I'm doing a friend a favour - Wedding..

[DYORD]

A friend of mine is getting married tomorrow. He already hired a professional photographer, but he called me and other friends to be as backup. Since we are friends, we're not getting anything for this. Let's call it as a gift.

Now my problem is about dealing with the main or the "real" photographer. This would be my first time to shoot a wedding. I can't imagine how will it be like when shooting critical moments like the kissing scene, throwing of bouquet, etc.. I'm sure you always want to be in the best position as possible. And we don't want to have a bad impression with the main photographer. We'll also be using flash. So I hope we won't irritate the pro.

Any comments?

[ShauningtoN]

well I'm shooting my first wedding as a 2nd shooter FOR a pro next week, which will be interesting... but the only (obvious) information i can provide is you'll probably want to not walk infront of him. Sure stand with him but if you cheese him off and he misses the shot you could be in all sorts of strife.

Also, check with him prior to using flash. I know there will be people with point and **** cameras, but if you're using a 430, it may have enough oomf to optically trigger any slaves he may be using (if hes got them set up that way) so that might be a worthwhile question to ask, but if he really is a pro I doubt he'd rely on optical triggering...

Aside that, good luck and can't wait to see some shots! im sure someone more experienced will chime in with some more worthwhile advice...

[Mike]

Make sure you don't get in his way when he's taking his shots, one of the worst things a wedding photographer has to contend with is the B&G looking at other cameras when he's trying to get the shots he's been paid to get. Let him take his first and then get yours when he finishes.

[SuzyView]

First of all, I think your friend needs to talk to the pro first to see if it's okay with the pro. I don't mind if guests take their own pictures, but if someone walked in with a 1DsIII and tried to take over, I'd be a little ticked. Maybe if your friend is sharp, he can call the pro and say something like, "I know you are our hired pro, but some of my friends would like to take their own images and catch some candids while you are busy taking the real pictures. Do you mind if they tag along and do some shooting. I promise they won't get in your way?" This is better than showing up and surprising the pro. Also, better than, "My friends are shooting around you to catch stuff in case you aren't good enough to get what I want." Prepare your friend and you can all have fun and not get into each others' way. I have shot many weddings where there are people all around me waiting to jump in, I tell them I don't mind right at the start and they know if they try to step in front of me, I will knock them out of the way with my 5D2 and 70-200 2.8 IS or the brick. :)

[ssim]

I agree with Suzy. Your friend is doing a real disservice to the pro that they hired. Why in the world would they want more shooters than this at the wedding. If they feel they have chosen the wrong person that is their cross to bear. There are cases when this has happened and the pro has walked. They should also check the contract that they signed, it may inhibit this.

You say they called you and other friends, assumingly also with good gear and some experience. If you have a pro and potentially 3 or 4 others all vying for the same shot, this is a disaster in the making and they could very well end up being very unhappy with their shots all together as they will never know where they should be looking. It is fine to say that you aren't going to get in the way but honestly, once the pro has the wedding party all posed it is too tempting for the free shooters to jump in behind him and start to fire away. Been there and I have simply walked off to the side and told the bride and groom that I will resume when everyone else was done. They finally had to ask the free shooters to stop. I was having such a difficult time getting them to look at me even though they said they would. If someone off to the side says something to them, it is human nature that they will look in that direction.

Please make sure that you get this cleared with the pro and preferrably before it all starts. We are not talking about a bunch of aunts and uncles with point and shoots but potentially people with the same gear as the pro which will ad to the confusion.

[SuzyView]

I shoot weddings where many of the relatives have P&S. I never mind them taking pictures as long as I get mine first, and yes, the others have to wait until I am done. I don't like others talking to ruin my shot. I have to see everyone in the shot, if something is out of place, if the lighting is off, if the posing is wrong, if the people are standing straight, etc. Looking at Uncle Joe with the DSLR on my side instead of me is a real "no-no" and I do knock people over or step in front of them. I do mine first, others can take later, but it does get distracting and makes my shots not as good. I have never had an experience where a friend or relative stepped in my way enough that I left or had to speak to the coordinator or B&G. Remember, the wedding day is the bride's day, not the photographers, not the friends, not the families' and the pro needs to be comfortable to get the pictures he/she needs. You may want more, but it may be best to let the pro do his/her job.

[nicksan]

Talk to the pro and let him/her know about the situation.

However, I won't get too worked up. Chances are, EVERYONE will have a P&S camera wanting their own share of the shots.

As long as you don't get in the way of the paid pro, you should be fine.

[DStanic]

Use a longer lens then the photographer, so you are not in his/her way. Or, use a wider lens and get nice scenic shots of inside the church etc. Try to capture candid shots of other people that the photog can't get, those are often the best!

[Mike]

I shot a wedding yesterday and the groom's father had a canon dslr with the 17-85 lens I think. He kept pretty much out of my way with it but I did chat to him for a while and give him a few pointers, tried to talk him round to leaving the auto modes and getting to grips with Av, Tv and M. He wasn't convinced!

[DYORD]

Thanks a lot for all your replies! This wasn't easy than i thought. Ended up not bringing my DSLR... and let my other friends do the thing. It was alright. Wedding is great!

[ebann]

focus on candids with a long lens... preferably an 85/1.8 if you have one. be somewhere else where the hired photog isn't. this way you'll have unique photos that will complement the photog's. if you want the same shots, stay at a long distance and from another angle.

[yogestee]

focus on candids with a long lens... preferably an 85/1.8 if you have one. be somewhere else where the hired photog isn't. this way you'll have unique photos that will complement the photog's. if you want the same shots, stay at a long distance and from another angle.

Wise words Ellery :)

[Spacemunkie]

Ended up not bringing my DSLR... and let my other friends do the thing. It was alright. Wedding is great!

That's what I'd have done :)