Cruel temptation

[Krapo]

As an intro, I've been considering getting into wedding photography for a while.

For the last couple of years, I've shot many parties, private events, in plenty of different lighting conditions. I did most of them for free to get experience, and got paid for a few when I was less close to the organizers. Each time, I got many praises for my work.
The latest praise arrived today in the form of an e-mail from someone who saw the pictures I made at an event, and who asked me to shoot her wedding in August.

I'm pretty confident I could cover 95% of the day and please her. But there are 2 main reasons why I don't think it's a good idea :
- I have no backup camera
- I have no experience in large group shots

On top, it's going to be a large wedding (probably 200 people at the dinner, ~500 at the cocktail), so certainly not the best set-up to experiment...

So as disappointed as this leaves me, I think I'm going to pass on that one.

Still, what do you think could be a nice and safe way to get some first hand experience on weddings, especially group shots?
How did you start shooting weddings? By being an assistant?

Thanks in advance for your advices!

[funlovincamera]

There are a few strategies you could try:

You could rent a backup camera and pass the cost on to your customer, or you could purchase a new camera as an investment and begin recovering the cost with your first customer.

For experience with group shots, I would gather all my friends together and pose them in ways that simulate what you'll be doing for the wedding. Bribe them with beer if necessary. You can then post the shots here and hopefully you'll get some useful feedback.

[RT McAllister]

It all comes down to this potential bride's expectations. What are they? How much of your inexperience does she know about?

[Krapo]

There are a few strategies you could try:

You could rent a backup camera and pass the cost on to your customer, or you could purchase a new camera as an investment and begin recovering the cost with your first customer.

For experience with group shots, I would gather all my friends together and pose them in ways that simulate what you'll be doing for the wedding. Bribe them with beer if necessary. You can then post the shots here and hopefully you'll get some useful feedback.

Nice suggestions. I could try with some friends. I think my issue is that I don't have many ideas on how to make a large group pose for you. I'm lacking creative ideas as I don't want to land on the "soccer team" side.

I've seen interesting stuff from local pros, but I'm not going to use the same tricks. It would be quite lame.
Where can I find ideas for group set-ups?

[Krapo]

It all comes down to this potential bride's expectations. What are they? How much of your inexperience does she know about?

I don't know yet. She sent me the email yesterday and I still don't know what to answer. I want to be perfectly honest with her. I am inexperienced when it comes to wedding, and I don't want her to hire me thinking I'm a seasoned pro.

So I think I will tell her exactly what I told you. I would love to shoot her wedding, but I'm lacking experience. If she loves my style so much that she's ready to bear the risks of my inexperience, let's do it. Otherwise, I'll advise her to go with a pro.

Now, if she's bleeding cash, she can always have a pro AND myself :)

[Mike]

Send me a train ticket and I'll come across and shoot with you if you like! :D

You'll need backup gear if you do take it on, you have 4 very good lenses in your lineup so that's no problem but you would need a second body for starters and probably another flash.

[pcunite]

So as disappointed as this leaves me, I think I'm going to pass on that one.

Still, what do you think could be a nice and safe way to get some first hand experience on weddings, especially group shots?
How did you start shooting weddings? By being an assistant?

You did the right thing. Now help her find a real wedding photographer and make sure the one she goes with speaks with you. You make sure he knows you got him the job and you want to shadow him that day.

[bigarchi]

You did the right thing. Now help her find a real wedding photographer and make sure the one she goes with speaks with you. You make sure he knows you got him the job and you want to shadow him that day.

fantastic idea right here!

[lil_miss]

The group shots are a very small portion of the day - the majority is the bride and groom and their wedding party.

If you dont feel you should though, then don't. :)

[PJ]

You did the right thing. Now help her find a real wedding photographer and make sure the one she goes with speaks with you. You make sure he knows you got him the job and you want to shadow him that day.

Good Advice.
You should also see if you could assist a local wedding photographer during a wedding. (as an assistant / second shooter/ or both)

[Krapo]

You did the right thing. Now help her find a real wedding photographer and make sure the one she goes with speaks with you. You make sure he knows you got him the job and you want to shadow him that day.

It's indeed a very good idea. I know a few guys here, from the top notch pro who probably won't like having me in his way, to guys that are relatively new to wedding photography. I could always team up with the latter...
This would ensure that the bride gets nice pictures from all moments, and would also relieve some pressure from my shoulders!

[Krapo]

The group shots are a very small portion of the day - the majority is the bride and groom and their wedding party.


I know, and to a lesser extent my worries also apply to the bride & groom posed shots. Although I have quite some experience in candid photography, I am lacking experience (and inspiration) in posed shots.

In Tim's (excellent) wedding FAQ, do you know if some of the books talk about posed shots? Where else could I find ideas?

[tim]

I know, and to a lesser extent my worries also apply to the bride & groom posed shots. Although I have quite some experience in candid photography, I am lacking experience (and inspiration) in posed shots.

In Tim's (excellent) wedding FAQ, do you know if some of the books talk about posed shots? Where else could I find ideas?

Check my books thread (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=242640), there's a posing thread in there that has some good basic principles. There's no one wedding book that'll teach you everything you need to know for weddings... which is why i'm writing one.

[Krapo]

Check my books thread (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=242640), there's a posing thread in there that has some good basic principles. There's no one wedding book that'll teach you everything you need to know for weddings... which is why i'm writing one.

Fantastic! Some books seem to be very good starting point indeed.

I'm looking forward to reading your book...

[tim]

Give me a few months, by the time it's finished, edited, and published.

[bigrob]

Give me a few months, by the time it's finished, edited, and published.


Good luck with the book Tim.