Misc. Wedding Tips?

Hi there,

I'm trying to get into the wedding scene myself (only did the one), and I think I, and others would probably benefit from some general tips for the job, that aren't necessarily about photography.

I'll start us off...

Take a bottle of water with you!

So...what tips do you much more knowledgeable/experien​ced photographers have to share?

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/forumdis​play.php?f=113

There are stickys already out there to answer this one.

1. Don't get into it unless you really love working with people (sometimes totally irrational people).
2. 1/2 of it is the business part, that means marketing, accounting, etc.
3. Have a real plan for 5 years or more out.
4. Plan on working with a paid pro for 2-5 shoots as a second, or else you won't get the real deal.
5. Must have a tough skin because no one loves their wedding pictures 100%.
6. Get friends to really see your work and how you PP so you don't waste your time.

Talent is 1/4, skill is 1/4, business is 1/2 of the whole deal. Not just fun, as it is always a once-in-a-lifetime event.

Tell us what your plans are.

SuzyView wrote in post #9574916
https://photography-on-the.net/forum/forumdis​play.php?f=113

There are stickys already out there to answer this one.

1. Don't get into it unless you really love working with people (sometimes totally irrational people).
2. 1/2 of it is the business part, that means marketing, accounting, etc.
3. Have a real plan for 5 years or more out.
4. Plan on working with a paid pro for 2-5 shoots as a second, or else you won't get the real deal.
5. Must have a tough skin because no one loves their wedding pictures 100%.
6. Get friends to really see your work and how you PP so you don't waste your time.

Talent is 1/4, skill is 1/4, business is 1/2 of the whole deal. Not just fun, as it is always a once-in-a-lifetime event.

Tell us what your plans are.

Some great tips Suzy

I don't have solid plans, I'm quite young so my options are open.
I do however have a passion for photography, from a young age.
'Plans' at the moment are that I've been offered to work with a Photography company I know, to shoot some of their weddings. I'll see how that goes but my plans are to get as much experience (unpaid) as I can in many areas of photography before I narrow down.

For some interesting tips, I always bring rubberbands. Believe it not, when your flash diffuser is not holding on right, a rubberband is a lifesaver!

I also bring several lens cloths. If you have 3-4 in the bag, you never run out.

SuzyView wrote in post #9575313
For some interesting tips, I always bring rubberbands. Believe it not, when your flash diffuser is not holding on right, a rubberband is a lifesaver!

I also bring several lens cloths. If you have 3-4 in the bag, you never run out.

I must remember to bring those things!
Oh a tip from me... keep 1 or 2 of your spare CF cards in your pocket, so you don't have a panick and have to run to get to your bag if you left it somewhere!

I have one of these:

http://www.amazon.com …ics&qid=1265756​653&sr=8-2

I wear it on my wrist. I have 10 CF cards in it all numbered. And I have 2 spare in my bag.

SuzyView wrote in post #9576710
I have one of these:

http://www.amazon.com …ics&qid=1265756​653&sr=8-2

I wear it on my wrist. I have 10 CF cards in it all numbered. And I have 2 spare in my bag.

Thats cool!

Ah yeah I number my CF cards, saves so much hassel when it comes to getting the picture in the right order on the PC

I have think-tank lens-changers and I put in extra batteries (flash) and CF cards into it.

Lots of tips in these links: https://photography-on-the.net …php?p=5999915&p​ostcount=2

Mike wrote in post #9581173
Lots of tips in these links: https://photography-on-the.net …php?p=5999915&p​ostcount=2

Lots of good info there.

By the way mike, have you used your 7D for a wedding? I've never used mine, just wondered how it coped.

benesotor wrote in post #9581422
Lots of good info there.

By the way mike, have you used your 7D for a wedding? I've never used mine, just wondered how it coped.

Not yet, just upgraded at the beginning of the year to a 5DII and 7D. Looking forward to putting them through their paces at my next wedding but that's not for a couple more months yet. Need to get a load more memory before then too!

Tim has a thread somewhere about his 7D experience at weddings.

Here it is: https://photography-on-the.net …php?t=761147&hi​ghlight=7d

Tip #1... point the camera at the girl dressed in white.

on a more serious note, one other little tip is to make sure you do NOT shoot anyone else more than the bride. If there's a smokin' hot bridesmaid you cannot take your eyes off of, and you take 200 pictures of her, it'll annoy the bride. Don't laugh, this actually happens believe it or not.

picturecrazy wrote in post #9583899
Tip #1... point the camera at the girl dressed in white.

on a more serious note, one other little tip is to make sure you do NOT shoot anyone else more than the bride. If there's a smokin' hot bridesmaid you cannot take your eyes off of, and you take 200 pictures of her, it'll annoy the bride. Don't laugh, this actually happens believe it or not.

^^^Hahaha, lloyd, you are soooo right. The photog at MY wedding took more photos of my voluptuous bridesmaid than of me. He even took her aside for a private photoshoot.... We were looking for him for 10 minutes! Grrr! I looked flippin' hot, too, lol!
Needless to say, I have NEVER referred him to anyone.

A couple tips that I've learned (and I'm not sure if they were covered in the threads that were linked)
But I always have extra business cards in my pockets.... You never know when someone else wants your info at a wedding. Happens all the time. (Or make personal business cards for each client with their gallery site for guests to their view photos when they are finished.... and be sure it's linked to your site, as well.... we do this, and it's made a huge impact)
Another tip: Keep mints in your pocket... Sometimes you need to get close to people to talk to them, and after eating their yummy vendor meal that had garlic in it, you want to make sure that you were remembered for your talent, and not your breath

I think my biggest tip is you're worrying about the tiny things, instead of the important things - getting on well with your customers/subjects, building a raport with the wedding party, finding nice locations that are good for the photos, posing people, etc. As well as this there's the business aspects which are at least as important as the photography.

benesotor wrote in post #9575959
I must remember to bring those things!
Oh a tip from me... keep 1 or 2 of your spare CF cards in your pocket, so you don't have a panick and have to run to get to your bag if you left it somewhere!

CF cards fall out of pockets, have a case.