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So, I've gotten roped into shooting a wedding. Yikes! Any advice greatly appreciated.
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May 2, 2022 06:57:00   #
yssirk123 Loc: New Jersey
 
I shot weddings for ~10 years and loved it. Assuming you have the technical skills, I would emphasize just a few things:

1. Arrange for a second shooter who will help with rounding guests up and posing
2. Redundancy is your friend - have multiple cameras, cards, flash, batteries etc.
3. Minimize lens changes by using a moderate wide to tele lens (something like a 24-120)
4. Aside from the standard pictures, ask the couple if there are any special shots they want.
5. Enjoy yourself - weddings are happy events.

I'm attaching an outdoor shot from one of my early weddings.


(Download)

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May 2, 2022 08:23:27   #
knessr
 
Of the three weddings I have shot (and I hated every one), my biggest challenge was getting the people gathered together for each shot. It seems while they are at a wedding, the futherest thing from their mind is posing for pictures. You have to be good at working with people.

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May 2, 2022 08:57:21   #
Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC
 
Loving the epic shot from one of your earlier Weddings yssirk123!
Absolutely fabulous narrative!!!

And totally agree on your "... emphasize" listing...
Words from someone who's actually "been there done that" many times...

Weddings are a women's most precious life moment...
It is truly both a joy and honor to capture the aforementioned...

Those images will become more and more endearing withe time...

Thank you so much for sharing yssirk123

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May 2, 2022 09:53:44   #
Morning Star Loc: West coast, North of the 49th N.
 
It is totally necessary to have a second person with you! The one and only wedding I ever photographed was my son's stepdaughter's. The setting: one of the local parks.
Aunt of the bride saw I was having problems getting people to listen to me and she jumped right in.
No "sweetie, will you please stand there and smile ..."
It was more like: "You! over there, in front of the tall guy. And hold your child's hand so he won't run away!"
Beside me getting a super set of photos for the bride and groom, the guests listened to this woman, started to call her "Mrs. Boss" and had a lot of fun with it!
If I ever "do" a wedding again (not likely), I will try to convince this woman to come and help me again!

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May 2, 2022 11:48:14   #
Rhl0630
 
I ended up shooting a Large wedding afte the pro quit a week before the wedding. Film era. I was outside talking to the minister ten minutes before start time putting film into my blad when all of a sudden we hear. “Here one’s the bride”. We looked t each other and rushed into the Church. Lesson one. Be prepared or anything. I had to pretty much run the entire vent after that.

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May 2, 2022 12:18:09   #
pdsilen Loc: Roswell, New Mexico
 
It sounds like the father of the bride has a good head on his shoulders. He wants to keep everything simple without excessive extravagence. So. Shoot the wedding. Relax. And I'm sure that the family will love your photos.

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May 2, 2022 12:32:50   #
DWU2 Loc: Phoenix Arizona area
 
You have my condolences.

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May 2, 2022 12:39:21   #
pdsilen Loc: Roswell, New Mexico
 
LOL LOL

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May 2, 2022 12:42:12   #
Fredrick Loc: Former NYC, now San Francisco Bay Area
 
yssirk123 wrote:
I shot weddings for ~10 years and loved it. Assuming you have the technical skills, I would emphasize just a few things:

1. Arrange for a second shooter who will help with rounding guests up and posing
2. Redundancy is your friend - have multiple cameras, cards, flash, batteries etc.
3. Minimize lens changes by using a moderate wide to tele lens (something like a 24-120)
4. Aside from the standard pictures, ask the couple if there are any special shots they want.
5. Enjoy yourself - weddings are happy events.

I'm attaching an outdoor shot from one of my early weddings.
I shot weddings for ~10 years and loved it. Assum... (show quote)

Thanks, Bill!

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May 2, 2022 14:32:53   #
Badgertale Loc: Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
 
Do not promise ANYTHING!

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May 2, 2022 14:41:07   #
dicspics Loc: southwest fla. 10 mins from the gulf
 
I have done weddings, if you have to ask these questions don't even start, you will not believe what's going to happen when you start the shoot, nobody will cooperate with the posing and the guys will be drinking that haven't drank before. Plus everyone with there cell p[hone will be in your way. If you don't have at least two people that know what there doing with the posing you won't have a chance.. I could go on, but don't say I didn't warn you..

P.S. and when you show the pics to the bride a couple weeks later she says she doesn't like them and won't pay the rest on the money she owes... Hope you have better luck..

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May 2, 2022 14:46:51   #
Morning Star Loc: West coast, North of the 49th N.
 
[quote=dicspics]I have done weddings, if you have to ask these questions don't even start, you will not believe what's going to happen when you start the shoot, nobody will cooperate with the posing and the guys will be drinking that haven't drank before. Plus everyone with there cell p[hone will be in your way. If you don't have at least two people that know what there doing with the posing you won't have a chance.. I could go on, but don't say I didn't warn you..

P.S. and when you show the pics to the bride a couple weeks later she says she doesn't like them and won't pay the rest on the money she owes... Hope you have better luck..[/quote]

A written (and signed) contract will help with that!
As to all the guests taking photos with cell-phones or camera's, make it clear beforehand to the the couple hiring you, that you will make some time available for the guests to take photo's but if anyone starts taking photos outside of that period of time, you're gone without refund of their money. (Make sure that's in the contract, too!)

