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Shooting first wedding.

if you shoot that wedding with a kit lens and built in flash, AND charger her.. shes gonna hate you for life. this is a wedding fyi. prepare yourself.

take the advice of all the replies here, gear up and maybe even grab help. i shot a wedding as a "floater" before.. there was a paid photographer and all i really did was help him out and did candid shots.. that alone was insanely stressful.

gear up and prepare.
 
HBOC said:
One of my good friends wants me to shoot her wedding in September. She asked me last summer if I wanted to do it, and i told her no. She convinced me to do it. I told her don't expect the best results, but I know (as does she) that the results will indeed be stellar. I've been shooting as a hobbyist now for 10 years, but 95% is nature/waterfalls/landscapes, etc.
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Stellar, eh? I'm looking in vain for the clue that confirms you've said all of this tongue-in-cheek.

OP: listen to the others. If you don't know what equipment you need, chances are that you've never shot with any of it. Using your cousin's special day as a practice session is unconscionable, even if she doesn't have enough respect for photography to hire a professional.
 
Weddings are hands down the HARDEST shoots you can do. The people who say they are easy haven't shot them.

One minute you can be shooting in a dark church that doesn't allow flash.... and your exposure needs to be f/2.8 @ ISO 1600. Can your camera handle that? Can your lens?

Then you are outside shooting group formals in the sun. Do you have the right fill flash to expose them properly, or are you going to have them all face into the sun for correct exposure, but now they're all squinting?

There are no reshoots. No second chances. If you screw up your exposure on "the moment" that's it.

Is that worth ruining a relationship with a family member over?
 
There really isn't much more to add that hasn't been said, but I mean this in the kindest way possible; this is a recipe for disaster.

Listen, I'm getting married in June and spent weeks shopping around for a wedding photographer. I met with about 7 different photographer/studios and although they were all excellent photographers, each had their own style in terms of being journalistic, traditional, etc. After meeting with all these highly experienced professionals, there was only one person we wanted to work with because he offered the exact style we were looking for. Basically what I'm saying is, the photographer, aside from the actual hall we booked, was the single most important decision we had to make. I know nothing of your experience or work, but I can assure you wedding photography is an entirely different animal than anything you have ever done. I know if my pictures come out not 100% completely spectacular, I will be devastated and so will my wife. There's just so much that goes into this type of work that unless you have years of experience, there can be no way you match your family's expectations.
 
OrangeCuse44 said:
the photographer, aside from the actual hall we booked, was the single most important decision we had to make.
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I bet your fiance disagrees with you there :) cough, dress, cough j/k

I was also just married this past November and I agree - we decided the church itself, the dress, the photog, the DJ, and the rings were the places we would spare no expense - the rest of the stuff (ie chair covers, table favors, brands of booze, etc, etc) we really didn't care about and/or even get.

Just to add yet another comment after watching a very talented pair of photographers shoot our wedding a couple months ago - if your cousin wants to save money, I understand. Weddings aren't cheap. But as others said, your best to set her expectations really (really) low. Our photog used two people, 4 canon 5Ds, a ton of L glass (16-35mm, 70-200 2.8, 85mm 1.2, 35mm 1.4, 24-70 2.8, 50 1.4 (the only non L)) a bunch of 580 speedlights, and a case full of memory cards (haven't gotten all the pics back yet, but most of his shoots are around the 2000 picture mark). Not to mention he has a fine arts degree and over 15 years of wedding photography experience. He was an expert at keeping the group loose and laughing, he ran all over the place like a madman, and even laid down in the street in downtown St Louis at certain points to get the angles he wanted. Just be prepared for what your getting yourself into!
 
Always remember that a wedding is a special day designed to be shared and cherished by two people who love each other... The bride and her mother. ;)

FWIW, it won't matter later on that you did this on the cheap (or even for free), your photographic skills will forever be seen by the family through the lens of those wedding photos. If you aren't up to the task, think twice about whether you want to step into that role.
 
This is a great thread to follow. I'm a bit afraid our OP doesn't like what we're saying as he hasn't checked back in a while.

Reading some of the responses made me think that one of the hidden skills required by a good wedding photographer is to be able to organize people and keep them smiling.

There's clearly a lot more to it than just being able to take a good picture.

The more I read, the more I hope this guy doesn't do it.
 
