Wedding Photography Tips?

[fotoudavid]

Hmm.. but there is one problem for me... i don't know of any pro wedding photographer. Or how or where can i find an opportunity for me to tag along to be the 2nd wed photographer?

Can you introduce me to someone who is willing to let me tag along? I am asking because in Oct/Dec i may have opportunity to shoot my relatives wedding.

Not all couples are willing to pay for pro photographers and I would say some are contented with 'normal' wedding photographs. By normal i mean - as long as it is sharp n clear it is good enough for them. I even used a point and shoot canon G6 to shoot a wedding before in Malaysia. I attended my cousin wedding and they did not have any photographer so I just volunteered and shoot.

I guess is all about managing expectations.

There are more chances that you can tag along if you ask.
Indeed, some couples are happy to have sharp and clear photos, but don't believe in no budget.
Once, i told the couple "you guys spend so much in studio wedding, printing etc pics, now AD got more memories to kept remember, and you say no budget, i think its not good. Which is more important? Studio wedding shots or AD wedding?"

Studio can shoot again but not AD Wedding. I stress again, don't ever shoot AD wedding without confident, regardless best friends or families members wedding, you may suffer friendship gone or families members will remember you screw up their wedding forever.

 

[oracle0711]

Agree with Surfman about "No Budget" statement from clients. Couples felt that AD are more for their parents, relatives and friends. Therefore, they tend to be less willing to spend on AD photography.

I once had a prospect who said he needs a photographer to cover 2 days (customary on one day and dinner on another). However, he does not need prints and only images on CD. Guess how much the couple is willing to pay - S$300 for both days...:dunno: :sweat:

But nevertheless, AD (despite its competitive and hard-bargain pricing), it's a very serious affair to the photographer. Never take it likely as you only have one chance - which is why I tend to find out as much as possible about preferences and customs of both families and also place great emphasis on the activities and timing of the whole day event.

There are more chances that you can tag along if you ask.
Indeed, some couples are happy to have sharp and clear photos, but don't believe in no budget.
Once, i told the couple "you guys spend so much in studio wedding, printing etc pics, now AD got more memories to kept remember, and you say no budget, i think its not good. Which is more important? Studio wedding shots or AD wedding?"

Studio can shoot again but not AD Wedding. I stress again, don't ever shoot AD wedding without confident, regardless best friends or families members wedding, you may suffer friendship gone or families members will remember you screw up their wedding forever.

 

[ak6110]

Hi Messotint,

Shooting wedding or special events is not a game thus it is very important that we really put in hard work to it.

We got a responsibility once we decide to take up the task and saying sorry is not an option.

If you are interested in wedding, maybe can tag along your friends and see / learn how the main photographer shoot. That is how I learn too.

All the bests

Just my personal view, hope you don't mind.

Hi DarkForce,

I am also learning to take wedding photograph, some of my friends did ask me to take photos for them, but as I do not have much expreience, I advice them to get a professional to take for them and I will be a backup and tag along to take photos.

Most of my friend agree, but when taking phots together with the professional, they tend to be very black face when I am in their path.

So each time I wanted to take a shots, he will be a bit angry as I am blocking his path.

Not sure did any guys encounter that before.

 

[photoartist]

Hi DarkForce,

I am also learning to take wedding photograph, some of my friends did ask me to take photos for them, but as I do not have much expreience, I advice them to get a professional to take for them and I will be a backup and tag along to take photos.

Most of my friend agree, but when taking phots together with the professional, they tend to be very black face when I am in their path.

So each time I wanted to take a shots, he will be a bit angry as I am blocking his path.

Not sure did any guys encounter that before.

Hi,

I think any pro.photographer or any photographer will be angry when someone is in thier path during the shoot. Just be careful to watch up for them.
Remember, they are answerable to their client, they have to deliver.

Cheers!

 

[catchlights]

Hi DarkForce,

I am also learning to take wedding photograph, some of my friends did ask me to take photos for them, but as I do not have much expreience, I advice them to get a professional to take for them and I will be a backup and tag along to take photos.

Most of my friend agree, but when taking phots together with the professional, they tend to be very black face when I am in their path.

So each time I wanted to take a shots, he will be a bit angry as I am blocking his path.

Not sure did any guys encounter that before.

I shoot weddings for living, I encounter many people want to shoot some photos during their friend's or relatives' wedding day, basically I have no issue with this, and I will help them to get some shots, but they will be some jokers don't know the limits, certain situation will be very tricky, best is leave it to the professionals, if the view or path being block, in the end the couple have no pictures for that moment, who fault is that? as a professional, we will not put the blame on other people, and that will no be a excuse to tell the couple we can't have the shots.

