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****PLEASE HELP***** Wedding Photography
- Thread starter csnoff
- Start date
LeeBase
Veteran Member
That's for sure. If he had described himself as someone who did a lot of people shooting -- both indoors and outdoors, candids and portraiture -- I'd be less concerned. That's the photography part of wedding photography.
Landscapre and wildlife photography is different. Sports photography is different. One sport differs from another.
On the other hand -- we have the testimony of someone who did this very type of things -- put the camera on auto -- and plesed themself and the bridal party -- and for sure that can happen also.
The problem comes when something goes wrong -- and you don't have time to figure it out on the spot -- and these are incredibly important once in a lifetime moments.
Back to the sex analogy. Lots of kids have sex and don't get diseases or pregnant. And when you hear their testimony -- you might tend to think "well, I'll succeed too".
And "you" might -- but that's a risk that those who've been there are tying to help "you" comprehend.
But the risk is directly porportional to the value of the photos. And if the bride and groom (not to mention the extended family) don't really care -- then there's no risk at all.
How to judge ahead of time? Well, you imagine that your one and only camera body broke down in the first five minutes. And you got no photos. Is your sister ok with that? Are you ok with that?
You imagine that all the flash photos are too harsh and washed out -- is she going to be ok with that -- are you?
People look at your good photos and think "hey, I'd be satisfied with photos like that" -- but they don't understand the difference between having all the time and no pressure to do landscape photography -- and the high stress environment of a wedding.
So -- show the sister a set of terrible photos from a day when everything went bad and say "well, would you regret not having hired an experienced photographer if your wedding photos looked like this"?
They really can't forsee geting bad picts because they "know" you take "such good photos".
Whether are relatively inexperienced landscape photographer can pull off a wedding -- that's risky. It COULD happen....there COULD be a LOT of things that go wrong.
Lee
Anthony de Vries
Senior Member
Oh please... be a little realistic! He's not going to be a professional wedding photographer!
LeeBase
Veteran Member
He's shooting a wedding. One camera breaks -- and he's no longer shooting the wedding.
Flash breaks -- and he's no longer (with his slow lenses) able to get decent shots indoors).
The WhiBal is certainly optional.
Because he's not a pro -- the raw format is even more important....but he could shoot jpg and not need as much CF space.
The need for backups has nothing to do with the "professional" of the photographer but the "importance" of the photos...and the "once in a lifetime" nature of the event.
Lee
csnoff
Member
Good thing about that... is its my mom aswell... and the grooms mom... well shes pretty cool... I just hope that i can take all the good stuff here and turn it into something nice...
csnoff
Member
I think that they do know what they are getting into.... I know that the so called Pros on this forum probly get choked at me... or t'd off cus im so called taking away their livelyhood. But when you look at it this way... a wedding is soo expensive these days no matter how big or small... MY sister and her soon to be are not willing to fork out rediculous amounts of money for photos... and TRUST ME THEY HAVE LOOKED AT THIS OPTION... but when they compare the results of the previous 4 sisters to some of the photos that i have taken at past weddings as myself and not the main guy... they are pleased with it... Im not saying i can do a better job... but if they are pleased with some of the last ones..... whose to say that cant be pleased with the effort i give them.... Sure sure hire a pro, but if they DONT want to, then they dont want to..... simple as that.... Now when i wrote this forum topic.... MY WHOLE INTENTION was to get feedback and suggestions on how to pull this thing off.... Miricale or not, difficult or easy.... I just wanted HELP.... not people telling me to back out of it.... So im going to take every bit of help that is said on this forum and run with it... i have already done some reading and looked into obtaining a friends spare camera and a flash..... so i think im well on my way.... and thank you to everyone in here that has had so many useful tips and links and suggestions....
anyways here is one picture that i took, with out an PP done to it... I dont know if it will show up, but tell me what you think????
anyways here is one picture that i took, with out an PP done to it... I dont know if it will show up, but tell me what you think????
ElanToXT
Senior Member
ElanToXT
Senior Member
You are going to use a flash for a wedding that you are hoping to get on the day of the wedding?
My friend asked me to her wedding last year. I read, research, asked question in here and the lighting forum and spent 6 months learning and it still turned out to be harder than I expected.
So don't take this lightly...
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My friend asked me to her wedding last year. I read, research, asked question in here and the lighting forum and spent 6 months learning and it still turned out to be harder than I expected.
So don't take this lightly...
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- Johnny
ElanToXT
Senior Member
I agree with Lee and I am not a professional. Having gone through this twice you cannot underestimate how hard this is going to be.
Your sister might have seen your pictures of wild life and landscape and equate equal quality in the output if you were to do a wedding. And everything might come out to be good or there is equal chance that it might come out bad....