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May 2, 2022 14:53:27   #
DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA
 
Sounds to me like this is an agreement between friends. Remember those? No contract. No payments. It's a casual wedding. They happen. Get used to it. It may not be YOUR style, but you aren't in charge here.

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May 2, 2022 14:57:33   #
steve_stoneblossom Loc: Rhode Island, USA
 
Fredrick wrote:
OK, against my better judgement, I have agreed to shoot a wedding for my cousin’s son’s wedding. Please don’t tell me it’s a really bad idea and that I should offer to pay for a professional photographer. I know you all mean well. I’ve already done that. As a bit of background:
I recently took a series of photos at another wedding (as a guest … they also had a professional photographer) and sent them out to a number of relatives. This groom to be (this August), his fiancée, and his parents looked at the photos and called me and begged me to shoot their wedding. I said no, no, no and downplayed any expectations, but to no avail. They loved the photos that I did as a guest at another wedding, so I just don’t see a way out of this without jeopardizing our relationship. No, I’ve not shot a wedding before. I’m mostly a landscape and street photographer.
So, I’m going to go ahead with this, and here is where I would appreciate any help and insight you could provide:
I currently own a Fuji X100V (fixed 35mm FF equiv, 26mp camera) and a Fuji X-T2 (24mm MILC camera) with plenty of zoom and prime lenses. The X100V has a leaf shutter, enabling me to fill flash up to 1/4,000 of a second. I have just a little experience using flash outdoors or indoors.
The wedding will be at my cousin's house (with a huge backyard). The ceremony will take place in the afternoon in the backyard, and reception will be in the backyard and also inside the house. Probably around 40-50 people. Lots of young adults and laid back relatives.
What I’m trying to figure out is, which camera do I use? Do I use both? What focal lengths? All the photos that I took at the other wedding as a guest was with my X100V, using fill flash with the built-in camera flash. Do I use one camera for outside and one camera for inside the house? The X100V has a built in digital teleconverter for 50mm and 70mm (in addition to the 35mm) which I can easily change. Which flash unit (if any) should I buy? I’m looking at Nissin and Godox TTL flashes (and my head is spinning). I realize if I use a flash I will have to practice quite a bit for it to become second nature to me (I have 4 months before the wedding). I plan on shooting in RAW + Jpeg, and use PSE and Luminar for post processing.
As you can see, I have some decisions to make before I start practicing. Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance!
OK, against my better judgement, I have agreed to ... (show quote)

1. BRING BOTH CAMERAS! God forbid you bring only one and it fails, and swapping cameras is easier than swapping out lenses. Have backup memory cards and batteries.
2. Familiarize yourself with the venue(s).
3. Get an assistant. Preferably a 2nd shooter with whom you can swap cameras when you're not working together.
4. Ask client which particular shots are important/mandatory. Keep a list, preferably in workflow order.
5. Ask for a friend/family member (not immediate, they will be too involved) to assist in wrangling, someone who knows everyone by name, and can handle them if they get unruly.
6. They liked your other work. Study what you did: lenses, flash/no flash, posed, candid, etc.
7. Practice with whichever flash you decide upon. Learn how to bounce, when and when not to, and if/when you need to use direct. Consider a diffuser.
8. BE PREPARED. Expect the unexpected. Outdoors you have no control over the environment.
9. Keep an eye on the clock. Know when cocktails, dinner start. You will not have the freedom you did when you were not "the photographer".

I've not read all 11 pages of prior advice. I'm sure I've overlooked other good suggestions. Best of luck! You'll find a new appreciation for the cost of a great wedding photographer, if nothing else. You can pull it off, but it's a LOT of work.

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May 2, 2022 15:04:19   #
Fredrick Loc: Former NYC, now San Francisco Bay Area
 
steve_stoneblossom wrote:
1. BRING BOTH CAMERAS! God forbid you bring only one and it fails, and swapping cameras is easier than swapping out lenses. Have backup memory cards and batteries.
2. Familiarize yourself with the venue(s).
3. Get an assistant. Preferably a 2nd shooter with whom you can swap cameras when you're not working together.
4. Ask client which particular shots are important/mandatory. Keep a list, preferably in workflow order.
5. Ask for a friend/family member (not immediate, they will be too involved) to assist in wrangling, someone who knows everyone by name, and can handle them if they get unruly.
6. They liked your other work. Study what you did: lenses, flash/no flash, posed, candid, etc.
7. Practice with whichever flash you decide upon. Learn how to bounce, when and when not to, and if/when you need to use direct. Consider a diffuser.
8. BE PREPARED. Expect the unexpected. Outdoors you have no control over the environment.
9. Keep an eye on the clock. Know when cocktails, dinner start. You will not have the freedom you did when you were not "the photographer".

I've not read all 11 pages of prior advice. I'm sure I've overlooked other good suggestions. Best of luck! You'll find a new appreciation for the cost of a great wedding photographer, if nothing else. You can pull it off, but it's a LOT of work.
1. BRING BOTH CAMERAS! God forbid you bring only ... (show quote)

Thanks! I’ve gotten great advice from lots of folks here on UHH, including from you.

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