Help! Grandson's wedding/ wants me to be the photographer
Nov 27, 2011 08:27:40 #
I have seen your helicopter photos ...You are used to being around people and getting great shots.....Just apply what You already know to wedding shots.You have plenty of time to prepare for the wedding . You can go ahead of time to scope out where You will be taking the photos and take some test shots.You take very good photos,it is just a matter of applying that to a different situation.Don't be afraid to get right up there where the action is.....I think You will do well,Try to relax and have fun.You will absolutly get shots that no PRO photographer will ever get because You know your subjects so well......Get that flash,it's a must
Nov 27, 2011 08:41:19 #
larrycumba wrote:
If it were me, I would give them the money and let them choose a photographer. Repeat, let them choose a photographer.
I agree. Why? Because you're not going to enjoy your grandson's wedding if you are busy taking pictures.
Nov 27, 2011 09:01:54 #
Where is the wedding going to take place? Church? House? VFW?
How many attendants?
Is there going to be a reception?
How many attendants?
Is there going to be a reception?
Nov 27, 2011 09:05:49 #
I can only caution you to enjoy the event and not use the day as a learning experience. If you must do the shoot, try to find another wedding event to shoot "before"you do a family event. Shooting weddings right requires experience and sikill. I have done a few weddings and I hate to see you miss the joy of the event trying to handle shooting details. We are all different, so your temperament may be less stressful but, let us know what you end up doing and share.
Nov 27, 2011 09:21:31 #
A wedding is no place to learn. You can't go back and do it over again. If someone you know is getting married or some other event see is you can be a second photographer.
Remember you can't be a guest and the photographer both.
Remember you can't be a guest and the photographer both.
Nov 27, 2011 09:39:09 #
You definitely need a flash with a diffuser and bounce capable.
Do you have a friend with someone getting married in the next month--if so can you go take pics at that wedding just for fun- get a feel for what works and what doesn't with your camera. OR how about contacting a local photographer-telling them your plight and asking to accompany them to a wedding just to help out and learn a bit?
Do you have a friend with someone getting married in the next month--if so can you go take pics at that wedding just for fun- get a feel for what works and what doesn't with your camera. OR how about contacting a local photographer-telling them your plight and asking to accompany them to a wedding just to help out and learn a bit?
Nov 27, 2011 10:19:56 #
Nikonuser
Loc: South Dakota
Get at least a SB600 Flash and take quite a few practice shots preferably at the location at about the same time for the white balance unless you take in RAW. Make sure you have enough batteries (at leaast 2 fully charged) and at least 4 4 to 8 gig cards. Take as many pictures as you can and many duplicates as people blink eyes and make faces!!I take about a thousand and hope about 200 come out great. Have a helper too for the poses if possible. Good luck!
Nov 27, 2011 10:59:43 #
ole sarg
Loc: south florida
Hire a photographer for them as a gift. I was a combat photographer and a news photographer, but the toughest shot I was ever on was shooting the wedding of a friend.
DON'T DO IT!
You will miss the wedding and that is the reason to be there.
Give them a photographer as a gift!
If not, there are some good books on wedding photography and some good sites. But, please don't do it....
DON'T DO IT!
You will miss the wedding and that is the reason to be there.
Give them a photographer as a gift!
If not, there are some good books on wedding photography and some good sites. But, please don't do it....
Nov 27, 2011 10:59:54 #
ole sarg
Loc: south florida
Hire a photographer for them as a gift. I was a combat photographer and a news photographer, but the toughest shot I was ever on was shooting the wedding of a friend.
DON'T DO IT!
You will miss the wedding and that is the reason to be there.
Give them a photographer as a gift!
If not, there are some good books on wedding photography and some good sites. But, please don't do it....
DON'T DO IT!
You will miss the wedding and that is the reason to be there.
Give them a photographer as a gift!
If not, there are some good books on wedding photography and some good sites. But, please don't do it....
Nov 27, 2011 11:02:04 #
are they planning on having a dress rehersal? if so, you may be able to eliminate some of the pressure by shooting some of the "posed" shots at the dressed rehersal. just a thought.
Nov 27, 2011 11:25:00 #
Dear Grandma, I shoot weddings. I suggest you hire a photographer as a wedding present. Your photographs will never be as good as the pro's and you should be a guest, you are the Grandma after all. Enjoy the wedding and hire a professional. You all will not regret the decision. The photographs below are from when I was the second photographer shooting behind the scenes candids.
After their vows
During the service
With the Grooms parents
Nov 27, 2011 11:42:47 #
I'm with sscooper. If you must do it, have a back up camera and definitely a flash. My greatest advice: DON'T DO IT!!! Enjoy the day.
Nov 27, 2011 11:53:22 #
Take many photos, even of the same scene. You will probably find that at least half your photos will not be very good. The more photos you take, the better the chance of capturing that special moment that will never be again.
Get a flash (with diffuser and bounce flash), and have extra batteries (for flash and your camera). Good quality shots indoors using high ISO without a flash are difficult.
