My first wedding on Saturday, HELP!!!

[Muttly]

Hey everyone. I'm shooting my first wedding on Saturday and I'm hoping someone can give me a few ideas and tips.

I'm fairly handy with the camera, all my gear is listed below. On the day I'll also have a 400d with an EF-S 18-55 kit lens.

I'm hoping I'll be fine and its just nerves that's freaking me out.

My usual photo type is automotive so this is a bit of a change for me.

Anyway, anyone with any ideas please post them up.

Thanks.

[canonfaithfulforever]

I did my first wedding last August, im only 16 but the day was brilliant, what i found useful firstly is to read EVERYTHING in Tim's wedding faq's here http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showpost.php?p=5564024&postcount= ,i found them extremely helpful to calm the nerves, then it was down to just sitting with books reading about the best wedding techniques, finding inspiration and generally refresing your mind.
Sit down with your kit and just practice changing settings quickly for changing lighting situations (unless you will be shooting in AUTO which by the way i would not reccomend).
Lastly make a list of the shots you want to get from the day, this way things are less rushed during the ceremony and your creative talent/inspiration can shine on to your images.

Hope this helps a little
if you want to know any more about the wedding i did please dont hesitate to ask

[hofajoab]

I'm not experienced in weddings although I have done one in the past and I have one tomorrow - so I can't give you good advice but:

If i feel apprehensive for some reason I just go over a detailed 'checklist' including the shots they need, when and where to get them, how much time, etc etc.. just confirm everything (twice!) - Usually takes away the butterflies - It's just like starting a new job as you don't know what to expect but once you're there then you're fine.

If its 'poses' or ideas you're struggling for have a good look around the Wedding gallery forum, pick out photos you like and then ask yourself how you'd direct the bride/groom/group to get that shot .. That tends to help me out a bit with the directing business.

Just a few things to clam the nerves :) ... the better prepared you are the better for all involved.

[michelgauthierdesign]

The more you stress, the worst its going to be. Make sure to adjust your ISO often. Good rule of thumb (for me) is its better to have noise than to have a flash background (white face and black rest), or a blury picture because of movement. At the bride/groom, its easy, look for clean spot, nice lighting. At church, its more complicated. if there is lots of light, its not so bad, but most of the time, I shoot at ISO 800, and even more if I need to stop the movement (walk down the isle). Park/formal is fun, just avoid full sunshine and fill in with flash. Reception can be hell sometime. Little lights or no light at all makes requires flash, lots of flash, and hi ISO.

Bring LOTS of battery. I have a 580 EX2 and I can go through 24-30 battery in 10 hours. Lots of card too. Your equipment should be fine.

Remember to check your setting, change battery at the brides place
Remember to check your setting, change battery when you leave the brides place
Remember to check your setting, when outside before the ceremony
Remember to check your setting, change battery when you enter the church
Remember to go speak to the preist/pasteur to set up ground rules
Remember to change the battery before the kiss
Remember to check/change your setting the SECOND you put your feet out the church
Remember to check your setting, change your battery for the first part of the formal picture (wedding party, parent, bride and groom)
Remember to check your setting, change your battery for the formal picture of the bride alone
Remember to check your setting, change the battery when arriving to the reception
Remember to change your bettery for every hours of shooting at reception
Remember that you are hired to work, not to get drunk
Remember to double check all your gear before leaving to make sure you have everything

[Svetlana]

I'm not quite sure why you need to change battery so often, I own a 40D and only need 2 batteries for a day of shooting (around 2200 shots)...Just make sure you charge them all, bring extra just in case, as well as lots of memory cards. Read Tim's FAQ's from the link given above, don't stress, you'll do fine!

[Moniphoto]

I'm not quite sure why you need to change battery so often, I own a 40D and only need 2 batteries for a day of shooting (around 2200 shots)...Just make sure you charge them all, bring extra just in case, as well as lots of memory cards. Read Tim's FAQ's from the link given above, don't stress, you'll do fine!

i think the same

[Jon Smith]

I deduce that he is referring to batteries for the 580 EX2 flash. 10 hours of shooting, and changing the AA's out 4 times... that'd be easy to do.

[madhatter04]

My advice:
I shot my first two weddings this year with pretty good success.
- The most important thing to do is to trust yourself and to keep cool! Keep calm, keep hydrated.
- Don't be afraid of being too 'in the way.' That's what I'm still trying to get over, but people expect you to be taking photos, so don't be afraid to do so.
- Be assertive. If people are goofing off during the formals, simply saying "1 2 3" loudly to let them know you're taking photos is quite enough.
- Don't mind the people with point and shoots. I actually had to amend my wedding contract to say that people with point and shoots are not allowed near when formals are being taken due to the fact it's best to get them done quickly without 40 uncle Bobs saying "oh wait wait wait!!! I need to get one!."
- ISO. lol ;)

[Muttly]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I'll let you know how I get on.

[SuzyView]

I moved this to TALK as you don't have images to share yet.

Take a deep breath, have a list of what you want to do, bring everything!

[Joelene]

Great advice here...I didn't see anyone mention..

