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Question: Wedding/cam tips for Rebel xt!?
I'm going to be shooting my first wedding on Friday!. All I know is that the wedding is in-doors!. I am unable to see the venue before hand, as it is 50 miles away, so no test shots or even an idea of layout!.

That said, are there any special tips you can give me or anything I NEED to know that most amateurs would not!?

I'm using a Canon Rebel XT and a 580exii speedlight

Thank you!Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
It can be a pressure as there is no chance to retake the shots!. But if you have experience with other shots you can pull this off!. First of all go to the churck or at least call it and find out what their policy is on photographs during the service!. In some places its a NO NO !. Even if you are allowed to shoot during the service you probably cannot use a flash there so bump the ISO ( maybe as high as 400 or 800 I know this works with Nikon which has low noise at ISOs up to 1600 but it may be a noise issue with the XT so ask a canon person before you take that at face value)up and if you have VR use it!. Some people do use programs like Noise Ninja (from PictureCode!.com ) to help with this!.

Get a list of the pictures you need after the wedding from the bride and groom and family for before during and after the ceremony


1 day prior to the wedding date
Charge all camera/flash batteries and make sure you have more than enough batteries on hand!.
Format all memory cards!.
Clean lens elements!.
Pack camera bags/cases with all needed gear!.
Review all your information that you have (hopefully written)!.
Make sure you have accurate directions (if needed),any written information about the details, group shots, etc!. packed in your bag!.
Get a good nights sleep!.

Wedding day, 2-5 hours before the ceremony
Eat something, you may not get a chance later!.
Pack all gear into car!. Double check to see that batteries and memory cards are there!.

Get to the church early and do some scouting!. Take some readings and get a rough idea what white balance setting you need!.

If you are shooting with a flash for these get the flash off the camera if you can, also you can use diffusers to soften the shadows!. Even outdoors flash can be used for fill light so don't forget it there!. Gather everyone togehter that will be in any shot right from the start!. While they’re all sitting there, shoot the formal bride and groom portraits first!. Next shoot the largest groups of people , and then once you’re done with a group (like the grandparents for example), send them off to the reception!. For the large groups remember depth of field and set your aperature to give you the depth you need!. If you have problems with people blinking when you’re ready to shoot the shot, have everybody close their eyes, and then on the count of three have them all open their eyes and smile!. For full body shots think about camera height Standing, Full-Length Portrait: Position your camera on a good tripod at the bride’s waist height Keep your lens straight don’t aim up towards the bride’s face!. 7/8 Shots (from the calf or knee up) - Putyour camera at the bride’s chest level and shoot with your lens straight from there!. For head and shoulders shot put your camera at the bride’s eye level or slightly above!. Be aware of objects behind the people that can look like its growing out of thier heads!. Position the people close in the portraits, if you let them stand where they are comfortable they are usually too far apart!.
If you can sneak some shots in here from a higher vantage point that can be interesting additons to the portraits

At the reception take lots of candids of everyone you can but remember THE BRIDE IS THE CENTER OF ATTENTION!. Oh did I say that too loud !.!.!.!.!. Again have a list of shots they want there!. Cutting the cake, first dance, throwing the bouquet etc!. At the reception your feet are your best zoom!. using long zoom lenses can give you a depth of field that is too shallow, flatten features of the subject, put you out of range of your flash and feel impersonal!. So use a lens long enough that you are not intrusive but not so zoomed out that you have these problems


Bring lots and lots of memory cards
Bring extra batteries
A good tutorial and list of posible shots to take is here
http://www!.dpchallenge!.com/tutorial!.php!?!.!.!.

Another good site to read over is here ( please don't get upset by the word amature in the title no insult was intended )
http://digital-photography-school!.com/bl!.!.!.

Go to your local library now and read some books out there on wedding photography
I hope this helpsWww@QuestionHome@Com

You give no details of your experience with your camera and your ability to use your camera properly and get decent photos!. Assuming you are competent at actually getting the shots, I suggest you still get IN WRITING a signed contract from the bride and groom!. Be sure it states that you are NOT a professional, you have no backup equipment, (or at least you did not mention you did), and you are not responsible for anything that can happen to cause the couple to not have wedding photos from you!.

Sorry to sound harsh, but this "first wedding" thing comes up on here all the time and in most cases the best answer is that you should not be doing it in the first place!. To go into all the reasons why would just be stating the same things that have been said on here a hundred times!. Do a search on here with your question and you will find plenty of answers!.

steveWww@QuestionHome@Com

1!. arrive at the venue 2 hours earlier
2!. check the lighting- do some test shots and which iso works best
3!. ask the clergy if there are any restrictions on taking photos, using flash, and where you can stand!.
4!. Use a medium telephoto lens!.
5!. get a list opf must have shots from the bride
6!. get some shots of her getting ready
7!. get shots of the vows, the kiss, and oresentation of the couple, usually the back of the sanctuary provides the best field of view!.
8!. Do formals after the ceremony - again ask bride for must have shots-
wedding party
groomsmen/ushers
bridesmaids/maid of honor
bride & groom- if you missed the kiss- this is the time to do a set upm shot of this!.
9!. Reception- Go for it!
Take a small step ladder - some shots like dance shots look better from slightly above!.
Have fun!Www@QuestionHome@Com

You need a special tip !.!.!. unless you know what you are doing and have worked as an assistant to a wedding photographer, you are asking for trouble both for your reputation and the ire of the bride!.

