Please help....

[AlanSmith]

I know everyone here is going to groan when they read this.

I have never shot a wedding before (I make photographs as a hobby and several times a year I donate a photo shoot to a charity auction. So the closest to professional work I have done is when someone hires me that didn't win in an auction.)

However, a friend of mine is getting married and has asked me to take the photographs. While I know better and have tried to dissuade him, it looks like I will probably be doing it. (They are an older couple and it is not her first wedding so he thinks he just wants a few snapshots. However, I want to do my best.)

Any suggestions, books, or websites that you would recommend? (Normally I would volunteer to be an unpaid assistant first, but since his wedding is in just a few weeks and I have a newborn (born Oct 18) and two other children under 5 I don't have a spare Saturday to go practice.)

Luckily the location is in a church where I have taken performance portraiture before and I am familiar with the lighting (very little so flash is almost always required ).

I am looking for suggestions like:
1) Where do you typically take photos from?
2) Any tips for the wide contrast between the white dress and the black tux?
3) I have 2 bodies and I am thinking about putting a 28-70 2.8 on one and a 70-200 2.8 on the other. (They are both digital bodies so that makes it more like a 45-112 and a 112-320.) Does this seem reasonable? Or would I be better off putting a zoom on one body and a prime on the other? (I have a 50 1.4 and a 85 1.8) Or do I need something wider?)
4) Any suggestions for group shots? Do you use a ladder? Or just get farther back?
5) Should I recruit an assistant? (even just a teenager willing to follow me around and carry stuff.)
6) Is there anything you wish someone would have told you before you shot a wedding for the first time? If so, please share.

Thanks in advance,

Alan

[Daniel Bates]

I can't answer some of these, so I'll leave them to the pros.

2. Shoot RAW and expose for the highlights. You'll be amazed how much detail you can pull out of shadows--and how little you can pull out of highlights. Besides, if you had to pick between details on a black tux and details on a beautiful white dress, which do you think the bride would rather look at?

3. Yes. The 24-70 f/2.8L is a very good wedding lens, and ditto for the 70-200 f/2.8L. When you shoot the reception, you'll probably switch out one of the zooms with a 50mm f/1.8 (for the low light stuff). It helps to have a superwide and a macro, too.

4. I've never seen anyone use a ladder for group shots, but then I haven't seen very many group shots, so I can't really pontificate on this one. This is where the wide angle lens comes in handy.

5. YES. Having two people will give you a lot more confidence. Try to find someone with some wedding experience if you can. I'd be more than willing to help you out, of course.

6. Relax, bring lots of water (and drink it!), bring more memory cards, bring extra batteries for everything, don't forget the camera, and have fun.

I hope this helps you some...
--Daniel

[LoungeLizard]

1) Where do you typically take photos from?

tough one. Depending on the church, you may not be allowed to move much. You need to capture the processional, so at least be up front for that. If only from one spot, I'd say middle back with your 70-200.

2) Any tips for the wide contrast between the white dress and the black tux?

Expose correctly. If in doubt, do what Daniel said. Don't hesitate to bump up the ISO. Most churches won't allow flash beyond the processionals - if that much.

3) I have 2 bodies and I am thinking about putting a 28-70 2.8 on one and a 70-200 2.8 on the other. (They are both digital bodies so that makes it more like a 45-112 and a 112-320.) Does this seem reasonable? Or would I be better off putting a zoom on one body and a prime on the other? (I have a 50 1.4 and a 85 1.8) Or do I need something wider?)

I usually shoot with 24-70 and 70-200. I keep a 15mm f/2.8 for a couple of nice WIDE shots and also carry a 50 f/1.4 and 85 f/1.8 in case of a really dark church (see above about flash and ISO)

4) Any suggestions for group shots? Do you use a ladder? Or just get farther back?

Fast. Few as possible. I don't use a ladder or stepping stool. You'll be timed at most places to get out of the church - assuming they want them at the church. Work in logical groups, largest to smallest. Strip people out rather than build them up. Take care of the elderly first - and the family. Get them out of your way and get them on their way.

5) Should I recruit an assistant? (even just a teenager willing to follow me around and carry stuff.)

Of course...as Daniel said...

6) Is there anything you wish someone would have told you before you shot a wedding for the first time? If so, please share.

Have fun. Weddings are parties.

