My FIRST Wedding

Ok, I have been doing photography for a while, but never a wedding. I'm more into sports, landscapes, and any kind of action really. I find weddings boring. But a friend of a friend has requested that I do their wedding, and having never done one, I would like to know what are some of the more important things that I need to know about wedding photography? I have tried to read most of the posts on here and I know this is kind of a broad question, but could someone please help me out?

Hey Dallas, I feel your pain brother. My first-ever wedding shoot is coming up in 3 weeks and it's for a friend. I never wanted to shoot weddings but I kind of got thrown in there despite all the times that I said "NO."

I don't know about you, but I'm scared to death. To me it's just a friend's kid's wedding... but to that girl it's everything and I know I have to get it right. A poster named Mike, here on the Wedding Photography forum, and his wife put on wedding photography workshops in different regions. I attended one of these workshops in DFW a few months back and loved it. I learned so much, though there's still so much more to learn. You might want to check his thread titled Wedding Photography Workshops in this forum and see if he has any future plans for another DFW workshop.

Sounds like you got yourself into something you are not quite ready to do! Definitely not a day you want to 'learn' how to photograph a wedding. I would recommend trying to find a professional wedding shooter and become either a second shooter or an assistant. You will learn this way without ruining someones important day

Equipment is a whole other issue!!!

Here is a great FAQ put together by a member of POTN:

http://www.mrwild.co.n​z …/Wedding-FAQ-Pt1-beta.htm

If you’re prepared it's not boring....it's uhmmm...uh...a challenge! The best advice would be to read some of Tim's and some other long timer’s posts. If you not trying to get drafted as a professional Wedding Photographer then....just have fun! Have a list to work from on the formals.....ooooh...ha​ve a backup camera!

Good Luck…….have fun….remember. TIM!

Here's a little cheat sheet that I made up and always review before each wedding that I do. It seems to work for me. Maybe it'll help you or at least give you a place to start from.

1. Pre-Ceremony/Formals:
a. Inside:
i. ISO 400
ii. Camera Manual, 1/60, f5.6 - 6.3
iii. Flash E-TTL, +2/3 FEC, soft box
b. Outside:
i. ISO 100 - 200
ii. Flash E-TTL
iii. No diffuser
iv. Camera P with -1 – 0 FEC or Av f6.3-10 with 0 FEC or Manual set for background and flash E-TTL with 0 - 1 FEC

2. Ceremony
a. Inside:
i. ISO 800 - 1600
ii. No flash
iii. AWB or tungsten
iv. Camera P or Av f2.8-4.0
b. Outside: Same as outside above

3. Reception:
a. Inside:
i. Camera Manual, 1/60, f5.6-6.3
ii. Flash E-TTL, +2/3 FEC
iii. Or no flash, ISO 1600, P-mode
b. Outside:
i. ISO 100 - 200
ii. Flash E-TTL
iii. No diffuser
iv. Camera P with -1 – 0 FEC or Av f6.3-10 with 0 FEC or Manual set for background and flash E-TTL with 0 - 1 FEC

I would never shoot anything that I find boring because it will show in the pictures. I personally am disgusted by the fact that you would choose to accept the opportunity to shoot such an important day that you think is so boring. Stay home and let someone who does not find it boring do the work so the bride and groom do not suffer from horribly boring, unflattering pictures that don't express their love or the moments that can never be replaced. This is ridiculous.

Antony Hands has a great step-by-step wedding walk-through here:
http://www.xanga.com/A​ntonyHandsPhotographer

Here is another good online resource which takes you from the beginning to the end of a wedding:
http://www.all-things-photography.com …ceremony-photography.html
And another:
http://tips.romanzolin​.com/articles/article0​06.php

I've searched through hundreds of wedding photographers sites for inspiration and ideas.
Here are some of the sites I came up with:

http://www.boutwellstu​dio.com/
http://danesanders.com​/
http://davidbeckstead.​com/
http://www.denisreggie​.com/
http://www.julesbianch​i.com/
http://www.mikecolon.c​om/
http://jerryghionis.co​m/
http://www.ridoutphoto​graphy.com/
http://www.theimageisf​ound.com/
http://www.jcsphoto.co​m/
http://www.jimkennedyp​hotography.com/
http://joebuissink.com​/home.php
http://www.joephoto.co​m/
http://www.kkphoto-design.com/2005/
http://www.thebecker.c​om/
http://www.tyingthekno​t.net/index2.php
http://alishabrook.com​/
http://www.f8studio.co​m/f8/
http://www.yervant.com​/
http://www.ryanphillip​s.com/
http://www.altf.com/
http://www.annhamilton​.com/
http://www.mattadcock.​com/newSite.html

