First Time Wedding/Reception

[FZ1]

A friend of my wife has a cousin who is getting married and they can't afford to hire a professional photographer. She has been to the house and seen all of my equipment and gave me a call tonight and asked if I would be willing to take pictures (in a few weeks) of the wedding and reception for a few hundred dollars. I agreed but with the stipulation that I would take the pictures and provide them the images and they could pay me for whatever they felt appropriate based on the outcome since I have never done such a thing before (photography is a hobby for me). It's not going to cost me anything but a few hours time and frankly puts a little less pressure on me to do a great job (I'm gonna try though!) and I get some good experience from it. I feel I do a decent job doing family events etc.

Anyway, I'm sure it's been asked a million times before but I thought I would ask some tips/advice from those of you who have the wisdom in this area. I'm sifting through the various threads picking up what I can. My equipment is listed in my sig. Thanks in advance.

[tim]

Have you read the wedding faq (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=255604)? The mods in their infinite but unfathomable wisdom keep it in the business forum, not the wedding forum.

[FZ1]

I didn't see it hiding there...thanks for pointing it out. This forum should contain a redirect link to that FAQ :)

*EDIT* - in reading that FAQ, it seems I am at least taking the right approach :)

[Mike]

More info here: http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showpost.php?p=5999915&postcount=2

Your 24-105L will probably be your best lens to use for most of the day. If you can, beg/steal/borrow another camera body as a backup is handy.

Tim, we'll have to start a petition to get the FAQ moved! :D

[FZ1]

Thanks guys. I very much appreciate the folks who took the time to put the information together. Very informative and insightful. bw!

I feel like I know what to do to be better prepared and have a good idea where the pitfalls are which gives me more confidence going in.

[FZ1]

As an update, I did the wedding and it went great - the weather was spectacular and excpt for cutting the cake, lighting was never an issue. All in all, I couldn't have asked for a better first time wedding shoot. It was very small (<50 people), no bridal party and after the ceremony the B&G arranged all the people they wanted pictures with so I didn't have to do much directing. :D

I got some really nice shots and I think the B&G will be very happy. They were thankful that I was able to do it for them. When I complete all the PP work, I'll post some up for C&C.

[smachin]

post up some pics! we would like to see how your first shoot went.

[kphotography]

Glad it went well. Please post some pics.

[FZ1]

I started a thread in the photo sharing section as I thought it was more appropriate to put them there...I hope you enjoy them, I will be adding more tonight.
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=727414