ROCKY JA Loc: Living in Burnsville, Minnesota

I did weddings as a business before I get into commercial work. I had a rules: Never do a wedding for friends, co-workers, or family. I have them get another professional photographer, or I'd go out and help them pick one.

Wedding Photographers get paid the big bucks because they know what they are doing. theres no second chance her. The prints have to be great to get the money I got. I delivered.

They weren't buying film, they were paying my expert knowledge and in return the didn't get a wedding package, they got an Heirloom that they'd be proud to show family and friends.

My weddings started at $1,000 and trust me I earned every cent! The wedding was over, but my work had just begone. Add 10 hours in putting the custom album together, sorting prints and previews, and having it all completed before the honeymoon was over.

Don't get me start on the reorders. LOL Lots of work.

mlj Loc: Anderson, SC

What Annie said. If it is an outdoor wedding, it will likely be in a shady area. If it is in a church, will the church allow flash? Either way, none of your lenses are adequate. Run, Forrest, Run!

Delderby Loc: Derby UK

I don't think that I'm better than any one else - but I do have a bit of common sense - in fact I might have some to spare.

Elliern Loc: Myrtle Beach, SC

There are a lot of opinions posted in this thread. I understand where those "professionals" are coming from. They get big bucks, and the photos had better be perfect. But....

Not every couple can afford or even want to pay those big bucks for their wedding photos. They want some nice photos of their wedding to keep for memories and one or two for framing. In years past, most people did not pay 10's of thousands of dollars for a wedding.

I say do it! Your cousin is aware of your abilities. You want to do this for her and she wants you to do it. If she wanted "guaranteed professional results" she would have hired a pro.

You have gotten great advice on what to practice. You have plenty of time to do it. Yes, you will be nervous, but if you are prepared you will be confident and will provide some wonderful photos of their special day.

Do it...practice...read...practice...and then just have fun and enjoy this special day with your cousin.

You are giving her a special gift. That will also be part of the memories.

StephenVL Loc: Los Angeles, USA

Not all weddings are the same. Some people spend $20,000 or more on a wedding and a good professional photographer is essential. I have also been to a wedding that took place in a local park and had a budget of about $200. For that wedding there was no professional photographer and the couple was happy with some photos that were taken by myself and a few other friends.
When my daughter got married I purchased some disposable cameras that were distributed to the guests. After the wedding the cameras were gathered up and sent for processing. The results were not "professional" but the couple was very happy with the hundreds of memories that were captured.
My point is that the important thing is what are the expectations of the couple and can you meet those expectations. The people that are telling you to refuse your cousins request may or may not be right depending on your cousins expectations.
If you choose to accept this assignment then then have fun and do the best you can.
Also, try to get some backup. Enlist a friend or two to help out and also take some photos.

Eartha Loc: Charlotte North Carolina

I would like to thank everyone for their opinion and I will continue to read this forum and any other information I may come across.Everyone has given me valuable information that I will put to good use. Below are a couple of images I took at a friends daughter wedding as a guest. Please advise what I did wrong.So that I can correct it when I do my cousin.

Crop out the back of person head

Capn_Dave

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

mdorn Loc: Portland, OR

Point taken, but the OP specifically said she "desperately want her pictures to come out great". That's a lot of pressure to put on someone who doesn't do this professionally; hence the title of this thread "scared stiff". We don't know what the cousin's expectations are, but we do know that the OP's expectations are pretty high.

I think if the OP wants to enjoy the wedding and "have fun" as you suggest, then even if she were a professional, it would be wise not to do it. Of course, the OP is going to do what she wants, but if you consider this post objectively, then the answer is clear.

SirLan Loc: London UK

Hi Eartha
the best advice if you really have to do it is go to creativelive.com and look for Sal Cincotta. You have time to be brilliant at it :) No negatives here. I love doing weddings.
In fact here is the link because you might not be able to find it there...
http://www.creativelive.com/courses/wedding-photography-business-boot-camp-sal-cincotta
this is brilliant and I highly reccommend it to anyone who wants to get into wedding photography Rated by me as the best Wedding Business plan out there.

SirLan Loc: London UK

By the way in your photo's you need to place people where you want them to be in the best light. The light in your photo's is the worst thing. Shadows over there faces make the photo's look amatuer. You need to place people in the best light. So always think about placing and time of day for where the sun will be. Go see the link above I gave you. Sal deals with all of this in the course and he is superb at explaining. This will take the weight of your shoulders and put confidence into being behind the camera... hope that helps

eloi11 Loc: Glasgow, Scotland

Think that's the best advice on this thread. You must learn and enjoy skills at a pace suited to yourself. Rushing things will lead to mistakes on perhaps the biggest day of a couples lives.

Whuff Loc: Marshalltown, Iowa

I believe eartha said she took these photos as a guest. As a guest, you can't place people where you want in order to get your best photos. That's the job of the paid photographer.

ebbote Loc: Hockley, Texas

Eartha, if your cousin does hire a professional photog take
your camera with you to the wedding, call it practice. You
may just surprise yourself. When I took my camera to my
son's wedding he and my new daughter-in-law liked my pictures better than the two pros they hired and mine were
free.

lighthouse Loc: No Fixed Abode

Yes, you see that written quite a bit.
But then again "How to win friends and influence people" is a popular book.
Never went in for it myself.
I read the first third of the book and threw it away.

ebbote Loc: Hockley, Texas

You should have read it cover to cover, it might have made
you a better person.