Shooting a wedding as a guest OR ...I'm glad I'm not the pro for this one

This is my friend's wedding that I enjoyed as a guest. I've never shot a wedding professionally so I'm always happy to stand on the sidelines, watch the pro work, and take shots as I can. I don't have to concentrate on coverage so I tend to shoot reportage style (like in the first shot, I like that I have the friend on the right in the photo, taking her own photo).

They had what were possibly the worst lighting conditions in wedding history. To begin, the ceremony is outside, on the hottest day of the year, at noon...

1.

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You definately did get the shot in 8! Good for you, I have a feeling she's gonna be asking you for a copy of it. Also I love the mario themed wedding cake...now if only they had mushrooms on the tiers..lol!

You did a really nice job in my opinion. And your B/W conversions look nice. I love the garter shot. Only one I question is #2 and looks a little soft. Nice work

Greg

Thanks, LB and g-money!

Wtih #2, it is just too much of a crop. I only have one body and one zoom (16-35) so I was still shooting wide at this point after they walked down the aisle. I switched to the 200/200+1.4 for the rest of the ceremony, but I don't have a 2nd body or a different zoom, so I'm limited in these situations. Not to mention, the guy in front of me kept stepping out to take his photos so part of his elbow is in most of my frames of this sequence. I didn't want to step out further than him and get in the pro's way.

Thanks for the comments!

In all photos # 4, 5, 6, 7 & 8 you got the shot and I don't know where the pro is. Is that the pro in the dress in #7. She looks like she has a DSLR of some sort, if that's the pro she has a horrible angle and you are right on the money!

Pro probably got pissed that you were in teh way and advertising your prints and stuff on the gift table. In most wedding contracts there is a "no competition" clause stating that there is to be no other photographers/ametures​/guests advertising their services or getting in the way. This is like a breach of contract and depending on who the photographer is they might leave. Is leaving a professional thing to do? I would never do it, but I've heard stories...

Once I was doing a wedding and when i came to the reception area I saw cards on all the tables advertising "if you want to see photos from tonights event go to blahblahblah? photography's flickr page...." I was like WTF is this bullshiiiit.... Talked to my brides mom and she had them all removed.

ah... a chinese wedding.. miss those.

9 course wedding dinner meal... lots and lots and lots of drinking...

btw, i like #8

I think you did amazing for just being a casual shooter. You're a step in if you eveer want to get serious about weddings...

The lady in #7 is another friend of the couple. She was using a 40D (didn't see the other body) and was doing her own project of photographing everyone at their table for the guestbook. We chatted briefly about gear and how we were shooting things; she had a purpose while I was there for fun. Her angles were shooting down on things most of the night though; I naturally get on my knees or down to eye level where possible.

I hear you on the "non-compete" but it is pretty standard in this area to sell an album and give the DVD of full-res with the album so I don't think I'm encroaching on many sales. I didn't do any repetition of the pro's bread and butter as she seemed more focused on posed group shots than covering interaction. Anyway, all my stuff is free -- the print and frame was part of my gift to the couple.

I totally get how that flickr card BS is ridiculous. That is trying way too hard to be a pro wannabe. I wouldn't do that nor would I get in the way of the working pro. I think she might have left by the time of the garter/bouquet as I don't remember her anywhere around.. if so, I'm glad to provide coverage... but how much do you make on guests ordering prints if you are contracted to provide full-res on a DVD anyway?

I'm probably saying this in the wrong forum, but the pro is there, hired and paid for by the couple, to do a job. They're not working on spec except on the margin they might make on extra prints (even though the couple gets the full res DVD) so if I, as a guest, want to take my own shots, I shouldn't feel that I'm encroaching on anyone. This isn't like a sports league where the pro has an exclusive contract on the images and prints of the event, right? She, as a pro, should be confident enough in her ability to produce better shots than me that she shouldn't be worried.

Aaagogo wrote in post #5828471
ah... a chinese wedding.. miss those.

9 course wedding dinner meal... lots and lots and lots of drinking...

