Wedding No1 done - What an experience!

BOM

BOM

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Steve
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Well, my first wedding has finally been done, what an experience, both enjoyable and very stressful.

It was a bikers wedding, the flow of the day was:
Bike escort leading the car from the house to the reg office
Then the same from the reg office to the local park (Lovely grounds) for photos.
Then to the local workies club for the reception.

It has turned out well so I am happy, I certainly learned a lot but I also have some questions for you guys who do it all the time:

1 - Organising the groups - How do you stop all the relatives from waving and distracting everyone resulting in people looking in different directions.

2 - Most people didnt seem interested in having the pics done and just wanted to get to the pub asap and were difficult to direct.

3 - How do you handle crying kids.

4 - How do you stop people wandering off half way through a photo cos they've spotted someone they havent seen for a while! Honestly, I'd get everyone lined up, I'd walk back to the camera and two of the bridesmaids had walked off to talk to their mate!

If I'm to do this again I think I will invest in a full frame body and a faster telescopic.

Cheers,
BOM
 
I find speed the key to the big formal shots, and shooting from the camera with a lot of arm waving, loud shouting and directing :lol: I always start with a full group shot, which then stops the distant family, friends etc hanging round. Slowly, it'll narrow down to close family and then just the bride and groom...by which point most have buggered off to the reception, leaving you to shoot relatively distraction free! :)
 
BOM said:
1 - Organising the groups - How do you stop all the relatives from waving and distracting everyone resulting in people looking in different directions.

2 - Most people didnt seem interested in having the pics done and just wanted to get to the pub asap and were difficult to direct.

3 - How do you handle crying kids.

4 - How do you stop people wandering off half way through a photo cos they've spotted someone they havent seen for a while! Honestly, I'd get everyone lined up, I'd walk back to the camera and two of the bridesmaids had walked off to talk to their mate!
Click to expand...

You need the co-operation of one of the guests who is loud enough and confident enough to shout at everyone and organise them for you!


Steve.
 
PurpleClouds - Thats exactly the conclusion I came to and will certainly do that next time.

Yes I certainly did need to grab a helper from the party, they didnt have any ushers as it was a registry office wedding.
 
I generally gauge the best man/ushers at the start of the day and watch a little for any organisational skills. That's generally going to be my assistant when it comes to it.

If they are all useless and I have to do it myself then I do start with the big group and it does work as people wander off. Once they are in the bar you have lost it! :)

Usually a very loud (I'm only little) "Right folks let's get these done and dusted and you can all carry on enjoying your day" get's them to behave. If not I get the cattle prod out! :)

Most people attending a wedding will expect some sort of group shot. Get the biggie done first and then keep the families and all the formals. I then shoot Brides family, grooms family, bridesmaids and ushers, couple with bridesmaids only and then any others they have asked for. At the end I'm pretty much done with the families and everyone else is in the bar, then I can skulk off with the couple for half an hour and hardly anyone notices :)
 
1 - A large factor in this is confidence. Through a combination of talking confidently, smiling, and raising your voice to get everyone's attention. Finally, when everything/one is where I want them to be, I ask everyone to look this way.

2 - I've not really had this. I get a few that don't want their picture taken but I just make a joke of it and guarantee I'll get them later. And I do, and they usually cheer up and loosen up. In terms of group shots though, people tend to just get on with it in my experience - maybe you were unlucky. Can't comment on your confidence as I wasn't there on the day but again, dealing with people confidently, politely and sharing a laugh has a very positive effect on the pics.

3 - If a kid was crying but HAD to be in a shot, I'd allow about 20 seconds for them to stop crying, and possibly make an effort to cheer them up myself. If after that time they're still crying then I'll shoot the other people in the group, and come back to that shot later.

4 - I don't really find that happens much tbh. It's not something you can prevent but having some interaction with the group helps to get them to focus on you and understand that they are needed, and are about to have their picture taken.

HTH
 
I dont think it helped that the venue for the photos was seperate from the reception, once people had been in the photo there was nowhere for them to wander off too so they all hung around.

I definitely want to do more of this, I've identified a few kit changes that would have made life easier and a few strategy and planning changes to get a better result too.

I could do with getting some second tog experience too.

The issue in point 4 really surprised me, totally didnt expect that to happen.

Big respect to you professional wedding photographers :thumbs:
 
purpleclouds said:
I find speed the key to the big formal shots, and shooting from the camera with a lot of arm waving, loud shouting and directing :lol: I always start with a full group shot, which then stops the distant family, friends etc hanging round. Slowly, it'll narrow down to close family and then just the bride and groom...by which point most have buggered off to the reception, leaving you to shoot relatively distraction free! :)
Click to expand...

Smack on Purple thats what I was always taught,in addition you need a loud mouth to organise everybody
 
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