Tips for taking less pictures. Please share!

[Fellipe de Paula]

Hi folks! I usually take up to 1300 pictures during all the wedding day (from preparation to the end of reception) and I would like too cut down this number to about 600 shots...
The problem is I frequently find myself taking three or four pics at the same time... It became too natural for me to take three shots no matter if it's just an ordinary scene.
Honest, I'd rather take 600 good shots than 1300 and have to delete most of them in the post.
I really don't know if you can help me with any kind of tips. But I feel I needed to share this with you guys!

Thanks!

[Mark1]

Easy, dont press the button so much!!!:lol:

Seriously. When you take multiple images of one shot, is the first one consistently good? If it is, you just have to start trusting yourself. If it is not, then dont change.

[Fellipe de Paula]

Thank you Mark... Actually I do think I can get a lot of good shots at the first click. It just became something I got used to.

[cchooks]

If it is you just have to start trusting yourself. If it is not, then dont change.

I completely agree that you need to be more confident in your instincts. Also, there comes a point in the wedding when the groom doesn't want a camera in his face, they want to party and be free to have fun. To me that usually happens about the 500 mark.

If I were a groom I would be completely annoyed at 1300 shots, and it is a point that I would remark on to a friend if I were asked to refer a photographer.

How many batteries and cards do you go through?

[Papa Carlo]

Hi folks! I usually take up to 1300 pictures during all the wedding day (from preparation to the end of reception) and I would like too cut down this number to about 600 shots...
The problem is I frequently find myself taking three or four pics at the same time... It became too natural for me to take three shots no matter if it's just an ordinary scene.
Honest, I'd rather take 600 good shots than 1300 and have to delete most of them in the post.
I really don't know if you can help me with any kind of tips. But I feel I needed to share this with you guys!
Thanks!
Just remember that each snap moves your shutter mechanism closer to that 100,000 threshold after which you could have to replace it.

I completely agree that you need to be more confident in your instincts. Also, there comes a point in the wedding when the groom doesn't want a camera in his face, they want to party and be free to have fun. To me that usually happens about the 500 mark.

If I were a groom I would be completely annoyed at 1300 shots, and it is a point that I would remark on to a friend if I were asked to refer a photographer.

How many batteries and cards do you go through?
Yuo can get annoying at 50 shots or you can stay invisible after 2500.

[cchooks]

I guess your right, but you don't seem to want to support your own request on shooting less. Nothing is gonna change your mind until you decide to do so.

[tim]

From a thread on DWF some of the best wedding photographers in the world take 5000 shots per wedding. They employ someone to edit for them, though.

The problem with taking one photo of a scene is that cameras capture, let's say, 1/100th of a second. In that time people blink, look away, or pull weird faces. By taking 4 photo instead of one you get four instants, and it takes 3-5 seconds to choose the best. Would you rather spend those 3-5 seconds, or lose the moment?

Spend the time. Cull the photos. Do the best for your customer. That's what we're paid for.

[Fellipe de Paula]

I really don't see the relationship between being one of the best photographers of the world and taking five thousand shots per wedding. I mean, they can be the best but the number doesn't mean anything.

I do agree with you about taking 3 pictures each time when you feel you need to do it. My problem is I do that every time, even if the moment doesn't ask for that.

[Mark1]

The relationship is, the best know when not to quit. They dont have some secret rule of only taking so many images. They will shoot till its over. Then have a better selection to pick from to present for choices. Sure, they have more failures as well. But they also have more great shots to present.

[tim]

I really don't see the relationship between being one of the best photographers of the world and taking five thousand shots per wedding. I mean, they can be the best but the number doesn't mean anything.

I do agree with you about taking 3 pictures each time when you feel you need to do it. My problem is I do that every time, even if the moment doesn't ask for that.

Some of the best take 500, some take 5000. I'm just point out there's no problem with taking a lot of photos.

[myckul]

Honest, I'd rather take 600 good shots than 1300 and have to delete most of them in the post.