It was a real feast; I got to try a lot of things I'd only ever seen on Iron Chef... jellyfish, abalone, a few types of sea cucumber...

lmulderi wrote in post #5828505
I think you did amazing for just being a casual shooter. You're a step in if you eveer want to get serious about weddings...

Hey, thanks! That is a big compliment, I appreciate it.

I think you did an awesome job as well, the pictures are great especially #4 and 8. Well done!

#4 through 8 are some great moments you were able to capture. More often than not these are the photos that the couples really cherish, while grandma is in love with the standard group shots. Shooting weddings you are creating images for a few different end customers, and you were able to shoot the kind of images that I enjoy most. This is why I prefer second shooting over being the primary, though I don't always have that luxury (last weekend I was flying solo). Regardless, really nice reportage images, it's a shame about the tough lighting in the first few, need some stronger flash to lift those shadows. When are you coming out east to shoot with me?

I am Chinese, and I love wedding banquets. Great job! Don't think it was possibly hotter or sunnier than my son's wedding last August. It was 116 with the index and group shots in the hot sun for 30 minutes. I wanted to melt.

Colors at a banquet are amazing. I am shooting a wedding in September, Indonesian. Can't wait!

sidx001 wrote in post #5831499
I think you did an awesome job as well, the pictures are great especially #4 and 8. Well done!

Thank you!

Dorman wrote in post #5833611
#4 through 8 are some great moments you were able to capture. More often than not these are the photos that the couples really cherish, while grandma is in love with the standard group shots. Shooting weddings you are creating images for a few different end customers, and you were able to shoot the kind of images that I enjoy most. This is why I prefer second shooting over being the primary, though I don't always have that luxury (last weekend I was flying solo). Regardless, really nice reportage images, it's a shame about the tough lighting in the first few, need some stronger flash to lift those shadows. When are you coming out east to shoot with me?

I blame the horrible LCD on the 5D that is mostly unusable in bright sun I was using the histogram and I could see my highlights were OK but it was tough to see how much shadow was being lost in the JPG preview.

Thanks for the good words! I'll post a few more of the casual photos when I process them in a bit. Those are my favorite to shoot as well; I never think that some people actually prefer the lined up group poses.

Oh and I'm available as a second shooter on short notice; my hourly fee is reasonable and I will lug all of the gear, but I only fly first class.

SuzyView wrote in post #5833884
I am Chinese, and I love wedding banquets. Great job! Don't think it was possibly hotter or sunnier than my son's wedding last August. It was 116 with the index and group shots in the hot sun for 30 minutes. I wanted to melt.

Thanks, Suzy! It was my second Chinese wedding but this restaurant was much better.

Nice job, #2 looks noisy, yet it was shot at ISO 100?
For your indoor shots, did you use direct or bounce flash? Just looking for some tips, as I have my first wedding in a few days. Again, nice works!

TheHoff wrote in post #5828522
... but how much do you make on guests ordering prints if you are contracted to provide full-res on a DVD anyway?

I'm probably saying this in the wrong forum, but the pro is there, hired and paid for by the couple, to do a job. They're not working on spec except on the margin they might make on extra prints (even though the couple gets the full res DVD) so if I, as a guest, want to take my own shots, I shouldn't feel that I'm encroaching on anyone. This isn't like a sports league where the pro has an exclusive contract on the images and prints of the event, right? She, as a pro, should be confident enough in her ability to produce better shots than me that she shouldn't be worried.

Pro's who are offering a "shoot and burn" type package price it accordingly to how much profit they will lose by not filling print orders. If he/she thinks that they will lose out on $500 in print sales, then they just add that to the cost of a "shoot and burn". Some photographers charge as much as $1700.00 for a "shoot and burn" package, and higher still...

As for the "margin on prints" thing, some pros make their upfront cost large enough so they don't even worry about the money they make or don't make on prints.

They may have a basic package that starts at $2000.00 and they sell 5x7's for $10. They aren't worried about selling prints for cheap cause they've already made the money upfront.