Keep an eye on the time, you do not want to run late and it be because you were taking pictures, let the limo driver be to blame for the bride being late!

and don't forget to HAVE FUN! If you have fun, they will have fun and the pictures will be great!!!

[Mike]

The more you stress, the worst its going to be. Make sure to adjust your ISO often. Good rule of thumb (for me) is its better to have noise than to have a flash background (white face and black rest), or a blury picture because of movement. At the bride/groom, its easy, look for clean spot, nice lighting. At church, its more complicated. if there is lots of light, its not so bad, but most of the time, I shoot at ISO 800, and even more if I need to stop the movement (walk down the isle). Park/formal is fun, just avoid full sunshine and fill in with flash. Reception can be hell sometime. Little lights or no light at all makes requires flash, lots of flash, and hi ISO.

Bring LOTS of battery. I have a 580 EX2 and I can go through 24-30 battery in 10 hours. Lots of card too. Your equipment should be fine.

Remember to check your setting, change battery at the brides place
Remember to check your setting, change battery when you leave the brides place
Remember to check your setting, when outside before the ceremony
Remember to check your setting, change battery when you enter the church
Remember to go speak to the preist/pasteur to set up ground rules
Remember to change the battery before the kiss
Remember to check/change your setting the SECOND you put your feet out the church
Remember to check your setting, change your battery for the first part of the formal picture (wedding party, parent, bride and groom)
Remember to check your setting, change your battery for the formal picture of the bride alone
Remember to check your setting, change the battery when arriving to the reception
Remember to change your bettery for every hours of shooting at reception
Remember that you are hired to work, not to get drunk
Remember to double check all your gear before leaving to make sure you have everything
Woah, what batteries you using?? The must be pretty weak from the word go!
Hope your day's shooting went well, be sure to share how it went.

[vadim_c]

The more you stress, the worst its going to be. Make sure to adjust your ISO often. Good rule of thumb (for me) is its better to have noise than to have a flash background (white face and black rest), or a blury picture because of movement. At the bride/groom, its easy, look for clean spot, nice lighting. At church, its more complicated. if there is lots of light, its not so bad, but most of the time, I shoot at ISO 800, and even more if I need to stop the movement (walk down the isle). Park/formal is fun, just avoid full sunshine and fill in with flash. Reception can be hell sometime. Little lights or no light at all makes requires flash, lots of flash, and hi ISO.

Bring LOTS of battery. I have a 580 EX2 and I can go through 24-30 battery in 10 hours. Lots of card too. Your equipment should be fine.

Remember to check your setting, change battery at the brides place
Remember to check your setting, change battery when you leave the brides place
Remember to check your setting, when outside before the ceremony
Remember to check your setting, change battery when you enter the church
Remember to go speak to the preist/pasteur to set up ground rules
Remember to change the battery before the kiss
Remember to check/change your setting the SECOND you put your feet out the church
Remember to check your setting, change your battery for the first part of the formal picture (wedding party, parent, bride and groom)
Remember to check your setting, change your battery for the formal picture of the bride alone
Remember to check your setting, change the battery when arriving to the reception
Remember to change your bettery for every hours of shooting at reception
Remember that you are hired to work, not to get drunk
Remember to double check all your gear before leaving to make sure you have everything
I suspect you are using some crap 3rd party batteries that can hold not more than 1.5 actuations. The OEM battery is good for a thousand of shots, if you come close to that at the bride's place you may consider revaluating your shooting style

[vadim_c]

Hey everyone. I'm shooting my first wedding on Saturday and I'm hoping someone can give me a few ideas and tips.

I'm fairly handy with the camera, all my gear is listed below. On the day I'll also have a 400d with an EF-S 18-55 kit lens.

I'm hoping I'll be fine and its just nerves that's freaking me out.

My usual photo type is automotive so this is a bit of a change for me.

Anyway, anyone with any ideas please post them up.

Thanks.
I do not want to disappoint you or be rude but I think your gear is totally inappropriate for a wedding. I hope this is an unpaid, 'friend asked me' assignment. If you can borrow something with at least 2.8 aperture and spend all remaining time practicing with it.

[madhatter04]

^ A little late for that now!! ;)

[Muttly]

I do not want to disappoint you or be rude but I think your gear is totally inappropriate for a wedding. I hope this is an unpaid, 'friend asked me' assignment. If you can borrow something with at least 2.8 aperture and spend all remaining time practicing with it.The cheek of some people..... Only joking, yes its a help out a friend thing. I was using it as basically see how I get on and if it works out ok buy a 24-70 2.8.

Most of the day went ok. Struggled in the church (which I knew I would) due to the lens, still came out ok as I had a 400d with a 50mm 1.8 on. At least it let me get some of the shots I wanted.

I'm just heading in to work for the day. I'm off tomorrow though so I'll get some of the shots I've taken uploaded and will greatly appreciate c&c.

[samontearmida]

Just wanted to know what happend...

Please update, I'm abit interested to what you've done :)
Thanks a lot

[SuzyView]

Yes, post here in this thread to one started in SHARE so we can see the results.