So, Some friends of mine are getting married, and asked if I would do the photography! I warned them that I have tried very hard not to take pictures of people for the last 6 years They seemed to be okay with that(and my price)! I don't even own a flash. It's not like they have huge expectations, and I'm not going to go out and invest big bucks in lighting and stuff. So, I figure a hot shoe mounted speedlight with a softening filter is the way to go. Am I wrong? If not, should I be trying to bounce the light onto the subjects, or what? would it be better to position the flash off camera and fire it remotely? Like I said, they don't have huge expectations, but I'd like to try and give them a nice result. Any thoughts and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
You said, "...they don't have huge expectations...". Wanna bet? Seriously, they will treasure the photographs, and while they say their espectations are not high, the nicer the pictures, the more they will be enjoyed.
I suggest that you rent or buy a flash that can be used off-camera. A hotshoe mounted flash will cast strange shadows if the camera is turned vertically because the light will appear to come from the side rather than downward. A bounce attachment or tilt head will be very handy indoors, and will give pleasing light. A diffusing filter on the flash will give soft light for close-in portrait shots. The point here is that you want the light to look as natural as possible.
If you can, take your gear to the venue where the reception will be held, and to the church, or wherever the ceremony will be held and make some test shots. Take someone with you who can be a stand-in. The more you prepare up front, the better the shots will be, and the lower your stress level will be.
Now, if you are not reasonably comfortable doing this job, you should let the couple know soon so that they can make other arrangements.
I hope others who have done weddings will chime in.
People/friends ask me to do weddings all the time. I politely refuse. I don't do weddings. AS mentioned above, people's expectations are going to be alot more than you think. Suppose you have equipment failure and really blow it. No matter how "low" their expectations are, they expect you to get the normal wedding photos. Personally, I don't want the hassle and nerves that go along with a wedding shoot. And then, there are actual professionals out there TRYING to make a living doing weddings. They know EXACTLY what is needed, when and what to shoot, how to process the end result, and how to make the final presentation that the couple will enjoy for the rest of their lives.
On the other hand, some folks just cannot afford a professional photographer. That's life. They will wind up usually getting about the worth they pay for - no offense - you may wind up getting great images. I don't see that happening at your experience level (of shooting people), not knowing how to use flash properly, and not having the proper gear for the situation.
Aside from not having any flash equipment, you have not said what camera gear you have and what lenses you have to do this shoot. Do you have a backup body in case a participant jars your camera and it breaks up all over the floor. You have still "contracted" to get the rest of the events images! Spare batteries? Enough chips? Clothes suitable for a wedding? I hate seeing everyone at a wedding all dressed up and the photographer is in jeans and a t-shirt. Do they want digital images or do they expect prints? Will your camera afford the ability to produce excellent enlargements? You have presented them with a "price" that they like (like free?). Do you know how much of your time you will invest post-processing. Is this really worth your while?
Hate being so negative - just want to be sure that you REALLY know what you are getting into - even with their "low" expectations. Frankly, I would do no job where the expectations of my work were going to be "low"!
And if this is a friend, will he still be a friend if you blow his once in a lifetime wedding images?
Some things to think about.
Posted by Lon Overacker on January 14, 2013 at 2:23 AM
Chris,
As your friend, I have to lean towards comments already given.... "don't have huge expectations.... turn in to HUGE DISAPPOINTMENTS" if you don't deliver on "once-in-a-lifetime" moments. Unless you've practiced flash - with a soft -box and know the settings like the back of your hand... you are at risk of affecting that "friend" relationship.
Unfortunately for so many...., they think they can turn their success of nature, landscape, wildlife or even architect photography in to doing someone's wedding. Sure, there is plenty in common (aperture, shutter speed....) - but unlike a sunrise or sunset that you can catch again and again, a wedding - and all those candid moments - happen just once.
If you've already committed to this, my recommendation would be to forego the flash and trying to set up the professional setup, and go for quantity. Get all the candid images you can along with the standard group photos, hand/ring, and cake images. But use the equipment as your best comfortable with and don't try and incorporate soft boxes and bounce flash if that's something you've never used before.
I hope they're really good friends.
Lon
Posted by Bill Chambers on January 14, 2013 at 9:55 AM
I would position myself in another county!! I have probably insulted a couple of people by refusing to do wedding, anniversary, etc. images. I'm no good at it and don't want the pressure. I would politely (but firmly) explain that the event is too important to risk your friendship over in your mind. Life is too short to intentionally bring stress into it!!
I have shot three weddings, all for friends; two outdoors and one indoors. After the last one I said, "Never again!" While the shots came out pretty well and the couples were pleased, I found the stress to be extrordinarily high. Weddings are very dynamic and you can't go back later and reshoot--it has to be right the first time.
