Shooting your own daughter's wedding.

It's a wee bit off (2015) but my daughter is getting married and has asked me to do the photos. I would love to do them but was wondering if anyone else has done this and were the limitations? The only shot(s) I can think that I'll miss are the bridesmaids/bride/me walking down the aisle at the start. A remote trigger and tripod will take care of the one or two family shots.

Any others you can think of? Or should I pass on this?

i would definitely pass but its up to you. you'll save some money but i would not want to have to worry about taking pictures while my daughter is getting married

I think it depends a lot on your personality, her personalty and the type of wedding. I've shot multiple weddings for family and friends, some paid, some discounted, some free and didn't regret any of them. I was the best man at my best friend's wedding and he insisted on hiring someone so I could enjoy myself, which I appreciated immensely, but part of me was really wishing I was shooting the whole time.

I think for my daughter, I'd probably just want to focus on the event and not shoot personally, but if it's a really small wedding and you're just doing some basics I think I could pull that off without cramping my own style.

If she wants and expects full coverage, you're either going to disappoint her or ruin your experience, or both...

Good luck!

I can't imagine doing it. Both of my sons (twins) will be getting married over the coming couple of years. As much as I'd like to do it from a photography perspective, I would NEVER want to sacrifice what I'd have to with respect to participating in and enjoying my sons' wedding day and all the visiting I'd want to do along the way. Just too important; much more than getting the shots myself.

I might have the camera around, might take a few shots getting ready at the house, but I'll leave the rest to a hired hand.

It can be done but it's a very busy day. I have shot for several family members and two of my son's weddings. I personally had a lot more fun than if I was attending as the father of the groom is pretty much a total do nothing job, and someone else was shooting. One thing that will help tremendously is to get a second shooter. If you have a photog friend or another family member, give them your backup camera of have them bring their own. Also, don't underestimate the time needed post wedding to do the processing.

I wouldn't do it. In theory you only miss the aisle shot(s) but in reality you miss so much more.

gjl711 wrote in post #15519152
It can be done but it's a very busy day. I have shot for several family members and two of my son's weddings. I personally had a lot more fun than if I was attending as the father of the groom is pretty much a total do nothing job, and someone else was shooting. One thing that will help tremendously is to get a second shooter. If you have a photog friend or another family member, give them your backup camera of have them bring their own. Also, don't underestimate the time needed post wedding to do the processing.

The father of the groom is a helluva lot different from the father of the bride.

cdifoto wrote in post #15519202
The father of the groom is a helluva lot different from the father of the bride.

Tell me about it. Actually, I found that shooting the wedding I was able to interact with everyone much more so than if I was a participant. As a photographer, I had a blast. It was a very busy and hectic day, as it would be for any wedding photog, but I would not hesitate to perform that function of any of my family if requested.

Pass. It's a very special day with your daughter. Don't miss any part of it.

I would pass on it.

Be in front of the camera, not the one behind it may be you could recommend someone you know would do a good job for her though?

I did it in the summer 2011 for my daughter. She asked me to shoot it.

It was exhausting, but in the end it was worth it for me. The big benefit was I was able to control the post processing.

Don't do it, hire a pro, enjoy the day, be there for your daughter and the rest of your family........ if you try and do both the parent and photographers duties you will end up doing a poor job of both and your memories of the day will not be what you or daughter would want them to be.

Its far easier to shoot a wedding when you don't know anyone there, friends weddings where people know you and want to speak to you and the bride and groom want to see you having a good time are more challenging than strangers weddings imo ..... father of bride and photographer are two duties that don't mix well.

Hire a decent pro, leave your camera at home and enjoy the day as the father of the bride.

I don't think I'd even bring a camera to one of my kids' wedding.... if they can't afford a photographer, I'd get them one long before I decide to take this on...

I shot my Sister's wedding... a small affair on the beach... and even though I got pictures of the whole thing, I basically missed the whole ceremony.... They each wrote their own vows... I didn't hear them.. I just heard "click, click, click"