Let's just list out the problems with this one:

1. It's family. Working for your family on this sort of event rarely leads to good things. When you screw up, it will never go away and you can't just avoid them for the rest of your life. HBOC, friends fall into the same category as family.

2. It's a wedding. Weddings are one of the things you can't screw up, and you've only got one chance to get it right. The bride and groom aren't going to say "I do" and have their first kiss again just because you screwed up and underexposed your shot or missed it entirely.

3. You've never shot a wedding. No offense but it's not an easy thing to just go out and do. You will screw it up your first time out, which is only made worse by 1 & 2.

4. You're gear is basic, and even if you rent the "correct gear", you don't want to be learning how to use it the day before the wedding. This has a lot to do with number 3, familiarity with your gear goes a long long ways.

And probably more.

The bottom line is rent the gear you think you need, bring your camera and do your best. Don't take any money from her. Finally, encourage her to find someone who has done it before and isn't related to you to do the heavy lifting.
 
Alright, here's my two-cents.

I've just begun doing wedding photography. Shot my first wedding, a very small, very casual, very low-key wedding a few weeks ago.

I was scared sh*tless, and it was the most stressed I've been as a photographer (and I've done shoots of all kinds, including events with people like Johnny Depp, Sean Connery and Samual L. Jackson attending/participating). The wedding was HARD. I can't stress that enough.

But it was also a lot of fun. Sure, I made a few mistakes, and I missed some shots I wish I'd been able to get, but all in all it was fun, and the clients were happy (which is the main thing).

But I didn't even think of doing any wedding until I had the minimum gear I needed. I have two camera bodies, multiple batteries for each, a 24-70mm f2.8, a 70-200mm f2.8, 50mm f1.8, two flashes (with plenty of spare batteries), umbrellas, light-stands and radio triggers. I wouldn't consider doing even the smallest wedding without this gear.
 
epicwelshman said:
umbrellas, light-stands and radio triggers. I wouldn't consider doing even the smallest wedding without this gear.
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Though this is not strictly required for weddings. Not actually seen a wedding with this setup. Though I've done corporate events with them.

I found people hate to be ushered into a fixed lighting environment, maybe I just have miserable clients ;)
 
Kebabselector said:
Though this is not strictly required for weddings. Not actually seen a wedding with this setup. Though I've done corporate events with them.

I found people hate to be ushered into a fixed lighting environment, maybe I just have miserable clients ;)
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You should see the results of the formals done with a single light on a bracket versus strobes- it argues for the strobes hands-down (assuming a competent photographer with either.)

I'm told that way back when, the formals would actually be shot at a studio rather than on-site.

Paul
 
this kids never coming back. you all just scared him ********.

i give him credit though for taking on the challenge. I remember my first wedding...scary stuff. Most shots are a ONE TIME DEAL. you either got it, or you didnt.
 
Ok so thank you all for your advice.

My cousin knows I've never shot a wedding before. She is just trying to save money as she is only 20. She believes, and so do I, that I can do a good job. Her wedding isn't going to be huge, like I said she's really young.
I'm not passing this opportunity up at all. If my cousin trusts me I'm going to do it and I'm also gaining experience doing it.
I have 8 months to learn as much as can about weddings and time to buy some nice glass that I can learn to use seamlessly come August.

I'm not scared at all by what some of you guys are saying. If I learn a lot more then I'll go into the wedding confident and do a great job. I won't feel awkward shooting wither cus everyone looking at what I'm doing will be my family and they know I can do a good job.

If it comes to the point where I feel like I can't do it I'll let my cousin know as soon as I can so she can find enough time to find a photographer.
 
Hmm, another idea that I just got is if you have any other photographer friends whom for one use the same camera brand as you and maybe had do some events, regardless if its weddings or corporate or any event. Maybe you can ask him/her to help you out during the wedding day so there will be 2 photographers, instead of you alone and not to mention that having 2 photographers will lift up some of the stress from you and also since both of you are using the same brand, its easier to swap/borrow each other lenses. I know it's not the ideal method but I think this is the cheapest method to get a huge list of equipments.
 
