jurgenj

I don't know how good you are but for me I did a few for family and it was a nightmare. You gotta know what to do all the time lighting, lenses, composition, WB, and it's changing all the time people are restless, etc.

It would be like experminting with doing surgery on someone when your only a nurse, enjoy your sons wedding.

One thing I would suggest is buy a bunch of point and shoot throw aways and hand them out to guests, some of the shots you get back aren't pro shots but are priceless:)

areej Loc: Atlanta,Ga

I agree with the everyone who said hire a pro and enjoy the wedding , This is your son don't miss it.

DavidT Loc: Maryland

Maybe as a wedding present, you can pay for a professional photographer.

steve_stoneblossom Loc: Rhode Island, USA

@dpullum:
All of this advise sounds great for someone like yourself who was 'born with a camera in his hand'.
I'm not sure this is the case here. Correction: I'm sure this is not the case here. Otherwise she would not be seeking advice.
I have little wedding shoot experience myself (read: almost none), and my head is spinning just thinking about remembering all your advice, let alone on my son's wedding day.
I tip my hat to you for pulling it off, but stand by my advice- hire a pro.

New Vision

Hi kathlyndee
I'm not telling you to do it but in Sept. of 2011 I had a friend ask me to take pictures of their wedding, the first feeling is that you're terrified, telling yourself that you don't know anything about doing such a thing. Then you start, first the internet, books, videos getting your confidence up after about a month and then you start asking the professionals like I did and 9 out of 10 told me not to do it and so the roller-coaster starts, I had 2 months to learn, money to spend, sleepless nights and even a few tums here and there.
Nervous? You bet, I did not want to disipoint anyone and you can't make everyone happy, the bride is the most important person (sorry groom, it's her day) in the room. Looking back it probably worked out at 75% bride and the rest was groom, guest and wedding party, not saying this is what to go by but it seamed to be a good mixture for me.
Then the big day! Very busy for 10 hrs and loved every minute of it! I don't brag about what I do but when the pictures came up in lightroom, WOW! Mistakes? yes, out of focus? yes, good photos? 1,800 of them, took around 2,200 and would love to do it again, actually planing on it.

Equipment used:
Nikon D40 6mp (pick of the couple and bouquet on the ground and 70-200 lens)
Nikon 5000 12mp
Nikon 3100 14mp
28-70 Tamron 2.8
70-200 Tamron 2.8
Nikon 50 prime lense 1.8
SB 700 flash
Experience: Only took photos of the work I do (remodeling)
I was a auto button guy, after 2 months nothing but manual.
Time of pictures: 9-12 inside, 12-6 outside with full sun, learn how to work with the sun when it's this high
Inside was dimly lit.
One thing I can say is to get use to going in and out of different lighting conditions and changing your settings, such as the ISO, shutter speed, aperture, flash and while you're walking to that area.
Check your back ground and change the location of people if you can or need to or change you location. Practice, practice, practice as much as possible and be confident that you can, don't stumble over one picture, go on and get the next one and enjoy the day.

catcher T Loc: Detroit

I have done many many weddings, but did NOT shoot my daughters, and all the reasons above are the reasons,

Have you asked them exactly what they want? I would have them look at tons of wedding photos, see exactly what they like and then see if you can pull them off.

We hired a very good photographer for my daughters wedding, and he did a fabulous job. (I really didnt want ot have to pick him apart hahaha)

steve_stoneblossom Loc: Rhode Island, USA

Some great shots, New Vision. You have a good eye.
You did this for a friend. Look at your equipment list. Can you see the groom's mom schlepping all that around AND having a good time at her son's wedding?

sploppert Loc: Rochester, NY

As a professional Wedding Photographer of 40 years and some 3,000 weddings under my belt. I say if you value your relationship be it friends or family DON'T do it. Hire a pro to do it as a wedding gift. You will not get the cooperation that is needed to get the job done. The couple will push back because you are too close to them. When you deliver the end product they will be disappointed because you didn't capture all that was needed to be done. They will cooperate with a professional because they are not close to him or her and show respect because he or she is a pro and is charging big $$ to do the job.

As been said before you will not be able to enjoy yourself because you will be up and down all the time and have to be aware of what is going on at all times. The party won't wait for you because you're not ready. I love shooting weddings but I'm there to capture the moment not to enjoy the party.

krahn2011 Loc: wisconsin

yikes... is all i can say. Put your camera down and walk away!!!

deanna_hg Loc: So. Alabama

Just adding my 2 cents worth. I agree with everybody else. Free yourself up to be the mom. I took a Wedding Photography class last yr. and the biggest thing I came away with was about how couples 'skimp' on the photography, money reasons of course. This is what the instructor told us "when all the guests are gone, the food is gone, the bride can no longer fit into her dress, etc, what is going to be left?" The pictures. Tell them you love them and are honored that they asked you to do something so important as the photos on their special day, but NO WAY. You would rather be the Mother of the groom. Give them a smile and hug. Best of luck.

cindyluwho Loc: Jasper, Georgia

I agree with all of the above. YOU need to be part of this wedding and they need to realize what it means to you. If they will not hire someone, have certain friends bring cameras and capture as many special moments as possible. Aside from the group photos, you could take the unique photos before and after, but that takes you away from enjoying the wedding as you could. Maybe the photos aren't that important to them....?

Toby

MISTAKE!!!!!!!! But to answer your question, you need backups of all key equipment (camera, batteries, flash, flash cards, lenses etc) It also wouldn't hurt to have a second photographer shooting from another angle. GOOD LUCK

Nikonuser Loc: South Dakota

I have taken wedding photographs before for people that could not afford to hire a professional. If I would have tried to take pictures for any of my kids' weddings, my wife would have killed me!!! Get a professional...please.

Bart Loc: New Jersey

I am a full time wedding photographer. This past July my daughter was married. I photographed all the pre-wedding everything. Dress fittings, tastings. etc. From the rehearsal dinnerr through the end of the wedding I hired a respected pro- we have delt with over the last 25 years.
DO NOT TRY and photograph this yourself. ENJOY the day. Wedding photography is difficult enough and you don't want to miss important pictures you children should have.

Wickspics Loc: Detroits Northwest Side. Cody High School.

Don't !!!!!