First wedding - lessons learned

Just wanted to say thanks again to Tim, I read a lot but, don't always "reply"
Maybe when I become an expert (like Tim) I'll reply more often.
Thanks again!

Here's the latest installment of my "lessons learned". By the time i've been doing this a few years... I expect to still be learning, but hopefully not just basics like these.

If you're just starting out then you probably won't remember all of these. The ones with ***'s are the ones I tend to mess up most often.

- What looks in focus on a tiny screen can look terrible on a big screen. If you're playing with depth of field you can't judge it from your little lcd. Bracket you apertures. *** THIS IS IMPORTANT ***
- Be very careful of camera movement (ie don't forget the basics).
- With makeup and hair women turn from looking average/ordinary to looking amazing. Capture the transformation - but don't go crazy and take 100 shots.
- Make sure your lens hood is screwed all the way on. Again, pay attention to the basics.
- If you don't have a flash bracket fitted use landscape and crop. Seriously.
- Pay attention to clothes. All jackets should be done up, shouldn't have excessive wrinkles, should hang nicely, collars in the right place, make sure there's nothing poking out the bottom of the jacket. Similar for hair.
- Using the sun as a backlight is good, try and shoot diagonally so it doesn't strike your lens and cause flare. In strong sunlight have someone shade your lens so the sun doesn't strike it directly, even with a hood the flare can detract from a photo.
- Take a checklist of essential shots for each section of the wedding.
- Make sure shoulders are NEVER parallel with the camera. Ever.
- Make sure people are properly centered if a background warrants it. eg in an arch, or a gazebo.
- Rings reflect like mirrors, remove any bright light sources (eg windows windows), and if possible take ring shots in a dimly lit room. Alternately try and get something interesting as the reflection, maybe flowers, perhaps lit by a slaved or natural light.
- When taking shots of objects (eg dress hanging from rail, cake shots, everything really) make sure your camera is perfectly square with the background. Diagonal lines aren't good for this type of shot. *** Important ***
- When using strobes for formals, beware of lens flare. You can't see it on the little LCD most of the time, unless perhaps you zoom in.
- Use the spirit level on your tripod to make sure you don't need to straighten images in photoshop. It can take bloody ages if you have a heap of formals.
- Beware of reflective backgrounds. If you get one (eg I had curved varnished wood behind an alter) throw your flash away, or put the lights up really really high (like 13 feet or more).
- Studio lights are GREAT for formals, if you have time to set them up and tear them down. Two lights is great. I have two AB800s (320WS), and i'd have liked more power if I could get it.
- If you use a backlight, a point source (eg the sun or a strobe) seems to work better than a large light source (eg overcast clouds).
- Again, wear comfortable shoes, take plenty to eat and drink, and relax! Once you get over the panic stage weddings are great fun!

Excellent Thread, learned quite a bit. A friend asked me to do her wedding, i explained to her that i have no experience and that i am not very good yet, still learning. She said that she doesn't mind, she said all that was ok just to get candids, which i do very well at every gathering and that is what she is expecting. I was very nervous but now i feel better and will go check out the locations this week and the week of the wedding to make sure i have a plan.. Thanks for sharing all this info..

Thanks tim

I agree with all the points and most of them I realized after my first shoot as well.
Thanks for posting this

Graykita I am in the same boat. The most important thing is practice...

Good luck

Moni

i am shooting a small family wedding in aug. I have recenty bought a 28-200 as adviced by another wedding photographer so that i didnt have to change lenses often with it being my first time.

do you think that was the right advice?

I would personally suggest a 24-70/28-75 F2.8 type lens as much more practical. A 28-200 lens is far too slow for using indoors without flash, F5.6 or so at 200mm isn't a lot of good except in bright advice. You can shoot an entire wedding with a standard range F2.8 zoom.

thanks..ill have a look at some new lenses.

I'll found out next week if a couple have decided to have me as their wedding photographer. I hope so. Then I have a good reason for browsing every darn "how do I shoot a wedding" thread on this forum...LOL

Oh yeah, and then I can start getting really nervous and try to sort out all those telling me to not do it...

I'm glad I came across this thread. I was shooting a Change of Command ceremony today for my outgoing Squadron Commander. I was approached by another Colonel's wife who asked me to shoot their son's wedding at the post chapel tomorrow morning. Talk about short notice! I agreed to do it. She asked me how much I normally charge and I simply told her that I would shoot the wedding, process the images, and review them with her. If she liked what she saw then we can discuss pricing. I'm thinking of charging them maybe half of what the average cost of local wedding photographers would charge if the images turn out good. Or is that asking too much my first time out? Maybe 1/3 of the average cost? Anyway, it's time to get my feet wet. I somehow managed to earn a reputation around Fort Carson for taking "good pictures" of various events, so it's time for me to really show and prove. I don't know if I can consume every bit of knowledge and required reading overnight, but I'll try. If anything, I'll do it just so I can get some experience. Maybe I'm in over my head.

Lord_Malone, i'd suggest you give her a price that you'll charge if she's happy with the images now.

I'm not sure what that price should be. I've never done a wedding for money, so Idon't know. Plus, I haven't shot anything for her yet. She may have seen some of my pics I took for the Regiment, but I don't want to quote her a price based on that stuff. I want to give her a quality product in the end. Processed images, photo/video slide show with music, etc. BTW, I just picked up those two books you recommended. I'm cramming information in my head at an alarming rate.

Lord - If you have to figure something - figure out the time you'll invest here and think about an hourly rate you find satisfactory - now figure in all your expenses and add that to the hourly rate. Thats about as easy as it can get I think. . . WP $$s range from dirt cheap couple hundred to 5k + in this area - midwest. So half of 5 grand is a lot more than half of $600.

I Agree with Tim - get something figured out prior to her seeing the images - She might be wowed by them but only lead on that shes mildly impressed to get a better rate. Gotta get yours brother!

One more thing - I think its more important for you to settle on an amount you feel comfortable charging - nevermind what other WP are going to think about the price - there will always be someone who doesn't like the amount you decided to charge - Charge the amount you're comfortable with so you can cover the event stress free. pricing will come later. I think whats more valuable here than any price you could figure for it is the experience you'll gain. Thats my .02 and I'll probably get booed out of this forum for it!

Oh ya good luck and I'm sure you'll wow 'em with that warm, golden, buttery smile! [wear the teeth!]

Really good info wish i'd seen it all sooner i am shooting my first tomorrow. Can you elaborate on WHY you feel brackets are essential. I've been trying to come up with a good reason to get one other than they look very professional