Photographing a wedding – What do I need?
Discussion
My girlfriend’s sister has asked me to shoot her wedding. My first reaction was to politely decline the offer, it’s not the sort of thing you can reshoot if you get it wrong.
Anyway that didn’t go down so well so I’m doing it. I’ve got a Canon 40D, a 70-200L 2.8 and a canon F2.8 standard zoom (17-50 I think) so I’m guessing that from a basic gear perspective I’m covered.
What else do I need? I’ve a manfrotto tripod with a macro tripod head, which if I swap the head out for something which will hold the camera exactly level should be more than capable of a few group shots.
A decent flash and a spare battery and memory card I guess are the other obvious things.
Anything else? I currently use paintshop pro as my editor of choice. Is there a cheapish portrait software I should look to get hold of, or any books or anything else to minimise the chance of me stuffing this up.
Many thanks
Anyway that didn’t go down so well so I’m doing it. I’ve got a Canon 40D, a 70-200L 2.8 and a canon F2.8 standard zoom (17-50 I think) so I’m guessing that from a basic gear perspective I’m covered.
What else do I need? I’ve a manfrotto tripod with a macro tripod head, which if I swap the head out for something which will hold the camera exactly level should be more than capable of a few group shots.
A decent flash and a spare battery and memory card I guess are the other obvious things.
Anything else? I currently use paintshop pro as my editor of choice. Is there a cheapish portrait software I should look to get hold of, or any books or anything else to minimise the chance of me stuffing this up.
Many thanks
Inkyfingers said:
With the greatest of respect this sounds like it could end badly. Frankly I would tell them to stop being so tight and hire a pro so that they get decent photos and you get to enjoy the wedding!
Agree. OP does the 40D do video? If it does, why not offer to do a video diary of the day for them and leave the album stuff to a pro.I've done a few wedding vids for friends when I had access to some pro kit and even that was stressful enough as a fun extra for them.
40D doesnt do video.
Weddings... Make sure you get the WB right, even if you shoot raw. Take multiple group shots.
Make sure you check whats in the background!
Buy a decent flash and use it, get to know how to do fill flash properly.
Get a list of (formal) shots they want.
Beg borrow steal, rent another body.
Weddings... Make sure you get the WB right, even if you shoot raw. Take multiple group shots.
Make sure you check whats in the background!
Buy a decent flash and use it, get to know how to do fill flash properly.
Get a list of (formal) shots they want.
Beg borrow steal, rent another body.
I would say equipment wise, you need spare batteries, memory cards and a flashgun (don't count on the built-in flash - also check if its a Church you can shoot with flash otherwise you will need a faster prime to give you lowlight capability).
That is still below the kit list of a professional shooter as a pro would have at least 1 backup set of pretty much everything in the kit (spare body, lens, flash etc). I tend to not use a tripod at all at weddings (at least for any people shots) - its only useful for longer exposure shots e.g. strobist portraits etc but I take it your not looking for shots that sophisticated (which is fine).
The biggest issue isn't getting the flashgun, but learning to utilise it in the best way (balancing the flash power and how it spreads light) with the camera's exposure settings. With regards to spreading light, you generally want a soft wide spread of light to help illuminate the frame. If you got white ceilings or walls that aren't too high or far then with a flashgun you can fire it in that direction and the light will bounce off and spread light nice and wide.
Otherwise the key technical elements are the much the same as any other type of shooting you do with your 40d - framing subjects, focussing accurately and ensuring your shutter speed freezes the subject appropriately to give you a good sharp well exposed images.
In the non technical aspects, as stated before you would probably want to know if you have limitations on using the flash (like in a Church) so you can plan around it (fast primes), understand what type of shots the B&G are after and as you have not done it before, look to other wedding photographer portfolios for some ideas/inspiration/poses etc that might be helpful on the day.
Processing wise, you could download and install a copy of Adobe Lightroom (you get a 30 day free trial) and use it for a month. But again as you are learning as you're going its going to be difficult to maximise the results.
