shooting my first wedding tomorrow...I have a few questions....

[Holly]

I'm shooting the wedding unpaid for a friend who asked me to. I have a 430ex flash, a 50mm f1.2 lens (which I was hesitant to use because it does not zoom.) a 100mm macro lens (gain no zoom), two kit lenses which I don't use often, a 300mm sigma zoom lens (ni IS and with dim lighting and it being a night wedding I decided not to use it) and the lens I thought would be ok a 135mm zoom lens. All the lenses are canon except the sigma.

Here's my problem. I went to the rehearsal today and I'm not happy with any of my shots. The background of the church is messy and the my depth of field is not good with the 135mm.

So, what would you do. I'm thinking maybe try shooting with the 50mm. I just don't know.

Obviously I have never shot a wedding before and after this one I may never shoot one again. I just hope to get some shots that are decent at this point. Any advise wold be very welcomed.

[Holly]

A couple of shots from the rehearsal:
http://pixiepics.net/images/w03.jpg

http://pixiepics.net/images/w02.jpg

I guess the background isn't really messy, but I don't like the felt nativity thing hanging and they said they will not take the Christmas tree down or move the microphone. Also, the wall is a block wall inside the church.

[Scoen]

Shoot with the 50mm get some great closeups with it and stand back to get wider shots, when your lens doesn't zoom the you just have to move your camera. You should be able to get some very cool closeups of the rings, invitations, flowers cake, chairs (if they are interesting) guestbook, presents etc. with your macro lens when your lens doesn't zoom the you just have to move your camera, too bad you don't have another flash or a wireless transmitter. Then you could use your 300mm during the ceremony and put the flash closer to the alter. Shoot all your shots in RAW don't be afraid of using high ISO's If you use too low of an ISO (even with a flash) your subject will have a black background, I always try to use whatever ISO that gets the shutter speed I want (or you can shoot in M mode but thats tricky during a wedding) when you shoot in RAW you have unlimited possibilities to correct noise, (i.e. NoiseNinja) Bring lots of batteries, DO NOT use direct flash, bounce all your shots, change your flash batteries every 100-150 shots I hope you have a couple extra CF cards, I use 2 4G and 2 1G cards and that gets me about 1500 RAW shots, My advise shoot EVERYTHING and follow the bride like a stalker. I hope I helped sorry I made you read all of this anyway good luck!

Buy theses books I've learned A LOT from them
http://www.powells.com/cgi-bin/biblio?inkey=1-9780471790174-1
http://www.amazon.com/Digital-Photography-Book-Scott-Kelby/dp/032147404X/ref=pd_bbs_sr_3/102-3410234-9124951?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1199080856&sr=1-3


Try this tonight before the wedding put your camera on M put your shutter on 200-250 up the ISO to 200-400 and put your f stop as low as possible, mount your flash, make sure the second curtain settings are on and ETTL is turned on point it at the ceiling click off a few. DO NOT pay attention to what your exposure meter says, it is irrelevant in M mode (when using a flash)

[Holly]

thank you for the advise. My husband keeps saying I'm not getting paid so i shouldn't worry, but I still want the pictures to turn out nice.

I do have the first book. I love it. :) I'm going to try your suggestion right now. Thanks again.

[Visual Bride]

Very good advice above. I understand what your hubby is saying, but it doesn't quite work like that. Its still a wedding. But there expectations will be low. Try and keep them low and keep your high. This way you will exceed theirs.

Also remember that often black and white pictures make messy pictures look simpler because you don't have 1001 colors.

Using a wider aperture will help to blur ugly backgrounds.

[Holly]

Also remember that often black and white pictures make messy pictures look simpler because you don't have 1001 colors.

Using a wider aperture will help to blur ugly backgrounds.

I will try converting some of the test shots and see how they look. Thank you.

The problem I'm having is photography is a hobby for me and although I did have a year of photography in college my lenses are for what I shoot. Which is mostly macro and when I vacation somewhere, some family, but I defiantly do not have any wedding type lenses. I thought I could make do, but I was very disappointed by my test shots. I will get to the church early and test more before the wedding.

My husband also says I tend to worry over things that turn out great in the end. I hope he is right this time. I've been up most of the night pondering this situation.

[Scoen]

www.lensrentals.com

[Visual Bride]

I rented a lens too but you may be too late if you are shooting tomorrow. Or if it's a public hol.
But if it's unpaid then i wouldnt pay a penny. I think your lenses are perfectly adequate.