[mramos]

www.planetneil.com has some great reading about on camera flash and photography techniques that I have found helpful. http://www.jeffascough.net/main.html and http://www.susanstripling.com/ are a couple of my favorite wedding sites to get inspired by. As for your other questions.
1. You need to find out if there are any rules for the church. It will determine if you get to move around, have to stay in one spot, get thrown to the balcony, shoot only from the back, etc.
2. I tend to expose for the dress, and go to the point where the dress is starting to blow out. Shoot RAW.
3. Your two zoom lenses (f2.8 ) should work for most cases. Again I go back to the church rules, because most will have a "no flash rule" during the cermony. Again, the f2.8 lenses should be enough, but I'm glad to see you also have the 50 f1.4 and 85 1.8 handy. So have those on you just in case.
4. I sometimes have a small stepladder, but most times I dont feel like carrying it around.
5. recruit as many people as you can. Not only for extra support, but its nice to add a different angle or perspective to a shot.
6. Prepare for the worst, pray for the best, and have fun. And dont run out of memory cards.

[AlanSmith]

Originally Posted by Daniel Bates

It helps to have a superwide and a macro, too.

I'll bring my 17-85 which should be wide enough, and I can bring my 100 Macro. However, what do you find yourself using a macro lens for? (ring shots?)

Originally Posted by Daniel Bates

6. Relax, bring lots of water (and drink it!), bring more memory cards, bring extra batteries for everything, don't forget the camera, and have fun.

I hope this helps you some...
--Daniel

Thanks for the help!

--Alan

[AlanSmith]

Thanks Miguel, very helpful!!

--Alan

[AlanSmith]

Originally Posted by LoungeLizard

4) Any suggestions for group shots? Do you use a ladder? Or just get farther back?

Fast. Few as possible. I don't use a ladder or stepping stool. You'll be timed at most places to get out of the church - assuming they want them at the church. Work in logical groups, largest to smallest. Strip people out rather than build them up. Take care of the elderly first - and the family. Get them out of your way and get them on their way.

Great advice, thanks!! I can see how that would be helpful.

Originally Posted by LoungeLizard

6) Is there anything you wish someone would have told you before you shot a wedding for the first time? If so, please share.

Have fun. Weddings are parties.

I'll try to remember that, thanks for the advice!!

--Alan

[Daniel Bates]

Originally Posted by AlanSmith

I'll bring my 17-85 which should be wide enough, and I can bring my 100 Macro. However, what do you find yourself using a macro lens for? (ring shots?)

Ring shots, bouquet shots, cake shots, etc. It's a surprisingly useful tool.

[HotHolly]

Originally Posted by AlanSmith

1) Where do you typically take photos from?
2) Any tips for the wide contrast between the white dress and the black tux?
3) I have 2 bodies and I am thinking about putting a 28-70 2.8 on one and a 70-200 2.8 on the other. (They are both digital bodies so that makes it more like a 45-112 and a 112-320.) Does this seem reasonable? Or would I be better off putting a zoom on one body and a prime on the other? (I have a 50 1.4 and a 85 1.8) Or do I need something wider?)
4) Any suggestions for group shots? Do you use a ladder? Or just get farther back?
5) Should I recruit an assistant? (even just a teenager willing to follow me around and carry stuff.)
6) Is there anything you wish someone would have told you before you shot a wedding for the first time? If so, please share.

1. Center Asile, wings, balcony with various angels.
2. Main thing is do NOT blow out the dress. (All my wedding photos my dress is blown out )
3. We use wide and zoom. The lower F Stop will be helpful in low light - which most churches have.
4. No ladder - use posing and depth. Slightly curve people rather than a straight line and you can get more people in a tighter space. And flank yourself with your stuff or family will stand where you need to be for these shots. We ask everyone that isnt in the photo to scoot.
5.YES! This is soooo helpful. We have an intern from a local university. She rocks. She carrys stuff, takes photos, and is more than helpful - and having your stuff on you is the best way to have what you need and from keeping cousin Slim from resing his Slurpee on your 50.
6. Well, normally the bride is told this - if it can go wrong, it'll go wrong - make the best of it. You have to think on your toes. Make sure you are checking your images too. A glance can help if your settings are off - or someone grabbed your camera. YES THIS HAPPENS! Our 1st wedding, someone took our most expensive lens out of the bag and bowled it under the pews until it smacked into the last pew. I turned my back to plug in a light - literally - and the lens was taken out of my CLOSED camera bag. So, keep your stuff on you - and keep your cool. It took us 20 mins to find the freaking thing.

Good luck!

[HotHolly]

Originally Posted by Daniel Bates

Ring shots, bouquet shots, cake shots, etc. It's a surprisingly useful tool.

Macro with a F2 or lower creates a beautiful DOF on cake detail shots. Fill the whole frame and pick a focal point. The bakery, florist, or who ever should have made a clear focal point. This is nice for details on the dress too. We use a macro to get detail shots of the gown before she's wearing it.

[L Stegall]

Alan, when is the wedding?

[AlanSmith]

Nov 11.

[Daniel Bates]

I assume it's in the DFW area, right?

[AlanSmith]

yes, it will be north of Dallas. (Plano area)