My tip would be:
If you are going to ask for wedding advice on here buy a good flame-proof suit !
I absolutely agree Kris.
There are some amazing, helpful, informative posts on here, and I have certainly picked up a lot of good info and tips.
It would be nice to see a wedding advice post not end up going down the tube, like so many others.
Lets hope, eh?
ShoeQueen said:I did my first wedding last year for friends. I came on here looking for advice, being very honest about my level and kit and willing to listen to others more experienced.
I didn't get flamed - instead I got useful advice and followed it. So not every 'I'm doing my first wedding' thread degenerates...
I went to the venues (church and reception) and took test shots (I went to the rehearsal in the church which also meant I could talk to the minister about what photography she allowed - very little but the couple had already told me about that and were happy with it), I borrowed a spare body, got an extra flash, a new lens (Tamron 17-50 after advice on here), borrowed some other lenses (an UWA and 85mm) and brought a friend along to assist (who also knew the couple a bit). I had plenty of cards, batteries etc and quite a detailed shot list (on which I had what I would be shooting and what lens I planned on using and what my assistant would be doing). I had extra copies of this for the best man and others to help organise the group shots.
I was very nervous but I ended up enjoying the day and decided I'd be open to doing more. So I spent 6 months or so on developing people photography skills, in studio and at events. I then upgraded my kit (D700 & 24-70), took out PL and PI insurance, went on Dave's course, and did a couple more weddings as a second shooter as preparation for starting to do them by myself.
There is a lot of exciting and inspiring wedding photography posted here and I hope I'm learning from viewing those thread and blogs as I continue to try to learn more and become better.
Bhoy_Whunder said:From my differing experiences:-
Your first wedding is a gut churning experience of nerves and worry. Once your over that hump you can see where you stand and if you are happy with your pics. If you are very happy with the pics you are either David bailey or arent striving to imrpove and it may not be the job for you.
From advice on here i gathered before my first wedding, I scoped the venue out beforehand, met the couple, got used to my gear, checked the weather, brought lots of spare umbrellas, bought lots of spare batteries, mem cards etc.
Afterwards i thought i done 'ok'. Put some pics up here and i realised they were, well, not very high quality (i was going to say **** but some were nice lol).
Back to the drawing board. I have now started structuring my day. Im not there just to snap away, its esentially a long drawn out photo shoot over multiple locations.
I start planning shots to get in the brides house, then the church, pics of the groom etc, service, then after it we have confetti shots, crowd shots, bridal party then im starting to get more top heavy with the couple portraits. Ive shamelessly stolen lots of poses and ideas of this website and the welath of brilliant togs that post here. I have lots of poses printed on sheets to try and work through with the couple as a starting point. You will then get some 'of the cuff' poses and ideas about the location and gauging the mood of the couple. your then onto the reception to get detail shots, cake etc and speeches and first dance. Now im starting to realise the limits of my gear and my wife is going to kill me if I order a full frame camera and 70-200mm F2.8 with VR
The scouts got it right "Be prepared"
But even if you're only doing it occasionally - if you're charging any money at all then you still have some of the same costs in terms of decent kit, insurance, time preparing records for HMRC, sorting out contracts etc. The difference being that you will have another income to fall back on.I've been doing some wedding photography on a small basis for a number of years. It has never been my main profession but as a "competent" amateur photographer (of many years) I have always felt that I am more than capable of giving a client an excellent value for money product. In terms of the the images, the difference between mine and a "professional's" is, in the end going to be subjective, but the difference in the business model, is major - a professional has to put food on the table for themselves and their family, fortunately it's not the same for me.
Doing a wedding for family, esp close family, is different again and you have to ask yourself do you really want to spend the day behind a camera or do you want to be able to relax and be part of everything.
]I did my first wedding last year for friends. I came on here looking for advice, being very honest about my level and kit and willing to listen to others more experienced.
I didn't get flamed - instead I got useful advice and followed it. So not every 'I'm doing my first wedding' thread degenerates...
I went to the venues (church and reception) and took test shots (I went to the rehearsal in the church which also meant I could talk to the minister about what photography she allowed - very little but the couple had already told me about that and were happy with it), I borrowed a spare body, got an extra flash, a new lens (Tamron 17-50 after advice on here), borrowed some other lenses (an UWA and 85mm) and brought a friend along to assist (who also knew the couple a bit). I had plenty of cards, batteries etc and quite a detailed shot list (on which I had what I would be shooting and what lens I planned on using and what my assistant would be doing). I had extra copies of this for the best man and others to help organise the group shots.
