Rex Photography - Could you give me some wedding photography tips?

Could you give me some wedding photography tips?

A couple that are very cool and have been together for 20+ years is finally getting married!!!! At our property!!! It's exciting!! But they want ME to be the photographer!! I have always loved photography and am really into it, but I am afraid I won't do a good enough job!! I really don't know much about wedding photography and I want to give them THE BEST. Any advice???? Thanks for all that advice!!! :D I like the disposable cameras on all tables idea as an extra [I would still be shooting away myself!!! My motto is "Waste film [or in my case, memory cards] NOT time". By the way this will be an evening wedding so what about flash?? I normally do mostly wildlife/nature photography....so this is new to me.

Public Comments

>>There was a very cool picture of the bride and groom taken at a wedding that I was part of this last summer. The photographer had the bride fan out the back of her dress so that she lay down on it and her head was completely surrounded by the dress. Then he had the groom lay the opposite way with his head next to hers. This was in a grassy area so the contrast was really pretty. I hope that makes sense. Also, a wedding of one of my best friends years ago, the very best picture was taken by a family member while the wedding party was looking at the photographer. I have had that on my desk for years and people have asked if it was the picture that came with the frame because it is so cool looking.
put 2 disposible cameras on all the tables, an collect them at the end. this way you really only have to worry about the posed pics.
Just use a really high quality SLR camera, and do your best.
I know exactly how you feel. Weddings are so scary to shoot if you don't have a lot of experience. Even the experienced shooters get a little crazed. In most cases... there are no do-overs. Make sure it is very clear to the couple that you are NOT a wedding photographer. since you are good at photography, your shots will probably be in focus, but that is really all you can promise. Wedding photography is an art. It is so much more than just grabbing shots. To the others who commented... anyone can get lucky with a good shot. You have to have more experience than just setting disposable cameras out. Although it is still a good idea. Some nice candids come from those cameras often. Remember. YOU are the one responsible for the images. I am a photog as well. I always decline shooting a wedding for someone I know. First of all, I wouldn't charge a friend (so I make no money) and secondly, bad shots ruin friendships. Even Anne Lebowitz hired another photographer to shoot both of her neices weddings. Keep your shots simple and clean. Make sure the couple makes it clear to you who they want in the pictures as well. Finally... congratulate them for me.
Here are a few websites with good tips that will help you get started. My advice would be to use a digital camera and have several memory cards and batteries available to switch out. You can always delete bad pictures, but you can never go back and get another picture after the moment has passed. I also recommend asking someone else to help you out - they can help round up people, make sure your batteries stay charged, etc. http://www.ultimatewedding.com/articles/get.php?action=getarticle&articleid=531 This gives you a good step by step guide: http://www.basic-digital-photography.com/beginners-guide-to-wedding-photography.html These are some more unique shots: http://www.wedpix.com/articles/008/taking-the-photographer-for-a-ride/ I also recommend looking at wedding photographer websites with your friends and getting an idea of their style. It's best to look at actual photos and not go by descriptions because their idea of casual and fun may be different than your idea of casual and fun. Talk to them ahead of time and find out if they have specific photos they want taken, and what their expectations are. Maybe even do a test shoot with them at a local park before the wedding so you can get comfortable with each other - this is a new kind of relationship for you. In other words, try to function as much like a professional photographer as you possibly can. Good luck!
Of course use a digital camera with plenty of memory cards, etc. At the wedding, try to feel the atmosphere and capture images related to that- anything like the bride's delicate shoe or two kids playing, will evoke feeling when viewed later. Also, search on the internet for wedding photographers- professionals put examples of their work on their website. Study some of their examples to get ideas of your own! Go over the couples needs well beforehand. What are their hopes for their wedding album? Are they going to post pictures on their website? Which posed pictures do they need? If youre uncertain about lighting, etc. ask them about it, or visit their property beforehand. If you are well prepared, Im sure youll do a great job! They wouldnt have asked you if they werent confident in your ability. Good luck!
Congrats on having them pick you to take pics! The most important thing to do is sit down with them and ask them what kind of pics are they looking for. When I met with my photographer (RIP - she passed away last year a few months after my wedding), we talked about pics that I would like to take - we gave her a list, which included (bride and brother, bride and mother, brother and his family, bridesmaids fun post, groomsmen fun pose, etc...) Always have the flash on at night because of the lighting of the area. Make sure you get their hands, the cake, put her bouquet by the cake to take shots, arrange her shoes (if she takes them off) and make sure to go table by table to get group shots. The disposable cameras left at the table are always fun because of the shots that people get from their angles. Good luck!
I think you need to remember to not forget all the little things. There are things such as "anticipation" shots, this is shots of things like the bride getting ready, the reception hall set up with no one in it. People arriving, the groom waiting for the bride. Dont forget the smallest details like picture of allt eh placecards, the favors, the flowers. I think its the smallest things that are the most memorable. Make sure to ask the bride who she wants to make sure and get photos of, and the day of ask the maid of honor to point thme out to you so you can get there reaction during the ceeremony, first dance etc. Never stop shotting and make sure to try new angles, lay on the ground if you need to to get an interesting shot of the aisle during the cermony. Play up perspective. The best light is just before sunset so try and get alot of pics of people during those times. As for a flash, be careful to not make it to harsh. You may even want to rent a professional digital with a high quality flash. It would be worth it in the end to have the great pictures. And last but not least, remeber cropping a phot can make a world of difference, i think some of the best pics are ones that look like nothign until you do the cropping.