I agree with the points made by Lon and Troup. There are lots of pro wedding photographers who need the work, and I believe your friends should explore this. Don't get me wrong, I know you are a skilled photographer, but, as Lon has indicated, photographing people, and especially a wedding, is a whole different ballgame from nature photography.
Hi Chris,
I started my career shooting weddings and it was the first thing I gave up when I could. Even when I was shooting them, I had a rule of never shooting friends or family that I broke one time and I still have issues with the person involved. You put yourself in a loose loose situation that follows you forever if or until they divorce (in my case that didn't even end it.) Unless your performance, yes, it is a performance, is near flawless, the expectations, however low, are not likely to be meet. This is no time or place to learn how to use a strobe. In addition to that, if they are really good or great friends, you want to celebrate with them rather than working the gig. There are plenty of people out there at all price points looking for the work to further their careers. Politely decline and enjoy the celebration would be my advice.
Just my $0.02
Neil
the only time that i have shot a wedding from which i was relatively pleased with what i produced was one in during the day in summer, outdoors with lots of reflected and diffused light and not much direct sunlight. i would hardly know where to begin indoors. one alternative is to go in with high iso only and no flash ... overall, if they're counting on you, count yourself out!
I think everyone here has expressed a valid perspective and their comments are worth considering. There were also a few very good tips and I'll mention those in a moment. Personally though, I think shooting a wedding might be a good experience if you're willing to embrace the challenge it presents so long as you have some confidence you can pull it off.
I was recently in the same position as you, with relatives asking whether I would shoot their wedding last November. Like you, I'm hardly an expert at shooting people and I'd rarely used a flash (though I did own one that had been on a shelf for a couple of years). I explained my concerns to them and we had an honest conversation about expectations and outcomes. They remained very much interested in having me give it a go...for them, it was a matter of not having the money to afford a professional, period. They were also very reassuring about their "low expectations," though as others have said you can't necessarily expect such reassurances are sincere.
It still took me a few days to make up my mind. In the end, I decided to just give it my best shot. I dusted off my hot-shoe flash, read its manual, read some other tips on using it online, and then practiced a bit around the house and in the backyard. I became relatively comfortable using it in different camera modes that I would be likely to use during the wedding (primarily aperture-priority and manual). Also, I developed some understanding of how a shot would look with the flash pointed straight at the subject, with it bounced off the ceiling, if I adjusted its intensity up a stop or down a stop, etc. As you'll find, bouncing it off a ceiling usually makes for a more appealing shot but it's not always practical to do that (for example, if the wedding is in a church with high ceilings).
All of that only took maybe 3-4 hours...and I think a round of batteries for the flash. I debated checking out a second flash for off-camera use, a diffuser, etc., but decided to just stick with what I already had and keep things relatively simple. I also decided to rent a "fast" lens...a 24-70 2.8. That was somewhat useful the day of the wedding in low-light situations (primarily during the reception), but I ended up using a 70-200 zoom for most of the ceremony so that I wasn't terribly obtrusive.
A visit to the site of the ceremony for the rehearsal the day before the wedding was tremendously valuable. It gave me the opportunity to test out different settings for the camera and flash...among other things, I discovered that I'd have to shoot at a relatively high ISO even with the flash in order to maintain a reasonable shutter speed. It also made clear that I'd have to use the 70-200 during the ceremony if I wanted to be relatively out of the way. Finally, understanding how the ceremony would proceed allowed me to think clearly about where I wanted to be as it progressed to capture some of the more important moments.
I showed up a couple hours early on the wedding day to do a bit more experimenting before the event. That helped me dial in the flash, ISO, and exposure settings a bit more, and also made me feel a bit more comfortable overall. I also spent some time (maybe 20 minutes or so) reviewing a list of potential "key shots" with the bride and groom so that we were on the same page about what they wanted, etc. There are lists like that available online...in my case, they photocopied a list out of a book they had and checked off shots that were important to them (and in truth, I probably only got about 2/3 of what they wanted).
Shooting the ceremony and reception proved to be rather enjoyable...a lot of work, but fun overall. It went off pretty smoothly and I finished with a lot of very nice shots. I can't recall if you use Lightroom, but I really found it invaluable for doing the editing because of the volume of shots to sift through and tweak...I was quite liberal about cropping to compensate for having to shoot quickly during the ceremony, among other things.
So far as I can tell the bride and groom and their family were very pleased with the end result. They've been very complimentary and show off the pictures at every opportunity. I enjoyed the experience overall and it really helped to just embrace the challenge of it.
