I'm shooting a wedding in April. I'm a good photographer, I've done portraits, nature, still life, etc. However, I've never done a wedding, and from what I hear, it's a whole different ball game. I was just wondering if there was anyone with some experience who could give me some tips.
(I'm a professional photographer in the USAF, 3 years of experience) Wedding photography is probably as bad as war photography. It is full of endless drama they assume you are a magician and no matter how badly things go, they expect you to make them look perfect.
If you can go to the rehearsal--it will save you quite a bit of a heartache. Not only you will be able to where they will stand, you will be given a chance to look at the building, etc., and find out where you can plug in your battery charger, too.
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c317/w...
Dated April of last year. I was not the main photographer--I have known this couple for over ten years--and I was only a friend with a camera. (I was asked to bring my camera anyway.)
The main photographers (who were paid very handsomely) missed the opportunity to take the shots similar to left upper photo and they were not there at all (to take the one I turned into black and white, i.e. on the way out of the church) because they were not there at the rehearsal.
Bring an assistant--and not someone that has no clue about a camera. If you're the main photographer and something goes wrong because your helper accidentally deletes the photos on the memory card, they will never forgive you (and probably won't pay you either). This person will also keep an eye on your expensive equipments, etc.
Just take a lot of photos and be aware of everything that happens before / during / and after a wedding. You have to be on alert at all time. This means you have to bring many, many memory cards (I have fifteen 8 GB CF cards)--and two dozens extra batteries, fully charged, and an extra camera body, in case my craps out. Forget bringing a laptop to edit any of them there--you won't have time for it, and not even your helper will be able to do that either.
Forgetting trying to sit down and eat with them (I have seen that--I thought it was weird). You're paid to be there to capture all the beautiful moments.
Then, when you're home, you'll spend the rest of the night (and probably the next day or two) going over these photos, converting them from RAW to JPG, etc.
If you are as good photographer as you said you are, I hope you are charging them enough money so it will be worth your time and energy. If you don't think you're ready, be a secondary photographer, or an assistant, at a full wedding, to gain some experience. It really is not as "fun" as most people think. Something goes wrong, guess whom they will blame.
I wish you good luck nevertheless. I'm not a photographer, more a customer of them. However the advise I would offer is to get lots of candid shots of the guests. That will be the most memorable thing for the bride and groom.
You still need all the posed shots- your on your own for that. Here's just a few tips I can give you from my experiences
- Be flexible- One of the most important rules of photographing a wedding.
- Stay on your toes, a wedding day is full of events you only have one chance to capture, so keep your eyes open.
- Be fast! There's barely any time in a wedding day to get all the shots you would idealy want to get.
- Do yourself a favor and get an assistant. I promise your day will be 50% better and easier if you do.
- Relax and don't get too bossy, otherwise the people in your photos will not look too happy... be sure you get them to relax too.
- Have fun! =) Sit with the bride and groom before hand and get a list of specific shots they want. That's the big one.
Have an assistant and back up equipment. Have more of everything than you think you will need. (batteries, film, memory, etc etc) and take a backup of everything. Try to at least attend a wedding and pay attention to what the photographer is doing. If you can shadow or assist that would be helpful.
Visit some wedding websites to see what is current in wedding photography, look at the poses and how the groups are done. Find out what type of coverage your bride is thinking of. Even if she says she doesn't want any formals, you still need to have a plan to get staged "candids".
Find out as much as possible about the ceremony plans beforehand and try to attend the rehearsal if possible. Ask the clergy what is allowed and what is not. More than likely you won't be able to use a flash during the ceremony, and there may be restrictions on where you can shoot from as well. Plan on taking a tripod and a longer lens just in case.
Life will be easier if you custom WB every time you change rooms or lighting. If you have a workflow for it, shoot RAW.
You will probably find one of two things, you will love the experience and think about how you might shoot your next one and start building a wedding portfolio, or you will break out in hives that last for weeks afterward and your butt will clench every time you hear the wedding march. :-) I am teasing, shooting weddings can be a rewarding experience (or not) If you are a skilled photographer in other areas and know your way around your camera, just keep your wits about you and come in prepared and you should be fine. Good luck!
EDIT* Pooky and I were typing at the same time. He has great points. I didn't mention payment. IMHO, either do it for free, with the stipulation that you can use the images for portfolio if wanted, OR charge enough to be worth the time and effort, perhaps a bit less than the comparable professionals, but somewhere in the same ballpark. Decide ahead of the event what you will be providing and the charge for it. I would have them sign a simple contract, even if doing it for free. natie_05 has it pretty well covered.
We can tell you all the technical stuff, but that's mostly common sense.
Something like 70 or 80 per cent of Wedding Photography has nothing to do with photography. It's about how you get on with the EVERYONE at the wedding. Put simply - be nice to people.
I promise it works really well.
I've been taking Wedding pics for close to twenty-five years and, bearing in mind you have to be technically proficient to the degree that it is second nature, what works is NOT being bossy and NEVER - absolutely NEVER - losing your temper.
By all means 'direct' your subjects but don't order them around.
You should know that you need to have almost ferocious concentration to juggle all the elements you will have to deal with - even now I'm exhausted at the end of a shoot - but I promise you the rewards are woth it.
Don't, as we say in the UK, 'bottle it' - don't lose your nerve - and I'm sure you will be fine. My best wishes to you and all your endeavours.
PS
This is heresy among Wedding Photographers, but don't worry if guests want to take their own pictures. They won't be as good as yours and they will love you for it.
Again, relax and good luck. |
