Wedding Photography

[ryme-intrinseca]

Woah! I put a half joking comment on Facebook about venturing into wedding photography, and that's led to me being asked to do one for real! That's a lot of responsibility. Does anyone have any experience in this area?

[Caz]

Re: Wedding Photography

Nope, but I'm doing my first one in August for the daughter of a close friend - so I'd appreciate any advice, too, please

[kennykodak]

Re: Wedding Photography

Woah! I put a half joking comment on Facebook about venturing into wedding photography, and that's led to me being asked to do one for real! That's a lot of responsibility. Does anyone have any experience in this area?

some moron "photographer" over here posted over here on his that he hated weddings but the money was too good. killed his wedding business.

[Ian]

[ryme-intrinseca]

[Ian]

Re: Wedding Photography

At least you have demonstrated that you are a fine photographer

Your gear should be up to the job, but I think you will need to do a lot of homework and have a plan of what you expect to achieve; down to timings of what you want to shoot and where.

Ian

[Ian]

Re: Wedding Photography

some moron "photographer" over here posted over here on his that he hated weddings but the money was too good. killed his wedding business.

Sounds like he got what was coming!

Ian

[kennykodak]

Re: Wedding Photography

USE A GOOD CONTRACT, ONE WHICH LIMITS YOUR LIABILITY...
(yes virginia, i understand that using all caps is shouting.)

[Caz]

Re: Wedding Photography

I did actually do an informal reportage shoot for the mother's recent remarriage, but that was as a wedding present because she likes my candid shots.

I'd never thought of trying wedding photography, and have suggested to the young couple that they would be better off getting a professional photographer, but the bride to be has seen the shots I took at her mother's wedding and has said she's happy with them.

However, I know that I'll have to also take the formal shots this time. Her mother originally told me that she wanted the "raw" shots, and her new husband would edit them. After talking to her husband, we realised she didn't know what RAW was... So now the suggestion is that I take in RAW, convert to jpeg and hand over two discs - one edited, one unedited.

I'm still not sure whether to take it on!

[kennykodak]

Re: Wedding Photography

i'm shooting a Mark IV: CF card RAW, SD card jpeg.

[Caz]

Re: Wedding Photography

I can't compete with that...... I've just got the 550d...

[kennykodak]

Re: Wedding Photography

not competing. i did teach the national course on wedding photography one year for the Professional Photographers of America. if you would like for me to give a few tips, i'd be glad to.

[ryme-intrinseca]

Re: Wedding Photography

At least you have demonstrated that you are a fine photographer

Hehe, that's questionable. I'd put myself in the 'not too bad' category.

Your gear should be up to the job, but I think you will need to do a lot of homework and have a plan of what you expect to achieve; down to timings of what you want to shoot and where.

Ian

That's great advice. I should probably get them to write a list of which images they want - which groups of people, whether they want me to take shots of the bride in the morning, etc.

To complicate things further - and this is where I know you're all going to yell at me not to do it! - it's my brother in law who's getting married, and my young daughter is going to be a flower girl. It's going to be a stressful day, I think!

I should probably buy an off-camera flash too, and get used to using it prior to the event. They have said they'll pay for any equipment I need (a D3x, perhaps? ).

[Caz]

Re: Wedding Photography

not competing. i did teach the national course on wedding photography one year for the Professional Photographers of America. if you would like for me to give a few tips, i'd be glad to.

Thank you. Since the wedding is in August hopefully the light will be good, although white marquee/tables and chairs/dress do concern me a bit! I've been out to the church and venue for a quick lookaround and a few test shots but want to go back again before the day. What is concerning me is lenses/ flash. I hope to hire what I need (note to Ian: when are you going to cover Canon lenses?) I currently have an 18-55, a 70-200 and a f2.8 115mm. I have a Nissin flash. I know I'm going to need faster lenses than what I've got, but have had a lot of conflicting advice so to hear from a wedding pro would be very helpful.

[devilgas]

Re: Wedding Photography

USE A GOOD CONTRACT, ONE WHICH LIMITS YOUR LIABILITY...

got any good examples KK?