Posted by Luke Ormand on January 14, 2013 at 2:39 PM
I agree with most of what everyone says - especially having been recently married and dealing with my photographer (and my wife!). Our photograph was great, as was his assistant and they brought some serious cred to the shoot (including having done events at the location in the past). What was most important to me as the person being photographed (aside from, obviously good photography) was the photographer's not being in the way and being personable with myself and my guests.
One of the best things the assistant photographer did was have some supplies in his camera bag (gum, suntan lotion, etc.) that really came in handy when I was about to actually get married. Having the photographers be experienced with the flow of the day made myself and my wife much more comfortable.
I'll also suggest this - depending on the time and the location, try to avoid flash as much as possible. Rent a fast lens (and a backup body!!!!) and use it in place of flash. Only time the flash came out at my wedding was when the sun set and we were on the dance floor - otherwise it was all natural lighting which ensures you won't mess up the flash!
Assuming you do still decide to go ahead with the shoot and based on your comments, and also assuming there is still some time left before the event I would suggest looking at Neil van Niekerk's website - http://neilvn.com/tangents/ - specifically the tutorials on flash photography techniques in the side bar. He is a master of flash and I consider his tutorials among the best for learning how to make the most of one on-camera flash. He also has a book, "On-Camera Flash: Techniques for Wedding and Portrait Photography" which is excellent if you have time to buy, study and practice.
I hear ya, and I pretty much agree with you. I was very frank about my experience and reservations and they took some time and still decided to ask me to do it. I'm sure finances are influencing this decision. So, I kind of think they are aware of "getting what they can pay for". I will have one more serious sit down with them and try to explain all that you have explained to me.
I currently shoot the Nikon D800, and have a D200 back up. My lens is a 24-70 2.8, with the back up lens for the D200 being an 18-70 3.5/4.5
I like the idea of not using a flash, since I have no idea how to use one. I don't know if I could get comfortable with it in the time I have. My learning curve is kind of slow. I was considering buying a 70-200 2.8 or the new F4 Alternative. That might be a better investment in the long run since I may never use the flash again!!!!!!!!!
The ceremony will be in a church with high ceilings. But not an old traditional looking sancuary, but rather a new modern style sancuary. The ceilings are not finished,so you can see the beams and ducting that have been painted black. The reception is at a veterans hall with a lot of natural light.
I think though, that as a friend, I might try and influence them to go with a pro. Just don't know that they have the funds to do that. When I told him he'd be getting a deal for $1200-$1500 and should probably expect to pay more, he kind of cringed!!!!!!!!
Thanks,
Chris
Posted by Ed Cordes on January 14, 2013 at 10:02 PM
In the early 1970's I shot a few (3 if I remember correctly) weddings while in undergraduate college. I found it to be the most stressful work I have ever done. This was in the film days when I had to send the Kodacolor negatives in to be processed and hope nothing happened to them. I had to hope Aunt Tilly from way out of town didn't have her eyes closed during the large family shot and couldn't be fixed. Grizzly Bear and Rattle Snakes don't complain about their pictures not being perfect and are easier to deal with than the family of the "Lovely Couple". I will not shoot another wedding.
Posted by Eva McDermott on January 14, 2013 at 11:44 PM
I did a few weddings for friends back in the 80's but said never again. Too stressful for sure. I did my sister's wedding back in 1981 and that worked out well for their expectations. I took images at at a wedding for fun last year of my husband's niece but was quite upset by the official photographers response to my presence. She saw my camera and lenses and was very uneasy with my presence. That is the worst feeling of all. So never again except, for my two sons weddings when ever that happens.
Posted by Paul DeCesare on January 15, 2013 at 2:13 AM
RUN.
LOL!!! Sandy, that was priceless!
I swore up and down for years I'd never shoot a wedding. All the same things swirled in my mind, concern over gear and pulling it off and expectations and bears oh my. Then I saw Jasmine Star shoot a wedding LIVE on CreativeLive, a 5-day event where she was wired with a mic and three cameramen following her as she prepared and shot a real wedding live on the internet.
I was HOOKED. That was August 2010. Shot my first wedding in March 2011, and I never had so much fun. However, I was prepared and had the desire to do it, which I think you do also or you wouldn't have thrown the question out there, lol!
SO, couple thoughts regarding this wild and insane and enticing opportunity:
*The groom started thinking about the wedding the day he met the girl. The girl started thinking about the wedding when she was seven. That's the most important piece of information to remember.
*Re-read the previous entry.
