Hows this for some reading?

Wedding photography is something I look forward to doing in the near future.
Recently I have been approached by a employee asking if I could do a wedding for a family member, knowing Ive never done one, and want to do one, I agreed. But I did make it clear to her that I am not a professional nor do I claim to be one, and she noded in understandment, yet I havent talked to the couple so this is still up in the air.

So to get started on some important basics I have been researching some books on wedding photography and would like to know what you all think of my finds. I do have limited budget of $100 so I cant get every book out there but would still like to hear your opinions.

1-The Best of Wedding Photography(2007) by Bill Hurter

2-Digital Wedding Photography by Paul Gero

3-Posing for Portrait Photography: A Head to toe Guide by Jeff Smith

the last one was a recommendation off of this site when I searched throuh the wedding threads.

There is one I have saved in PDF form: The New Wedding Photographers Handbook by Al Jacobson (2005 Edition)

I have the first and third book and like them both a lot. Some great advice in there with great examples to visualize it

Check Amazon.com and buy it from the New and USed Option... great deals there

no offence to the written word but I would spend all the money that you would spend on those books on "the masters of wedding photography" DVD instead.

I would also invest lots and lots of time to reading this forum and also looking at portfolios of wedding photographers you like the images of posted here and elsewhere.

if your into the NLP thing, me I am a visual (go figure being a photographer) I have spent a fortune (and I mean that with a collection of over 150 photography books) on books but found the dvd I talked about earlier and the images I see from others have taught me so much more than my little book collection.

I would like others to join in this conversation as its a great thread but do urge you to take a look at the dvd !

I am curious about the DVD, but if I have to choose I'll take a book. I take one or two with me to a shoot too... if I get there early I can read over it again, it makes me feel more prepared. It's more mobile than a DVD, and I can study while hubby uses the TV

song4themoon wrote in post #3184633
I have the first and third book and like them both a lot. Some great advice in there with great examples to visualize it

Check Amazon.com and buy it from the New and USed Option... great deals there

Thats where Im buying from:d My cart already has them in there, just wondering from those who have experience in weddings if they were worth the buy.

dpurslow wrote in post #3184639
no offence to the written word but I would spend all the money that you would spend on those books on "the masters of wedding photography" DVD instead.

I would also invest lots and lots of time to reading this forum and also looking at portfolios of wedding photographers you like the images of posted here and elsewhere.

if your into the NLP thing, me I am a visual (go figure being a photographer) I have spent a fortune (and I mean that with a collection of over 150 photography books) on books but found the dvd I talked about earlier and the images I see from others have taught me so much more than my little book collection.

I would like others to join in this conversation as its a great thread but do urge you to take a look at the dvd !

Ill look into the DVD and I do go through profiles and portfolios to get an idea of what it takes. When I study and research I do just that. I dont plan on posting threads that have been covered unless I dont find the answer Im looking for. Thanks

Lucky for me, I dont have a hubby however I do have a wife that watches all the soaps going

I carry a folder with me with pages and pages of printouts of all the images I ever see (wedding related) that I think are WOW images and inspire me for those little moments that I an actually looking out of two eyes and not with just one eye.

Before you spend a dime, check your public library. Often you can get books on interlibrary loan very easily--in Seattle, the King County library has their catalogs online & you can have a book sent to your closest site for pickup. The first 20 photography books I read came from there, including several on your list, and I have a stack of 6 business ones I'm going through now recommended by other photographers.

That $100 you're planning to spend should either be on more memory, extra batteries, or renting a second camera body as you appear to have only one. Taking one camera to a wedding virtually dares the universe to mess with it.

GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!!

Tish wrote in post #3184825
Before you spend a dime, check your public library. Often you can get books on interlibrary loan very easily--in Seattle, the King County library has their catalogs online & you can have a book sent to your closest site for pickup. The first 20 photography books I read came from there, including several on your list, and I have a stack of 6 business ones I'm going through now recommended by other photographers.

That $100 you're planning to spend should either be on more memory, extra batteries, or renting a second camera body as you appear to have only one. Taking one camera to a wedding virtually dares the universe to mess with it.

GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for the help, but I still havent fully agreed to it with the couple, I have yet to talk with them. I was jsut asking about good books to read on the subject. I will definately check the library.

Just checked the library database and they had the one by Bill Hurter but it is loaned out on all the libraries in the area and the local camera shop's prices are so inflated it would take most of my money for only two books. Guess others had the same idea I had:p

dpurslow wrote in post #3184639
no offence to the written word but I would spend all the money that you would spend on those books on "the masters of wedding photography" DVD instead.

I consider that DVD motivational, not instructional.

The best way to learn is to do. Read all the books you can get your hands on, read the wedding forum, google for other stuff. PRACTICE is critical - put yourself into a church with low light, full outside sunlight, and a dim room (like reception) and make sure you get to the point where you can take a great, well exposed, not blurry photo in each every time you hit the shutter.

It turns out by talking to my coworker the bride doesnt want all the "fancy" stuff that a typical photographer does. I assume thats the album and all that stuff. Quote, "She just wants some pictures taken of her." I m not 100% sure and by being unsure Im still not commiting all the way, all Ive said is Ill have to talk with her. She practically has no budget left....practically.

Still wedding photography is something I want to pursue in the future so I guess practice makes perfect, and all the help Ive gotten so far has been great.

I'm thinking, based on her statement, that she's really not into the photos and that, maybe, she's doing them because they are something that's supposed to be done. If all that's true, you may be walking into a stressful situation:

• She says she want photos of herself
  
• You want to do a good job for her
  
• She won't budget time for you to capture the images that she wants
  
• You're disappointed/frustrate​d
  
• She's disappointed when she sees what you are able to deliver
  
• Telling her, after the fact, that she didn't budget any time for the shots she wants probably won't get you any relief
  

I agree with earlier poster; That DVD is good for inspiration, but technique wise you wont learn anything. Look at stuff, learn how it's done & practise on a friend, wife etc. As a band learns & rehearses for a live show, there are similar parallels in photography.

Join a local camera club and liase with more experienced folk who will bw willing to share knowledge on the subject. Just my take on it......

I've watched the DVD before and it was like what others have said. It's not an instructional video at all. You might get some ideas from it, and get to know the history and stories of those wedding photographers in the DVD. But, that's about it.

Aside from that, I would recommend you to check out your local library to see if they have any books on wedding photography. I've found a few that were quite helpful, but some were VERY dated. YMMV.

My girlfriend got me "Digital Wedding Photography" by Glen Johnson, and it was surprisingly pretty good. It covered all aspects you'll find in weddings. A lot of the things I knew already when I read it, but it was clearly written and was a breeze to go though the book.

wrong post, sorry.