Ring Photo - When To Take? (And Other Questions)

Hi All,

I have been asked by a friend to shoot his wedding. Its a very small budget. I have a 400D and a Sigma 18-50 EX lens with 430EX Flash.

I have read plenty of threads on this forum and tutorials elsewhere on what photos to take and have seen the excellent examples of photographs on here.

My only real question is about the ring photos - when do you take them? Do you ask the bride and groom to remove them after the ceremony so you can take them away and snap them? Or is this done before the ceremony somehow?

Also, I assume as the sole photographer that I have to run around the back of the wedding venue after the rings and kiss to get the shot of them walking towards me leaving the venue?

Finally, will the wedding crowd mind the sound of the AF and SLR during the ceremony? Or do I have to time my shots and hope for the best?

Thanks for helping out a novice! Please be kind!

I always try to do all of my still-life photos including the rings at the bride's dressing location before the wedding. One of my instructions to her is to make sure she has both rings. This is the one part of the day where you will have a little extra time to do shots like this. You also are more likely to still have daylight by a window at this stage of the day than at the reception.

I like to shoot over the B&G's shoulder during the ceremony, but I like to get back to the aisle by the time of the rings; partly because I like that angle better for this element, partly because it puts me back to where I want to be for the kiss.

You want to turn off the beep during the ceremony, but the sound of the camera mechanics is inevitable and expected. You, however, need to be able to move around as stealthily as possible.

[QUOTE=RichardStevens;​9705583]

Since you're doing this for a friend I assume you'll be at their ceremony rehearsal if there is one. Do the ring shots there before the actual wedding.

In the UK the bride very rarely has the rings the morning of the wedding, the groom and best man will have them wherever they are getting ready so unless your shooting as part of a two photographer team (thats how nearly all my weddings are shot) then you have to handle them different to described above.

Personally I would never ask a bride or groom to take their ring off after the ceremony so if I was shooting alone I would leave the bridal prep with enough time to get to the church for some shots with the guys (which you need to get anyway) and include the ring shots at that time.

If your stuck for a nice background, just use the best mans sleeve like in this video http://www.youtube.com​/watch?v=DU4mvX-mGYw

After the rings and kiss and rest of the formal ceremony they will go sign the register, your generally not allowed to photograph this in the UK (although odd occasions its allowed) but a staged one after the actual signing is usually allowed, make sure you follow them into the back for this though, its usually set up in a little side room, occasionally if its a small church of venue it could be just a table at the front though.

Once you have finished the photos of the signing/fake signing of the register thats when you will hot foot it down to the back of the church to take pics of them coming down the aisle... generally you have a few mins to get setup whilst they arrange the order of the bridal procession, apply lippy etc.

The guys usually have the rings here too, and unless you plan extra time you might not have time to do them then other than a few snaps. I often do them at the end of the night, when I have my off camera lighting equipment out anyway, which is how I do ring shots.

I often don't do ring shots. Most of the time, I'd say...

Indeed, the guys tend to have them here, too. I specifically ask for the bride to have them with her at the dressing location, they are happy to oblige, and they return to the best man prior to the ceremony. It's rare that I bring on a second shooter and since I'm with the bride and this is (IMO) the best time of day to do the ring shots, I make the request.

I like to do the rings as they're actually being exchanged (but that will be hard, given your gear), and again later on, while the B&G are eating. This is when I do a lot of detail shots (while they're eating); that way they can eat in peace and I can get ring shots, cake shots, flower shots, etc. One thing I like to do is to put both rings inside the bridal bouquet and zoom in until just the rings and a suggestion of flowers are in the frame. Later on, in Photoshop, you can use layers to gaussian blur the flowers a little, while making the rings even sharper. Another thing I really like to do is to have the B&G hold their hands together, cupping a bunch of flower petals (preferably matching the bride's bouquet). I zoom in tight to get just the hands, petals and rings in the frame. Later on, in PP, I convert the entire image into black and white, then paint back just the flowers in color.

Thank you very much for such great answers everyone. I believe as this is indeed a UK wedding that the Best Man will have the rings in the morning. Me being the only shooter means that I won't have access to them. From reading your advice, I think I'll either go for a hand-on-hand moment with the B&G in closeup to get the rings, or photograph them before the wedding day itself.

