Wedding photography tips

[Claire]

I've basically decided to take candids and snapshots during my friend's wedding as a personal gift to the B&G. I'm aiming for it to be like a photojournalistic album (kinda). Pics taken during the days leading up to the wedding and naturally on the day itself. Then put in a nice album for them to get after their honeymoon.

Now, I've never done wedding photography. Only been to two weddings in my life, and let's just say this wedding seems to be quite...ehm, American (no offense people!). I don't know all the in's and out's of American weddings. What traditions there are and what things are considered to be "picture musts".

Majority of the wedding threads I've found concentrate on the equipment. I'm afraid I can't afford getting any new equipment (heck, the wedding itself is setting me back over $1500!) I hope to get a 1Gb CF card though for Xmas. Then I have a 256Mb too.

I'd like to get more ideas, hints and advice on what situations might be good to shoot and general shooting advice.

Thanks a bunch.
/Claire

[lucasdigital]

Hello Claire,

My cousin Paul's wedding photographer was also his best mate. He did an unofficial selection of candid and artist shots that sound just like what your aiming for.

He presented them, only about 20 shots, in a little home-made album that was truely a thing of beauty. I only caught a quick glance at the photos, last Christmas. Some of the shots that I remembered -

Dress preparations! Will being a bridesmade mean that you will be with the bride when she gets all her gear on? I remember some great shots of the dress and shoes, just prior to them being put on. A few moments of stress as the bride and her maids gathered for a final check.

I must add that Pauls wedding was very nearly a disaster because Paul and the same guy got into a drunken "play" fight that lead to Paul suffering a fractured skull, the night before the wedding. While he was able to attend the wedding, he had to return to hospital on his wedding night. He was "lucky" that the fracture was over his brow, but that meant that most of his official wedding shots show him with a visible dint in this head...

Hope the wedding doesn't suffer from such high jinx.

Mk

[Claire]

Lucas,
I will definitely be there when the bride gets ready! I'd love to get some good shots during this, but at the same time I can't help wondering if she'll be annoyed with me taking pics. I'm supposed to concentrate on helping her with stuff... :? That's a bit my dilemma in theory right now. That I will forget my bridesmaid duties and just take pics. :oops:

Hm, I'm still debating if I should bring the tripod or not. I should, shouldn't I? But wouldn't it be such a hassle to lug it around and place it somewhere? Can I manage by just hand holding you think?

[robertwgross]

Hm, I'm still debating if I should bring the tripod or not. I should, shouldn't I? But wouldn't it be such a hassle to lug it around and place it somewhere? Can I manage by just hand holding you think?

If you take your camera, already mounted on a tripod, then when you need it you grab it and use it. When you don't need it, you just stand the whole thing in a corner where some friend can keep an eye on it occasionally.

If you take your camera loose, not on a tripod, then when you don't need it, you set it in a corner someplace and it may grow feet and walk off, if you know what I mean. At a wedding, I would never leave some small expensive camera gear sitting around unattended.

---Bob Gross---

[ltdedorc]

Claire,

For tips and if you have high speed download capablilities, go to & download the 5.9 MB Karlee & Eddie slideshow at:

http://www.beechbrook.com/pte/index.asp?categoryid=&page=2

I've done about 25 weddings in the past 3 years and always put them into a slideshow with background music for the bride & groom and their families. I usually take the candids. However, all of my albums have expired and removed from my album site.

Karlee & Eddie was done by a pro but it will give you ideas. Good luck...Harvey :)

[scottbergerphoto]

[quote=Claire]
If you take your camera, already mounted on a tripod, then when you need it you grab it and use it. When you don't need it, you just stand the whole thing in a corner where some friend can keep an eye on it occasionally.


---Bob Gross---
Bob has obviously never been to Brooklyn. Where do you attach a bicycle chain on a MarkII? :lol:
Regards,
Scott

[robertwgross]

The original poster does not have a Mark II. I believe it is a Digital Rebel.

I've been to Brooklyn many times. Hated the weather.

---Bob Gross---

[Claire]

A Mark II? Gosh, if I had the money to buy one of those! :D :D On the other hand, if I had that cash I'd get a macro and tele most likely...

I've been looking at websites from photographers features on the Wedding Photojournalist Association's website. Lots of great inspiration there. :)

[Jon]

The original poster does not have a Mark II. I believe it is a Digital Rebel.

That's even worse for attaching bicycle chains to . . .