Wedding photgraphy

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Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 9:39 pm

Not a new plan for my lads' trophy pictures (yet), but somehow I've been talked into doing the pix for one of Hayley's workmates' (at Underworld) wedding. Shocked

I can take a good picture, but I've never really took an interest in weddings.

Every wedding I've been to as a guest (and my own), I've been too hammered to notice what the photographer was up to, apart from getting stroppy when he bossed me around.

The 'semi - professional' who was doing it as a favour, suddenly wants $1,000. I said I'd work for food and a bridesmaid, but (a) Hayley said no, and (b) the bridesmaid is a Bisson Frise Pooddly thing, wearing a skirt. And I have to photograph that, too. Rolling Eyes

So just food then. Normally I'm a bit more mercenery, but they are good friends of ours too.

They said I could have a bottle of my favourite drink too, so I plumped for Glenlivet, but I might ask for a free bartab. Many years ago, a bar offered to pay me with free drinks for doing a rock disco. They never did that again, it cost them twice as much in Lowenbrau (not my usual, but the most expensive beer they had) as they normally paid the DJ. beers!

I ended up putting on 'Kashmir' by Led Zep, to give me time to barf over the edge of the fire escape puke

, so I'd still have time to be back for the next record.

Anyone know a webpage where I can find a guide on practical advice for the wedding photographer, as opposed to websites trying to sell me wedding photgraphy, which Google has zillions of?

Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 9:55 pm

Very simple all i did was type into google "taking good wedding photographs" and this is one of the sites found.

www,pinkfridge.com/lal_weddings/photos

Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 10:17 pm

Thanks, I bookmarked it, though the comma in the url threw me.

Quote:

Unconventional poses can make the most interesting photographs. Often spontaneous, they could include anything from feeding the ducks to dancing barefoot on the tables!

I might feed the ducks, but I'm not dancing barefoot on the tables, you can get your feet cut.

Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 11:01 pm

Roycropper wrote:

.... practical advice for the wedding photographer

try to avoid working with children....and animals Laughing

Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 3:16 am

If you want to earn more money....photograph them when they are totally drunk. I think they call it blackmail in RL. Twisted Evil

Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 3:34 am

Roycropper wrote:

but I'm not dancing barefoot on the tables, you can get your feet cut.

Depends how hungry the geusts are and how good/bad the menu is.

Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 4:46 am

A wedding planner I knew used to put out a big basket of disposable cameras at weddings. the guests would grab a camera, take picts and then on the way out drop them into a basket marked "Cameras here". Otherwise most of the guests kept the cameras. She thought it was a great idea.

Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 8:16 am

@RC, I was coerced into photographing my sister's wedding on St Patrick's day last year.

A few salient points from that experience:

(0) If you don't believe that you will be able to do it, then politely decline.
(1) Know your equipment. Include an external clip on flash in your kit. Know how to use your external flash and reflectors.
(2) Hopefully you are already a confident and competent people photographer and enjoy coaxing people into nice poses. Practice informally beforehand.
(3) Wear shoes that are comfortable as you will be on your feet for 8 - 12 hours.
(4) Don't drink alcohol.
(5) Spare batteries and memory cards are very useful. Suggest 4 GiB minimum and a couple of GiB on hand and a spare battery or two. Take your charger too.
(6) Look at some contemporary and formal wedding photographs to give yourself an idea of what photos the couple would like. Speak with them well beforehand (not the afternoon before) regarding the types of photos they'd like. Ensure that you know the sequence and timing of events and are able to travel to each location in a timely manner.
(7) Disaster plan. 2nd camera body/lenses to be on hand in case of an oops. Find out if there will be another photo enthusiast guest and speak with them regarding sharing the load, especially with the candids and also to act as a backup if you need a break or if something untoward happens to you or your equipment.

A few more linky things to peruse:
A beginners guide to *war photography.
More *war photography.
The complete guide to *war photography.
* An enduring photographer's joke.

Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 8:51 am

Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 8:57 am

@RC.....I agree with everything stated by 7/9 and would add:

(1) Have a rehersal with, at least, the bride and groom and take a few shots of them in "their civvies" at agreed spots at the church and elsewhere.

(2) Be prepared for rain (or worse).

Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 9:07 am

And remember the other guests when you are taking pics outside the church, temple, whatever after the wedding. They can't go anywhere until the happy couple leave so PLEASE try to keep it as quick as possible. I spent almost 2 HOURS shivering outside a London church on a freezing November afternoon with 100 other guests while the photographer faffed around being a drama queen getting the 'perfect' pose.

Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 9:32 am

Thankyou all. I too have fannied around for far too long outside a church, thanks to a fussy photographer. I don't suppose they will be too keen on holding signs or having a fish on their head.

7/9 's list sounds like good sense. I'm going to take my small Olympus as well as the big Canon SLR, just in case.

I'm going to the rehersal too. There's a no flash rule in the church, won't be a problem but I want to test the settings in there first, not find out later that all the indoor pix came out dark or with camera shake. They want the 'here comes the bride' bit and signing the register.

Avoid alcohol at a wedding? Shocked

Well, not till the evening do, and they'd better be quick having that first dance. After that it'll be catching drunken silliness and kids sliding up and down the dance floor anyway. That's the free bartab out of the window then. Sad

Baiting Guru Joined: 03 Mar 2006 Posts: 7103 Location: Yes

Be sure to take a picture just as someone puts food in their mouth. That's always a winner. Wink

Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 5:51 pm

Be sure you know just what's expected of you!

Some years ago I was asked to make 'just a little video' of my ex gf's brother's wedding.

Started at the church at 11am - finished at the reception at 2am!

'can I finish this now?'

'well, if you can just get a few more shots of the bride/bridesmaid/groom/idiot uncle trying to rhumba/drunken best man' etc.

Managed to put the camera down for about an hour at the reception feast (Weatherfield Ramada, no less!).