I was very nervous but I ended up enjoying the day and decided I'd be open to doing more. So I spent 6 months or so on developing people photography skills, in studio and at events. I then upgraded my kit (D700 & 24-70), took out PL and PI insurance, went on Dave's course, and did a couple more weddings as a second shooter as preparation for starting to do them by myself.
There is a lot of exciting and inspiring wedding photography posted here and I hope I'm learning from viewing those thread and blogs as I continue to try to learn more and become better.
Yes its different for more distant family, that's more like doing one for friends. (I like your website btw. )Agree with this, I learned it is not really possible to be a guest and a photographer! Thankfully, my weddings were for family I haven't seen in 20+ years and I was photographer 1st, guest second. Even though they were family, I still charged them more than some thought I would (more than the tog that had let them down was charging), but I had to cover my costs etc.
Yes its different for more distant family, that's more like doing one for friends. (I like your website btw. )
:
If you are the only tog, what order do you take the pics?
Most of the major tips have already been covered here or elsewhere on Tp however just to give a few
#1 Don't take it on unless you know what you are doing - don't get pressured into doing it by freinds or family if you arent sure you can - it will end in tears
#2 Always use a contract so expectations are clear and in writing - this applies even (possibly especially) if you are working for freinds and family
#3 Take back ups for every essential piece of kit that might break down - including batteries and memory cards
#4 Make sure you've got insurance both kit ( if you are working for money make sure your kit insurance covers pro work) public liability, and PI/Buisness costs
#5 If you are earning money , tell HMRC , dont try to do it as sideline for cash only , it isnt worth it and you will get caught
Apologies for any repetition in advance as I've only scanned the earlier posts....
Right, I started off shooting a wedding for a friend, without really the kit I needed and without a clue what I was doing, despite spending months on the forums prior to this looking at wedding photographs.
RULE #1 - Have a plan. First time I only had two weeks notice and didn't really come up with a decent idea of what I was going to do in advance. Now, weddings are a detailed, planned, thought through event. I nearly always check the venue out before hand (If for any reason I can't then I google stalk it to death) so I know what shots I want and where they're gonna be staged.
RULE #2 - Time flies, not only when your having fun - but also when your sh!tting yourself on a wedding day. Take the opportunity to get the snaps when you can - you'd be amazed how easy it is to think 'I'll get that in a minute' only for the day to move on with out you.
RULE #3 - Be upfront. This is difficult - especially when working with family. be clear about your experience AND ENSURE they understand this. I've seen people get caught out when relatives assume that because they take 'awesome photos of flowers' they are going to be Jeoff Ascough.
RULE #4 - Back ups are NOT optional. My third wedding I had an equipment failure (Unusual this early on) and I was able to drop the camera into a bag and carry on. If I hadn't I'd have probably committed professional suicide as I got soooo many referrals from this wedding.
RULE #5 - Shooting a wedding is the easy bit. The hard bit is the business side of the venture. Creative? then you'll be great at the snaps but are you going to be great at marketing, accounting, planning and sales?
RULE #6 - Under promise, over deliver. EVERY TIME!
a few practical tips :
- comfy shoes,
- accessible bag,
- wearing something smart that you don't mind getting dirty (kneeling down on damp grass etc),
- flexibility and the ability to revise your plans to accommodate the unexpected!
- a partner who doesn't mind when you get home 2 hours after you promised
- efficient processing skills
- and the ability to put up with 'uncle Bob'
- and ALL of the above!
Can I ask those of you who shoot weddings what your ISO settings are like generally in churches.
I have developed a reputation as being the shoeless photographer as when I'm shooting the ceremony I always take my shoes off so people can't hear me clumping about which the chatty bits are going on.
a few practical tips :
- comfy shoes,
- accessible bag,
- wearing something smart that you don't mind getting dirty (kneeling down on damp grass etc),
- flexibility and the ability to revise your plans to accommodate the unexpected!
- a partner who doesn't mind when you get home 2 hours after you promised
- efficient processing skills
- and the ability to put up with 'uncle Bob'
- and ALL of the above!
DG Phototraining said:Q - what wedding photographers on here would say is their best tip to amateurs who intend to shoot weddings???
A - don't charge!!! Have fun
Charging makes you enter the 'Pro' world of liabilities, expectations and panic
Wedding Photography is not about shooting a 'Wedding' - its about shooting a series of min-events that require different skills at different times of the day, but rapport & crowd control are vital skills too; as is coping with everything going 'wrong'
As I repeatedly say on my course -Wedding Photography is about far more than taking pretty pics
But it is, or should be, bloody good fun
Dave