Reply To: Wedding Photography! Advice wanted!

[cameraclicker]

Following Thomas’ example…  and assuming you have read what the others have said about being careful, personable and having an iron-clad contract…

If you have any time when you aren’t running after people, take some shots of the details if you can.

If you can, have the bride and groom assign a person from each side of the family to keep track of people and have them ready at the right times.  They can also identify people listed on the shot list.  This works pretty well because each person assigned should know their family and the friends.

Don’t just bring charged batteries, bring spare charged batteries too.

Spare bodies and/or good zoom lenses mean fewer lens changes, which saves time and keeps the sensor cleaner.

Figure out ahead of time how high you can set ISO before noise is unacceptable, then keep ISO below that threshold.  Shoot raw, it gives much more latitude to fix exposure later.

Shoot the details.  Pay attention to depth of field when shooting the details, use a tripod if necessary.  Chairs and tables can substitute for a tripod in many cases.  Research the venues and shoot the outside of each location.

Shoot as many guests as you can, even if they are just walking into the church or reception.  Shoot the guests seated for the ceremony, from the front of the church, both sides, and again when they are seated for dinner.  Shoot all the speeches, mothers expect to see those photos even if the bride and groom don’t.

Find out ahead of time if you can use a flash during the ceremony.  Some ministers won’t let you.  The last one I shot said he was used to lights and to do whatever we thought was necessary.

Shoot wide to show the environment and shoot tight for the details.

Ask if there is anything you should pay special attention to.  Last wedding, weeks after it was all over the grooms mom told me she was glad I got a picture of the bride’s earrings.  Apparently the bride was wearing jewellery worth $17K !  Who knew!  They didn’t say anything ahead of time.