*The bride and both moms absolutely rule the roost for whatever output you need to achieve, so INTERVIEW THEM and see what they expect in their minds (sorry guys, we don't count during weddings, not even for a moment). If you show up believing your artistry will carry you, you're going to have the disappointments mentioned above by others, the "messes" that can happen. BUT if you poll the ladies in advance and see what they have in mind, you will succeed quite nicely. Don't be surprised to find the moms wanting formal group shots and the bride NOT being interested in that. Most younger folks want it all on the fly, but make sure you get a mix of both.
*If at all possible, get a second shooter, a WOMAN, to be in the dressing room when all of the bride prep is going on. If you come up with a bazillion images of bride prep from mascara to final button on the dress, you will have even more success for outcome. Head to http://www.secondshooters.net/, there are always aspiring photogs wanting to assist at a wedding and will usually do it for free. You need a second shooter, that's just how it is today.
*Details: shoot closeups of EVERYTHING: Rings, shoes (my goodness, do NOT forget to get several shots of her shoes, and the dress before she puts it on). Shoot centerpieces, place settings, invitation cards, CAKE, everything that they went to the trouble to have made or done for the day. Also get a few room shots of the church and reception hall before people are in it, after it's decorated.
*Absolutely FORGET the flash. This is 2013 and we have ISO 3200 shooting gorgeous and clean. I shoot weddings with NO flash at all. I bought a Speedlight and still have never used it, waste of money. FAST GLASS is what you need. The look today is all about available light and creamy bokeh. You don't need lighting, you need to rent a 50mm/1.4 and and 85mm/1.4 and be shooting wide open through 2.8 for all pre ceremony movements. Closeups of the bride shot at 85mm/1.4 where just her face or hands are in focus will bring on the emotions big time (I'm sure some folks think I'm nuts, but Jasmine Star and Mike Colon are getting over $10,000 per wedding and this is how they shoot). For the ceremony you'll need a 70-200mm/2.8 with VR. Then for the reception you can use the 24-70mm/2.8 and run around and have fun. F2.8 is slow for a wedding but for receptions it's fine, people are hopping around at that point and details aren't necessary. Nail the preceremony and First Look shots and do that shooting wide open and you will be their hero (First Look is HUGE, don't miss it: if they choose to do formals before the wedding, you need to NAIL the moment they first see each other, and you'll need to dictate the spot). Disclaimer: make sure you bring a tripod or monopod in case any super low-light things arise, although you should know that in advance. For the formals, use the tripod for super sharp images. I usually use the 70-200mm for those shots.
*If their is no wedding coordinator, YOU will have to help dictate some of the events of who does what, just to ensure the shots are gotten. Don't be pushy, just don't be afraid to ask for what you need. If there IS a wedding coordinator, GREAT. Make friends with him or her and plan on working together, that will make your day SO much easier.
*There is one more thing you really need to do, and this will seal in the couple's minds (and all of their families) that you did an outstanding job, and will forever deter any of the weirdness than can arise when you shoot for friends and families: either with an iPad or a Droid tablet or a laptop, find time after the ceremony to grab about 30 or 40 images of the shots you took of the bride prep and ceremony shots (especially the one you get of them walking out and smiling) and get them off of your cards and onto a device and into a quick slide show, and get that running before the reception. As people start coming in after the ceremony, set that iPad/laptop down at the bar or somewhere near people, and let the slideshow run. You don't even have to say anything, just leave it there, and as people start noticing and watching, the couple's wedding party and friends and families will start goiong bonkers because you'll being giving them a preview of what just happened, and tears will start running, and you will be thought of as the best wedding photographer on planet earth. I know, you'll be playing on emotions. Excellent that we have that option!
*Post Production: you're going to have to do some level of post work to give your shots a pro look. But given you'll be shooting around 1500-2000 shots and delivering anywhere from 250-500, you can't process one at a time, you'll go mad. I created a couple Nik CEP4 presets and batch 'em, then take my time working on the special images (formals, etc). There's a lot more I can write about that, but I've already overdone it! Just know this: parents want prints; brides want images for Facebook. And get a free SmugMug account or something so you can post a gallery online for distant relatives. After you do ALL of the above, you most likely will please the bride to no end and avoid any post wedding issues.
SO, there's shooting a wedding in 2013. Ready for the task??
PS: Visit this website, see how she shoots, see her galleries, and you'll do great and probably start making $200K shooting these things.
Posted by Luke Ormand on January 15, 2013 at 7:16 PM
*Details: shoot closeups of EVERYTHING: Rings, shoes (my goodness, do NOT forget to get several shots of her shoes, and the dress before she puts it on). Shoot centerpieces, place settings, invitation cards, CAKE, everything that they went to the trouble to have made or done for the day. Also get a few room shots of the church and reception hall before people are in it, after it's decorated.
