Photographing a wedding...any advice?

I am shooting my friend's wedding in England and I was just wondering if anyone had any advice to give me. I am looking up how to drag the shutter, but I am a little confused as to how to do it exactly. I also have taken a look at a few wedding photographer's sites that the bride likes to get a sense of the style she wants. I am nervous!

Re: Photographing a wedding...any advice?

No advice just wanted to say good luck!

Re: Photographing a wedding...any advice?

Ironic that you should post this as I was just on the B and H website and happened upon this information.

Since I'm not looking to shoot a wedding I didn't really take a look at the articles, so admittedly I don't know if any of it will be of use to you but I thought I'd share anyway.

Hope at least some of it helps!

Wedding Photography

Re: Photographing a wedding...any advice?

I have been shooting for years and just did my first mini wedding and honestly wouldn't shoot another wedding unless its really small and informal without second shooting one first. If you can't assist/2nd shoot one before this wedding the main thing is have a listing of all the photographs that need to be taken (formals, in formals, details, etc.)

Re: Photographing a wedding...any advice?

I did an informal family wedding, and I've done several events. I felt a lot more pressured during the wedding.

I would say to bring someone with you if you can as an assistant. For this wedding, I ordered DH around.

I would also say to get there early and check out your lighting. I set up formals in an area where I thought the lighting would be good, but with my camera (which likes to blow highlights) it really wasn't great, and I didn't really notice it because I was so rushed and quicdkly glancing at the screen more for composition, etc

Don't be afraid to pause and check your lighting, check your subjects for loose hairs, chain clasps, etc. Be patient. I think when I did it I just felt really rushed and I didn't necessarily have to.

if the bride/groom have specific shots they want you to take, or if you have things you think of ahead of time, write them down. I wish I had done this, and scoped it out earlier so I could have been more creative.

Here's a link to the wedding I shot, mistakes and all..a few of the pics are edited, but most aren't. I think what I'm best at is capturing moments as they happen, and what I wish I could have improved was lighting and more creativity in the formals.

I'm in 1 or 2 pics since it was my SILs wedding. She was most concerned with family pics.



Linky


I like to think I'd do it better/differently today, but maybe you can learn from my mistakes.

Re: Photographing a wedding...any advice?

Other advice:

I'd say since you're the pnly photographer, try to capture different angles on the same image. So like one shot is whole body, then just hands and rings, then the couple is in the blurry foreground while you see what's going on in the background. Try to get creative and see things differently while you're shooting.You can get a lot of different shots with people in the same pose.


For candids, I find I get a lot just by sitting and observing and using a long lens...

Re: Photographing a wedding...any advice?

If you are the only photographer, have a backup camera even if you decide to rent one. I have a friend who is not a photographer by trade but he is very good and he has shot several weddings & done a great job. I do not know if he was the only photographer. I can ask him for some information as he is very helpful.