HELP!

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Permalink Reply by Bill Dobbs on October 12, 2010 at 7:36pm

You may want to think about just charging for your out-of-pocket expenses. Given this will be your first wedding (true?) there is a tremendous amount to experience and learn. The work involved is like a portrait session that lasts for 5 hours in which you are at the mercy of a variety of lighting situations plus a surprising number of people that actually get in your way and keep you from doing your job. Are your clients expecting 'seasoned professional' photos? If so the pressure just went up 20 points.
Some pointers:
GET PREPARED: go to the venue well in advance of the event (a week before) at the time of the wedding and take foundation shots to check for lighting, angles, etc. Talk to the priest/reverend/marriage commissioner in advance to find out what is ok to shoot during the ceremony.
UNDERSTAND WHAT YOUR CLIENT WANTS: shot list, special guests, etc. Type of look, etc. Ask them for a dry run of the ceremony so you'll know the flow. Plan out where you'll be when certain things happen. Tell your clients you will have to get close some of the time or be prepared to use a long lens on a separate camera. Tell them all the services you are prepared to provide on the day.
CHECK GEAR: make sure main and backup cameras are fully working, fresh batteries, etc. Check everything. Twice.
ARRIVE EARLY: you will get some great shots of people when they're the most relaxed they'll be for the day.
SET CAMERAS: I set my main camera up prior to the wedding by setting for inside the venue on Program mode and outside on Aperture Priority. That way I've only got one setting to change between locations. Consider: ISO, flash, white balance, focus and exposure modes, etc.
BE RELAXED AND SHOW EVERYONE YOU ENJOY WHAT YOU'RE DOING: it will pay off. Relaxed photographer = relaxed subjects.
ALWAYS BE ON THE OUTLOOK FOR CREATIVE SHOTS.

Permalink Reply by Pics by Mic on October 13, 2010 at 4:36am

Thank you so much Bill! That is very helpful info. Yes, this will be my first time Photographing a Wedding. Very nerve racking already, I must say. However, I have til January to prepare. I have a friend who is a Wedding Photographer & he has agreed to let me shadow him on his next few sessions so I will be sure to take plenty of notes! lol I might even ask him to shadow me at the Wedding just to have an Assistant with experience.

Thanks again for your reply.

-Mic

Permalink Reply by Bill Dobbs on October 13, 2010 at 6:31pm

That's great that you will be able to assist/shadow an experienced wedding photographer. In addition to taking notes, why not also be a second shooter? No better experience than returning with results of your own.

Permalink Reply by Matt Needham on October 21, 2010 at 6:18am

Practice before the wedding. Don't show up expecting to use new gear or techniques for the first time. Use the gear and techniques that you are used to, and have worked well for you in the past. If you are going to buy new gear or use new tricks start learning them now. Brain power used to run gear should be minimal, as you will need as much mental concentration as possible organizing people and getting the shots when they occur.

Sit down and plan out the photography schedule with the B & G ahead of time. Give yourself plenty of extra time, as wedding parties tend to run late. You don't need long lists of shots. Of course you'll shoot the bride coming down the aisle. Of course you are going to shoot the kiss. Of course you'll shoot the cake, the rings, the flowers, etc.... It is handy to have a list of the family shots that are desired. I ask couples to make a list of family portraits for a formal portrait session that we work into the day's schedule, as well as a list of people the B & G would like to be photographed with at the reception. These are impromptu portraits that are taken when convenient.

To estimate how long the formal family portraits will take I figure at least 3 min per pose. That's a list of 10 groups/poses for a half hour. With a small group of folks who are on time, listening, and cooperating it may not take that long, but most weddings are lots of people who are having a good time seeing good friends and family. Some people are stressed out. Some people have other responsibilities to take care of for the wedding, etc.... If you plan for 30 min, and then the B and/or G are 10 min late, all of a sudden you are working double time. When people are late it's the photography time that gets chopped. You can bet the priest is going to start the ceremony on time, and the caterer will serve the food on time.

It's tempting to try and use a variety of gear. Certain shots may call for certain lenses, but in general just keep something that works for you on the camera, and keep your eyes peeled for good shots. Too many great moments come and go while switching lenses.

For shooting indoors I find f/2.8 zooms or faster primes a necessity.

As for pricing I would second Bill's advice. You said it was a "good friend". Charge for expenses, or just offer the service as your wedding gift.