My first wedding

Well I've booked my first wedding...NOW WHAT !

Any book I should read ?

do you shoot RAW ?

OK boys and girls. Let's get a fresh start shall we. Try not to run with the scissors or someone will get hurt & spend time in the naughty chair.

Shoot raw

read tims posts on books do a search also on this topic

Seriously? I would say to cancel it or make some sort of deal with a semi-pro to do the wedding. I've been reading digital wedding photography books for about 2 months now (semi-religiously), I will be purchasing all of my gear over the next year or two and will be playing with photoshop and other applications until then. I'm constantly browsing wedding photos and ideas. In about a month, I am taking a part time position at a local studio for the basic knowledge of photography and posing. Then once the gear comes around, I'll spend another couple of months as an assistant to a wedding photographer. I don't know your background in photography, but I am in no way, shape, or form confident or ready to do a wedding at this point.

Practice, Read, Buy Some Gear, Hands-On Experience, Proper Training, Maybe Some Courses, oh and practice would be what's next for you...

I think a lot of people see wedding photography as 'easy money' - but after a lot of research, there is a LOT of work involved, especially working as a one-man show. Still, when something is so much of a hobby, it helps lessen the stresses of "work." Nevertheless, it's still your job and needs to be taken seriously. If you proceed with this wedding, I'd inform the couple of your inexperience beforehand. I would hate to see a couple heartbroken over low-quality photos.

Hope you don't see any of this as 'attacking' - only intending the best for your engaged couple. I hope everything works out!

-Brita

Ok, minus my advice on buying some gear - looks like you've got some experience with that equipment!

Yes shoot raw.

And you may want to read some (most) of the post in this forum

Seriously... do you have backup equipment (if you are saving for a 5D, then you're covered for bodies with your current 20D)? Enough memory, batteries? Good artificial lighting (may be get an extra 580 or a 430 flash, strobes, umbrellas, diffusers)? That's just for gear.

Did you follow a pro for some time? Are you familiar with the typical pace of a wedding day? I could go on and on and on... I guess it would help if you could describe a bit more where you are standing now...

*head shake*

Why would you book a wedding when you didn't know what to do? Would you walk into a job interview and take a job doing something that couldn't be fixed if you messed it up and then say "oh by the way - how do I do this?"

Karen

sblais wrote in post #2367500
Yes shoot raw.

And you may want to read some (most) of the post in this forum

Seriously... do you have backup equipment (if you are saving for a 5D, then you're covered for bodies with your current 20D)? Enough memory, batteries? Good artificial lighting (may be get an extra 580 or a 430 flash, strobes, umbrellas, diffusers)? That's just for gear.

Did you follow a pro for some time? Are you familiar with the typical pace of a wedding day? I could go on and on and on... I guess it would help if you could describe a bit more where you are standing now...

I've done several fashion shows like L'Oreal Fashion Show
Pride Week
Toronto Jazz Festival
Toronto Grand Prix
All About Sex Show
Private Fashion shoots
Lots of Still Life
I've follow a PRO in fashion .... But never a Wedding

You seem covered in the lens department... so that's a good start. Now you really need a second body. Don't even think about going to a wedding without two bodies on you. Just this last weekend I had to throw away my primary and continue with the secondary due to malfunction. Weddings are notorious for bringing out the worst in equipment.

And if you are unwilling to unbook the wedding, then call up every wedding photographer you can find and second shoot for free as many times as possible before the wedding.

I am assuming you have a good grip in getting consistent exposures in ANY condition, have creative compositions, and know a lot about lighting. If you don't have these down cold, and can't perform these details without even thinking, then practice your butt off until you can do it on the fly!!!

There's NO second chances to get it right. Actually, you don't only have to get it right, it has to be perfect.

And one thing many fashion photographers find difficult with weddings is... people have NO idea how to pose, YOU have to be the master of posing every single person for every formal shot. Models pose themselves, look beautiful at any angle, and know how to look natural, even if they're stressed out. This is not even close in weddings.

picturecrazy wrote in post #2367697
You seem covered in the lens department... so that's a good start. Now you really need a second body. Don't even think about going to a wedding without two bodies on you. Just this last weekend I had to throw away my primary and continue with the secondary due to malfunction. Weddings are notorious for bringing out the worst in equipment.

And if you are unwilling to unbook the wedding, then call up every wedding photographer you can find and second shoot for free as many times as possible before the wedding.

I am assuming you have a good grip in getting consistent exposures in ANY condition, have creative compositions, and know a lot about lighting. If you don't have these down cold, and can't perform these details without even thinking, then practice your butt off until you can do it on the fly!!!

There's NO second chances to get it right. Actually, you don't only have to get it right, it has to be perfect.

And one thing many fashion photographers find difficult with weddings is... people have NO idea how to pose, YOU have to be the master of posing every single person for every formal shot. Models pose themselves, look beautiful at any angle, and know how to look natural, even if they're stressed out. This is not even close in weddings.

The wedding is until summer 2007 so I have time to practice....the poses

if you don't know what you are doing:
How did you book it?
Why did you book it?

Try to keep in mind how special of a day this is for the couple, priceless moments that ocur in the most extreme lighting and largest tonal range clothing scenarios you can get.

You're in trouble. Read this and buy some of these books if you're foolish enough to attempt this without the required knowledge and experience.

There should be a STICKY addressing this question titled "My first wedding shoot: Help!!!"

Skip Souza wrote in post #2367174
OK boys and girls. Let's get a fresh start shall we. Try not to run with the scissors or someone will get hurt & spend time in the naughty chair.

hahahaha

You know this forum way too well Skip.

Heatseeker99 wrote in post #2369193
There should be a STICKY addressing this question titled "My first wedding shoot: Help!!!"

I was going to say the same thing. I believe Tim is working on that?? Or something like that.