Have enough large memory cards. Don't have your available memory be a restraint on the number of photos you take. Have memory for at least double the number of photos you expect to take. You NEVER want to do on camera trashing of bad shots during a shoot to make room for more shots.
Take your photos in RAW (NEF-Nikon). RAW is an uncompressed format that uses the most memory. For example a RAW image on a 6 meg camera is 6 meg, whereas a JPEG may be 2 meg or less. So you will need more memory. The RAW images can be kept as negatives and converted to JPEG. The JPEGs can be adjusted, but you always have the original RAW negatives. If you have a great photo, you (or someone else) can adjust it more precisely in RAW. Adjustments in RAW will also help you save photos that are poorly exposed. I have many photos I took years ago in JPEG rather than RAW. I wish I had those RAW negative now, so I could make some good photos great and to save some poorly exposed otherwise good photos.
If you choose to shot in JPEG, ALWAYS use the best quality largest file size settings. You have a good camera and should get the most out of it.
Have fun. It will show in your photos.
Get a flash (with diffuser and bounce flash), and have extra batteries (for flash and your camera). Good quality shots indoors using high ISO without a flash are difficult.
Have enough large memory cards. Don't have your available memory be a restraint on the number of photos you take. Have memory for at least double the number of photos you expect to take. You NEVER want to do on camera trashing of bad shots during a shoot to make room for more shots.
Take your photos in RAW (NEF-Nikon). RAW is an uncompressed format that uses the most memory. For example a RAW image on a 6 meg camera is 6 meg, whereas a JPEG may be 2 meg or less. So you will need more memory. The RAW images can be kept as negatives and converted to JPEG. The JPEGs can be adjusted, but you always have the original RAW negatives. If you have a great photo, you (or someone else) can adjust it more precisely in RAW. Adjustments in RAW will also help you save photos that are poorly exposed. I have many photos I took years ago in JPEG rather than RAW. I wish I had those RAW negative now, so I could make some good photos great and to save some poorly exposed otherwise good photos.
If you choose to shot in JPEG, ALWAYS use the best quality largest file size settings. You have a good camera and should get the most out of it.
Have fun. It will show in your photos.
Nov 27, 2011 12:02:50 #
I have to echo some of the previous comments.....don't do it! Make your wedding gift to them the hiring of a wedding photographer. Take your camera and take candid shots and enjoy the special moments. Wedding photography is work and the moment is too important in a couple's life to not have done professionally. I have been asked numerous times to do friend's weddings and always politely refuse. I do offer to take my camera (with the wedding photographer's permission) and take candid photos. I've never been refused the use of my camera and on one occasion the photographer used one of my photos....with my permission.
Nov 27, 2011 12:05:27 #
rica
Loc: Oregon and Leyte, Phillipines.
Don't do it. I shoot weddings. about 10 per year. It takes a lot of work and experience. I am one of the "budget" shooters that the Pro's hate. But my clients can't afford $2000 for a wedding shoot.
I typically get 900 photos of which I whittle down to about 150 for final burning to CD for the couple. The 6 hour wedding takes another 30 hours editing. I have a backup camera and lenses(accidents do happen), insurance, portable studio gear, computers and software to do a professional job on a tight budget. My shooting partner is an experienced lady photographer who can get all the intimate moments of the bride and her entourage getting ready.
There are mandatory posed shots and low-light semi-candids required even if you are doing a freeby job. Without 2 shooters you will miss the little things that are special to brides. The dressing, putting on the gown, hair, makeup..oh and while that's going on the groom is getting ready with his man-folk. It's mostly about the bride by the way but... the old folk that flew in from out of town, The little kids all dressed up, moms crying, the brides maids, the darling flower girls and ring-bearer.
Do your grandson a huge favor and chip in on a photographer. There are tons of semi-pro's out there that will shoot for $100-$150/hr and cover the wedding adequately for a nice scrap book of the wedding that covers all the important events. I didn't mention how tired I am after a wedding. it's very hard work for an old guy. You have noble intentions but be truly noble and help get a photographer so that event will be covered adequately.
I typically get 900 photos of which I whittle down to about 150 for final burning to CD for the couple. The 6 hour wedding takes another 30 hours editing. I have a backup camera and lenses(accidents do happen), insurance, portable studio gear, computers and software to do a professional job on a tight budget. My shooting partner is an experienced lady photographer who can get all the intimate moments of the bride and her entourage getting ready.
There are mandatory posed shots and low-light semi-candids required even if you are doing a freeby job. Without 2 shooters you will miss the little things that are special to brides. The dressing, putting on the gown, hair, makeup..oh and while that's going on the groom is getting ready with his man-folk. It's mostly about the bride by the way but... the old folk that flew in from out of town, The little kids all dressed up, moms crying, the brides maids, the darling flower girls and ring-bearer.
Do your grandson a huge favor and chip in on a photographer. There are tons of semi-pro's out there that will shoot for $100-$150/hr and cover the wedding adequately for a nice scrap book of the wedding that covers all the important events. I didn't mention how tired I am after a wedding. it's very hard work for an old guy. You have noble intentions but be truly noble and help get a photographer so that event will be covered adequately.
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