What you are asking is for a full class in photography (maybe a full year) and a few years of experience, two days before a shoot that can never be reshot if you over or under expose or poorly compose any of the traditional wedding shots!.

While you have a camera that is fine for shooting weddings and other events, thinking you need to take "test" shots, shows you do NOT have the skills necessary to do any professional photography!.

Get back to square one and take some classes in photography and learn how to use your cameras light meter, which lenses you need to shoot what subjects and how to control your exposure and composition precisely!. If you do want to pursue wedding photography, then after you have completed classes in photography and can shoot your camera under any conditions, you can then work for a wedding photographer as an assistant and later, when the photographer feels you are competent, you will be given the opportunity to shoot weddings on your own

Read this and hopefully you will understand what you are missing in the skills necessary to do what you seem to about to do and will save yourself and the wedding party a lot of grief!.

http://kenrockwell!.com/tech/notcamera!.ht!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Dont do it!.

If your that unsure how to proceed then I would not do it!. You need to know exactly what to do and when!. And your asking people on Y!A 2 days before the event what to do!. This may sound harsh, but it's just amazing that people do this type of thing and are seemingly clueless as to what to do!. People only get married once and thats not the time to "practice" something that you think you know!.

1) buy/rent a 24-70 f/2!.8 lens!. Dont delay, get one!. With an XT you will not be able to push your ISO over 400!.
2) learn how to bounce your flash and find out if your ceilings are less than 30 feet high!.
3) get a tripod with a quick release
4) call the venue and ask if you can even use a flash, if not, get a better camera (rent it if you have to), in fact what are you giong to do if your XT gets knocked out of your hands onto the floor or it decides to jam!. Things happen, get a backup!.
5) learn how to balance ambient with flash and what part of the ambient scene you want to balance too!.
6) get the bride and groom to sign something saying that if you screw up they can't sue you seeing your a novice, even if your doing it for free!.
7) find someone else to do it for you!.
8) if you have ANY hint that you missed a critical shot, ask the bridal party to stage it after the ceremony!. Have them recite their vows again, they will both start crying and you can snap away with flash going!.

EDIT: Oh a redneck wedding!. Why didn't you say so! Although rednecks know how to sue people too so my advice about getting a "do not sue" clause in writing still stands!.

Get all the formals BEFORE the ceremony!. Everybody's going to want to go party afterwards!.
Get a pint of whiskey, drink it or put the whiskey in another container, fill the whiskey bottle with brown colored juice!. You will be asked to drink alot and it's just easier to sip on water with some food coloring in it than to get plastered and drop your camera!.
Keep an eye on your stuff (this actually goes for any wedding/event and is not redneck specific)!. You'd be surprised at who accidentally ends up with what!.
Rednecks get rowdy, stay out of the way at the reception!.
If they break out the guns, leave!. They'll aim them away from the crowd when shooting them off in their celebration and since your going to be out of the way theres a chance they'll be aiming it at you!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Here you go:

http://www!.rokkorfiles!.com/Wedding101-pa!.!.!.

Great tutorial for first time shooters, redneck or not!. most weddings have more similarities than differences!. That means the photography will be similar to any other event, look for good lighting, good expression, be prepared with equipment and skill to capture the moments!. One of the prettiest (and funnest) weddings I ever photographed was a western themed "redneck" wedding!. With a small wedding the formals shouldn't take over much time, just be sure to get some good ones of the B&G before the partying starts!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

you have some good replies!.

plan out as much as you can!. Make a list of "must have" shots - things like the entrance to the reception for the bridal party and bride and groom, removing the garter, cutting the cake, bride's father dancing with his daughter, first dance, etc etc

Be the boss!. For example, if you want the bridal party entering the reception, before they are announced, go ahead and coach them and tell them they can't go until you take their picture!.

It sounds like you will have fun!Www@QuestionHome@Com

Nikon's have a Portrait preset option on their wheel!. I think Canon has a similar preset!. Read your manual and find out, if you have a Portrait preset use it, it will make out of focus elements appear softer (people or stuff behind the person your taking the picture of will be blurred)!.

If you can;t figure this out, just use the auto setting (the green one)Www@QuestionHome@Com

http://ezinearticles!.com/!?Surviving-Your!.!.!.

try looking up the venue online to see if you can find pictures of it!. sometimes they have virtual tours!.Www@QuestionHome@Com