Again, having just gotten my wedding photos back and gone through them, I cannot stress that point enough. There are so many components to a wedding, shoes/dress/venue/food/cake/etc. that the bride & groom simply cannot remember/appreciate/take-in that getting great shots (even not-so-great) shots of the surroundings will really boost the final product.
Posted by Joe Rogers on January 16, 2013 at 6:46 PM
I have 34 years experience shooting weddings....If you know as little about it as you have indicated and with no experience with flash you would be, indeed, foolish to do this, and they would be equally foolish to let you.
Joe Rogers
Posted by Hali Sowle on January 25, 2013 at 10:17 PM
If you really are going to go through with this then look through wedding photographers websites and facebook pages to get an idea of how they stage their shots how they do their detail shots and poses. Try to work with friends (maybe even the couple) posing them before the wedding, maybe doing an "engagement" shoot to get comfortable with the idea. If you want I have some friends that are absolutely fabulous wedding photographers and I can email you their websites and their names to look up on fb to see what they put together. I don't envy you this, I have turned down a few weddings and a Bar Mitvah after doing one for a friend years back. I think I was more nervous during the ceremony and the reception than the bride.
You know I appreciate all of your opinions and suggestions. After a lot of thought, and a lengthy sit down with the Bride and Groom, I have decided to go ahead and do it! This was going to be an informal affair at the courthouse originally. But with some pressure from some of their family, they decided to have a ceremony. They were going to go with just the images that friends and family captured during the event. I think I can give them something quite a bit nicer than that. Something more traditional, and more professional in results. I know I don't have any experience with the technical side of wedding photography. But, I have decided to go without artificial lighting(flash) and just work with the ambient light available.
I have already been doing some research, and am getting some great ideas for certain types of poses and imagery. I needed a 70-200mm lens for my camera bag anyway. In addition to that, I purchased a 50mm F/1.4 lens as well. The 85mm F/1.4 is awesome, but will have to wait for another day
I have recently come to the realization that I will probably have to venture into the Portrait/Family photography side of things. I want to make photography a bigger part of who I am, and how I make my living. with the best case senario being a full transition to it some time soon. I'm not getting any younger, and my current means of making a living has me feeling like life is passing me by! This is a more casual situation for me to step into that arena and see how it goes. It's a good solution for them as well(as long as I don't blow it completely)!!!!!
I went out with the Bride and Groom last weekend for some casual engagement photos. It was quite pleasant actually, and we all had a great time. I didn't realize how fun it could be to interact with people as subjects! I suppose it doesn't hurt that they are friends, and there was an already developed comfort level between us.
I also have to say how nice it was to have that 1.4 aperture to work with. What a nice bright image and aesthetic bokeh.
Anyway, they were pleased with the pics, and I survived it, so far!
Discussion
22 repliesThanks,
Chris
You said, "...they don't have huge expectations...". Wanna bet? Seriously, they will treasure the photographs, and while they say their espectations are not high, the nicer the pictures, the more they will be enjoyed.
I suggest that you rent or buy a flash that can be used off-camera. A hotshoe mounted flash will cast strange shadows if the camera is turned vertically because the light will appear to come from the side rather than downward. A bounce attachment or tilt head will be very handy indoors, and will give pleasing light. A diffusing filter on the flash will give soft light for close-in portrait shots. The point here is that you want the light to look as natural as possible.
If you can, take your gear to the venue where the reception will be held, and to the church, or wherever the ceremony will be held and make some test shots. Take someone with you who can be a stand-in. The more you prepare up front, the better the shots will be, and the lower your stress level will be.
Now, if you are not reasonably comfortable doing this job, you should let the couple know soon so that they can make other arrangements.
I hope others who have done weddings will chime in.
--P
On the other hand, some folks just cannot afford a professional photographer. That's life. They will wind up usually getting about the worth they pay for - no offense - you may wind up getting great images. I don't see that happening at your experience level (of shooting people), not knowing how to use flash properly, and not having the proper gear for the situation.
Aside from not having any flash equipment, you have not said what camera gear you have and what lenses you have to do this shoot. Do you have a backup body in case a participant jars your camera and it breaks up all over the floor. You have still "contracted" to get the rest of the events images! Spare batteries? Enough chips? Clothes suitable for a wedding? I hate seeing everyone at a wedding all dressed up and the photographer is in jeans and a t-shirt. Do they want digital images or do they expect prints? Will your camera afford the ability to produce excellent enlargements? You have presented them with a "price" that they like (like free?). Do you know how much of your time you will invest post-processing. Is this really worth your while?
Hate being so negative - just want to be sure that you REALLY know what you are getting into - even with their "low" expectations. Frankly, I would do no job where the expectations of my work were going to be "low"!
