Wedding tips...

Hey folks...well, it's getting late where I live.....it's 2:00 AM right now..so I will say sorry now for all of my typos...because I don't really wanna go back and correct them:P but...here is the story

so my sister is getting married on the 30th..and I have a 30D..and I'm wondering what is the best thing to do...shoot in RAW? or JPEG? what gives the best results...from what I have read..I think the answer is RAW....but is there a free program that can edit RAW files? I have a program...Macromedia Fireworks..and I'm not sure if it is able to read RAW files...could someone please explain to me what RAW photos are?

Is there a basic list of poses that we should do? of course we wouldn't want to do all of them...or we might want to add some..but it would be sweet if there was a list of like...the "basic" shots that should be taken..

The wedding is in a church..and we're wanting the lighting sort of low...so that the Christmas lights shine bright...does anyone know what settings I should use? ISO I'm thinking should stay at 100...correct? the widest aperture that I can get is 4.0 sometimes...other times 5.6....usually 5.6 though...

I'm new to all of this..and I'm getting a little...stressed you could say? one thing I should tell you guys is that I'm not the only photographer...but I don't think the other photographers shoot in RAW...so one of the photographers and I are wanting to do it..and we just don't TOTALLY understand it..I read some other threads...but I still get confused..what I'm needing is the basic of the basics:P if you could do this that would be awesome!

I will be going to bed now..and it would be sooo sweet if I woke up..and there were a bunch of replies explaining to me...

I hope I gave you all of the information you'll need...thanks for reading my thread!

Night all,
See you in the morning,
Tyler

A great free RAW converter is Raw Shooter Essentials
http://www.pixmantec.c​om …rawshooter_esse​ntials.asp

As for iso and shutter speeds- all venues are different and it also depends on the speed of your lenses and if you have IS, and the effect you are looking for in your shots.

HIRE A PROFESSIONAL. Even if it's for two hours, they know how to do this stuff. I'd hate to be responsible for messing up someones wedding photos, let alone a family members.

It's too late to teach you much, but you could have a look at this old thread I wrote. Also search this forum for the phrase "first wedding", plenty of advice there.

Try this thread too.

I second Tim.

A wedding is the worst to start with that little experience you mention in your message. Weddings need fast lenses, 2.8 and wider. 4 and 5.6 is often to slow that you need tripod and get motion blur if you really shoot without flash.
You can use flash, but ISO 100 is the worst you can do, as the flash will blind everybody and the batteries will go flat soon. The foreground is bright and the background just dark.

So get a pro, even for 2 hours, but you can't reshoot the wedding.
Take some snap shots if you like, but let the really important things do someone who knows his / her business.

If you want to shoot RAW, there is DPP included with the camera, but starting now is really late.

Good luck.

You mentioned there are other photographers.... hopefully at least one of them is a pro? I applaud your enthusiasm and wishes to help, but this is VERY late in the game to get curious about something like RAW for a type of event you've never done before. As Tim said, if these pictures are really important (and I cannot imagine them not being) HIRE A PRO.

It sounds like your ambient light will be minimal to nonexistent - jack up your ISO up to 1600 if you're not using a flash at all... ISO 100 will barely give you any sort of exposure. Reserve that for a bright and sunny day outdoors. This will likely get your shutter speeds down around 1/20 or 1/30 second, depending upon just how much light there is, and I'm just guessing.

Tydee, I'm not trying to come down hard on you, but from what you've said regarding your lack of experience and background here, it's almost like somebody considering entering the Indy 500 who has just gotten their driver's license. I'm sure you will get church images, but these are extreme lighting conditions for even a pro and usually that would require a fair amount of PP in photoshop. I wish you luck. - Stu

Now that I've finished with my negative rant, I'll try to be more constructive. You asked about types of basic shots to do - most bridal mags list these which I hate... there are at least 60 or so "critical" shots according to the editors, but here a few the shots you shouldn't miss:
1. Bride alone - various poses, close up, head shot, full length, various angles.
2. Bride and groom - see above for poses.
3. Bride with mom
4. Bride with dad
5. Bride with mom & dad
6. Bride with grandparents, together & separately
7. Bride with sibs, separately and together
8. Bride & Groom with both sets of parents, and then each set of parents.
9. Same as above, but with various grandparents
10. Bride & Groom with with all parents & grand parents
11. Do everything listed above, but with the groom's side
12. Large group shot with both families together
13. Large group shot with each family alone
14. Large group shot of entire bridal party
15. Same as #14, variety though - by couples and by groups
16. Bride with all bridesmaids
17. Groom with all his men
18. Broom with ladies
19. Bride with all the men

The above is NOT a complete list of all the shots - but I have not yet had my morning coffee. As they say in the pirate's code: "It's more like a set of guidelines." If you google "list of bridal shots" or wedding shots, or some such verbiage, you'll get some helpful hits.