Thanks!

There is nothing wrong with taking 1300 shots, like several have mentioned in this thread taking consecutive pictures is the difference between capturing the moment or not. Even the best photographers cant tell what facial expressions or movements the person they are shooting is going to make next, so why risk losing the shot?

Also some may correct me on this but I would not delete the images when I am doing post processing, you may look back at some point and realize that there are little things in that picture that you might be able to use. (cropping out a detail for example), you will always have that option there, but once you delete the image its all gone.

[tim]

I delete images after the album and disk have been delivered to my customer. I cull quite quickly and occasionally I notice an image I included is slightly out of focus, but since I overshoot and don't delete the rejects until later I can usually substitute another image in its place. Also a series can be great for an album, the last album I made had two of them, Dad with the bride before the ceremony, and the kiss during the ceremony. I shot the kiss at 8fps, that the only time of the day I use it.

[aebrown]

I personally take as several shots of something just because I never know whether the first one or the fourth one will be good. Further, I slightly change the angles every two or so clicks because until you really look at the image, you don't know what you or your customers might like more (or how the lighting might change as you change angles). I can't say I've done ever done weddings, but if I ever were I would want to make sure I got a good shot of everything I possibly could, and if that means 5000 shots, then that means 5000 shots so long as I know I'm getting the job done.

Also, how much does it cost to replace the shutter mechanism? I'm no where close, but I was just curious...

[bps]

Also, how much does it cost to replace the shutter mechanism? I'm no where close, but I was just curious...

Somewhere in the neighborhood of $175-$275.

Bryan

[samnz]

For a 4 hour wedding, I'm averaging around 400-450. So I guess for a full day will be up around 1k.

For family shots I'll take about 2 - perhaps a second apart.
For guest shots I'll often take 2.
During the ceremony I use to do the '8fps thing' during the kiss - but now it's 1 at the 'launch' :) 2 on 'contact' and maybe 1 or 2 immediately after (cause they usually hug/laugh/gesture etc).

I Chimp - Delete when I can: Bride Preps, Ceremony, Bridal Party Formals and Speeches. The rest of the wedding (families, reception, dance etc) is a 'blur' so I don't bother chimping.

The hardest thing for me is 'shooting for the album'. Knowing how the photos might be placed in the album, magazine or frame before I take the shot. I don't take photos of peopIe's misfortunes (fall downs, arguments, 'exposures') - I leave those for the point and shooters. Some photogs can get carried away with the photojournalistic approach. Sure - be a pj...just remember to do it with class and intent. Your a pro...not a trigger happy point and shooter.

I shoot landscape for the most part. Especially when using flash (shadows) or when I think there might be potential to crop for portrait. I very rarely shoot 1 Portrait/1 Landscape for the same scene. For me it's not worth the effort. Only 1 photo will make the album (not a landscape and a portrait of the same scene). Once again, I shoot landscape and crop later if necessary.

Don't worry about a high frame count. You'll develope your own style if you haven't already ;) and besides...if you got your frame count down to 600, you'll start worrying you "didn't get enough"! :)

Regards

Sam

[collierportraits]

The more experience you'll get, the more you shoot, but the less you double shoot, so you end up with many more usable shots...

[SuzyView]

Gee, K, you couldn't have said it better. Since I've gone more pro than semi-pro, I find my pictures are more usable. I don't take quite as many because I have help now, but the number fluctuates depending on the situation for me. I have been averaging between 500-1000 at weddings lately, and I do take the time. I don't ever delete them from my hard drive and I make CD's of everything when I remember to. :)

[Big Mike]

Just remember that each snap moves your shutter mechanism closer to that 100,000 threshold after which you could have to replace it.
It's not a threshold type thing, it's an average failure rate. you might have one crap out on you at 50,000 and you might have one last until 150,000...so they give you a rating of 100,000.

It still works out that the less you shoot, the longer it will likely last...but you can't really put a number on it.