The things I have said above are not easy or something you could learn in a short space of time. I would really suggest advising the B&G to invest in a pro as others have stated and maybe you can shadow or assist the pro on the day. Thats probably a good place to start your own learning from. If you have further questions feel free to ask/pm etc.
www.lutonphotography.com
That is still below the kit list of a professional shooter as a pro would have at least 1 backup set of pretty much everything in the kit (spare body, lens, flash etc). I tend to not use a tripod at all at weddings (at least for any people shots) - its only useful for longer exposure shots e.g. strobist portraits etc but I take it your not looking for shots that sophisticated (which is fine).
The biggest issue isn't getting the flashgun, but learning to utilise it in the best way (balancing the flash power and how it spreads light) with the camera's exposure settings. With regards to spreading light, you generally want a soft wide spread of light to help illuminate the frame. If you got white ceilings or walls that aren't too high or far then with a flashgun you can fire it in that direction and the light will bounce off and spread light nice and wide.
Otherwise the key technical elements are the much the same as any other type of shooting you do with your 40d - framing subjects, focussing accurately and ensuring your shutter speed freezes the subject appropriately to give you a good sharp well exposed images.
In the non technical aspects, as stated before you would probably want to know if you have limitations on using the flash (like in a Church) so you can plan around it (fast primes), understand what type of shots the B&G are after and as you have not done it before, look to other wedding photographer portfolios for some ideas/inspiration/poses etc that might be helpful on the day.
Processing wise, you could download and install a copy of Adobe Lightroom (you get a 30 day free trial) and use it for a month. But again as you are learning as you're going its going to be difficult to maximise the results.
The things I have said above are not easy or something you could learn in a short space of time. I would really suggest advising the B&G to invest in a pro as others have stated and maybe you can shadow or assist the pro on the day. Thats probably a good place to start your own learning from. If you have further questions feel free to ask/pm etc.
www.lutonphotography.com
Edited by kman on Monday 21st November 06:03
My brother asked me to shoot his wedding and it was bloody nerve wracking. It's not just the technical aspects but also having to floor manage and make sure you get all those shots. Bride with bridesmaids, with her mother, signing the register, the "I do", the list is endless.
They were happy with the end result but I have refused to do it since and I'm a TV cameraman by trade.
They were happy with the end result but I have refused to do it since and I'm a TV cameraman by trade.
croyde said:
My brother asked me to shoot his wedding and it was bloody nerve wracking. It's not just the technical aspects but also having to floor manage and make sure you get all those shots. Bride with bridesmaids, with her mother, signing the register, the "I do", the list is endless.
They were happy with the end result but I have refused to do it since and I'm a TV cameraman by trade.
Totally OT - interesting job. Do you do outside broadcast / film stuff or are you studio based?They were happy with the end result but I have refused to do it since and I'm a TV cameraman by trade.
rhinochopig said:
croyde said:
My brother asked me to shoot his wedding and it was bloody nerve wracking. It's not just the technical aspects but also having to floor manage and make sure you get all those shots. Bride with bridesmaids, with her mother, signing the register, the "I do", the list is endless.
They were happy with the end result but I have refused to do it since and I'm a TV cameraman by trade.
Totally OT - interesting job. Do you do outside broadcast / film stuff or are you studio based?They were happy with the end result but I have refused to do it since and I'm a TV cameraman by trade.
I'm the supply teacher of the light entertainment world
Used to do a little sport years back but I hate being cold
oh! and no one has asked me lately 
So it tends to be studio in the winter and OBs in the summer. Film is a different trade/niche and a totally different pay scale although those boys have assistants to push them, focus for them and change the mags, lenses etc so they do bugger all. Only joking
croyde said:
Can be interesting although work is getting scarcer every year. Tend to spend the summers shooting Festivals on OBs for the big broadcasters ie BBC, Channel 4 then spend the rest of the year scrabbling for tidbits which can be anything from studio webcasts, which I light and set up to dropping in on shows like "Strictly" if someone is sick at the last minute.
