Wedding Story (from the photographers perspective)

[SnapsbyPoteat]

Well,

As a first time wedding photographer, I didn't know what to expect. I knew how most of the day would come out but the small details were, well completely sporatic. And I'm not exaggerating. I photographed probably one of the most thrown together ceremonies, that only lasted maybe 10 minutes. This bride was extremely laid back and really didn't care about the details of the wedding. There was no dinner rehersal (major mistake). The bride didn't even plan ahead on who is doing to sound system. I think all they knew was that someone was playing the piano, someone was singing a song, someone was lighting the unity candle and the minister had a speech. At the last minute they realized all that needed to be done. The bride had not even seen the inside of the church until she was walking down the isle (Crazy huh?). I had visited the church earlier in the day and told her there was a large podium and a bunch of chairs that needed to be moved off of the stage (that never got done). So they stood in front of it, not even on the stage. and that messed up the lighting because the good lighting was on the stage,.
During the extremely short ceremony, everything went so quickly, I know I missed a few shots. The bridesmaids were right behind each other and my recycle time was slowing due to a dyeing battery, so I did not get one of the bridesmaids coming down the isle, I also totally missed the unity candle being lit because the girl who did it, appeared out of nowhere from the side of the stage and I didn't even notice her until she was walking to the back of the church. ( I could keep going ).
After the ceremony NO ONE was interested in doing pictures. I could not get ANYONE to stand still long enough for formals. (Which the bride said she wanted). Finally after a bunch of guest left I got a few. But everyone was in a hurry, I didn't get much. The bride did state she wanted to get some at the cabin where the reception was. We were hoping to get a lot of outdoor shots but it was very cold and very rainy, so I knew outdoor photos at the cabin would not happen, so I didn't know at this point what she really expected at the cabin. Well at the cramped cabin after they greeted the guest for a while I got some of the bridal party on the back stairs for a few shots, these turned out the best. However, the grooms older son was being VERY uncooperative and had already taken off his tux and told his dad that he wasn't putting the tux back on no matter what he said. But fortunately there was an usher who still had his tux on so he subbed in.
I tried to do some fun and creative shots with the bride & groom but she was just not interested and the groom just acted preoccupied the entire day. It was like they didn't want anything but a few formal shots. OH WELL! I believe I tried my best and I've learned a lot.

My main issues regarding photos (besides uncoperative party) were shadows, underexposing & white balance. I was able to fix em up in lightroom a bit but I know now to be aware of that at my next wedding a little more.

I'm hesitant to post these because I feel like they turned out pretty well but I know some of you will probably tear them apart! Please give me good c&c that will help me do better at my next wedding!


1.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gtj9hr-OgFs/S6bro-uEMUI/AAAAAAAAAH0/PZTif5R8K6k/s320/resized1.jpg
2.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gtj9hr-OgFs/S6br6khjEMI/AAAAAAAAAH8/W_ctC006gYo/s320/resized2.jpg
3.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gtj9hr-OgFs/S6bsMEjRY6I/AAAAAAAAAIE/o2eslY2y_M0/s320/resized3.jpg
4.
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_gtj9hr-OgFs/S6bsdv6I6JI/AAAAAAAAAIM/cwEsKPnBIZI/s320/resized4.jpg
5.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gtj9hr-OgFs/S6bs0UaqgUI/AAAAAAAAAIU/DuBQBz4tt1I/s320/resized5.jpg
6.
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_gtj9hr-OgFs/S6btHlHEpvI/AAAAAAAAAIc/amk8XubKBnE/s320/resized6.jpg

[cdifoto]

10 minute ceremony? I'm envious! Not of the rest though. Sounds too much like my own first. :lol:

[supernova74]

All part of wedding photography. I did my "first" on my own on the weekend. It was the guys fourth wedding, similar situation, they wasnt really into the photo thing and the whole event lacked motivation. I guess when we take photos its a little bit of our job to keep them enthusiastic for the photo part at least. I struggled with exposure a bit myself, she wore bright blue he wore a white shirt, sun was in and out of clouds. I shoot in JPEG and my card isnt big enough (8gig) to take in RAW. Only hold about 300 pics in RAW. So with a bit of creative PP i made their pics look quite good. Lessons learnt on my behalf was i need to come up with a few more posing style shots, i guess that will come with experience. But hey, for $50 for my first wedding, im sure they will be happy with the outcome.