[Holly]

Thank you, I have been working in lightroom with the test shots and they aren't to bad. I'm just not happy with them. I think I have the shutter speed problem solved and shutting with the 50mm should get me the depth of field I want. Hopefully.

one of the kit lenses is an 18mm, I will bring that to get the entire stage area.

[THPhotography]

Not really a settings response, but more advice in general.

It can be a blessing that you aren't happy with the test shots. That usually means you are trying to get better. I haven't shot a wedding yet that I haven't thought "I Blew That One", just to get to the studio and look at the images and think "That turned out better than I thought". It is nerve racking but keep shooting. Keep Practicing, even up to just before the wedding.

[Scoen]

^^^Dido

[takeyourpic]

I am hopeful that you still have a contract that states that even though you are not getting "paid" that there are not any expectations as far as the quality of the pictures are concerned. Even though you are not getting paid it does sound like you are the "official" photographer. Guess what? You could also still be sued if you don't have things in an official contract that will outline what you are doing and the fact that you do not have the experience that it requires to produce the results that are usually expected even without getting paid.

[Scott6]

I am hopeful that you still have a contract that states that even though you are not getting "paid" that there are not any expectations as far as the quality of the pictures are concerned. Even though you are not getting paid it does sound like you are the "official" photographer. Guess what? You could also still be sued if you don't have things in an official contract that will outline what you are doing and the fact that you do not have the experience that it requires to produce the results that are usually expected even without getting paid.

well, I don't know about you or anyone else, but I know for a fact that any of the very small number of people I call "friends" would not sue of this, especially if they know going in its her first wedding.

My tips: Crank that ISO, even on the rebels, the high ISO preformence is good on a canon, don't be afraid of ISO, keep the espouser up. I would prefer a bright ISO1600 shot over a on target to dark ISO800 shot.

Sharpness first then worry about noise.

[Holly]

Thank you for all your advice, because of all of you the wedding shots were not a total failure.

I did crank the ISO and soem of them really need work. I'm going to look for noiseninja for those.

The shots are no where near that of the pros on this board, but hopefully they will be happy with them. If i ever do this again I will rent or buy a proper lens.

Thanks again.:)

[kuanyu]

Please post a few examples of the shoots

[Holly]

Please post a few examples of the shoots

awe, I'm a bit intimidated. There are so many wonderful photographers here and mine look very amature to me. I have only web edited 25 so far. I put them on this site (http://pixiepics.net). I'm thinking about going back and redoing some. I'm not happy with the colors or to be exact, that I took to much of the warmth out of some.

[auroraskye]

Holly, I am no pro.. but I think for your first time you did get some good stuff. You have several shots with great DOF And good job capturing that bouquet toss. Not to mention some of the stuff is just fun, it looks like you have some creative ideas! Not bad at all for a first go :)

[Holly]

Holly, I am no pro.. but I think for your first time you did get some good stuff. You have several shots with great DOF And good job capturing that bouquet toss. Not to mention some of the stuff is just fun, it looks like you have some creative ideas! Not bad at all for a first go :)

thank you. I just hope the couple and their parents like them also.

[Holly]

I always try to use whatever ISO that gets the shutter speed I want (or you can shoot in M mode but thats tricky during a wedding) when you shoot in RAW you have unlimited possibilities to correct noise, (i.e. NoiseNinja)

I just used noiseninja. It worked amazingly well. Thank you for letting me know about this. :)

[30D'er]

Holly,

I've been shooting weddings for a whole year (assisting a wedding pro) and I just read this thread from the start for the first time. Then I followed the link to the 25 pics you processed. I think you've done a great job! A whole hell of allot better then I would have done on my first try!

I didn't see anyone offer advice on what to shoot sooo...For the real thing, do get the "getting ready" shots of the Bride & Bridesmaids, Groom and Groomsmen. Details of the dress, the hanging dress shot. The bride putting it on. Formals - all combinations of Bride with family etc. The key to good wedding pictures are emotion, you capture that, and you're a hero. So try to anticipate reactions. Someone's gonna cry, it's a wedding. Get that Shot!

If there are cocktails after the ceremony, ask the couple if they want you to shoot it, if not use that time for romantics, shots of just the couple. Good time for a ring shot.

If you have a tripod, try for a long exposure shot of the couple kissing in some dimmly lit cozy corner. It's always a hit.

We shoot approx 3000 images for a wedding, after the edit the couple will chose from 500-700 that we think are keepers. In other words shoot allot!

Good luck.

[Visual Bride]

My word you did a good job! Bravo! :-)
Your PP is tastefully done. You have great timing with your shots. Your composition is great with the group shots. I have to say that your group shots are among the most creative I have seen in a long time. It looks like you took charge. On first weddings, I feel that is one of the hardest things.