I'm the supply teacher of the light entertainment world
Used to do a little sport years back but I hate being cold oh! and no one has asked me lately
So it tends to be studio in the winter and OBs in the summer. Film is a different trade/niche and a totally different pay scale although those boys have assistants to push them, focus for them and change the mags, lenses etc so they do bugger all. Only joking
Thanks for that - like the supply teacher analogy. I here there are plenty of Jobs out in Afghanistan at the moment - probably safer than getting in front of a Justin Bieber fan stampede too. I'm the supply teacher of the light entertainment world
Used to do a little sport years back but I hate being cold
oh! and no one has asked me lately So it tends to be studio in the winter and OBs in the summer. Film is a different trade/niche and a totally different pay scale although those boys have assistants to push them, focus for them and change the mags, lenses etc so they do bugger all. Only joking
rhinochopig said:
Thanks for that - like the supply teacher analogy. I here there are plenty of Jobs out in Afghanistan at the moment - probably safer than getting in front of a Justin Bieber fan stampede too.
Too right and the way thinks are going I might happily don a flak jacket and a kevlar helmet..........just for Reading Festival. Those flying bottles of p155 are a nightmare.
RobDickinson said:
Gad-Westy said:
Just to satisfy my curiosity. Why is this the case? Had always been of the understanding that WB was infinitely adjustable in PP if shooting raw.
Yes it is, but what is the correct WB value? If you dont use a grey card etc you will be guessing...I just wouldn't do it I'm afraid.
I'm a just a keen amateur with some half decent bits of kit/lenses, and a friend asked me to shoot their wedding a few months ago because they didnt want to spend the money for a Pro, and I had to politely decline on the grounds that I'm simply not that good, and as you say, you can't reshoot it... They weren't happy with me and were somehow convinced that I "just couldn't be arsed" or something like that, but I convinced them in the end and they got a Pro to do it and were happy with the results.
I have seen the disaster that is someone shooting a friends wedding for the first time. Someone I know got asked to shoot their mate's wedding because 'they had a proper camera (£399 Nikon D3000 with kit lens) so were therefore a photographer'.
The photos were fairly poor as the lighting was so difficult. The two friends went through a really awkward patch after they handed over the finished photos on a CD... I think the happy couple were somewhat disappointed that their photos didn't look quite like the ones they had seen in friends wedding albums.
I'm not saying for one minute you aren't capable of shooting a wedding really well, but just be aware that despite telling them you aren't a Pro, they WILL be expecting the finished product to look like the ones in Hello magazine, despite what they say.
If you really have to do it, the only thing I would add to the above is make a clear list on a sheet of paper of all the shots you need. Look through other people's albums and write them down and tick them off as you go.
You will be very busy and you really don't want to get to the end and realise you forgot to take a photo of the bridesmaids or something!
I'm a just a keen amateur with some half decent bits of kit/lenses, and a friend asked me to shoot their wedding a few months ago because they didnt want to spend the money for a Pro, and I had to politely decline on the grounds that I'm simply not that good, and as you say, you can't reshoot it... They weren't happy with me and were somehow convinced that I "just couldn't be arsed" or something like that, but I convinced them in the end and they got a Pro to do it and were happy with the results.
I have seen the disaster that is someone shooting a friends wedding for the first time. Someone I know got asked to shoot their mate's wedding because 'they had a proper camera (£399 Nikon D3000 with kit lens) so were therefore a photographer'.
The photos were fairly poor as the lighting was so difficult. The two friends went through a really awkward patch after they handed over the finished photos on a CD... I think the happy couple were somewhat disappointed that their photos didn't look quite like the ones they had seen in friends wedding albums.
I'm not saying for one minute you aren't capable of shooting a wedding really well, but just be aware that despite telling them you aren't a Pro, they WILL be expecting the finished product to look like the ones in Hello magazine, despite what they say.
If you really have to do it, the only thing I would add to the above is make a clear list on a sheet of paper of all the shots you need. Look through other people's albums and write them down and tick them off as you go.
You will be very busy and you really don't want to get to the end and realise you forgot to take a photo of the bridesmaids or something!
I would say you are almost there with the kit but need a flashgun, the most powerful you can afford with a bounce and swivel head, and as mentioned, learn to use it in fill mode. If it's a church wedding you are very unlikely to be able to use flash and sometimes even f2.8 isn't enough - if you think this might be the case get a 50mm f1.8 as well. Watch the DOF like a hawk because there isn't much!
