Wedding Photographer?? I NEED HELP?

I'm taking pics at a friends wedding

I'm a fashion photographer [student] and I've never done wddings!


ANY TIPS?!?!?! PLEASE?!!!

I dont want to ruin her wedding day!

I AGREE WITH ALL OF YOU!!!

I'm not ready..
they have no money, and I surely don't have the money to pay for a professional [I'd much rather do that!]

I told them I wasn't ready...
They would rather have some pictures even if they arent as good as they should be rather than not have any at all...
they tell me I'm a good photographer, but they've seen my fashion shots!

Ahh!!!
Thanks for you're help! =] Wish me luck!

Your imagination is only limited by the amount of memory you have (assuming you do digital).

Shoot like a mad monkey. Overshoot the wedding to the max. Try different things, don't get stuck in one mode and style of shooting.

Overshooting guarantees you'll get decent shots.

My best advice, don't do it till you have a few weddings under your belt. It is a huge responsibility. There are no re shoots. Its a great way to end a friendship --- trust me, I have seen more people mad at uncle Freds screwed up wedding photo's.

Source,
Pro wedding photographer for 10 years back in the film days.

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Life is so simple, but we insist on making it complicated

Confucius
551 - 479 BC
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Peace

Jim


http://www.ChinaBlix.com

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Simple answer is that it takes many years of study and of shadowing a real wedding photographer before one gains the expertise needed to be a wedding photographer.

There are so many questions like this on this section. "I am shooting my first wedding next week, I need help ?"

These people should realise that wedding photography requires much study, observation and training. There is much to know and learn. Taking photos at a wedding without the proper experience is a huge risk and the risk is that the wedding couples album of this happy occasion will not be up to scratch. This is simply not worth taking the chance.

If there is time, ask a wedding photographer if you can tag along to one of their gigs. There are lots of little tips they can give. With digital it seems that photographers anymore don't know how to shoot straight shots. I have seen a multitude of tilted proofs, but they get cropped. If you are using digital just take a lot, you never know when eyes can be closed. With film still take extra of each pose. Watch the laying of the dress. I'm sure you will since you are in fashion. Even watch for open zippers. Happens more than you would think. If you notice, just say to all to check zippers. That can lighten a mood. Get the pictures of Grandma or great-aunt whoever. They won't always be around for the couple so they will cherish them. Yes, have extra of everything. If you use 35 with film, lots of film, make sure the camera is advancing. I have a lovely picture of the top of John Paul II's hat with about 30 exposures over his face, when I was only 10 feet away. Film can tear in the threads! Have an extra sync cord for flash. Extra camera or flash are even better.
A helper never hurts. Someone that has a good eye for details.
Don't let Mom or Mom-in-Law, or whoever the know-it-all will be, get to you. There always seems to be one or two. Say that you will get your shots and then they can have a chance. Someone is always behind you to steal the shot you set up, so just ask them to wait then let them. Sometimes they can save your hinny.
A neat shot can be a wide-angle or fisheye of the entire group in an area after the wedding.

Good Luck.

make sure you get lots of shots from different angles, I would also make sure that they don't have a problem if you move to get different shot during the wedding. I went and had a talk with the minister the day before and that helped me figure out where I could go. Also as a back up you can get the disposable camera's and give them to a few people and hand them in as well. I had about 10 of the disposable camera's on the tables at the reception and let people take pic's as well it worked out great..

Talk with the minister/rabbi/pastor/priest about their preference for photographs. Some don't permit any during the ceremony, but will pose afterward.
Some don't care, but CHECK FIRST!

Spare batteries!
Spare memory if you are digital.
Tons fo film, fast and slow if you are on film.
Spare everything you can think of.

Try to avoid getting in the way of video cameras.

Check ahead of time for lighting conditions (window glare, cloudy, sunny light levels )
Bridal preparation journal progression shots.
Plan group shots number, size, location.

Discuss with bride and groom what they are wanting or expecting from you, especially the group shots.

Flower girl(s), ring bearer, maids of honor.
Garter and bouquet before and during shots.

Frame your shots.
Multiple shots! Some thing can never be repeated..
Watch your backgrounds! (I had a streetlight sticking out of my head like a Martian antenna. My wife had a bell over her head.)

Decorations, The cake BEFORE it is cut.
The cake stuffing in the mouth trick.
Hooked arms drink.

Dancing at the reception. Family shots. Friends. Wedding crashers.

Cut and run.

If your friend has zero money for a photographer, give money enough to hire someone who has done this at least one time before, even if they are not a real professional. Maybe another design student or someone else in the art department is really on top of this sort of thing and would work for cheap.

This will go a lot farther towards enhancing your friendship than ruining the wedding photos.

Tips? The best tip yet is, "Don't do it." You are a student and one day you will have all bases covered. Imagine how your friend will feel if you do not live up to her/his expectations. Make that "ex-friend." There is SO MUCH to do in a wedding job, it is not possible to give you a few tips that would make the difference between knowing what you are doing under pressure and screwing it up royally.

Sorry...

"I'm a fashion photographer (student) and I've never done weddings!"

"I don't want to ruin her wedding day."

I see panic and doubt in those statements you made.

If you value your friendship, just say NO.

Tell your friend that you will be happy to wander around and take candids but she should hire a professional wedding photographer.

i don't think you should have accepted that job offer if you arent ready.

at least shoot in raw so mistakes can be easier to fix

you wanna make sure your exposure is good
to make her dress look the white it is

you might want to practise exposure by placing different coloured objects in the frame and then place one white object that resembles a wedding dress colour and fabric.

take shots of this scene indoors and outdoors
make sure you make that dress the right colour while not sacrafising your other colours and details in the frame

1. Do your best.
2. Quantity - Do every person, every group, and every activity without imtimidating anyone.
3. Quality - These are the types of shots they might want to print out poster sized, so make darn sure you do your best (see step 1).

Tell the bride and groom to hire a professional. That is the best chance of not ruining the shot.