And if this is a friend, will he still be a friend if you blow his once in a lifetime wedding images?
Some things to think about.
As your friend, I have to lean towards comments already given.... "don't have huge expectations.... turn in to HUGE DISAPPOINTMENTS" if you don't deliver on "once-in-a-lifetime" moments. Unless you've practiced flash - with a soft -box and know the settings like the back of your hand... you are at risk of affecting that "friend" relationship.
Unfortunately for so many...., they think they can turn their success of nature, landscape, wildlife or even architect photography in to doing someone's wedding. Sure, there is plenty in common (aperture, shutter speed....) - but unlike a sunrise or sunset that you can catch again and again, a wedding - and all those candid moments - happen just once.
If you've already committed to this, my recommendation would be to forego the flash and trying to set up the professional setup, and go for quantity. Get all the candid images you can along with the standard group photos, hand/ring, and cake images. But use the equipment as your best comfortable with and don't try and incorporate soft boxes and bounce flash if that's something you've never used before.
I hope they're really good friends.
Lon
Sandy
I agree with the points made by Lon and Troup. There are lots of pro wedding photographers who need the work, and I believe your friends should explore this. Don't get me wrong, I know you are a skilled photographer, but, as Lon has indicated, photographing people, and especially a wedding, is a whole different ballgame from nature photography.
--P
I started my career shooting weddings and it was the first thing I gave up when I could. Even when I was shooting them, I had a rule of never shooting friends or family that I broke one time and I still have issues with the person involved. You put yourself in a loose loose situation that follows you forever if or until they divorce (in my case that didn't even end it.) Unless your performance, yes, it is a performance, is near flawless, the expectations, however low, are not likely to be meet. This is no time or place to learn how to use a strobe. In addition to that, if they are really good or great friends, you want to celebrate with them rather than working the gig. There are plenty of people out there at all price points looking for the work to further their careers. Politely decline and enjoy the celebration would be my advice.
Just my $0.02
Neil
I was recently in the same position as you, with relatives asking whether I would shoot their wedding last November. Like you, I'm hardly an expert at shooting people and I'd rarely used a flash (though I did own one that had been on a shelf for a couple of years). I explained my concerns to them and we had an honest conversation about expectations and outcomes. They remained very much interested in having me give it a go...for them, it was a matter of not having the money to afford a professional, period. They were also very reassuring about their "low expectations," though as others have said you can't necessarily expect such reassurances are sincere.
It still took me a few days to make up my mind. In the end, I decided to just give it my best shot. I dusted off my hot-shoe flash, read its manual, read some other tips on using it online, and then practiced a bit around the house and in the backyard. I became relatively comfortable using it in different camera modes that I would be likely to use during the wedding (primarily aperture-priority and manual). Also, I developed some understanding of how a shot would look with the flash pointed straight at the subject, with it bounced off the ceiling, if I adjusted its intensity up a stop or down a stop, etc. As you'll find, bouncing it off a ceiling usually makes for a more appealing shot but it's not always practical to do that (for example, if the wedding is in a church with high ceilings).
All of that only took maybe 3-4 hours...and I think a round of batteries for the flash. I debated checking out a second flash for off-camera use, a diffuser, etc., but decided to just stick with what I already had and keep things relatively simple. I also decided to rent a "fast" lens...a 24-70 2.8. That was somewhat useful the day of the wedding in low-light situations (primarily during the reception), but I ended up using a 70-200 zoom for most of the ceremony so that I wasn't terribly obtrusive.
A visit to the site of the ceremony for the rehearsal the day before the wedding was tremendously valuable. It gave me the opportunity to test out different settings for the camera and flash...among other things, I discovered that I'd have to shoot at a relatively high ISO even with the flash in order to maintain a reasonable shutter speed. It also made clear that I'd have to use the 70-200 during the ceremony if I wanted to be relatively out of the way. Finally, understanding how the ceremony would proceed allowed me to think clearly about where I wanted to be as it progressed to capture some of the more important moments.
I showed up a couple hours early on the wedding day to do a bit more experimenting before the event. That helped me dial in the flash, ISO, and exposure settings a bit more, and also made me feel a bit more comfortable overall. I also spent some time (maybe 20 minutes or so) reviewing a list of potential "key shots" with the bride and groom so that we were on the same page about what they wanted, etc. There are lists like that available online...in my case, they photocopied a list out of a book they had and checked off shots that were important to them (and in truth, I probably only got about 2/3 of what they wanted).
Shooting the ceremony and reception proved to be rather enjoyable...a lot of work, but fun overall. It went off pretty smoothly and I finished with a lot of very nice shots. I can't recall if you use Lightroom, but I really found it invaluable for doing the editing because of the volume of shots to sift through and tweak...I was quite liberal about cropping to compensate for having to shoot quickly during the ceremony, among other things.