Lucky you are shooting a wedding, if you are shooting with press photographers, you will get push away, or get lots of elbows.

 

[Errz]

Errz,

I find you a little not normal in this thread cos you usually always anyhow "Pro Pro Pro" but this time you sound so "good boy". :bsmilie:

Well, I always felt happy and glad to be able to involve in my friend's wedding. Each time , I always take up the task very seriously and do my very best.

I can't say I am good but as more wedding I shoot, I am more confident as I learn more too.

:bsmilie: :bsmilie: Hey.. I'm not always like that one ok. must see to who mah :bsmilie:

ok lah..since u asking for it ... WAH! PRO ! :thumbsup:

 

[jsbn]

hello everyone!

i know it's kinda last-minute thing to do here asking questions regarding the best or appropriate camera settings for actual-day wedding photography. in fact tomorrow is my friend's wedding day and 2 months ago i was asked to cover the full-day event. I agreed to help him and it'll be my wedding gift for him and his wife. It'll be my very first exposure and I'm pretty new in wedding photography.

Make sure u rehearse the key events over and over again in ur head AND make sure u know the flow of the ceremony.

If u miss a key moment and u do not even have a single bad shot to it, all I can say is good luck to u, ur friend, his wife AND potentially, ur relationship.

I'm using D70s with kit lens 18-70mm with SB-800 powered by SD-8A (which i borrowed from a friend). I have a Lightsphere II with inverted dome and I've tried some test shots and I found that it tends to drain battery power faster as the flashlight fires high flash output level. So I think I'll stick to the diffusor. Any advise on this issue?

To my knowledge, my flash doesn't fire full power all the time. U sure ur flash is working properly? :sweat:

Next, on which settings are best for actual-day wedding shoot, in according to my cam system i.e. A mode or S mode? For A mode, what aperture is best and safe to use in order to attain good image sharpness? For S mode, at what shutter speed to set? Is it advisable to use P mode? Is it advisable to shoot using rapid fire mode i.e. 3 fps? At what situations, shall I use A or S or P mode?

There is no 1 single 'God Mode'. Shooting without knowing aperture-shutter-ISO-flash relation is as good as shooting blind. Advise u to seize whatever opportunity u can to read up and practice-practice-practice.

 

[sehsuan]

Studio can shoot again but not AD Wedding. I stress again, don't ever shoot AD wedding without confident, regardless best friends or families members wedding, you may suffer friendship gone or families members will remember you screw up their wedding forever.

Agreed. The key word here is, "responsibility". Of course, some couples skimp on the wedding shots on the actual day, and years later, start to think, "what if..."

All that is required to end a photographer's work is for ONE case of unsatisfied customer to complain... and that's it. Bad news travels much faster and pervasively than good news.

The only way for things to improve, is to collectively work at a range of pricing and not go lower than it. In some ways, it's called protectionism, but it's necessary to bandy up and present a unified front. Of course, you can't stop the jokers from going in and offering ludricrous pricings - but they'd not go for the long run, once they experience the hardware failure and servicing charges...

 

[DarkForce]

Ai Yo,

Who ask you to block his path ? ;p

I am always very careful on not to give the main photographer any unnecessary inconvenience. Most of the time , as I usually stand out of their way, they even ask me to stand beside them so that I also got a good angle to shoot. Really appreicate those Pros for their guidence.

Hi DarkForce,

I am also learning to take wedding photograph, some of my friends did ask me to take photos for them, but as I do not have much expreience, I advice them to get a professional to take for them and I will be a backup and tag along to take photos.

Most of my friend agree, but when taking phots together with the professional, they tend to be very black face when I am in their path.

So each time I wanted to take a shots, he will be a bit angry as I am blocking his path.

Not sure did any guys encounter that before.

 

[Ihsan Chua]

table shots are so simple, ballroom light level are constant, just bang a shot before shooting start to check exposure, than the exposure is almost the same thru out, the range is f5.6~f8, 1/30s, ISO between 400~800, btw, set to slow-snyc rear curtain for what reason?

For newbies, never use 1/30 sec shutter. Confirm blur. Newbies must stick to 1/50 at the most. Their hands usually not stable yet

 

[Darwin]

Ihsan, as long as you shoot with flash, you will still be able to freeze the subject even at 1/15 and it will have nice, cool effect. At least I like it