Your use of flash was good too. Some are a little noisy, but you are on to that. Also when they are printed, noise becomes less of an issue.

You should be very proud!

[THPhotography]

Great Job for a first wedding!

BTW. Don't be intimidated about posting your images. That's one way to help the learning process. Post the good, the bad, and the ugly. I don't care how bad the shot, I am sure some of us have taken the same and can help you correct it and possibly help to keep from making that mistake again. The good ones help us learn!

I love the shot with the guys! I feel like I know what they are about from this image. They seemed really comfortable in that pose. What fun! Shot's like that are waht you are after with personality, excitement, emotion and fun!

The full group in a line. On your next one try staggering the people a bit, pairing them up, moving them out of the line. Do a search on this site for Toogy. You'll see what I mean. He's got that down pat! Also that image seemed a bit noisy.

Practice with your camera, in the house in outside, cafe's, anywhere you can get low light and play with the ISO, Aperture, and flash. Take a note book and right down your settings on each shot. Take them back and see what looked good, then use that. The more you can learn, the better the shot, and the least time in PP.

[freebird]

Job well done!!!!!!!!!!!!! You captured some great emotion and feelings.

Be proud and keep on shooting.:D

Chuck

[DocFrankenstein]

I think you get 5/5 for the shots.

Great timing on the flower toss. You got the faces of all the guests and nicely exposed portraits of the bride and groom.

The bulk of the coverage is done IMO.

[Holly]

The full group in a line. On your next one try staggering the people a bit, pairing them up, moving them out of the line. Do a search on this site for Toogy. You'll see what I mean. He's got that down pat! Also that image seemed a bit noisy.


I really wanted to stagger them. I love those toogy style shots, but they did not want to. I suppose I should have been a bit more take charge on that one.

Thank you for the compliments. I feel a lot better now. I haven't shown the couple any of them yet. I want to clean up more of those noise and get more processed. It ended up taking just under 700 pictures.

There wasn't to much opportunity for the getting ready shots. They arrived at the church over an hour late. The groomsmen were dressed already and all the bride had to do was put the dress on and touch up make-up. The dress was never hung up. I had discussed they getting ready shots with the bride beforehand, but I guess she changed her mind. I tried to go with the flow without added any additional stress to anyone.

I'll post more once I get the PP done. :)

[Scoen]

GREAT JOB!! Amazing shots of the bride, you really came through, now it's time to start shooting weddings for money!!

[Holly]

GREAT JOB!! Amazing shots of the bride, you really came through, now it's time to start shooting weddings for money!!

Thanks to you and everyone who gave me such amazing advise. I rally can't thank you enough.

I would love to make money doing this, but I think I should practice more. I was a nervous wreck without getting paid. I could just imagine how I would be with money on the line.

Anyone willing to take on a second shooter in the southern california area?...:)

[Donna V]

I am brand new to forum but think I will love it. Have been shooting small weddings I am on my tenth one and still I never feel totaly like Iv'e gottin what I want. I am my worst critic. I love photography and love the excitement of doing the weddings would love to learn as much as possible.

[RolyRatman]

Holly I think you did a fantastic job and should be proud...:)

I was recently asked by a friend if I could take shots during his wedding, they had already paid several hundred £'s for a pro but knowing that I am getting into photography they wanted to give me the run of the place for the experience.

I am now ashamed to say I declined the offer because I was worried about everything, getting in the way and messing up the pro's shots, I dont have the most impressive kit list, didnt even know where to start with settings & ISO's etc and they were only expecting purely secondary pics and I wimped out, well done for going through with it and I bet you felt some relief when your captures turned out that well...

I have promised my friend that I will cover the christening of any off spring from the wedding by which time my skill levels and kit list should be more up to scratch..lol

Well done

[DocFrankenstein]

I am now ashamed to say I declined the offer because I was worried about everything, getting in the way and messing up the pro's shots, I dont have the most impressive kit list, didnt even know where to start with settings & ISO's etc and they were only expecting purely secondary pics and I wimped out, well done for going through with it and I bet you felt some relief when your captures turned out that well...

I have promised my friend that I will cover the christening of any off spring from the wedding by which time my skill levels and kit list should be more up to scratch..lol

Well done

You shouldn't be ashamed. Don't be the second photog - it messes stuff up for the primary and you should just enjoy yourself instead.

[Donna V]

I still feel nervous at shooting wedings. I love it but my heart beats faster than the bride.