Wedding Photography

Kryptix

Kryptix

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My friend wants me to shoot her wedding, but I've never done this before.

She's never seen professional pictures before and she has no-idea about photography -- she'd only expect normal digital camera pictures but I want to use this for experience.

I believe she'll choose an old church with rubbish lighting. Should I use my flash gun? Won't it ruin the experience for others?

High ISO? What sort of shutter speed and what distance should I stand from them? Would it be a good idea to use my 50mm f/1.8 for low light?

How do you get interesting shots? Surely I'd have to just stand in one position and it'd just be tons of shots of them talking and handing the rings over... How can I make it look exciting? All I can imagine is tons of 'yellowy' church lit pictures of them moving position slightly. :shake:

Really need some help here!
 
1) You won't be allowed to use a flash in a church so forget using it.
2) You need some fast lenses to shoot in those lighting conditions so forget it if you don't have any lenses under f2.8. (or a camera that will handle high ISO)
3) You can't move about too much or the Vicar will not be happy so you need to make sure you can get good shots of the Bride, that's your priority.

How do you make shots interesting? Oh only years of experience! lol

You will need to do a lot of research. You need to know the bridal preparation pics, what to shoot and how, the Groom waiting with the Groomsmen, the Bride arriving, entrance to the Church, the key parts of the ceremony, the isle shots, the confetti shots, the car shots. Bride and Groom portraits, formal group shots, cake cutting shots, all the candids and the first dance for which you will probably need flash.

Do you know how to baclance flash with ambient? How to use it as a fill for backlit subjects? Can you organise a group shot? Can you direct the Bride and Groom when you want some "interesting" shots.

Have you got a backup camera and flash, public liability insurance????

Sits back and gets out the popcorn. :)
 
*waits for irate banned members to resign...*
 
Rarity if it's not.

Especially during the ceremony, I've never been allowed to use one yet!

(And I'd much rather set someones expectations to not using it and then if he/she can it's a wecome addition rather than a catastrophe because they don't then have the lenses to cope)
 
To avoid another wedding flame war, you'd be best off searching these forums for weddings Kryptix. Lots of advice has been given on the subject, most of it applicable to your situation :thumbs:

Good luck.
 
Kryptix said:
How do you get interesting shots? Surely I'd have to just stand in one position and it'd just be tons of shots of them talking and handing the rings over... How can I make it look exciting? All I can imagine is tons of 'yellowy' church lit pictures of them moving position slightly. :shake:
!
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Shoot raw = fix white balance afterwards = non yellow
Problem 1 solved :)

How long do you have to prepare?
 
lukewoodford said:
You don't nesicariy need years of experience. I didn't know what ISO meant 8 months ago.
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i wonder how many on here (without looking it up first) know what iso means a few probably know what it does but how many know what ISO stands for.
 
International Organisation for Standardisation (or something like that, it is not as the neumonic) in english it is usually called the International Standards Organisation (but that is incorrect), for film it was adapted from the old ASA which was American Standards Association as there was also DIN which was Deutsches Institut für Normung which increased in steps of 3 for a stop change (so a single step was 1/3 stop). :p
 
Studio16 said:
i wonder how many on here (without looking it up first) know what iso means a few probably know what it does but how many know what ISO stands for.
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It's derived from Greek word isos and is not initials. The various organisations in their different languages built their acronyms around it.

Bob
 
EdBray said:
International Organisation for Standardisation (or something like that, it is not as the neumonic) in english it is usually called the International Standards Organisation (but that is incorrect), for film it was adapted from the old ASA which was American Standards Association as there was also DIN which was Deutsches Institut für Normung which increased in
steps of 3 for a stop change (so a single step was 1/3 stop). :p
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:thumbs: If you knew this without looking it up you are as sad as I am :lol: (although I believe they use the american z rather than the British s :razz:)

Canon Bob said:
It's derived from Greek word isos and is not initials. The various organisations in their different languages built their acronyms around it.

Bob
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You are correct it comes from the greek but I believe it is only one organisation based in Switzerland, it has very strong links with national standards bodies in each country (e.g. BSI) but they are not actually part of ISO just members of a network (a bit like the SWPP).

Anyway back to the OP: Are you really ready to take on the responsibility of capturing the most important day in two peoples lives? Only you can answer this question BTW :D

AliB has raised some good technical points, the question I would ask is how would you feel if you messed it up, could your friendship survive?

To try and answer your questions, Flash during the wedding is usually prohibited and even if it is allowed I wouldn't use it as I think it spoils the atmosphere (you have to use your judgement). In a dim church you will need a High ISO and a fast lens. The 50mm f1.8 will be up to the job but keep in mind it is limited so you may be stuck with general scene setting, especially if you are stuck with the vicar who won't allow you to move about - some do but I always say to my clients if they notice me during the ceremony then I'm not doing my job right.

I'm certainly not going to suggest you should step back, say no and tell the B&G to get a professional tog with experience, the right kit and the skills to cover their special day. If you feel you have what it takes, good luck :thumbs:

anyway where's the popcorn gone - AliB can I share ;)
 
I went to meet with the vicar yesterday for a wedding I'm doing in July and went I mentioned flash he said he wasn't bothered :eek:. I can't see myself using it to be honest, especially whilst the Bride and Groom are at the altar.

Have a read through the many wedding threads on here, it's amazing how much you can pick up. Good luck. :thumbs:
 
I've yet to meet a vicar happy with flash on the day. It distracts the guests and wedding party, draws attention to you and I'd really avoid it.
 
Radiohead said:
I've yet to meet a vicar happy with flash on the day. It distracts the guests and wedding party, draws attention to you and I'd really avoid it.
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As I said, he wasn't at all bothered one way or another but I won't be using it whilst the couple are at the altar for those very reasons.
 
Iv seen it used extensively at Greek weddings!!
 
I think I'll just go to the church and explain the situation and see if I can get any good results before their wedding. I think most of it depends on the lighting (in my case, anyway). I'm confident if it was outside in the light I'd get some lovely pictures, but I've never shot indoors before.

Does a tripod help at all, or should I just hold the camera and they'll only be moving anyway?
 
I've never shot at a wedding, but from the ones I've been to you won't get chance to setup a tripod nevermind use it :).

I'd consider hiring a 85mm and 35mm primes and another body, just incase the focal length of the nift fifty won't cut it.
 
Kryptix said:
I think I'll just go to the church and explain the situation and see if I can get any good results before their wedding. I think most of it depends on the lighting (in my case, anyway).
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Church lighting can be quite challenging :shake:
 
Kryptix said:
I think I'll just go to the church and explain the situation and see if I can get any good results before their wedding. I think most of it depends on the lighting (in my case, anyway). I'm confident if it was outside in the light I'd get some lovely pictures, but I've never shot indoors before.

Does a tripod help at all, or should I just hold the camera and they'll only be moving anyway?
Click to expand...

If it's a mate's wedding - ask them if they're doing a rehearsal on site at the church, and maybe invite yourself onto it?
 
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