So far as I can tell the bride and groom and their family were very pleased with the end result. They've been very complimentary and show off the pictures at every opportunity. I enjoyed the experience overall and it really helped to just embrace the challenge of it.
One of the best things the assistant photographer did was have some supplies in his camera bag (gum, suntan lotion, etc.) that really came in handy when I was about to actually get married. Having the photographers be experienced with the flow of the day made myself and my wife much more comfortable.
I'll also suggest this - depending on the time and the location, try to avoid flash as much as possible. Rent a fast lens (and a backup body!!!!) and use it in place of flash. Only time the flash came out at my wedding was when the sun set and we were on the dance floor - otherwise it was all natural lighting which ensures you won't mess up the flash!
I hear ya, and I pretty much agree with you. I was very frank about my experience and reservations and they took some time and still decided to ask me to do it. I'm sure finances are influencing this decision. So, I kind of think they are aware of "getting what they can pay for". I will have one more serious sit down with them and try to explain all that you have explained to me.
I currently shoot the Nikon D800, and have a D200 back up. My lens is a 24-70 2.8, with the back up lens for the D200 being an 18-70 3.5/4.5
I like the idea of not using a flash, since I have no idea how to use one. I don't know if I could get comfortable with it in the time I have. My learning curve is kind of slow. I was considering buying a 70-200 2.8 or the new F4 Alternative. That might be a better investment in the long run since I may never use the flash again!!!!!!!!!
The ceremony will be in a church with high ceilings. But not an old traditional looking sancuary, but rather a new modern style sancuary. The ceilings are not finished,so you can see the beams and ducting that have been painted black. The reception is at a veterans hall with a lot of natural light.
I think though, that as a friend, I might try and influence them to go with a pro. Just don't know that they have the funds to do that. When I told him he'd be getting a deal for $1200-$1500 and should probably expect to pay more, he kind of cringed!!!!!!!!
Thanks,
Chris
LOL!!! Sandy, that was priceless!
I swore up and down for years I'd never shoot a wedding. All the same things swirled in my mind, concern over gear and pulling it off and expectations and bears oh my. Then I saw Jasmine Star shoot a wedding LIVE on CreativeLive, a 5-day event where she was wired with a mic and three cameramen following her as she prepared and shot a real wedding live on the internet.
I was HOOKED. That was August 2010. Shot my first wedding in March 2011, and I never had so much fun. However, I was prepared and had the desire to do it, which I think you do also or you wouldn't have thrown the question out there, lol!
SO, couple thoughts regarding this wild and insane and enticing opportunity:
*The groom started thinking about the wedding the day he met the girl. The girl started thinking about the wedding when she was seven. That's the most important piece of information to remember.
*Re-read the previous entry.
*The bride and both moms absolutely rule the roost for whatever output you need to achieve, so INTERVIEW THEM and see what they expect in their minds (sorry guys, we don't count during weddings, not even for a moment). If you show up believing your artistry will carry you, you're going to have the disappointments mentioned above by others, the "messes" that can happen. BUT if you poll the ladies in advance and see what they have in mind, you will succeed quite nicely. Don't be surprised to find the moms wanting formal group shots and the bride NOT being interested in that. Most younger folks want it all on the fly, but make sure you get a mix of both.
*If at all possible, get a second shooter, a WOMAN, to be in the dressing room when all of the bride prep is going on. If you come up with a bazillion images of bride prep from mascara to final button on the dress, you will have even more success for outcome. Head to http://www.secondshooters.net/, there are always aspiring photogs wanting to assist at a wedding and will usually do it for free. You need a second shooter, that's just how it is today.
*Details: shoot closeups of EVERYTHING: Rings, shoes (my goodness, do NOT forget to get several shots of her shoes, and the dress before she puts it on). Shoot centerpieces, place settings, invitation cards, CAKE, everything that they went to the trouble to have made or done for the day. Also get a few room shots of the church and reception hall before people are in it, after it's decorated.