Tripod - thundering nuisance IMHO. Might be needed in a dark church or for moody dusk shots in the evening, but try to avoid during the day. It is simply one extra thing to carry, set up and then leave in the wrong place.
Whatever else you do, shoot RAW so you can recover highlight detail, shadow detail and alter white balance.
On the subject of WB, whilst a grey card is 'the' way to do it, I honestly don't think anyone doing their first wedding is going to have any braincells spare to use one. Furthermore you'll be constantly moving into different lighting conditions, so a setting you choose one minute will be wrong the moment you pop outside or into the room with green walls. That is why I use AutoWB on the day and tweak in processing as required.
As Rob says, what is 'the' correct WB value? How you solve that is up to the software you use. In Capture One there's a dropper which you click on any white or neutral grey area and it adjusts the image to that. Most photos will have such an area, either a wedding dress, shirt or tablecloth. However it's interesting to note that the 'technically correct' WB set in this way does not always 'look' right. Often the image will have faces/skintones with different hues, or chunks of bright colour, and whilst the white bits are officially white they can look wrong. So in this case I adjust WB (colour temp and green/magenta) by eye. You will need to calibrate your monitor of course. Capture One also has an AutoWB function which often gets a very good average, or at least drops you off near enough to proceed on foot as it were.
HTH!
Tripod - thundering nuisance IMHO. Might be needed in a dark church or for moody dusk shots in the evening, but try to avoid during the day. It is simply one extra thing to carry, set up and then leave in the wrong place.
Whatever else you do, shoot RAW so you can recover highlight detail, shadow detail and alter white balance.
On the subject of WB, whilst a grey card is 'the' way to do it, I honestly don't think anyone doing their first wedding is going to have any braincells spare to use one. Furthermore you'll be constantly moving into different lighting conditions, so a setting you choose one minute will be wrong the moment you pop outside or into the room with green walls. That is why I use AutoWB on the day and tweak in processing as required.
As Rob says, what is 'the' correct WB value? How you solve that is up to the software you use. In Capture One there's a dropper which you click on any white or neutral grey area and it adjusts the image to that. Most photos will have such an area, either a wedding dress, shirt or tablecloth. However it's interesting to note that the 'technically correct' WB set in this way does not always 'look' right. Often the image will have faces/skintones with different hues, or chunks of bright colour, and whilst the white bits are officially white they can look wrong. So in this case I adjust WB (colour temp and green/magenta) by eye. You will need to calibrate your monitor of course. Capture One also has an AutoWB function which often gets a very good average, or at least drops you off near enough to proceed on foot as it were.
HTH!
NinjaPower said:
I just wouldn't do it I'm afraid.
I'm a just a keen amateur with some half decent bits of kit/lenses, and a friend asked me to shoot their wedding a few months ago because they didnt want to spend the money for a Pro, and I had to politely decline on the grounds that I'm simply not that good, and as you say, you can't reshoot it... They weren't happy with me and were somehow convinced that I "just couldn't be arsed" or something like that, but I convinced them in the end and they got a Pro to do it and were happy with the results.
I have seen the disaster that is someone shooting a friends wedding for the first time. Someone I know got asked to shoot their mate's wedding because 'they had a proper camera (£399 Nikon D3000 with kit lens) so were therefore a photographer'.
The photos were fairly poor as the lighting was so difficult. The two friends went through a really awkward patch after they handed over the finished photos on a CD... I think the happy couple were somewhat disappointed that their photos didn't look quite like the ones they had seen in friends wedding albums.
I'm not saying for one minute you aren't capable of shooting a wedding really well, but just be aware that despite telling them you aren't a Pro, they WILL be expecting the finished product to look like the ones in Hello magazine, despite what they say.
If you really have to do it, the only thing I would add to the above is make a clear list on a sheet of paper of all the shots you need. Look through other people's albums and write them down and tick them off as you go.
You will be very busy and you really don't want to get to the end and realise you forgot to take a photo of the bridesmaids or something!