My only comment on the pics you posted is to make a smaller watermark, its distracting and takes away fromt photo your showing. Good job and keep on going, i know i will, im enjoying it a lot. And its not for the money, its for thel ove of taking photos :)

[bbvdm]

If you ask me...it sounds like not only was the wedding party uncooperative, it also sounds like the photographer was unprepared. Everything should have been discussed prior to the wedding with the couple and what their expectations were. "Dying" batteries should never happen as extra batteries should always be on hand. 10 minute ceremony or 45 minute ceremony, these always happen very fast and you must be prepared all the time. To do a wedding properly, a second shooter is usually a requirement. It sounds to me you may have jumped in feet first when some more preparation should have been in store or perhaps shooting as a second shooter yourself. Just my humble opinion from what was written.

[cdifoto]

To do a wedding properly, a second shooter is usually a requirement.

Sorry. What? Since when? Change "requirement" to "luxury" or "benefit" and I agree. But a requirement? Plenty of wedding photographers are kickin' butt on their own...on a regular basis.

What I'd like more than a 2nd shooter is an assistant. I don't really need another camera clicking away but it'd be nice to have someone to hold a reflector or flash. It'd REALLY be nice to have someone who knows how and where to set up room lighting so I don't have to break away from my couple.

[SnapsbyPoteat]

If you ask me...it sounds like not only was the wedding party uncooperative, it also sounds like the photographer was unprepared. Everything should have been discussed prior to the wedding with the couple and what their expectations were. "Dying" batteries should never happen as extra batteries should always be on hand. 10 minute ceremony or 45 minute ceremony, these always happen very fast and you must be prepared all the time. To do a wedding properly, a second shooter is usually a requirement. It sounds to me you may have jumped in feet first when some more preparation should have been in store or perhaps shooting as a second shooter yourself. Just my humble opinion from what was written.

oh I was prepared!
I did have extra batteries and as soon as the bride was down the isle, I was able to go to where my bag was in the back and change them out (my bag was so heavy I wasn't able to maneuver around the ceremony comfortable), I learned my lesson that I need to change my batteries before the ceremony begins, I didn't realize how short of a life they actually had.
I know many people who don't have a second shooter at weddings, that is a general opinion- not a requirement.
This bride was very laidback and we did discuss things ahead of time she was VERY laid back and had nothing planned, I asked her again and again what she wanted, she was never specific, she didn't really care is what it came down to.

[cdifoto]

oh I was prepared!
I did have extra batteries and as soon as the bride was down the isle, I was able to go to where my bag was in the back and change them out (my bag was so heavy I wasn't able to maneuver around the ceremony comfortable), I learned my lesson that I need to change my batteries before the ceremony begins, I didn't realize how short of a life they actually had.
I know many people who don't have a second shooter at weddings, that is a general opinion- not a requirement.
This bride was very laidback and we did discuss things ahead of time she was VERY laid back and had nothing planned, I asked her again and again what she wanted, she was never specific, she didn't really care is what it came down to.

It happens. On Saturday (2 days ago) the DJ had to stall for me while I swapped out my flash batteries a few seconds before the bouquet toss.

[sctbiggs]

Change batteries and memory cards often even if they are not fully used. Head off the chance of them dying on you during an important shot.

[SnapsbyPoteat]

10 minute ceremony? I'm envious! Not of the rest though. Sounds too much like my own first. :lol:

It went by way too fast for a first timer! She had originally said it would be a 20 minute ceremony, I didn't have time to think and try to anticipate and get prepared for the next shot.

