Wedding tips for a first - Media And Arts - Forums

Quoting C.A.V. from Jul 24 2012 9:18:17PM:
So my cousins having a wedding and there will be other photographers there, but i am invited to shoot the wedding and the reception. I am getting paid a little bit to help them out, but not much, its just to start me out and geet a feel for it becuase they cant afford to pay a proffesional and they dont care how it eds up, just as lng as theres pictures. I am certainly no pro when it comes to this but i know some ins and outs of it. I was just wondering if i could get some tips and pointers of what to do and look for at both events and so forth.. My set up that i have isnt too amazing but it works... canon t2i canon 18-40 L UWA canon 18-55 canon 75-300 getting a extended battery pack and flash this week and a new tripod( not sure what tripod to get ) but that sums it up, let me know any tips and such, thanks! + for real help -k and bad feed back for rude people, dont have anything good to say leave my thread im looking for positive tips! Thanks NS!

Quoting C.A.V. from Jul 24 2012 9:18:17PM:
So my cousins having a wedding and there will be other photographers there, but i am invited to shoot the wedding and the reception. I am getting paid a little bit to help them out, but not much, its just to start me out and geet a feel for it becuase they cant afford to pay a proffesional and they dont care how it eds up, just as lng as theres pictures. I am certainly no pro when it comes to this but i know some ins and outs of it. I was just wondering if i could get some tips and pointers of what to do and look for at both events and so forth.. My set up that i have isnt too amazing but it works... canon t2i canon 18-40 L UWA canon 18-55 canon 75-300 getting a extended battery pack and flash this week and a new tripod( not sure what tripod to get ) but that sums it up, let me know any tips and such, thanks! + for real help -k and bad feed back for rude people, dont have anything good to say leave my thread im looking for positive tips! Thanks NS!

Quoting 1337 from Jul 25 2012 10:01:52:
you need faster glass asap

Quoting C.A.V. from Jul 25 2012 10:40:27:
Thanks for these tips deffiantly opened up some ideas, will look into these lens, also how about angles and lighting and stuff? I know that can be a bit challenging

Quoting photodouche69 from Jul 26 2012 5:58:17:
Rent anything extra, you don't need to buy just for one shoot. I'll post more later when I'm on a computer...

Quoting Magnus$ from Jul 26 2012 8:46:52:
Just out of interest what sort of money do yous normally make out of something like this? Never really considered it but seems like there's a lot doing it.

Quoting tomahawk from Jul 26 2012 9:35:57:
In my area 1500-2500 is reasonable. Starting out though, I wouldn't charge more than 500-800.

Quoting Magnus$ from Jul 26 2012 9:50:25:
God thatd be nice, I guess you'd need to be pretty good at photography for that?

Quoting CrotchKiller$ from Jul 26 2012 10:33:39:
http://www.borrowlenses.com/product/Canon_Packages/Wedding_Photographer_Essentials_Package_No_Body_Canon

Quoting Magnus$ from Jul 26 2012 9:50:25:
God thatd be nice, I guess you'd need to be pretty good at photography for that?

Quoting CrotchKiller$ from Jul 26 2012 10:33:39:
http://www.borrowlenses.com/product/Canon_Packages/Wedding_Photographer_Essentials_Package_No_Body_Canon

Quoting CrotchKiller$ from Jul 26 2012 10:33:39:
http://www.borrowlenses.com/product/Canon_Packages/Wedding_Photographer_Essentials_Package_No_Body_Canon

Quoting DingoSean$ from Jul 27 2012 7:21:37:
Holy damn. That's a KILLER situation. 150... like the cost of a brand new 50mm f1.8, to have possibly the 3 best, and most useful canon lenses and a REALLY sweet flash for 3 days? I might have to use that even for NON wedding scenarios, if I'm doing something over 2-3 days... That is the sickest...