This was me. I was pressured into doing photographs for friends of friends (we knew them well, but weren't great mates), and OMG did I ever wish I hadn't. I tried everything possible to decline the request but they just weren't having it. They were a very relaxed couple, it wasn't a big f-off wedding but it was a nightmare from start to finish. Lighting was hopeless - dark registry office, dark pub for lunch, dark pub for evening do. Coupled with the fact that i loathe taking pictures of people, and it generally wasn't my best moment.I'm a just a keen amateur with some half decent bits of kit/lenses, and a friend asked me to shoot their wedding a few months ago because they didnt want to spend the money for a Pro, and I had to politely decline on the grounds that I'm simply not that good, and as you say, you can't reshoot it... They weren't happy with me and were somehow convinced that I "just couldn't be arsed" or something like that, but I convinced them in the end and they got a Pro to do it and were happy with the results.
I have seen the disaster that is someone shooting a friends wedding for the first time. Someone I know got asked to shoot their mate's wedding because 'they had a proper camera (£399 Nikon D3000 with kit lens) so were therefore a photographer'.
The photos were fairly poor as the lighting was so difficult. The two friends went through a really awkward patch after they handed over the finished photos on a CD... I think the happy couple were somewhat disappointed that their photos didn't look quite like the ones they had seen in friends wedding albums.
I'm not saying for one minute you aren't capable of shooting a wedding really well, but just be aware that despite telling them you aren't a Pro, they WILL be expecting the finished product to look like the ones in Hello magazine, despite what they say.
If you really have to do it, the only thing I would add to the above is make a clear list on a sheet of paper of all the shots you need. Look through other people's albums and write them down and tick them off as you go.
You will be very busy and you really don't want to get to the end and realise you forgot to take a photo of the bridesmaids or something!
As above, the hand-over of photographs was the most awkward moment ever and we've not actually spoken since for one reason or another... Just DON'T DO IT.
As I said earlier, I dabble with cameras but I'll never do a wedding again.
My ex-wife asked me to get shots of her co-workers for her company's website. I really did not want to do it but they insisted and paid me well.
When I sent her the digital contact sheets, she said that they were lovely photographs but non of the women looked beautiful.
My reply "I'm a photographer not a miracle worker"
That didn't go down too well
My ex-wife asked me to get shots of her co-workers for her company's website. I really did not want to do it but they insisted and paid me well.
When I sent her the digital contact sheets, she said that they were lovely photographs but non of the women looked beautiful.
My reply "I'm a photographer not a miracle worker"
That didn't go down too well
Isn't it a day you would like to enjoy as well. I would decline, have a great time and get hammered like the rest of them.
Fair do's if you would like to get into this as a job, then its an opportunity not to be missed, otherwise you have little to gain and really it could go horribly wrong.
Fair do's if you would like to get into this as a job, then its an opportunity not to be missed, otherwise you have little to gain and really it could go horribly wrong.
NinjaPower said:
I'm not saying for one minute you aren't capable of shooting a wedding really well, but just be aware that despite telling them you aren't a Pro, they WILL be expecting the finished product to look like the ones in Hello magazine, despite what they say.
This is the killer quote for me. This is the reality for most couples. Pros are expensive so they will look to cut costs by using a friend but will not be happy to compromise on image quality. If you try and tell them, that your images might be crap, they'll think you're being modest. They'll nod and agree and say they accept that, but who in their right mind actually wants to assign an official photographer but is happy with average results?I'm not saying the OP's results will be crap, I have seem some decent amateur results but the odds are stacked against you. So much to consider and so much to go wrong in so little time and no chance of doing a re-shoot. This is why good pros are worth the money, they stay calm under pressure and know how to work with the lighting and get people where they want them.
We got married earlier this year. We reluctantly spent a lot on the photographer (10% of our total budget) but now that the dust has settled, it's the one thing that I think was worth every penny. In fact, now that I've seen the full extent of what's involved, I think it was a bloody bargain. And long after the champagne and slap up meal have disappeared, the suits have been returned, the flowers have died and the dress is packed away in the attic, you still have a fantastic album to look at. Just my thoughts.
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