[cdifoto]

It went by way too fast for a first timer! She had originally said it would be a 20 minute ceremony, I didn't have time to think and try to anticipate and get prepared for the next shot.

Anything over 15 minutes and I'm chimping to pass the time. :lol:

[lisamgunderson]

hahahahahahahaha hahhaha I actually have tears running down my eyes. I am not laughing at you, I'm laughing because I can soooo relate to this story. Your pictures turned out very nice.
Gotta love those types of weddings. How funny- I bet your story could go on and on and on.... hehehe, and you are sitting there all the while thinking why my first wedding....

I think each one of us has shot a wedding like this one- at least once in our lives and if not you are seriously missing out. I am a firm believer that when you run across the bridizillas and their mother's you will appreciate the simple, down to earth people:)

[cdifoto]

I think the first wedding is always horrible from the perspective of the photographer. After all, it stands to reason. The photographer has no bloody clue what to do; how to take charge, how to make things happen, how to command respect, how to stay on time, etc.

[lisamgunderson]

Cdifoto, I completely agree with you. The first time is always hard to have everything completely figured out. No number of books or articles can make up for experience- which takes time.

BBVDM, no insult intended but I thought your comments were completely unfair to this poster. I can relate to preparing every detail and still having everything go wrong. No matter how prepared the photog is the wedding party has to be part of taking good pictures. There will always be members of the party who are unwilling to stand still and smile for the pictures. I once did a wedding where all in the wedding party were chain smokers and they had to run outside to smoke between shots. It was really hard rounding up people for the images that were expected from the couple.

[sapearl]

I agree about proper battery prep and such John, but for most folks a second photographer is often an extra cost they may not be able to afford. I've been going solo on weekends for 35+ years now..... sure, it may be nice at times to have an assist, but a second shooter is NOT a requirement ;).

Btw - those are some very nicely done pictures you've shared snaps.

..... "Dying" batteries should never happen as extra batteries should always be on hand. ..... a second shooter is usually a requirement. It sounds to me you may have jumped in feet first when some more preparation should have been in store or perhaps shooting as a second shooter yourself. .....

[Gotte]

It went by way too fast for a first timer! She had originally said it would be a 20 minute ceremony, I didn't have time to think and try to anticipate and get prepared for the next shot.

Much as I have my set list of shots, I really like the freeform nature of weddings, and the need to think on your feet. They are certainly never boring.

[SnapsbyPoteat]

BBVDM, no insult intended but I thought your comments were completely unfair to this poster. I can relate to preparing every detail and still having everything go wrong. No matter how prepared the photog is the wedding party has to be part of taking good pictures. There will always be members of the party who are unwilling to stand still and smile for the pictures. I once did a wedding where all in the wedding party were chain smokers and they had to run outside to smoke between shots. It was really hard rounding up people for the images that were expected from the couple.


Thank you! Because I know I did not jump into this wedding "feet first," I have been preparing for this wedding alone for 6 months and also preparing and learning DSLR for 2.5 years!
As I stated, I had extra batteries, but was not able to change them in time because the bridesmaids were rushing down the isle,(even if the batteries were in my back pocket, I would not have been able to get the shot) I can not help dying batteries... that is something that happens, and the speedlite does not show an indicator for battery power- so there was no way of knowing this would happen at that exact moment. Like I said, I learned my lesson to be sure to put a fresh set of batteries in the flash as the beginning of the ceremony, but I don't feel that means I was unprepared.


hahahahahahahaha hahhaha I actually have tears running down my eyes. I am not laughing at you, I'm laughing because I can soooo relate to this story. Your pictures turned out very nice.
Gotta love those types of weddings. How funny- I bet your story could go on and on and on.... hehehe, and you are sitting there all the while thinking why my first wedding....

