LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

Plan, plan, plan. Script it out with the couple ahead of time-- and then be flexible when things go differently than planned.
Get an assistant. If you do formals, have the couple communicate to guests/family that you are THE photographer. Planning will enable you to know what they want and are expecting and will give you a clue as to what gear you will need. You should also scout the location during the time of the day the wedding will be held--if possible. If not, perhaps they can take several shots when they visit the location?
Have fun and smile a lot. Regardless of whether you are shooting informal or formal, a smile gets one in return. I guarantee you, it works-- much better than that "say cheese" bit.

Good luck.

ole sarg Loc: south florida

So much for that friend!

Do yourself and your friend a favor - chip in to hire a professional.

rdgreenwood Loc: Kennett Square, Pennsylvania

Best of the best of luck. If it's what you want, you'll be fine.

ron49 Loc: Baltimore, MD

I actually use the D800 and 24-70 f/2.8 lens. What a great combination! But I don't do weddings any more. Landscapes are my love.

sirlensalot Loc: Arizona

I think it all boils down to three things. How well you communicate with your friend, and what the expectations are,and the agreement between you and your friend prior to the wedding day. Everything else goes from there and in my opinion, is much easier to deal with here.
Need more details to give you better opinion.

terryrays1949 Loc: Greentown, Indiana

What I've done in the past is rent a lens or two and extra flash(es) if necessary for the wedding. Rent them a few days in advance so you can become familiar with them and possibly the wedding venue(s, if the reception is at a different location).

Also, if possible, have another person as your assistant available to take additional pics. Under certain circumstances and time limitations, you can run yourself ragged and some requested shots/poses can be missed.

TP Loc: Georgia

I have the 5100 with 18-200 lens. Takes awesome pictures, but the outfit is heavy! So I usually cary my Panasonic DMZ8 as a comfortable and lightweight alternative; pictures almost same quality. As a guest at a wedding I found myself to be the photographer of "record" using my DMZ8. The couple were very casual (as was the wedding), so had asked a friend to take the pictures. She had a 5100 with kit lens, but clearly didn't know much about photography.(I caught her trying to clean a smudge off the lens with the corner of her dress!) So I took the "back up" pictures, mainly from a balcony overlooking the ceremony. The zoom lens came in handy, and I found myself using long sessions in movie mode. Sound pick up was incredible. Afterwards I made them a movie using iMovie, they were delighted and this was their best record of their wedding. My only regret is I forgot to adjust ISO and white balance for the evening party shots. PP adjustments helped correct some of the color shift and under exposure, but doing it right the first time would have been better. Panasonic now has the DMZF200 (continuos f2.8 zoom range!) and I would think that would be the "go to" camera for ease of use and flexibility for your wedding. Check it out. But either way make a "test run" with the 5100, it has a long learning curve to get the best results.

bgl Loc: Brooklyn,New York

I hope you pay particular attention to the comments by sixshooter and jimberton - they are right on the money. Personally, I would be very reluctant to shoot a wedding or other special occasion where friends are involved because of all the things that can go wrong unless of course the budget is big enough for back up and you are very certain about the quality of that back up. Sorry for the run on sentence!

greymule Loc: Colorado

:thumbup: :thumbup:

DrPhrogg Loc: NJ

I have done a number of wedding, and had my share of screw-ups. Be prepared for anything, and carry backup equipment. Before I took my first job, I did about a dozen for family, but not as the contract photographer. I was just family with a camera, and handed the negatives and proofs to the couple. I would also look at friends albums and see what you like and what you don't. I agree you need a contract if you are doing it for pay. Look on line for samples. If you are doing friend & family as a guest, keep some of the best to build your own sample album. Clients go away after the event, friends or family don't. So they only get my best shots, which is about one out of 3 shots taken. I no longer do contract weddings- too stressful for the money, which is nice, but I don't need it. I still take family shots, but just as a guest, and the couple gets a CD with the pictures I am proud of. It is a gift, and I don't expect to get paid. Much better this way, unless you need the money. About lenses, I use a 28mm-105mm, and a 55m-250mm. That will cover most circumstances. Drink soda. You need to stay hydrated, but at one family wedding, the photographer was a friend of the bride and took advantage of the open bar. Pictures got progressively blurrier as the evening went on. And watch for every shot. The best are candid. My favorite phrase from the bride & groom was "I don't remember you taking that!" Except for group shots and the standard boilerplate pictures, the best are the ones that make the day unique to the couple. Good luck whatever you decide, but practice on anyone who will let you.

sirlensalot Loc: Arizona

Wondering if you used the 28-105 f/3.5-4.5 for weddings and if so, was it on a FF digital? I have one and never thought about using it for weddings. Just curious. I agree the range is near perfect for a wedding.

