Wedding party shots set up help

[jeffwoolums]

I am new to photographing people. I have a good friend who asked me to do their photographs for them for upcoming wedding. I figure it my gift to them. anyhoo. I would like to know if there is a rule of thumb guide the shots I should try to set up and perhaps a few FAQ's.
If there is a book on this subject anyone can recommend I would be very grateful. The wedding is in 10 weeks so I have a bit of time to practice which I am open too.

Thank you thank you and thank you for your help.

Jeff

[bfphoto]

Jeff, I am not sure you can learn wedding photograplhy in ten weeks from a book. My suggestion is that they hire a professional photograper, unless they just can not afford one. Check out the wedding threads on this forum. If you are going to photograph this wedding, then I suggest you find some wedding photogralhers that will let you tag along in the next few weeks so you can see what this is all about. Wedding photography can be a lot of fun, but it is extremely stressful. It's a one time deal, so you can't afford to mess up. You will need to learn how to control lighting in different and difficult situations, how to pose couples, how to pose groups quickly, etc. etc. Good luck.

[rcd7112]

Unless your a professional I would stay clear of weddings especially for a friend. I constantly turn down weddings because it is a difficult assignment requiring good lighting and good multiple cameras.
I recently read where wedding photographers are the most frequently sued photgrapher.

[jchooper12]

I just shot my second wedding and you better believe it is stressful. I ended up having trouble with some of the lighting for the formal shots and had a lot of post processing to do afterwards, everything was way underexposed and my WB sucked and I still don't know why. Just ask yourself before you do it, "Am I ready to tackle any situation that could come up and know exactly what to do with my camera so I don't miss the shot?" You have to be able to react to unknown situations, yadda yadda yadda, I can go on. I would go with another wedding photog before doing one on my own, that way you won't have to worry about getting the perfect shots and you can learn more.

[Silvernic]

First ones are way stressful, but you gotta start somewhere. But honestly, I'm pretty sure that I really screwed up my first few weddings and really hope that I never run into those brides again.
Good luck!

[debba]

http://wc6.worldcrossing.com/webx?14@@.1de0f996/0 look thru this thread it has ideas.

[Angelo]

Jeff, no better way to obtain the experience than by shadowing a Professional.

[jeffwoolums]

Originally Posted by debba

http://wc6.worldcrossing.com/webx?14@@.1de0f996/0 look thru this thread it has ideas.

I am going to try the bird trick... Looks like that is the ticket.

[jeffwoolums]

Originally Posted by Angelo

Jeff, no better way to obtain the experience than by shadowing a Professional.

I am looking for some second shooter op in the north houston area. if anyone knows of something let me know.

Jeff

[digitaldooda]

Google "Gary Fong". He is a journalistic style wedding photographer and a good resource for a modern storybook approach.

[Angelo]

Jeff, a great shoot for the invitation pictures.
Just for the record, This is Jeff's work, not mine.

[Wil_Bloodworth]

Originally Posted by bfphoto

Jeff, I am not sure you can learn wedding photograplhy in ten weeks from a book. My suggestion is that they hire a professional photograper, unless they just can not afford one.

1st: Define "professional photographer".

2nd: Excuse my wording in advance but I think that is a load of hooey. You may not learn to be photographically "creative" in the wedding context in ten weeks... you may not learn that in ten years. However, if you're a "capable" photographer, there is no reason you cannot shoot a wedding. If you have the equipment and know how to shoot in low light effectively then you'll do a sufficient enough job.

How do you think you become a "professional" wedding photographer in the first place? You "second" for a while and learn is probably the best way to learn the "layout". You shouldn't be learning photography... you should be learning weddings and how they work and what people want to see.

I hate doing weddings personally. In fact, I hate attending weddings, seeing weddings, hearing about weddings, etc... but I have friends who don't have the money to shell out for a "true" wedding photographer. "true" being defined by me as a photographer who only shoots weddings and does so for a living. Therefore, you can't expect the same creative results but you should be able to expect "quality" results.

Even though Bob Levy and Wendy Larson shoot sports, they are Professional Photographers. Does that mean they are capable of shooting a wedding? It depends on what the expectations of the bride/groom are. Those are brilliant photographers who can take perfectly acceptable wedding photos. You won't get a lot of creativity because that's not their field of expertise... but they can get the job done; especially for friends and family who can't afford a wedding photographer.

I mean who really shoots weddings anyway? My answer is photographers who actually need to make money. Ask a PJ who needs to make a quick buck... they'll go shoot a few weddings to make some money.

If you can't afford a wedding photographer like Fran... then you can't expect to see work like Fran's!

That's my $0.03.

- Wil

[AndrewCCM]

Originally Posted by digitaldooda

Google "Gary Fong". He is a journalistic style wedding photographer and a good resource for a modern storybook approach.

And how to make millions selling gadgets among other things to other photographers. LOL

Actually I respect Gary a lot... But...he very much is marketing as he teaches. He even says in his siminars that he isn't a great photographer...Just has good business sense. Just something to keep in mind.

[Angelo]

Wil, you make some thought provoking points.
What is the definition of a professional photographer?
Someone who receives payment for his/her photography work. I don't think the definition has anything to do with the quality or creativity.
Now, to preface "professional photographer" with words such as, "exceptional, creative, excellent, wonderful, etc."
That would define the quality and/or creativity of a "professional photographer" in whatever field of photography he/she is involved in. That's why a portfolio is so import to ask for when shopping for one.
Don't you think?

[Wil_Bloodworth]

Absolutely! I totally agree.

My very largest pet peeve about other photographers is learning photography by purchasing a camera and shooting weddings. In fact, it might even be a good idea to have a photographic license in order to charge money or to pass one's self off as a wedding photographer.

I've heard about so many people who have had their wedding ruined by inadequate photographers. I just makes me ill when I hear that people are doing that. Have some respect for others! A wedding is a one-time event. It's probably the most important day of one's life... not counting child birth (but there aren't a lot of child birth photograhers... thank God!).

If you (I'm speaking in general terms) are new to photography and have not been a 2nd for at least six months or longer... please please please please please do not attempt to shoot someone's wedding as the primary photographer! I would say that if you're not 100% confident with your equipment and 100% confident with the principles of photography... then don't primary a wedding. The bride and groom deserve good memories of that day; not bad ones that live forever.

[END SEMI RANT]

- Wil