety of pictures the bride and groom want. That can impact the lenses you will need. And then you will have to make sure that the wedding and reception is staged so you can get them.
Have extra batteries and cards. Use two cameras if you have them.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1461829-REG/mike_hagen_9781937538668_book_the_nikon_creative.html
https://www.creativelive.com/class/nikon-wireless-flash-for-creative-photography-mike-hagen
Regarding lenses, I would consider renting or buying a Nikon 85mm f1.8 and maybe a 70-200mm f4. For DX cameras, the 35mm f1.8 DX prime is a great lens. If they want closeups of rings and cakes, maybe rent a macro lens, like a 40mm DX or 60mm.
Make sure you know what kind and variety of pictures the bride and groom want. That can impact the lenses you will need. And then you will have to make sure that the wedding and reception is staged so you can get them.
Have extra batteries and cards. Use two cameras if you have them.
Mar 9, 2020 11:11:54 #
zumarose wrote:
I'm a hobbyist photographer. My friends ask me fro... (show quote)
"Involuntary weddings" can be tough. We used to call 'em "shotgun weddings" back in the '50s down in the "Bible belt" but most people didn't get pictures made 'cause they didn't want no evidence laying around later in case they might want to straighten up and be a Baptist preacher, or something.
Mar 9, 2020 11:21:54 #
Mar 9, 2020 11:32:48 #
With the location, have you considered bringing an open sided tent? Something like :
Google - easy-shade-10-ft-x-10-ft-slant-leg-canopy There are some white ones - avoid the colored ones or consider replacing the covering.
The cover could be replaced with cheap semi transparent cloth ( $36 for 20'*10' - size is good as can go down one side. e.g. YGS Perfect Sunblock Shade Cloth with Grommets 70% 10 ft x 20 ft Black or find one in white).
Provided wind is not an issue, you could get great shots with no technology issues, and have the background view. Also might win some friends from the guests if it is hot before/after the photos. Make sure to bring some tie downs. This site has a good guide to securing a tent - https://www.gettent.com/content/tent-anchor-types.asp
Good luck with the event.
Google - easy-shade-10-ft-x-10-ft-slant-leg-canopy There are some white ones - avoid the colored ones or consider replacing the covering.
The cover could be replaced with cheap semi transparent cloth ( $36 for 20'*10' - size is good as can go down one side. e.g. YGS Perfect Sunblock Shade Cloth with Grommets 70% 10 ft x 20 ft Black or find one in white).
Provided wind is not an issue, you could get great shots with no technology issues, and have the background view. Also might win some friends from the guests if it is hot before/after the photos. Make sure to bring some tie downs. This site has a good guide to securing a tent - https://www.gettent.com/content/tent-anchor-types.asp
Good luck with the event.
Mar 9, 2020 11:38:08 #
I highly recommend that you have a neutral density filter in your pocket. If you’re shooting at noon in the California sun, you might have to fight Mother Nature.
Good luck. You’re a good friend.
Good luck. You’re a good friend.
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