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Question: Need serious professional help on this one pls!.!?
I have been taking pic!.s for about 8 yr!.s now and I'm not going to say that I'm bad at it!. My pic!.s usally turn out pretty good but I have been asked to do someones wedding and even after I informed her that I was no professional and haven't even been to school for photography she still wanted me to do them!. She said she has seen my work and it didn't matter to her how they turned out, so I agreed but I know as well that weddings are alot trickier to shoot!. I don't doubt that I could do it but that I don't have much experience with changing the settings and I don't want to be fiddling with the cam!. on the day of!. I'm pretty good at being able to get a shot to come out but sometimes it takes a few trys!. but the wedding is going to be outside so the question I guess is, is there any advice as far as what settings I should be using for the most part!. I do plan on taking two cams!. but would just really like to talk to someone about this!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
If you have a deity, pray for medium overcast, no rain!. That will offer the best portrait lighting available!.
Learn to use fill flash!. If the gods don't answer, (or if they say "No, I prefer harsh sun") you will need to use fill flash and/or reflectors to even the lighting and eliminate dark shadows under the eyes!.
Shoot on program if you're not comfortable with manual, but watch your histogram for the winkie-blinkie blown highlight warning!. Exposure comp as necessary!. You want the histogram to reach the right side, but not pile up on the right nor the left!. If you're shooting film, use a low contrast film like Portra 160nc or 400nc!. Film has more exposure latitude than digital, so blown highlights aren't as big of a problem!.
As for needing a few tries to get it right, well, try to nail the exposure before the ceremony!. Unless the light is changing a lot, you can meter off the grass and get a ballpark figure to use for the entire ceremony!. Take a few test shots right before to make sure the exposure is there!.
For the formals, same thing, but watch your aperture if you're shooting large groups!. You need to have enough DOF for the size group you're shooting!. f/8 or f/11 for large groups to make sure the faces are all in focus!. Look at a few websites at the posing of both the B&G and the wedding party and you will get some ideas!. Practice posing people if you can!. Never shoot people straight on, they should always be at an angle to the camera!. Watch the natural light and use it!. Backlight is nice, but be careful not to underexpose your subject, side light will need some help to light the shadow side of their faces!. Frontal light makes people squint if it is bright!. At sunset, frontal light is nice and warm!. Watch your backgrounds for clutter etc!.!. Plain is better than busy, beautiful is great!.
Practice as much as you can with people!. Here is a great link written for people who are in your very position!.
http://www!.rokkorfiles!.com/Wedding101-pa!.!.!.
We all shot our first one at some point (for me about 30 years ago) Just be sure to manage expectations, wear comfortable shoes, and take more batteries, film, or memory than you think you need!. If you can assist or shadow a professional for a time or two that would be helpful!. Photo!.net has a wedding forum you might check our, click on the link to first-timers and you will have lots of reading material!. Good luck, hope it goes well!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
There has already been some excellent answers from posters on here so the only thing i'm going to add is:
* MAKE SURE YOU SHOOT RAW!!
You can almost rescue a bad photo when shooting in RAW as opposed to JPEG
* Batteries
Make sure you have spare, charged batteries lying around
* Prime Lenses
Use a fast, prime lens (like a Canon 50m 1!.8 or 1!.4) for your portraits - it creates a beautiful blur around the subject and dreamy soft images - great for weddings!
Good luck!Www@QuestionHome@Com
If you have time, dress up nicely and then attend a wedding and watch the photographer shooting it!. I am a guy, so I would say I was a friend of the bride!.
You can then chat up the photographer and learn what you need to know so you do your best at your friends wedding !.!.!. it is a one shot deal!.
If you like doing this kind of thing, ask the photographer if he/she ever hires assistants!. Then try that out!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
make sure you have a hood for your lens!.!.!. an outside wedding will be really bright, so a hood will help with that!.!. glWww@QuestionHome@Com
Rent or buy a good flash, with TTL!. Shoot at f/8 and let the camera handle the rest!. Use a short zoom (24-50mm) so you don't get caught up zooming in and out!. With fewer zooming options, you'll quickly get used to what your limits are and will be able to have an idea of what your composition will be before you even bring the camera up to your eye!. You'll also need to stay informed of the "schedule" of the wedding, so you can anticipate what is coming up and be ready, instead of falling behind!. also sit down and have a talk with the bride to get an idea of which shots she would like and which she absolutely has to have!. Then mix in some of your own ideas!. Most people/friends that hire people like you are looking for more candid photos!. So be ready when the guests start dancing and mingling!.Www@QuestionHome@Com