RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

Questions about wedding photography are best asked in the Wedding Photography section: http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/s-118-1.html

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

Et tu, Brute? Yup!

ORpilot Loc: Prineville, Or

I see no one has mentioned flash. In the film and flash bulb days, that is why a photographer got the $$$$$. It is much easier now days. The onboard pop up flash is not going to give you the results you may desire. Onboard flash is for your family Christmasses, birthdays, and anything that is under 10 ft away and you want harsh direct flash. Invest in an off camera flash and a diffuser or reflector of your choice. Have an assistant hold the flash or use an "L" bracket. Try everything out first, practice with and without your flash. During the ceremony I put my camera on silent and no flash. For those group shots, I may or may not use flash depending on the situation. Don't forget to check your screen after almost every shot to make sure the image is good. The last thing you want is an " aw sh.." Have a spare camera, spare flash, spare SD cards and spare batteries. Something will always go wrong at a wedding, don't let it be you or your equipment. I always pre shoot the church and reception before the event so I will know the lighting, exposures, and lenses I will be using. When in doubt ...shoot "P" you will always get something useable. If you don't under exposure, know your camera well, or quicker than your camera, don't use full manual. Practice, practice. Happy Shooting

Road King Loc: Northern, IL

Not everyone can afford to hire a professional photographer. Sometimes family members or friends know you take pictures, and ask you to do it, otherwise they have none. It has happened to me.

ragatazz Loc: Michigan

He didn't ask if he was competent, he asked for help on what other modes folks suggested he use.

sodapop Loc: Bel Air, MD

I would venture to say that even someone proficient in using their camera would struggle shooting their first wedding..

BebuLamar

But at least you would ask someone who knows which mode to use.

phal84 Loc: Huntsville

there are a couple of different aspects to shooting that you need to remember; one is whether you're familiar with what camera settings to use for a particular photograph (effect); a very important second is whether you are familiary with how to set your camera on the fly! If you haven't mastered both of these aspects, photographing a wedding as a prime photographer is something I would not recommend. Oh yes, you can set your camera in P mode and most shots will turn out OK but you won't get any of those "special" photos most professionals get for you.
I've had a camera around my neck for some 65 years, using a Leica, Kodak, NikonF, D200 or D7100 during those years. I learned the use of the different camera settings early on but now with cameras changing every 6 months learning how to use the camera itself can be a deal breaker. Remember that now you're not only using a camera, you're also using the darkroom, all wrapped up in one activity, and a lot of photographers don't know much about "darkrooms".
As an example I had just moved from a D200 to a D7100 a few years ago, which is quite an improvement and change. I had not had the new camera for more that a couple of days and I had to shoot my sons wedding. Knowing which settings to really use for any given shot was not the problem; the problem was not having enough time to remember how to set it on the fly; it does take some amount of time and experience to learn these things. Generally speaking, P mode will do; but A mode is good for depth of field; S mode for some action shots post wedding, flash for indoors (or out) for reception, people etc. You get the drill-----
A wedding is a very special once in a lifetime event and if you're going to be the prime photog you'd best better be prepared.
You've got some good advice on this thread; enjoy and hope the day really goes well for you.

Leitz Loc: Solms

Could be because the OP didn't ask about supplementary lighting. The OP also didn't ask anyone to disrespectfully post pictures that have nothing to do with the question.

PMW603

May I add that there may be someone you know who can assist you to help with setting up the formal photos. When I married 36 years ago, I had already had 2 years experience (not a lot, but just enough) working in a professional studio and when our best friend, an amazing hobby photographer, offered to do the photography, I discussed a list of photos desired, how to style them, and that I would be involved, etc., and he agreed with the plan. Then on the wedding day, I did a lot of the set ups to keep things moving so that we could do those before shots, during and after photos that met his creative needs and my "must have" needs. This gave him time to do his magic. Even today when I look at those beautiful photos, I am struck by the wonderfulness of his creative genius.

ray manclark

Ya, I did weddings for 6 yrs and I recall my first few, being very difficult indeed, a bit like acting on a live theatre for the first time. Very nerve racking but once you get into them, they can be very rewarding. It is very satisfying to see the glee from a very happy bride as she views your work. Good idea to have 2 cameras and I would sure agree with most of the previous comments, especially about using a low ISO. Get to venue early to study the surroundings, take a deep breath and don't rush it.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

I am sure you are aware that setting the camera for AF is a must. Aperture priority is fine if there is enough light and it is also fine if using flash assuming the person making the photographs is familiar with the use of flash.
Program is also a good choice but if depth of field is needed unless Program Shift is used the camera will make its own selections and that could not be acceptable. With fast action there is no time to use Program Shift.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

I'm not a pro either, maybe an advanced amateur, so I'd use Program of available light shots in good light. You can adjust shutter or aperture as needed, even ISO. With flash, use Manual and a diffuser of you're moving around. I use the Light Scoop. Manual mode, TTL flash, ISO 400, shutter at 1/200, aperture at F4. This would cover 95% of your flash needs. The rest of it gets tricky for me. The TTL feature of the flash controls exposure on the subject while a high shutter speed reduces the effect of ambient light. You can also use a larger F stop to add DoF as needed or a higher shutter speed to deal with really bright ambient light and darken messy backgrounds.

Marionsho Loc: Kansas

Welcome to the Hog, PMW603.
Marion

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

Hi Kent,
Weddings are a different animal than "normal" shooting. As a matter of fact, most of us who do it are about as far from normal as you can be.

As the moderator for the wedding section, I do invite you to head over there. Lots of good info already, but we're always glad to help.

May I ask if you are going to be "the" photographer? I know you said you aren't a "pro" but sometimes people's budget, or even the importance they place on the wedding photography doesn't justify paying someone.

Anyway, first, if you are "the" photographer. Sit with the couple and make a list of the important "not to be missed" shots. Don't forget to get a list of favorite relatives. Ask them for a "wrangler" who knows all the people, so they can help round them up when it's time for formals. The list of things to do ahead of time, is very long, and it's been covered a few times in that section.

As for your settings question. I think most of us prefer the flexibility and consistency of using manual mode. If this is your first, and you aren't comfortable, then yes, I would probably use Aperture mode, or possibly Shutter Speed, because this is a once in a lifetime shoot. Once it's done, you can't say "oops". Aperture may be more artistic, but shutter speed is "safer" so you know you won't be getting camera shake.

You should visit the wedding and reception venue in advance, and ask "is this the amount of light I will be working with?" If not, have them light it the way you will be working. Take a lot of test shots, not just of the background, get people in the photos to see how they look in coordination with the background. Write everything down, and keep it safe with your shot list. Bring someone (an assistant, even one of your kids, your spouse, a friend, random stranger...just someone, to help you. This assistant will hold the lists for you, and work with the wrangler to get the right people in the photos. They will be your second pair of eyes, and will catch crooked necklaces, untucked shirts, wonky collars, etc. We are supposed to see everything, but when trying to arrange people, and catch them when they are all looking the same way, seeing through the viewfinder sometimes makes it easy to miss a detail.

Anyway, the wedding group is always happy to help. Sometimes the main photography section is full of people who just like to say "run away, don't do it" and "I did that once, it was a nightmare"

bk