Spartan_aG1 said:
I'm not scared at all by what some of you guys are saying. If I learn a lot more then I'll go into the wedding confident and do a great job. I won't feel awkward shooting wither cus everyone looking at what I'm doing will be my family and they know I can do a good job.
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And this is why you'll screw it up. Shooting a wedding is nothing like what it sounds like. I walked in to my first wedding with the same sort of confidence expecting it to be like shooting a concert while wearing a tux, and I screwed up BAD. My keeper rate was about 1:20 and even those weren't all that great. Luckly I was just assisting a friend of mine who has done hundreds of weddings and he nailed all of the important shots.

Please dude, if you want to do her wedding find a semi-pro photographer who needs an assistant on a few weddings, tag along and learn as much as you can before you walk into hers, because you will screw it up and that has the potential to ruin your life.
 
Ok getting another photographer to help me like you guys are saying seems like a great idea and I'll most likely go in that direction.
 
Spartan_aG1 said:
Ok getting another photographer to help me like you guys are saying seems like a great idea and I'll most likely go in that direction.
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That would have been my first suggestion as well. You just can't do this by yourself.

I've been to four weddings where I was very close to either the bride or the groom's family and thus would have been invited anyway. I brought ALL my gear and basically acted as an independent unpaid backup photographer that nobody really knew was going to produce any useful output (I was "the friend that will follow the other camera guys around" and that was about it in terms of introduction).

I can say that this is a really good place to be. At least one shot of mine from three of those weddings is sitting under glass on the couple's mantle, or in grandma's living room, or a similar prominent place in someone's house. It's really nice to see when you visit; makes you feel warm & fuzzy :). I find that your emotional connection with the wedding party makes it possible to express something with your shots that is rarely found outside close friends & family.

Now, the reason I was able to get those shots in the first place is that I talked to the hired pro well beforehand, explained who I was, got a feel for what she wanted to do, and then stayed the hell out of her way for the remainder of the event so she wasn't annoyed by my presence (& in one case even helped me out with the crowd once or twice).

My girlfriend was my assistant, and also ran around & took a lot of shots herself when I wasn't using her camera as a 2nd body. Her help was indispensable and often made the difference between getting the shot & not.

Generally, most of the other advice has been quite good. There are clearly some very experienced folks around here. I'm going to make a few suggestions based on my experience:

- it bears repeating: get with a buddy that shoots Nikon as you do, and do the event together. Discuss your roles well beforehand (he's your "assistant" and "backup"), establish that you are the lead photographer but that you value their help & couldn't do it without him/her.

- At all six weddings I've attended since I started paying attention to photography, either the bride's family and the groom's family both hired a photographer, or there was a videographer in addition to the main photographer (in one case it was both). Get your cousin to talk to the groom's family and make it clear that you can't be responsible for handling the photos for both families. You probably know everyone on the bride's side, but there will be a whole lot of people on the groom's side that you won't know and that don't know you. You have no idea if everyone hates his aunt Linda and doesn't want to be reminded that she was even there, and you don't want his mom telling you this kind of crap on the morning of the big day when you're trying to concentrate on more important stuff. Even if it's just you and the groom's videographer, he'll be the pro and at least some of the pressure will be on him to make things flow properly, and you can encourage & suggest as necessary.

- You need two camera bodies. The second one is not a "backup", it's a necessity. When it's go time, I've got my 40D with the telephoto on it for close-ups, and my girlfriend's 350D around my neck with the wide-angle for ambient and group shots. If you're switching from indoors to outdoors a lot you can also set them up so one is ready to go for each set of lighting conditions. The better of the two cameras gets the telephoto.

- If you aren't already using digital asset management software like Lightroom or Aperture, now's the time to get it & learn it.

- Really, don't take money for this gig (other than maybe gear rental).

- Try to get yourself invited to another wedding in exchange for some shots well before your cousin's wedding so you can get the hang of this (and maybe even your buddy if you can swing it).

Good luck :)
 
Bringing all your gear and functioning as an unrequested "backup" photographer in any wedding is the height of rudeness and professional wedding photographers disdain people who do this. 90% of the time they end up distracting people, getting in the shot of the paid pro, or otherwise screwing up the real pro's job.

I'll say it again, if you want to learn wedding photography, then establish a portfolio of portrait work, show a knowledge of photographic skill and technique including your equipment (hint: not knowing what glass you will need is an obvious clue that you're not ready) and then approach and work with an established pro, maybe for pay, maybe not.

I promise that if you just go alone and fly by the seat of your pants that you will look back later in life and cringe at your results.
 
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