Also, for the group shots, USE THE FLASH. If you don't and the church is as dark as you say it is, you will get very poor exposures. Don't worry about people getting blinded at this point - you will also be able to have them turn up the lights since it will be after the ceremony.

TRIPOD - consider using one during the ceremony. This will allow you to get adequate shots at lower ISO with less noise that could look more pleasing in the long run; also, no danger of camera shake then. A side note - I looked at the few pix on your website. You have a decent sense of composition and grouping. Keep those priniciples in mind when setting up your shots.

Oh, and did I suggest - hire a pro for a couple of hours ? And if you insist upon shooting RAW, then shoot both jpg and RAW together. At least this way you will get processed images right away. It will take you weeks if not months to learn RAW sufficiently to get the most out of it to your satisfactions. - Stu

sapearl wrote in post #2454398
18. Broom with ladies

i specially like this pose. after the pic, the ladies can start sweeping!

Now you see what happens when I type before my morning coffee? I wonder if I should change that typo, hmmmmm.....

roeddel wrote in post #2454420
i specially like this pose. after the pic, the ladies can start sweeping!

..... 4 cups of coffee later - consciousness has returned.. Here are some more suggested shots. Normally I don't go by a CONCRETE list, just follow a mental checklist I came up with years ago, and wing it, and respond to requests from B&G and key family members.

Here some suggested reception shots:

1. Grand intro - as they walk in - couples, etc.
2. Seating at the main table
3. Various best man, etc. speaches
4. Toasting shots - glasses raised - both drinking
5. Hugs during the toasts, spontaneous emotion
6. Main table shots
7. Other table shots - I hate doing all these - they usually don't sell, are disruptive
8. Food line
9. Father daughter dance
10. Other parent/groom/daughter dances
11. Bridal dance - overall shot
12. Shots of the various dancing couples during above - people like these; the sell too
13. Cake cutting
14. The kiss after the cake cutting
15. Throwing of garter
16. Throwing of bouquet
17. Emotional shots of people hugging, screaming after above
18. Misc. group shots of friends, neighbors, coworkers, relatives, etc.
19. Candids of open dancing
20. Gift table
21. Sign-in board if present
22. Staged "exit shot" if desired

Again, these are all off the top of my head - I have no doubt there are plenty I've missed, which is why you always have to be alert to opportunity as it presents itself. I'm sure others in this forum will have many more excellent suggestions.

Also, if your goal is to do a thorough competent job, DON'T DRINK.

thanks everyone! I can't say it was very...fun reading this:P but helpful none the less...and yes..one of them is pro..and the other one is like..semi pro..so yeah...we'll see how it goes

Well that's good to hear Tyler - it sounds like the critical bases will be covered then.

I know it can be a little daunting reading our "comments"..... but we've all been there, done that, know the pitfalls, and just have your best interests at heart. Please don't take the criticism personally - we all really want to see this go well.

Regarding the pro: eyes and ears open, don't get in his way... you can learn an awful lot just by observing what he does, how he does it, and just as importantly, how the b&g as well as the guests react to his work. You can be greatest "technical" photographer in the world, but the biggest jerk when it comes to dealing with people. They go hand in hand and CANNOT be separated. Have fun!

tydeephotos wrote in post #2455122
thanks everyone! I can't say it was very...fun reading this:P but helpful none the less...and yes..one of them is pro..and the other one is like..semi pro..so yeah...we'll see how it goes

If you're just a secondary shooter, shoot what you see, and don't use a shot list. Strive to capture emotions instead. And don't get in the pro's way. It may negate the couple's contract if you show up with pro gear and interfere.