Pentony Loc: Earth Traveller

One of the concerns, other folks snapping pictures getting in your way; I handled that by assisting others get their shots in a friendly manner.

It would also help if the bride or groom announce that you are the photographer but you will assist folks get their shots.

Have more than one camera and at least two flashes. If you don't own a second camera, rent one like the one you own. Have a small pocket point and shoot (P&S) camera. Have two or three of everything, especially batteries, chargers and SD cards, class ten. Leave the tripod home unless there are late night shots.

Check your equipment out a week in advance. Charge your batteries two days in advance.

Make a list of your planned shots and stick to it adding other shots if time permits.

Always know where you gear is stashed to avoid thieves. In fact hire a nephew to watch your gear.

Don't let anyone borrow your equipment. If they want a specific picture and you have time, take the picture for them and have them print their e-mail address for you to send it to them. Carry a small spiral pocket notebook with several inexpensive ball point pens which you can afford to loose.

Make sure you eat before the wedding. Carry a dry snack or two.

Be polite and nice even if someone pisses you off. It's the bride's and groom's day, do nothing to subtract from it.

It is also a family and friends gathering. When you can, cater to the elderly folks.

Dress comfortably with a dark suit, shirt and tie and comfortable shoes, no flip flops.

If the wedding is in a religious building meet the officiator of the ceremony two days before the wedding to make sure you don't upset him/her. Ask are there any restrictions taking pictures.

If the wedding is outdoors as you've indicated, go to the location two or three days in advance at the same time of day and take a few shots. Know what the weather is going to be. Know where the sun will be. Have some plastic bags in your pocket to cover your camera in case of a shower. Also meet with the officiator.

Of course you're going to have a private sit down talk with the bride and groom. Ask them have they planned for an alternate location if it is forecast to rain? Even if someone else is paying for the wedding, your boss is the bride and groom.

I would go to the wedding rehearsal to get to know the best man, the maid of honor and the parents and to see if you need to revise your list of shots and snap a few shots while there. Besides this time will also give you a chance to see the family dynamics. Also meet the DJ.

I would go to the rehearsal dinner and take a few shots but I would not stay for dinner even if invited. If invited make some reasonable excuse why you can not stay.

Don't try to take still photos and videos.

Having a second photographer would be nice, especially if you plan to take pictures of the bride almost dressed and the groom almost dressed as they will be in two different locations.

If you're interested, I have a list of planned shots. PM me.

Have fun.

Weddingguy Loc: British Columbia - Canada

www.creativelive.com is a web site that offers live tutorials, many having to do with photography. You can watch them live for free or purchase the right to watch them when, and as many times as, you wish. Some are really great . . . some are so-so.
Joe Buissink is a master photographer that has won many, many awards for his wedding photography, and photographed a number of very famous people's weddings.
He did a three day, 9:00am to 4:00pm workshop on a full wedding (at an actual live wedding) and explains everything that he was doing as it happened. The last two days he showed how he created a wedding album and how he cropped and retouched the images. This was by far one of the best tutorials for the an aspiring wedding photographer that I have seen (and I've been in the business for over 50 years) as well as an inspirational workshop for advanced wedding photographers. Hard to beat learning from the best, watching him do his thing in real time.
Obviously you've missed the live performance, but it is available for purchase and would be my suggestion for an awesome way to getting you started in the right direction.
He'll answer all the questions that are going on in your head right now about what camera, lenses, equipment to use . . . and how to use them and when. Check it out at Creative Live and search for :
"Wedding Photojournalism From Start to Finish with Joe Buissink"

Good luck! Hope this helps

MagicMark

Carolyn,

You can practice your skills on other unimportant events that take place in your life. Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse. Then, when it's time to do the real thing you can bet you will be a prepared photographer. Make sure you have a good, strong external flash with a swivel head and a bounce device you can carry, like this one:

http://store.lumiquest.com/products/lumiquest-ready-for-anything-kit.html

Weddingguy Loc: British Columbia - Canada

. . . or better still . . . one of these, but not the bounce card.
http://www.litegenius.com/new/home/promo2