This is a very small budget. My GF is a bridesmaid, meaning I couldn't really decline being the photographer as I will be there as a spare wheel anyway. They also asked me to video the event - but how they expect me to do this too is beyond me! I will outline my limitiations and what they can realistically expect before the day well in advance. For example, I may be driving the bridesmaids to the venue - meaning I have little time to prep any shots before the bride exits her car, so will be a pretty manic day.

Luckily it is a morning wedding, which offers a lot of time in the afternoon before the reception to take formals and group shots.

I am a firm believer in that you pay for what you get - and I am doing this for free!

PotN really has been a great resource in reading up on how wedding photography is done.

Dont do the video. Concentrate on one thing, and from the sounds of it you will have your hands full with the photography.

A friend of mine was getting married, I asked if she was looking for a photographer and she said she had one (cousin with an xsi, kit lens, and one of those small flashes that you cant bounce, i think its called a 270b?) so she said she didnt need me. She called later asking if i can do video, that way i can "get the shots i need with video". I politely declined, telling her i would only be a guest with a camcorder (of which i dont own), and i am not, nor do i desire to be, a videographer.

Dont do both, concentrate on one thing and have one of the other bridesmaid's boyfriends who owns a flip camera to do the video.

RichardStevens wrote in post #9711985
Thank you very much for such great answers everyone. I believe as this is indeed a UK wedding that the Best Man will have the rings in the morning. Me being the only shooter means that I won't have access to them. From reading your advice, I think I'll either go for a hand-on-hand moment with the B&G in closeup to get the rings, or photograph them before the wedding day itself.

This is a very small budget. My GF is a bridesmaid, meaning I couldn't really decline being the photographer as I will be there as a spare wheel anyway. They also asked me to video the event - but how they expect me to do this too is beyond me! I will outline my limitiations and what they can realistically expect before the day well in advance. For example, I may be driving the bridesmaids to the venue - meaning I have little time to prep any shots before the bride exits her car, so will be a pretty manic day.

Luckily it is a morning wedding, which offers a lot of time in the afternoon before the reception to take formals and group shots.

I am a firm believer in that you pay for what you get - and I am doing this for free!

PotN really has been a great resource in reading up on how wedding photography is done.

Wow, are they going to ask you to officiate, too? And maybe do some DJ-ing during the reception?? Lol. You have to just stick to the photography aspect.

PhotoMatte wrote in post #9717189
Wow, are they going to ask you to officiate, too? And maybe do some DJ-ing during the reception?? Lol. You have to just stick to the photography aspect.

As far as I know I am not officiating the wedding ceremony. I do DJ as a hobby, but am keeping this to myself!!

I agree - I spoke to the couple last night and stated that the video won't be happening. They're cool about this, and are planning their day around my requirements to get some formals in.

One quick question - how do you go from calling everyone in to get group shots (family, friends etc), to telling them politely to 'go away' and give us some time alone for the couple's formals?

My fear is that I try to capture some nice formals with 20 point and shoot cameras and a small crowd watching their every move.

PhotoMatte wrote in post #9711271
I like to do the rings as they're actually being exchanged (but that will be hard, given your gear), and again later on, while the B&G are eating. This is when I do a lot of detail shots (while they're eating); that way they can eat in peace and I can get ring shots, cake shots, flower shots, etc. One thing I like to do is to put both rings inside the bridal bouquet and zoom in until just the rings and a suggestion of flowers are in the frame. Later on, in Photoshop, you can use layers to gaussian blur the flowers a little, while making the rings even sharper. Another thing I really like to do is to have the B&G hold their hands together, cupping a bunch of flower petals (preferably matching the bride's bouquet). I zoom in tight to get just the hands, petals and rings in the frame. Later on, in PP, I convert the entire image into black and white, then paint back just the flowers in color.

while this seems neat, maybe I'm missing something. If they are cupping flower petals, aren't the rings on the bottom side of their hands where they can't be seen?

things are probably different in the UK but I usually take the rings during the reception when everyone is eating. About the same time I shoot the cake.
Just interested, have you thought of maybe attaching to a local pro and getting some experience before shooting one on your own? They can be daunting and if everything doesn't go right you may friend stress on your friendship.

I didn't read through all the responses, but I generally do it when the bride and groom sit down to eat.