Quoting [J_Gasper]$ from Jul 27 2012 10:10:26:
Yea but then shipping is gonna be like 60 bucks round trip

Quoting ShredBettyZoe from Jul 27 2012 2:37:06:
(there is no technical advise about equipment in this post I think you got enough advise on that!) First. are you very sociable person? if youre just shooting your cousins then this doesnt matter. if you want shots of family/people in the wedding.... well i guess it also doesnt matter if its your own family hah but if in the future you shoot a wedding where you know only the couple getting married your telephoto will be handy - you can get nice candid shots of guests without having to approach them and actually take their picture standing in front of them. Not everyone is comfortable with that and it makes a huge difference. Ive shot a couple of weddings now, not professionally. If you had the cash two bodies is nice so you dont have to switch your lens (but really if youre just starting out thats unnecessary) just be prepared for what you have to shoot NEXT before the time comes so you're not stuck switching your lens in the middle of an important moment! make a quick list of things you SHOULD have shots of, even if you're just an extra person with a camera to get some pics... you have an opportunity to really give it a go! So go snap the cake, the rings, her shoes, try and tag along if they go off with the actual photographer for 1-on-1 session to see how it goes and get some shots without being in the actual photographers way ;) Dress comfortably haha. I guess as a dude that matters less, its not like you're gonna show up in heels and a tight dress. Enjoy the guests... its the best part of shooting a wedding!!! be very social and go around talking to them, ask if they mind if you take their picture. And dont get caught in the jacket closet with the bride!

Quoting 1337 from Jul 25 2012 10:01:52:
you need faster glass asap

Quoting Rachy from Jul 29 2012 10:04:20:
My mom is a wedding photographer and from 13 to 15 she brought me along as her assistant until I could get a real job. So I've been to around 50 weddings as a helper. 1) It's your cousin, so you can totally socialize, but realize that you are getting paid, don't forget that. If you're in a conversation and you hear someone getting ready for a toast, you should also be ready. 2) Talk to the other photographers and figure out where each one will be during the procession. There needs to be a photographer in back and in front. You'll likely want whoever is better in the front, so likely you'll be in the back if there is someone who has shot weddings. So you'll want to be getting the candids right before. Usually a nervous photo with the dad and so forth. Then try to get a back shot of each pair. 3) Realize that you can move around. You need to be quite, but they'd rather have the shot and you moving around a tad than you being totally silent in the back trying to zoom in for the shot. 4) Artsy isn't better, don't try to take "artistic photos" you can add stuff in editing if you really must. Your ruining what may have been a beautiful shot by including a flower petal in the frame. Unless the photographers are off doing wedding party photos... then take photos of whatever you can think of, more is better. 5) Take more photos of the bride than you could ever think of. She's the one who wants to look at them, as well as the mother of the bride. So if you can get some nice shots of both of them, they will likely be stoked. 6) Pay attention to what friends really seem important to the bride or groom. Usually they can't have a wedding party as large as they would like, so friends are assigned to other tasks. Make sure you get photos of the bride/groom with these people. They are important as well. You can usually find them in the program as greater or attendant or about 20 other titles. You can also ask the Maid of Honor, it's her job to know these things. 7) Try to keep questions away from the bride and groom. They are already stressed, ask the bridesmaids and groomsmen, or wedding planner if there is one. They are the preferred contacts at the wedding. BEFORE the wedding, you should ask if there are any specific photos the bride/mother of bride want. Also ask the groom. Sometimes there is something special being planned that 1 party doesnt know about. 8) If you are doing any portraits feel free to have fun with them, but always pay attention to things like hands/elbows, what's in the background, that there isn't lipstick on the teeth and so forth. Sure you can edit these things out later, but it's better to not have to edit 100 photos with lipstick smudges. Also pay attention to the brides train if she has one. You usually want to pull it infront and spread it out so it looks all pretty. You can get a list of crucial wedding shots online. No one is going to know that you have it or that you are using it as a guide. Bring it with you, make sure you get them all.

Quoting C.A.V. from Jul 29 2012 5:57:40:
Here are some of my favorite shots, i have like 200 photos from it, i just didnt wanna take the time to upload them all and some were too large of a file to upload to image shack, but give me your thoughts on these shots, over all i was really satisfied with my work, but i can always do way better no matter what! so shoot me some feed back!

Quoting [J_Gasper]$ from Jul 27 2012 10:10:26:
Yea but then shipping is gonna be like 60 bucks round trip

Quoting Static from Sep 13 2012 11:48:08:
love how you got the lint on the grooms shoulders and back in focus on the last one