Since you have time until May maybe you can try this. Find out if you have friends or coworkers who are getting married before then and ask if you can shoot their wedding as an addition to their photographer (but don't get into his/her way) and practice and see if you can do it.
If you don't have that kind of opportunity, how about posting an ad in places like craigslist and ask if anyone needs a shadow photographer and see if you can get a hang of it.
Since you are determined to do it, I wish you good luck. It will be a rewarding experience if things come out well...
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Your sister might have seen your pictures of wild life and landscape and equate equal quality in the output if you were to do a wedding. And everything might come out to be good or there is equal chance that it might come out bad....
Since you have time until May maybe you can try this. Find out if you have friends or coworkers who are getting married before then and ask if you can shoot their wedding as an addition to their photographer (but don't get into his/her way) and practice and see if you can do it.
If you don't have that kind of opportunity, how about posting an ad in places like craigslist and ask if anyone needs a shadow photographer and see if you can get a hang of it.
Since you are determined to do it, I wish you good luck. It will be a rewarding experience if things come out well...
--
- Johnny
ElanToXT
Senior Member
It is good that you have spare and back up equipment. Is there also another photographer who can back you up or provide different coverage?
I don't think the Pros here are afraid that you are taking their business away. they are just concerned that from your post you don't seem to have sufficient experience to cover the wedding and doesn't want yo to have a mishap, specially on your sister's wedding day.
You should get the flash and start practicing with it. That will be crucial for the indoor shots.
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I don't think the Pros here are afraid that you are taking their business away. they are just concerned that from your post you don't seem to have sufficient experience to cover the wedding and doesn't want yo to have a mishap, specially on your sister's wedding day.
You should get the flash and start practicing with it. That will be crucial for the indoor shots.
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- Johnny
ElanToXT
Senior Member
that picture can be better.
composition is not strong enough. my eyes tend to move away from the couple to the top right...purely because of how you composed the pic with the leading pathway acting as a leading line.
i see you struggled with the exposure as well...something you need to keep in mind (always difficult in weddings...with groom in black and bride in white)!!
as mentioned by others, i don't think the advice given is one that they are concern about you 'stealing' their potential income but more so that you may not produce the quality that is required in this one in a lifetime event for the couple.
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http://www.pbase.com/antidote3
composition is not strong enough. my eyes tend to move away from the couple to the top right...purely because of how you composed the pic with the leading pathway acting as a leading line.
i see you struggled with the exposure as well...something you need to keep in mind (always difficult in weddings...with groom in black and bride in white)!!
as mentioned by others, i don't think the advice given is one that they are concern about you 'stealing' their potential income but more so that you may not produce the quality that is required in this one in a lifetime event for the couple.
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http://www.pbase.com/antidote3
I had my wedding shot by a pro and noticed a few things that I can recommend to you:
Also a point about disappointing your sister, I know she won't be mad at you if you miss some shots, but throughtout her life she'll see pro pictures from other weddings and in the back of her mind she'll say "Why don't I have a shot like this?"
I am not saying this to discourage you but rather to encourage you to do your best to prepare yourself...
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Ex-Tee-Eye * Fifty mm 1,8 * seventeen-eightyfive mm 4,0-5,6
- Speak with the priest/officer of the peace. Find out what he is comfortable with you doing. In particular ask about flash, where can you go and not go during the ceremony and the frequency of the pictures during the ceremony.
- Speak to the organizers and make sure you have the bride and groom available 1 hr before the ceremony for the artsy shots and you allow for 1 hr after the ceremony for the wedding party/family/group shots.
- Don't forget you will have to be in some of the shots. Get a tripod and have somebody ready to push the button for you when you are behind the camera.
- Learn the ceremony before hand, find out where you must be positioned at key times to record the main points of the ceremony. For example find out where the officiant is with respect to the bride and groom during the ring exchange so that you know where to position yourself for the best shots.
- Go to another wedding at the same church which is likely to follow the same pattern. Offer your free services to couples that have not hired a photographer. Practice on their wedding.
- It's important to have an idea of the group shots your sister wants. For example, bride by herself in a few key areas inside/outside. Bride and her mother, parents, bridesmaids... rings on top of a blurred invitation with a bouquet in the background... etc.
- Go to wedding photographers and ask to look through their albums. You can even tell them why, some of them might be willing to let you. Get an idea of the shots that others are doing...
- Another trick is go to the ritziest part of town and attend a church wedding. It's likely they hired a pro photog. Watch how he instructs the wedding participants to pose. Our guy was giving us instructions that seemed strange and anal at the time but they paid off in outstanding poses. For example how the toes or heads should point, where the hands/arms should be... etc.
