Table Shots.. Love em hate em

I give couples around 600-900 edited photos in total. The majority of the candids of the guests are individual shots so yes normally as many guest shots as there are guests. These all get uploaded by the clients on Facebook and then social media word of mouth does the rest. Most end up as profile pictures.

I don't have a second shooter. I basically start taking shots of guests after I have taken the room setup shots and don't stop until the first dance. There is always a table waiting to be served or finished their course and waiting for the next. I only sit down for about 10 minutes to eat.

I shoot with the 70-200 and watch people for conversations, moments etc.

Here is a sample
Note these are unedited but it gives you an idea at least.

^ Very generous to share your thoughts and process. Thanks, Peter. I'll check them out.

memoriesoftomorrow wrote in post #15157518
I give couples around 600-900 edited photos in total. The majority of the candids of the guests are individual shots so yes normally as many guest shots as there are guests. These all get uploaded by the clients on Facebook and then social media word of mouth does the rest. Most end up as profile pictures.

I don't have a second shooter. I basically start taking shots of guests after I have taken the room setup shots and don't stop until the first dance. There is always a table waiting to be served or finished their course and waiting for the next. I only sit down for about 10 minutes to eat.

I shoot with the 70-200 and watch people for conversations, moments etc.

Here is a sample
Note these are unedited but it gives you an idea at least.

Curious as why you posted the images to your regular face-book page and not your business face-book page ?

I definitely like the single image concept. Are you shooting with a long lens? It kinda looks like you are stealthy and then if someone happens to catch you they smile.

This past wedding I used the couple concept. I think it worked out well but it still has a forced look instead of a natural candid smile.

scorpio_e wrote in post #15158032
Curious as why you posted the images to your regular face-book page and not your business face-book page ?

The wedding was some very good family friends. I never normally put SOOC photos up anywhere. But the wedding was in the UK and it was going to be a month before I go home to Australia to process them. I only post sneak peeks on my business Facebook page (20 per wedding).

scorpio_e wrote in post #15158032
I definitely like the single image concept. Are you shooting with a long lens? It kinda looks like you are stealthy and then if someone happens to catch you they smile.

70-200 2.8 IS MKII on the 5DMKIII. I'm normally quite some distance away. I watch people and shoot as they are enjoying themselves in conversation with other guests. Most are not looking at me but at someone across the table from them.

scorpio_e wrote in post #15158032
This past wedding I used the couple concept. I think it worked out well but it still has a forced look instead of a natural candid smile.

I also use the reflection in the LCD like a mirror so I can see what is going behind me. Spin and shoot. They are worth the extra hour or so on my feet for the word of mouth they generate.

Hate em.

Photobooths are starting to become popular in NZ so most of the time we just do candid shots of guests during the reception.

Every now and then we do table shots if requested. Another thing we try and do to get the guests involved is to get couple shots or small group shots as they mingle during cocktails so that they are standing up rather than sitting down.

snakeman55 wrote in post #15158957
Hate em.

*LOL* says it all !!!

The only time I do table shots is at some Asian weddings (mostly Vietnamese), when the bride and groom walk from table to table and everyone at each table gives them gifts, makes them drink, makes them perform a dare, etc. At those moments I'll put on my 16-35 lens (on a FF body) and capture all the hilarity.

i generally hate them too.
i love how peter gets so many sniper candids of individuals like that. i try that anyway.

and I agree that photobooths are helping with this "need" that the bride has to capture everyone that is there!
i also hate the request that i get sometimes to "make sure you get everyone walking in (or out) of the ceremony (or reception)"
really? that's not all i have going on at that point of my day
sure i'll get some (the hot ones especially), but all of them? pleeaaase.

bigarchi wrote in post #15164378
i generally hate them too.
i love how peter gets so many sniper candids of individuals like that.

My usual setup is 70-200 MKII, 5D MKIII, 580 EXII, ETTL HSS FEV+2, AV mode, F3.5, spot meter of the skin, K WB to suit the environment allowing for the flash. Flash bounced straight up with a demb flip it... I effectively turn the thing into a giant point and shoot.

memoriesoftomorrow wrote in post #15157518
I give couples around 600-900 edited photos in total. The majority of the candids of the guests are individual shots so yes normally as many guest shots as there are guests. These all get uploaded by the clients on Facebook and then social media word of mouth does the rest. Most end up as profile pictures.

I don't have a second shooter. I basically start taking shots of guests after I have taken the room setup shots and don't stop until the first dance. There is always a table waiting to be served or finished their course and waiting for the next. I only sit down for about 10 minutes to eat.

I shoot with the 70-200 and watch people for conversations, moments etc.

Here is a sample
Note these are unedited but it gives you an idea at least.

Pete.. you scare me. Are you sure your not my twin brother from down under... we do the exact same thing except we dont post them on facebook,, but i like the idea....if i get 10-15 minutes to eat im doing good. We bounce from table to table and get couples shots,,, detail shots are done before the guest come in and tear up the tables..Our clients love the table shots because they can send a 4x6 in the thank you cards. Ive also handed out several business cards this way as well. Kind of breaks up the down time at receptions with speeches and cake cutting...next thing you know its time to dance.

we use a 50L and an 85L anymore for this and if they are bigger rounds we break out the 35L and try to get 4 in a shot. about the only time im getting the 70-200 out is for the ceremony... loving the primes. Receptions is almost all primes for us and one body has the 24-70 and switches to the 17-35. we use 3 bodies for every wedding with 32GB cards.

memoriesoftomorrow wrote in post #15165132
My usual setup is 70-200 MKII, 5D MKIII, 580 EXII, ETTL HSS FEV+2, AV mode, F3.5, spot meter of the skin, K WB to suit the environment allowing for the flash. Flash bounced straight up with a demb flip it... I effectively turn the thing into a giant point and shoot.

OMG stop it......Im using a bracket as well:p

umphotography wrote in post #15165259
Pete.. you scare me. Are you sure your not my twin brother from down under... we do the exact same thing except we dont post them on facebook

Oh I don't post them on Facebook... the couple do after they receive all of their photos. I supply high resolution files for printing and lower resolution ones sized for Facebook. The copyright Metadata field is what appears when they upload them as the default image description. Normally couples upload a goof few hundred pics including all the candid ones.

memoriesoftomorrow wrote in post #15165658
Oh I don't post them on Facebook... the couple do after they receive all of their photos. I supply high resolution files for printing and lower resolution ones sized for Facebook. The copyright Metadata field is what appears when they upload them as the default image description. Normally couples upload a goof few hundred pics including all the candid ones.

Thats a great idea. Gonna start doin that.