Shooting my first wedding this weekend

Im shooting my first wedding this weekend. Im looking for some pointers, or advice because I really have just 2 lens that I will be using. Don't believe my 150-500 will come into play lol. I do have a decent flash to use, so I have that covered. My nifty-fifty will most likely be used the most, for the tight shots. My 18-125 for the group shots. It will be a quick wedding. Just looking for some pointers on angles and all other stuff I might need to look for during the wedding and reception. thanks for looking and any advice you have.

I did my first wedding this past weekend (first digital anyway). I shoot photojournalistically, so my advice to you would be to find the little detail shots--closeups of shoes, feet, hands, etc.

That 150-500 would be great for sniping faces and closeups of some objects, but it is very slow. You need a good tripod and long exposures.

Grady69 wrote in post #5871301
Im shooting my first wedding this weekend. Im looking for some pointers, or advice because I really have just 2 lens that I will be using. Don't believe my 150-500 will come into play lol. I do have a decent flash to use, so I have that covered. My nifty-fifty will most likely be used the most, for the tight shots. My 18-125 for the group shots. It will be a quick wedding. Just looking for some pointers on angles and all other stuff I might need to look for during the wedding and reception. thanks for looking and any advice you have.

You do realize that this is kinda like saying, "I am doing my first appendectomy this weekend, and am looking for some pointers. I have an exacto knife -- can anyone give me any thoughts?"

Anyway, enough with the sarcasm.

Number #1 rule: Weddings are about the bride. Take pictures of her, and of things she likes (assume the groom is one of them. Don't assume his friends are.)

Spend the next several days reading this:

http://digitalprotalk.​blogspot.com/

Be honest with your customer about the expectations.

Treat it like your own wedding. Be prepared, early, and in control.

Good luck!

Thanks for all the replies. I'll try to put them all into use this weekend. Thanks again

always plan your next shot when u are shooting!! know whats gonna happen next so u wont be caught by surprise and miss something important. like u would hate to be way in the back of church shooting a wide when the groom lifts the veil (some lift veil in the beginning of the ceremony, not before kiss).
make sure u have at least 2x each equipment u are going to use and make sure all your batteries are fully charged!! Bring a ton of flash cards so u dont run out of space too!
eat before u go so u dont run outta energy but make sure its nothing thats gonna give u upset stomach !! nothing worse then having to use toilet during a ceremony!!

and relax!! have fun!!

Well.....I can say that I am glad I am not the bride. Looks like you need tons of pointers and to read up on what you are going to be doing. Good luck.

Hey, we all gotta start somewhere... Even when you think you have all the pointers you need in your head, there is still always more to know. Photography is a never ending lesson, and even the most elite wedding photographers learn something new every now and then when they shoot a wedding. I haven't shot my first solo wedding yet, but when I do, I want to make sure that I enlist all of my resources for any last minute pointers that I can get.... there's nothing wrong with that. My suggestion, since this is your first and will most likely be a learning experience, take notes, if you can, on what settings that you use in what lighting. That way on your next wedding you will know your sweet spots and what works and what doesn't. Good luck and have fun!!

I think it's always scary to start, but asking us is actually showing humility and total fear. That's good.

Well, you know how many of us who shoot weddings do it, if you've read the "doing my first wedding" thread.

1. Have back up equipment always. If you already have good gear, that's great, but there is nothing worse than a camera failing at the wedding and you don't have backup. So, get yourself another camera if you need to, borrow one, rent one, whatever, but 2 is always better than one.

2. Yes, it's all about the bride. But if I were doing this for the first time, I'd look at some of the threads here to get group poses (Jeff-Toogy), Tim, Lloyd (Picturecrazy), Kathy H and Leesa are here in this forum a lot and have great shots. If you can ignore the silliness, the Albany Wedding meet had some great ideas. You'll learn a lot from the 17 of us that got together.

3. Meet with the clients to see what exactly is expected, poses, how many shots, when you will be getting them to the client, etc. The business part is at least 1/2 of what we do.

4. Wear black, be as stealthy as possible. Professional and in control.

5. Do several views, take pictures from different heights, angles, distances. Don't be afraid to zoom in right off. Some photographers shoot far away and hope to crop later, but I find I need to compose the shot seeing all the distractions and dealing with them as I shoot. That takes time and practice. I don't like th PP something out later.

6. If you have any questions about lighting and such, ask now.

And good luck! Tell us what gear you are already planning to take with you.

If I were you I'd rent some lenses that were faster than what you have now. Most venues do not allow flash during the ceremony. You're gonna want something that can open up to at least f/2.8

As Suzy said, you will want a backup camera. I usually just put the long lens on one body and use the other shorter lenses on the other body. It's easier than having to change lenses with one body all the time. Whatever works easier for you though...

Not sure how much you know about using flash, but you might want to check out http://planetneil.com …h-photography-techniques/ Great site ran by Neil van Niekerk who is a pro wedding photographer.

If you want to learn about some off-camera flash stuff, then check out http://strobist.blogsp​ot.com/

I just shot my first official wedding this past weekend, and I think the 3 most important things i learned were:

1) It's VERY fast paced. You need to get a GOOD itinerary from the bride about where she's going to be, what she expects from you as a photographer, what kinds of shots she wants... (maybe download a wedding-shot list from a google search and give her the checklist to mark what she wants)

2) STAY IN CONTROL - don't let family push you around or tell the bride/groom how or where to stand. That was my biggest problem, because i'm kind of a wuss when it comes to trying to be in control of a situation when other people are involved. Stay in control, keep your cool, and remain calm. And smile.

3) And as everyone else is saying...bring two of everything. do an equipment check the morning before, and then the night before, and then the morning of. And then check it again....

Hope this helps!

oh and sometimes u dont have time/room to shoot shots around the church (they kick u out cuz they have another wedding) so make sure u have a back-up location to shoot your out door shots.
last wedding i did the bride told me we would have 30 min for pictures after the wedding. But , once the wedding was done, she told me errr we have 5 minutes!! then we have to leave the grounds!! Glad i can shoot fast but i didnt plan on second location shoot soo.... (but being this is Hawaii, we just walked across the street to Waikiki beach heeh)

One peice of advice i would not take is to take pictures of small details unless you have time. do details when the bride is getting dressed. If there were two of you i would say one could do detail and the other all the other stuff. because it is just you focus on the couple and the party.
Lighting is very important make sure u have a back-up flash and know how to use them.
Check with the church and see if you can shoot with a flash
see if you can get another photographer to go with you. its so much easier with two photographers you dont have to be in two places at one time
what ever you miss during the wedding reinact after the wedding if you have time
make a list of important shots that you have to have ie. different group poses partents children if they have them.
stay in control dont let others take over
good luck and find someone you can learn from and ask to work a few weddings for free so that you can learn

Well the wedding is not at a church. Its going to be at a Train station museum sort of place, that rents out for weddings, reunions, and parties. its a neat building, but there is some eyesores outside that could end up in the background if i dont get them situated right for the pictures.