- At the banquet, make sure you take a shot of every table, this way they'll have a photo record of all the guests. Here the program is also important, find out how they'll cut the cake, throw the garter belt etc...
Also a point about disappointing your sister, I know she won't be mad at you if you miss some shots, but throughtout her life she'll see pro pictures from other weddings and in the back of her mind she'll say "Why don't I have a shot like this?"
I am not saying this to discourage you but rather to encourage you to do your best to prepare yourself...
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Ex-Tee-Eye * Fifty mm 1,8 * seventeen-eightyfive mm 4,0-5,6
philbarrett
Senior Member
This is family, do not do the wedding, esp as this is your first foray into
wedding photography. Familys can be so fickle. Ask yourself, if you do screw up, just what would it take to repair the damage? I would never
do family and I have done a fair few weddings. Have a real hard think about this. What I would suggest is you take the oppourtunity to
work with a pro, learn whilst enjoying your sisters big day. You really need to be there as the brother, not the photog IMHO. Record those candid intimate shots for your sis, safe in the knowledge that her precious memories are not in your hands. I would offer the same advice to any
semi pro photog in the same situation. Lack of experience and, or, knowledge is secondary here. Please think long and hard about this.
Cheers
phil
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http://www.pbase.com/digitaldreams
wedding photography. Familys can be so fickle. Ask yourself, if you do screw up, just what would it take to repair the damage? I would never
do family and I have done a fair few weddings. Have a real hard think about this. What I would suggest is you take the oppourtunity to
work with a pro, learn whilst enjoying your sisters big day. You really need to be there as the brother, not the photog IMHO. Record those candid intimate shots for your sis, safe in the knowledge that her precious memories are not in your hands. I would offer the same advice to any
semi pro photog in the same situation. Lack of experience and, or, knowledge is secondary here. Please think long and hard about this.
Cheers
phil
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http://www.pbase.com/digitaldreams
secheese
Forum Enthusiast
What weddings you been shootin'? My God... weddings are dog-slow events. Walk to this side of the church... shoot... walk back over there... shoot... yada yada yada.
If the OP is commited, he'll do okay.
as a wedding present... offer to pay for part of a pro's fees(let the bride and groom pay the rest)... Hire a Pro, and ask him if you can work with him, or at least let you shoot over his/her shoulder...
In the end, you will learn, and your sister will be sure to get some professional wedding photos...
In the end, you will learn, and your sister will be sure to get some professional wedding photos...
The Big Labowski
Forum Enthusiast
Go ahead if it's as simple as your sister not having a photographer or her having you, you can't loose. But honestly see if you can get a good book (as per my earlier post), and a flash (Canon 430 EX is my recomendation).
Then go for it, oh I couldn't see the photo you posted, but don't worry about it getting slapped here, there are some pretty tough critics (thats not a bad thing), does your sister like it, if so thats all that matters.
Once again good luck.
Adrian
Then go for it, oh I couldn't see the photo you posted, but don't worry about it getting slapped here, there are some pretty tough critics (thats not a bad thing), does your sister like it, if so thats all that matters.
Once again good luck.
Adrian
You will in all probability, turn out something nice. Compared to a seasoned professional you probably will not get near as many wow shots nor as much wowness in them, but most competent photographers can at a bare minimum, get lucky once in awhile.
Do practice with the setup you plan to use and under the conditions in which you expect to be working, especially working with bounce flash. If you can, gain admittance to the hall where the reception will take place and practice there. Practice posing and working with people. Most of all, enjoy the experience. It really is a lot of work. In fact, much more work than most people would ever imagine. I found it to be very rewarding in spite of countless nights of post-processing to cover up my many mistakes (yes, it is better to get it right out of the camera).
Here are more links that may be of use:
http://super.nova.org/DPR/
http://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/03/lighting-101.html
http://www.montezucker.com/content.html?page=6
http://www.msnusers.com/Asktheoleproaboutphotography/joezeltsman.msnw
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-Gene L.
http://ttl-biz.com
I am not convinced that creativity can be taught. However, I do believe that it can be coaxed from its hiding place.
csnoff
Member
Ya im able to get a flash from a friend..... I do not have spare, so i may buy one in the near furture as my personal one... i was also able to obtain an entire setup that same as mine... lenses and body.... so that should help... as for the second fotographer... ill have to look around, maybe get my girlfriend to do it... though shes even in a worse of position then i am.... full auto would be the mode of the day for her
I was just wondering, you mentioned a difuser. What exactly does a difuser do? I used the one that is built into my 550EX and didn't see any difference. I know that it is supposed to "Difuse" the light from the flash but are there certain conditions that warrant it or should you use one all the time? I'm new to this and just trying to learn so any help would be great.
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