MY FIRST WEDDING USING G9 CANON

[MoMo Riley]

A friend talk me into taking pictures at her wedding. VERY NERVOUS.... Just got a Canon G9 - what setting should I use for the day..............

MIND YOU I'M NOT A PHOTOGRAPHer - why she picked me i don't know and now the wedding is next week and I'm scared......

a. Can i leave it at one setting most of the day,
b. Should i invest and get a better flash
c. Any help is appreciated

Thank you

Nervous in Chicgao

Mo

[rage_rman]

You need to tell her you’re not a photographer and if they turn out really bad not to hate you. As far as to what you can do man that’s a tough one. Do you know much about photography? I’d say you have a week of just reading on here for 12 hrs a day.

[Chet]

A friend talk me into taking pictures at her wedding. VERY NERVOUS.... Just got a Canon G9 - what setting should I use for the day..............

MIND YOU I'M NOT A PHOTOGRAPHer - why she picked me i don't know and now the wedding is next week and I'm scared......

a. Can i leave it at one setting most of the day,
b. Should i invest and get a better flash
c. Any help is appreciated

Thank you

Nervous in Chicgao

Mo



Welcome to POTN! Will she have a professional photographer their as well?

[Haru]

I think she just wants you to take pictures. Put it in auto, and click away. There is no need to invest in a flash, or go any further out of your way than you already have by saying you would bring a camera. In this case you are a guest before a photographer, have fun, take pictures, and enjoy yourself.

[Harm]

A friend talk me into taking pictures at her wedding. VERY NERVOUS.

By this, do you mean you've talked yourself into being the "official wedding photographer"??

Good Luck!! Have a drink (or several) before the wedding to calm ye olde nerves

[ducko]

I hope that there is a pro there too. If not, here is my advice:

Bring lots of memory cards and shoot in RAW mode. I recommend that you shoot in AV mode if you are comfortable with it. Of course you should also use IS. Don't forget at least one extra charged battery to have on hand. I personally wouldn't go above the 400 ISO mark on it. I have found that anything above that is too noisy. You may want to have an external flash on hand just in case you find that the place is too dark.

I feel for you. I think that as long as you aren't charging anything, then you shouldn't have anything to be worried about. Just let them know that they shouldn't have high expectations. You get what you pay for. :-)

[DHancock]

Things you need to find out :

What is the lighting like where the wedding ceremony will be?
Do they allow flash during the ceremony. Many churches/ministers don't.

Try and take some pictures at the actual venue, or at least in a similarly lit place, before the wedding day. PRACTICE!

As others said, extra memory cards, extra charged battery.

[MoMo Riley]

Thanks for all the suggestions, drinking will be the first thing i do..........LOL. i'll just keep it on auto then............ and hope for the best.

[Permagrin]

are you doing this as a favor for someone? Is there a pro shooting too?

[tim]

if you're the sole photographer then both she and you are in trouble. Tell her to hire a professional, or a photography student, anyone with some knowledge and experience! The economy over there has gone down a lot, some places are cutting prices, she may be able to get a good deal. Even if she gets a pro for a couple of hours it's worth it.

If you're it and they can't afford a pro... report back. We'll try to educate you a little. Have you read my wedding FAQ (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=255604)?

[Nick_b]

Ya I would grab a drink or two or three or.... maybe a keg? lol

[DStanic]

I'd consider my XTi with 24-60 f/2.8 lens to be a bare minimum for shooting in a church with no flash. You are limited to ISO400 (before getting so much noise the pictures will look like sand)

my advice to question c:

Convince them to HIRE a professional! You can be a backup shooter! Candid shots and shots the photog doesn't get are very nice to have as well.

[_aravena]

Wow...this won't be good.

I thought it was bad when couples asked their friend who just got their Rebel and kit lens to do weddings. This is why it's so hard to find good work these days...

:rolleyes:

[cfpackerfan]

It can be done.

I shot my very first wedding (sister) with a 35mm p&s.
If I hadn't taken pictures for them, they wouldn't have had any besides what they got from Uncle Merle and Grandma.
That was YEARS ago, and my sister still has all those pics hanging on her wall. She loves them. Yes, granted, I look at them now and can pick out all my faults.
I mentioned to her not too long ago that I wish I'd have had the gear that I have now when I shot her wedding. And she said "Why? I love my wedding pictures, and I think they are fantastic."

That's all that matters in the end, isn't it?

My advice... learn all you can before the day.
Leave it in auto if you must. Auto works.

Have fun... capture the feelings of the day and try not to worry too much.

Good luck!

[MoMo Riley]

Thanks - that gives me a little comfort...........

[Flo]

Thanks - that gives me a little comfort...........

Lol...just make sure she KNOWS these will be the very best that YOU can do...
Look her in the eye and ask her if she is certain that she wants you to cover the wedding.maybe ask her if you could simply do from the hip shots instead, hire a photographer for the formal stuff?

Have fun:shock:

There is a fellow on here that just got himself a G9, and he is thoroughly impressed with its capabilities so far. He usually shoots with a 40D.

[timnosenzo]

Perhaps you can look into hiring them a photographer as a gift, even if just for some formals. Just a thought, if money is the issue for them.

[tiredoffilm]

I've done a few weddings now (as an amature), these are my tips for group shots.

Take your time with the photography, especially if they want some formal shots. Take several shots of each pose as someone will look away or blink as the shutter goes. Take a couple before you tell them to 'smile' and a couple after too, sometimes people 'tighten up' as soon as you say the word.

Ask the bride & groom to make a list of pictures they don't want to be missed, this way all you need to do is call out names and get them arranged, takes the pressure off you a bit and the B&G will be more concerned about their wedding day than the pictures, at the time.

Spend a few seconds making sure everyone is visible in group shots and that they are balanced and level ( feet look really bad if the people at either side are at different heights in the frame)

Don't have the sun directly infront or behind you if it's a bright day, you'll get lens flare or everyone will be squinting.

Hope it goes well and you enjoy it!

Rich.

[iwannabe]

Wow...this won't be good.

I thought it was bad when couples asked their friend who just got their Rebel and kit lens to do weddings. This is why it's so hard to find good work these days...



That's exactly how my daughter started out and now work is steady and her work is gaining popularity. She just recently upgraded to a XSI to go with her cheap lenses. Not everyone can start out with a "pro" kit.

As for the OP, I agree it can be done as long as you are determined to make it work. Go with the advice given thus far and spend a little time in the wedding forum. You might pick up some pointers there.

[MoMo Riley]

no pro - just me - all i have is a canon g9........ thinking i'll be ok

[sadatk]

Get a 430ex pronto if you can afford it.

[MoMo Riley]

who's the guy who got the g9........ i need him

[Permagrin]

I have a G9, what do you need?

[Tee Why]

You know, If you are new to photography and you just got a Canon G9, I'd probably pick up a spare battery and a spare card or two as I'm sure the battery will drain out. A big old flash on top of the G9 may give you those deer caught in the headlight look unless you can use manual mode and know about flash exposure compensation.

If it was me, I wouldn't do it but if you are doing it for free to help out and she isn't expecting a professional level of photography, I'd probably put it in auto or portrait mode and fire away. If you use flash, you'll probably find that the battery will drain very fast.

Look at some of the shots here at the forum under weddings and family events section for some ideas.

Good luck and don't forget to have fun.