My First Paid Wedding Shoot - Nervous Yes?

[bonou2]

Hey all,

Tomorrow i have a shoot down at the harbour and around the rocks. It will be shot at 4pm onwards, and i am using the D200 with an SB800 Flash. Can anyone recomend anytips to incredibly nervous photographer. I have shoot all the weddings on my site for friends and family at no charge, so this is the real deal -HELP!!

Dan

[sheepie]

Not having been paid for any weddings myself, not sure if my advice really counts - but if you want to listen, then....

"Don't think about the money!"

If you treat this the same as previous weddings you've done, then you'll have no problems

[gstark]

Focus on the job at hand.

If you know and are comfortable with your gear, then that won't present any impediments for you.

Make sure you have a backup body for Andy.

Lots of CF storage.

Make sure your sense of humour implant is fully functional.

Have fun.

Don't get drunk.

[Geoff]

Dan - some tips:

1. DON'T panic (try really hard to consciously calm yourself down)
2. Move quickly, and efficiently - try and think ahead to the next pose/scene.
3. Smile, be happy and ooze confidence.
4. Be assertive, but be polite, it's a really fine line but at 4pm you won't have a load of light to work with.
5. If you can, take an esky of beer (maybe a 6 pack and some champagne - this will do you favours and your wedding party will think you're great, and hence help with your confidence). Reading Gary's post above the beer is for the bridal party, not you
6. Don't be affraid to position the wedding party the way you want them..did I say think quick?
7. Don't be affraid to ask the B&G if there are any particular shots they have in mind that they'd like.

On the technical side I'd suggest outdoors using the SB-800 TTL-BL but don't over do it. If u can get there prior to the wedding party and perhaps take some sample shots and see what works best.

Shoot RAW.

Do u have a backup camera?

Check your settings, primarily ISO and WB.

Do you have an assistant?

THink creative, using shallow DOF's for the arty shots and show them you are in control, and loving it (even if your pants are brown).

Let us know how u get on and if I think of any more before tomorrow I will post again

[whiz]

Just remember that you've done it all before.
Test your gear and take extra batteries and memory cards if possible.

You'll be fine if you take charge of things and steer it along a bit.

I used to video weddings. Great fun.

I turned up at a friend of a friend's wedding with my D70 and wandered around taking photos at every opportunity.

I had to resist slapping the official photographer for interrupting and posing everyone every 30 seconds, but that's what you get when you're used to doing video "as it happens"

Went home and did the standard brief tweak of contrast and brightness here and there. Very happy with two particular shots.
Ditched the fuzzy ones and burnt the rest to DVD for the brides family.
They were mighty happy with them.
They ended up on their wedding website apparently as the paid guy took a month to get back to them.

[Matt. K]

First tip....don't try and be artsy! Concentrate on catching the little precious moments, glances, tears, smiles hugs and kisses. The arty type tend to miss all of these. Shoot a lot of images. Check you histogram and your images for sharpness after every 20 shots or so....that way you will pick up any gremlins. Use natural light if you can indoors but never sacrifice shutter speed over ISO...better a grainy image than a blurry one. Keep it simple! 50mm at f2.8 and 400 ISO will work magic. Use fill flash for group shots. Work in close but get a few overall shots. Be where you have to be...position is the first consideration in great photographs. Don't get bossy or pushy. Work out who the head hohcho is and ask him or her to get the groups into position. You then tidy them up before shooting. Work hard and if you do it right you will be utterly stuffed and dying for a drink when it's all over. And you'll have some great images. Did I mention? Keep it simple, simple simple and let the occasion record itself.

[Justin]

Nice work guys I've bookmarked this thread

[padey]

My first tip, you've already covered.

Tip 1. Don't do free weddings: because people do what you ask them when they pay you

So i won't give you any more tips, just what i remember when i did my first wedding. At the end of the night, i wondered how people could actually do this type of photography week-in and week-out.

hmm i'm still wondering... lol

[Geoff]

Andrew - u may still wonder, but you wonder with a very developed talent and ability.

[Killakoala]

How did you go Dan????

[bonou2]

Hows this for a "first wedding" story. They called it off. Family in fighting, can you believe it. Doesnt help me though as i was all psyched and ready to rock and roll. Now i am on a trerrible downer and have to go through all the nerves again for the next one

Dan PS: Awesome thanks to all who gave me tips. Really appreciate it!!

[rooboy]

Bad luck

Hope you were paid in advance with a nice contract stating that a no-show means you still get paid. If not, you know what to add next time

[wendellt]

dan

sorry i replied late to this
i was going to say just jump in the deep end and do it you will be surprised what you can coime up with under pressure, everyone has great potential and pressure just squeezes it out of us

did you still get paid?

[bonou2]

Lol......now "its On" I know one thing, an unhappy bride will not make great photos

Anyhow, off to the fire and brimstone i go!!!

Cheers
Dan

[sheepie]

Best of luck Dan - at least your next wedding will seem a piece of cake compared to this one!

[bonou2]

Cancelled again?

WTF!!!

Did I piss the “photographic” gods of or something??



Damn it, was reaally looking foward to it in the end. BTW any wedding photographers looking for a hand (free of course) just for me to get a handle on the skills i have, they need refining like a rough diamond? I am very willing, presentable and will help out in any way i can i just want lo learn!!

Cheers
Dan

[whiz]

Here's one tip now that this has gone on.
Don't have anything to do with this. It's going to be a bad wedding with this crap going on.
You really don't want to be caught in the middle or blamed for anything.

[christiand]

hi Bonou2,

people will do whatever people can do.
And that is what people are doing.
It has nothing to do with you, it all has to do with people doing what they can and will do - forget about the reason.
You didn't do it - people did
Move on and forget THOSE people.

Cheers,
CD

[Geoff]

The 'stress' a wedding can cause the bridal party and bride and groom make eloping a very nice alternative. It's funny, so many people that we know that have had the 'big' wedding have said 'just elope, it's so much easier'

Good luck on your next shoot mate!