Wedding Photography
Discussion
Well, I've just been asked this evening to be the photographer at a friends wedding, next september. A good time to let me know as I can gain experience and gain confidence, which in all honesty I think will be my largest concern.
Are there any good resources on the net, that past piston headers have used to help them with the learning process?
Also what equipment do I need, without getting too technical (See My Spec Below).
and finally examples you have taken, and anything else you may want to add for my benefit.
I really want to do well as this is not only good experience and an oppourtunity for me but also a very big important and hopefully once in a life time experience for my friend and his fiancee too.
Any help, direction and guidence will be appreciated.
James
My Equiptment:
Pentax K10d
18-55mm Lens
Tripod
Are there any good resources on the net, that past piston headers have used to help them with the learning process?
Also what equipment do I need, without getting too technical (See My Spec Below).
and finally examples you have taken, and anything else you may want to add for my benefit.
I really want to do well as this is not only good experience and an oppourtunity for me but also a very big important and hopefully once in a life time experience for my friend and his fiancee too.
Any help, direction and guidence will be appreciated.
James
My Equiptment:
Pentax K10d
18-55mm Lens
Tripod
Edited by JimNotJon on Friday 28th December 20:48
Wow major props for acepting, wedding photography IMo has to be the scariest, you have to nail it.
Have a friend who's just started doing them pro...
IMO to do a proper pro job I'd want 2 bodies. one with a fast wide to low tele zoom and one with a 70-90mm fast zoom or prime for portraits. Prehaps a fast shorter lens for indoors but you'll be relying on your high powered flash units & diffusers anyhow...
Control the crowd, your there to get the shots, be chatty and make them do what you want, take multiple shots of any group shot, more people = more shots, someone is going to have their eyes closed, blink etc.
Meetering is hard, esp with harsh sunlight outside, white dress, black/grey suite etc. Use fill flash all the time IMO (if only turned down a lot). Shoot raw take 6-8 gig of memory +.
Talk to them about what posed/group shots they want, go to the venue and sus out the place, sunlight (for the time of day) and anywhere closeish by intresting for location shoots.
Have a friend who's just started doing them pro...
IMO to do a proper pro job I'd want 2 bodies. one with a fast wide to low tele zoom and one with a 70-90mm fast zoom or prime for portraits. Prehaps a fast shorter lens for indoors but you'll be relying on your high powered flash units & diffusers anyhow...
Control the crowd, your there to get the shots, be chatty and make them do what you want, take multiple shots of any group shot, more people = more shots, someone is going to have their eyes closed, blink etc.
Meetering is hard, esp with harsh sunlight outside, white dress, black/grey suite etc. Use fill flash all the time IMO (if only turned down a lot). Shoot raw take 6-8 gig of memory +.
Talk to them about what posed/group shots they want, go to the venue and sus out the place, sunlight (for the time of day) and anywhere closeish by intresting for location shoots.
There's enough for a book there but the first step IMHO is: Learn your equipment backwards. Learn to use it as instinctively as you drive a car.
Three years ago I was in your shoes, but I had 20 years amateur practice with film SLRs behind me and it was still one heck of a learning curve.
The budget to do it properly will cost thousands but the first thing, I would venture to suggest, is to get the biggest Pentax flashgun you can buy.
Wedding photography is arguably the hardest thing to do. Not only do you have to be master of your kit, but you have to be nice to 120 strangers at once, direct them as required, be confident AND make it all look effortless. Your friends are placing one heck of a responsibility on your shoulders and they must accept that even though you will do your best, things may go wrong. I've picked up several jobs because although the couple had an 'Uncle Phil' (my term for a friend with a DSLR
, they didn't want to burden him, and would rather he enjoyed his day and let a pro take the strain.
If you're still up for it, keep your eyes open, your head level and I wish you every success.
Three years ago I was in your shoes, but I had 20 years amateur practice with film SLRs behind me and it was still one heck of a learning curve.
The budget to do it properly will cost thousands but the first thing, I would venture to suggest, is to get the biggest Pentax flashgun you can buy.
Wedding photography is arguably the hardest thing to do. Not only do you have to be master of your kit, but you have to be nice to 120 strangers at once, direct them as required, be confident AND make it all look effortless. Your friends are placing one heck of a responsibility on your shoulders and they must accept that even though you will do your best, things may go wrong. I've picked up several jobs because although the couple had an 'Uncle Phil' (my term for a friend with a DSLR
, they didn't want to burden him, and would rather he enjoyed his day and let a pro take the strain.If you're still up for it, keep your eyes open, your head level and I wish you every success.
JimNotJon said:
and finally examples you have taken
www.blokewithacamera.co.uk > SocialEdited by Simpo Two on Friday 28th December 21:28
Are they are paying you? There is a very good reason Wedding photogs come in at £1k or more! I'd suggest your equipment is not up to the job - if you are having to invest £££ to do shoot the wedding it would be nice to know you are at least being helped out with the costs.
I've only done it as a guest - using 3 lenses, a flash and 2 bodies - the bride/groom were ecstatic with the results but I'd hate to have the pressure of being the only photog there!
I've only done it as a guest - using 3 lenses, a flash and 2 bodies - the bride/groom were ecstatic with the results but I'd hate to have the pressure of being the only photog there!
Edited by _dobbo_ on Friday 28th December 23:02
I did one wedding for a friend and it was high pressure.
You need 2 camera's. What if one stops working?
I used mainly Tamron 18-75 f2.8 although I switched to a 19-35mm in the registry office. A few memory cards of course.
You have to 'command' people what to do, and keep all the other snappers out of the way. This requires some forcefull instructions... particularly LOOK AT ME NOT THEM because you need eye contact.
I think the fewer people that know you, the better. You can't easily do it if you're just 'one of the guests'.
My results were fantastic but I probably won't take it up for a living!
Good luck!
You need 2 camera's. What if one stops working?
I used mainly Tamron 18-75 f2.8 although I switched to a 19-35mm in the registry office. A few memory cards of course.
You have to 'command' people what to do, and keep all the other snappers out of the way. This requires some forcefull instructions... particularly LOOK AT ME NOT THEM because you need eye contact.
I think the fewer people that know you, the better. You can't easily do it if you're just 'one of the guests'.
My results were fantastic but I probably won't take it up for a living!
Good luck!
Ordinary Bloke said:
I did one wedding for a friend and it was high pressure.
You have to 'command' people what to do, and keep all the other snappers out of the way. This requires some forcefull instructions... particularly LOOK AT ME NOT THEM because you need eye contact.
get a whistle - it sure gets the attention You have to 'command' people what to do, and keep all the other snappers out of the way. This requires some forcefull instructions... particularly LOOK AT ME NOT THEM because you need eye contact.
and take loads of photos especially candid ones
Probably a good move, but now that takes the pressure off and you can spend the whole time taking candid shots which the official photographer won't have time to do. Get yourself a long lens (200 or 300mm) and try to catch the experssions of the guests, people off the edge of the official pics, kids playing, conversations, laughter etc. Groom looking nervous before, or chatting to the best man afterwards. The bride getting ready, or talking to bridesmaids, mother etc. Maybe go for black and white, it still has a certain quality which colour can't match, you can think black and white then convert the pics in post-processing.
Have fun...
Have fun...
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