Glad you got a good laugh out of it! and yes I could go on, I didn't even mention that they asked me to go searching through the church rooms to find pillar candles to light the unity candles with (something they didn't think to prepare for ahead of time ). I actually went and did it but was then thinking... they aren't paying me for this what the heck am I doing? and how every time I had a group together and said ok lets get some shots someone was always making an excuse for something else they had to go take care of. OH I was so frustrated. I guess I learned that pictures aren't as important to everyone as they were to me (and a majority of brides) on their Wedding day.

And I'm glad you like the pictures! :)

Btw - those are some very nicely done pictures you've shared snaps.

thank you for the compliment!

[_aravena]

Well, this was my wedding. I had a shotgun wedding because I'm enlisting though now my ship out date is postponed 2 months but anyhow, my photographer was new to weddings. She has done some amazing portrait work and a nice engagement but not a wedding. I felt bad for her because it was very quick and rushed. My wife and I wanted a 2hr wedding & ceremony and that's what it was and we skipped the garter and bouquet toss. Still, she got some nice photos with it but I wonder what her perspective was for it being her first wedding.

You did come away with some nice photos though.

[lisamgunderson]

Well, this was my wedding. I had a shotgun wedding because I'm enlisting though now my ship out date is postponed 2 months but anyhow, my photographer was new to weddings. She has done some amazing portrait work and a nice engagement but not a wedding. I felt bad for her because it was very quick and rushed. My wife and I wanted a 2hr wedding & ceremony and that's what it was and we skipped the garter and bouquet toss. Still, she got some nice photos with it but I wonder what her perspective was for it being her first wedding.

You did come away with some nice photos though.

I can also relate to your explanation of the wedding because when I got married it was small and simple and that was what we wanted. My reception was well prepared, and pretty but not a photographers dream. We didnt do the whole wedding dress and tux thing and frankly if it werent for family obligations we would have went to Niagra Falls and eloped. Looking back we kick ourselves because that was what we wanted to do.

Like I said when you have run across the bridezilla type of wedding you will appreciate the small simple affairs. However, that doesnt take away from some of the frustration one may feel because as a hired photographer you feel you need to provide a certain level of service to the client. I am sure there was no insult intended to you as the client. I am also sorry if my words came across as insulting- it was not my intent, but I do understand the frustration because I have shot weddings which everything seemed to go wrong and looking back you just gotta laugh!

[_aravena]

I haven't had that yet. Mine was still a beginner's dream as we did dress up and I wore a suit I had and we decorated the place and what not. We had a lot of help and bought cheap but wise. I'm very creative and thrifty and so is my wife so it was very beautiful for what we did and pout together. We spent maybe $500 on the wedding total.

[tamko]

I would say a second shooter is need imo. since wedding can't be redo, I would rather have a second shooter to cover the shot that I missed. important thing is that second shooter is the one who will be producing creative shot, while the main busy shooting the event.

about the battery issue, at some point...it not a really big issue. just need to throw in some new one then you are fine. But I would say that you didn't prepare your gear enough before the wedding, assuming is dangerous. I usually double check everything the night before I head for shooting, doesn't matter if it is a wedding or family shooting.

but hey...at least you know what to expect next time. assume the worst and be extra prepare.

alan

[SnapsbyPoteat]

I would say a second shooter is need imo. since wedding can't be redo, I would rather have a second shooter to cover the shot that I missed. important thing is that second shooter is the one who will be producing creative shot, while the main busy shooting the event.

about the battery issue, at some point...it not a really big issue. just need to throw in some new one then you are fine. But I would say that you didn't prepare your gear enough before the wedding, assuming is dangerous. I usually double check everything the night before I head for shooting, doesn't matter if it is a wedding or family shooting.

but hey...at least you know what to expect next time. assume the worst and be extra prepare.

alan

I'm sorry, How did I not prepare my gear ahead of time, batteries loose juice unexpectedly it happens, I can't prevent that??? I had just finished shooting 3 hours of everyone getting ready and thought I had at least 10 more minutes for a ceremony! HAHA! Everyone seems to be making a big deal about this battery thing- sheese.