*Absolutely FORGET the flash. This is 2013 and we have ISO 3200 shooting gorgeous and clean. I shoot weddings with NO flash at all. I bought a Speedlight and still have never used it, waste of money. FAST GLASS is what you need. The look today is all about available light and creamy bokeh. You don't need lighting, you need to rent a 50mm/1.4 and and 85mm/1.4 and be shooting wide open through 2.8 for all pre ceremony movements. Closeups of the bride shot at 85mm/1.4 where just her face or hands are in focus will bring on the emotions big time (I'm sure some folks think I'm nuts, but Jasmine Star and Mike Colon are getting over $10,000 per wedding and this is how they shoot). For the ceremony you'll need a 70-200mm/2.8 with VR. Then for the reception you can use the 24-70mm/2.8 and run around and have fun. F2.8 is slow for a wedding but for receptions it's fine, people are hopping around at that point and details aren't necessary. Nail the preceremony and First Look shots and do that shooting wide open and you will be their hero (First Look is HUGE, don't miss it: if they choose to do formals before the wedding, you need to NAIL the moment they first see each other, and you'll need to dictate the spot). Disclaimer: make sure you bring a tripod or monopod in case any super low-light things arise, although you should know that in advance. For the formals, use the tripod for super sharp images. I usually use the 70-200mm for those shots.
*If their is no wedding coordinator, YOU will have to help dictate some of the events of who does what, just to ensure the shots are gotten. Don't be pushy, just don't be afraid to ask for what you need. If there IS a wedding coordinator, GREAT. Make friends with him or her and plan on working together, that will make your day SO much easier.
*There is one more thing you really need to do, and this will seal in the couple's minds (and all of their families) that you did an outstanding job, and will forever deter any of the weirdness than can arise when you shoot for friends and families: either with an iPad or a Droid tablet or a laptop, find time after the ceremony to grab about 30 or 40 images of the shots you took of the bride prep and ceremony shots (especially the one you get of them walking out and smiling) and get them off of your cards and onto a device and into a quick slide show, and get that running before the reception. As people start coming in after the ceremony, set that iPad/laptop down at the bar or somewhere near people, and let the slideshow run. You don't even have to say anything, just leave it there, and as people start noticing and watching, the couple's wedding party and friends and families will start goiong bonkers because you'll being giving them a preview of what just happened, and tears will start running, and you will be thought of as the best wedding photographer on planet earth. I know, you'll be playing on emotions. Excellent that we have that option!
*Post Production: you're going to have to do some level of post work to give your shots a pro look. But given you'll be shooting around 1500-2000 shots and delivering anywhere from 250-500, you can't process one at a time, you'll go mad. I created a couple Nik CEP4 presets and batch 'em, then take my time working on the special images (formals, etc). There's a lot more I can write about that, but I've already overdone it! Just know this: parents want prints; brides want images for Facebook. And get a free SmugMug account or something so you can post a gallery online for distant relatives. After you do ALL of the above, you most likely will please the bride to no end and avoid any post wedding issues.
SO, there's shooting a wedding in 2013. Ready for the task??
PS: Visit this website, see how she shoots, see her galleries, and you'll do great and probably start making $200K shooting these things.
Again, having just gotten my wedding photos back and gone through them, I cannot stress that point enough. There are so many components to a wedding, shoes/dress/venue/food/cake/etc. that the bride & groom simply cannot remember/appreciate/take-in that getting great shots (even not-so-great) shots of the surroundings will really boost the final product.
Joe Rogers
Just curious, but what did you decide on this?
--P
You know I appreciate all of your opinions and suggestions. After a lot of thought, and a lengthy sit down with the Bride and Groom, I have decided to go ahead and do it! This was going to be an informal affair at the courthouse originally. But with some pressure from some of their family, they decided to have a ceremony. They were going to go with just the images that friends and family captured during the event. I think I can give them something quite a bit nicer than that. Something more traditional, and more professional in results. I know I don't have any experience with the technical side of wedding photography. But, I have decided to go without artificial lighting(flash) and just work with the ambient light available.
I have already been doing some research, and am getting some great ideas for certain types of poses and imagery. I needed a 70-200mm lens for my camera bag anyway. In addition to that, I purchased a 50mm F/1.4 lens as well. The 85mm F/1.4 is awesome, but will have to wait for another day
I have recently come to the realization that I will probably have to venture into the Portrait/Family photography side of things. I want to make photography a bigger part of who I am, and how I make my living. with the best case senario being a full transition to it some time soon. I'm not getting any younger, and my current means of making a living has me feeling like life is passing me by! This is a more casual situation for me to step into that arena and see how it goes. It's a good solution for them as well(as long as I don't blow it completely)!!!!!
I'll keep you posted on the outcome.
Thanks Again,
Chris
--P
I went out with the Bride and Groom last weekend for some casual engagement photos. It was quite pleasant actually, and we all had a great time. I didn't realize how fun it could be to interact with people as subjects! I suppose it doesn't hurt that they are friends, and there was an already developed comfort level between us.
I also have to say how nice it was to have that 1.4 aperture to work with. What a nice bright image and aesthetic bokeh.
Anyway, they were pleased with the pics, and I survived it, so far!
Chris