Can I add: if possible, be there for the rehearsal. Hopefully, it will be near the time of the ceremony the next day (and pray that the weather forecast is the same for both days!).

Bring a hand held light meter and measure your exposures for each location that you intend to shoot from.

The reason that I say this is this: The very first wedding that I shot solo was at 4:00 in the afternoon on August 8th. The alter faced due west with a 20 ft x40 ft glass wall behind it. Had I relied upon camera exposure, I'd have been extremely underexposed on the subject. To complicate matters, only the bride was in white. The entire bridal party was dressed in black.

Initially: the officiant decreed that no flash during the ceremony and the photographer had to be out of sight during the ceremony. The pastor had a fabulous wedding assistant that had plant removed from the alter that would have impeded photographing from certain angles, left things unbalanced, etc.

He eventually let me shoot during the ceremony from the "wings" in order to allow me to get shots of the sand ceremony, placing of the rings and other intimate portions that only occur IF you're able to see the couple's faces.

He later told me that I was the only photographer that had gotten properly exposed photos from his alter. It was only because: A: I was there for the rehearsal, taking manual light meter readings and B: I left notes of my settings at each shooting location (I believe that I forgot to mention that earlier. I had 3 locations that I shot from, with notes on the floor of my manual settings).

Additionally, I had a camera on a tripod in the choir loft for my VERY inexperienced wife to shoot for the "First Kiss" The Bride loved that shot!

Here's the link to my original post: https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-330468-1.html

I can only hope that someday, UP will bring her east of the Mississippi River so that I can see her. Maybe via CSX tracks?

Live, I've only photographed the PM 1225, both digital and film (just to be historically correct). As impressive as she is, she pales in comparison.

The wedding went off as planned. Outdoor ceremony on a pretty, cloudless day. Bride=white gown. Bridesmaids, Groomsmen and Groom=Black tuxedos/white shirts. Groom (black tuxedo - in shade) Bride (white dress - half shade with a very harsh shadow from her eye to her ear.) It is what it is. I warned them.

Reception hall: Very dark. Very few windows. After the sun set, the camera had difficulties with focus. Had to turn on focus assist (hate that).

But, at the point of the "Father/Daughter Dance" (that tears me up each and every time) and the lower back ache appears I remember why I love shooting weddings. It's only one of two times that extended families gather. This time it's joyous. The other, it's sorrow.

I only have one, scheduled for May 8th. I'm a bit rusty after the mandatory year off. I'm going to the rehearsal (as is usual) just to re introduce myself to my equipment.

What format? I shoot (besides digital) 135, 120 (6x7) and 4x5. I (used to have, and will again soon) have a complete darkroom set up, complete with JOBO film processor.

So: Yes, I still shoot film for my own enjoyment. Anything "for hire' I shoot digital. I did however, have one bride that requested that I shoot at least one formal on 4x5 film. That was fun getting past the security at the county courthouse for her shotgun wedding.

Wow! I remember my first cab ride in an F1. My Grandfather had retired from the PRR. He and I were with my mother at the feed elevator when the local came and was switching cars out. The engineer and fireman recognized my grandfather (he worked the engine house) and they threw me up into the cab and Grandpa came along. We went from Howard City to Cadillac, dropping and picking up cars along the way. They dropped us off at the station on the way back through.

I remember Grandpa telling the guy at the Feed Elevator "tell his Mom we'll call her when we get back." The guy at the elevator later became my Father in Law. He remembers it to this day. I was four years old at the time.

The one and only GG1 that I have seen personally was at the Elkhart Railroad Museum in Elkhart, IN. I brought my Father there to check things out when he was in intermediate stages of dementia. It brought back his memory of when he was just out of high school and before he went into the US Army. He worked with my Grandfather out of the PRR enginehouse in Grand Rapids, MI. His job that summer was to fill with oil the car wheel boxes and to report any that were leaking.

Great to see them "on the hoof."

They are a top notch outfit. In addition, in film photography they are the US distributor for Ilford Black and White film, paper and chemicals.

Obviously, we're close friends :)

They're not at work on their computers, so not access to UHH :).

LOL. As an aside, this past weekend I picked up TP and then went to another store for other staple items. I locked the truck. Grandson looked at me like I was from Mars :)

Man, if I was not worried about next weeks' paycheck (Covid-19 ramifications) I'd buy this for a back up to my D7200.

How many have had weddings cancelled or postponed due to the Covid-19 outbreak?

Superman had his Kryptonite :).