Good luck,
Mike

Perhaps a little harsh but a well made point.... show some enthusiasm or step aside

italianfemmy wrote in post #3416316
I would never shoot anything that I find boring because it will show in the pictures. I personally am disgusted by the fact that you would choose to accept the opportunity to shoot such an important day that you think is so boring. Stay home and let someone who does not find it boring do the work so the bride and groom do not suffer from horribly boring, unflattering pictures that don't express their love or the moments that can never be replaced. This is ridiculous.

I apologize if it seems harsh but if I was the bride and found out that my photographer found weddings to be boring, I would have a wrench in my stomach the entire day and that would just be horrible. Not to mention, there are some professions that people should do because their heart is in it and not for the money. Being a teacher because you care about helping children learn, a doctor because you care about healing people, a dentist because you care about people's teeth, a wedding photographer because you care about the love between two people and that they are making themselves vulnerable to this selfless commitment to one another. Otherwise, you should not do certain things. There are other things you can get paid for and you might hate doing it but if you mess up a hamburger at McDonalds, only a buck and a couple minutes of time are wasted... not the biggest moment of someone's life. The truth is sometimes harsh.

sorry for the repost.

If you find weddings boring, then tell your friend so, so that she can get a wedding photographer who cares about her event.

karen

And I somehow left this brilliant wedding photographer off my above list:

http://www.jeffascough​.net/

Enjoy,
Mike

Ok people...By me saying that I think that weddings are boring, that DOES NOT say that I am not going to put my all into it. If it did I wouldn't have wasted time in reading as much as I have, making this post, and reading what ya'll have replied. That is NOT the kind of person I am so do not get me wrong. I LOVE what weddings stand for, they are just not what I prefer... But just because I do not prefer it, does not mean that I am going to do any less of a job than I would if I loved it... And I never said anything about the money. I told the bride not to worry about payment. She even knows that this is my first wedding and I've been doing AND getting paid for photography for over 5 years. Obviously this means that I don't prefer weddings! But once again Just because it is not what I prefer, does not mean that I will not put everything I have into it. That is not the kind of person I am nor the kind of work ethic I have.

Thank you to those that have supplied helpful information so far though!

Interesting thread and very helpful tips for those of us who have been or probably will be (I fall into this category) asked to shoot a friend's wedding. Thanks to those who are actually helping the OP (and many others) out rather than lecturing him from high horses. Good luck and please post some sample results if the B&G approve of you doing so...

Hi DallasPhoto.. Sounds like you already have a lot of experience on other types of shooting. I assume you should pretty much know your gears and how to take good pictures well. Ifso, I think you should be fine. Shooting wedding is not that hard if you have done your preparation right... Just remember that the day will be very intensed and it requires A LOT of energy. The hardest part is actually to keep the energy level up and to keep your mind and eyes stay sharp throughout the whole day...So, sleep well the night before is critical.

This forum is amazing...it's a collection of some very best wedding photography advice from true professionals in the field..so do search this forum more and take adaventage of it. I am new to wedding photography too... I found reading their posts was enjoyable.

A list of must have shots is exteremely helpful for newbies...because it's very easy to forget taking some important shots giving the pressure you will have on the day ... A mock shooting will also be helpful. Just go to the church and the venue a week in advance for some test shooting.. understand and remember the lighting soruces and level you will have...when you go, try bring a friend as a model for exposure and idea test...If possibe attend the rehearsal. Also talk to the officiant to find out how close you can get when you shoot and what are the rules.

Here is a thread I have started a while ago for newbie wedding shooters...I actually aasked everyone to make some contributions to the theads but looks like it has been overlooked.. but some fellow members and I have posted some very useful links there..

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=323267

In term of gear.. make sure you have 2 cameras...and fastest lenses you can get. You will need :

one wide zoom
one 24-70/2.8L or equivalent (better with IS)
one 70-200/2.8L IS or equivalent
one macro lens
one 1.8,1.4 or 1.2 lens
2 flashes
1 good diffusor
a few more memory cards (depends on whether you shoot raw or not)
spare batteries
1 assistance.

Good luck and enjoy your first wedding photography experience...