I am an amateur photographer who loves shooting landscapes and sunsets. I heard of a friend's friend needing a last minute wedding photographer, and offered suggestions as to whom to ask. Being last minute, no one was available, I offered my services, and they were so desperate that they accepted after seeing my landscape shots.
I had planned on using my Canon Rebel s2000 that I have used for almost 5 years, and felt fairly confident about the job. Now they want me to use their digital camera, which I won't get access to until 18 hours before the wedding.
I think finances were their determining factor in not using film, but I just don't feel as comfortable using a camera I'm not familiar with. Anyone have any tips or hints about wedding photography or dealing with the couple? Should I refuse to do the wedding unless I can use film? Thanks a bunch!
2006-11-08 04:19:44 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Family & Relationships ➔ Weddings
Tell them you will do not feel like you will be in control of shots by using their digital without knowing the camera inside and out. Tell them you will be able to take beautiful confident pictures with your Rebel, and suggest they have someone else take charge of the digital, and maybe even allow them by your side to take some shots you line up. Just remind them to trust you and let you do what you do best WITH your best. Start browsing friends and family wedding photos or browse the net for list of common shots taken at weddings to ensure they know to expect for pictures and make any special requests. You will have to make sure you assume the role as photographer and gain their cooperation, ie: full train pictures, avoiding night time shots or shots with buildings in backround, whatever. Good Luck, have fun, and remember your best is always good enough.
2006-11-08 04:46:30 · answer #1 · answered by ♀♥☼ alycat☼♥♀ 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't worry- just use both if you want. After twenty years of wrangling with film I went strictly digital. I have so much more control over the image.
You don't mention what camera they want you to use, that does worry me. Some are slow. The bright side is you can take multiple shots of each pose and dump the uglies and move on. The ish-y side is if it is slow, or the light is low, or if anyone else is using a flash, you will get noise.
Good luck and good shooting- but in the end you should only do what makes you comfortable.
About the comment from another poster about a badly shot wedding and no negatives- well- you can save the raw digital file on one cd and save the edited images on another. Interference from other cameras and the movement of the wedding is a bigger issue to me (noise/grain) but it's great to edit out bunny ears and bad backdrops.
I wish you well :)
2006-11-08 07:00:01 · answer #2 · answered by logical_centrist 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, every wedding photographer needs a backup!
I would use both my regular camera and their digital. Take as much time as you can to acquaint yourself with their digital camera....is it an SLR? A point & shoot will be too slow for candids, but you could shoot some formals with it maybe.
Shooting 3 or 4 36 exposure rolls shouldn't break the bank for themfor film & processing.
If you have a favorite film processing place, just take it to your usual if they always do a good job. If you don't have a favorite place, send the film to a pro lab for develope and print.
Good luck!
2006-11-08 15:51:39 · answer #3 · answered by Ara57 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Use your camera as a backup. Tell them to have other people take photos with their point and shoot cameras too --just in case.
I am also an amateur photographer who has done a few weddings. Here are my tips:
-Use classic poses before trying anything creative. You want the "bread and butter" shots for sure and then you can have them move around to fun poses, silly faces, etc.
-Shoot in color. If a photo looks bad, convert in Photoshop or other program to black and white, play with the contrast. I have saved many photos this way that looked bad in color.
-What is the reason you can't practice with their camera? Tell them you want to do a practice session--using their camera. I don't know why they wouldn't comply.
-Clip photo examples from wedding magazines and replicate them.
-After taking photos with the manual setting, swtich it to the auto setting with flash if needed and take the same photo as a backup.
-Make sure they provide a spare battery, and take the charger with you.
-If you have a laptop and card reader, load photos as you take them to prevent loss or memory card failure.
What is the specific issue with not using film? At least with digital you will be able to see what you took right away.
2006-11-09 06:17:51 · answer #4 · answered by CincyJen 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would talk to the couple and explain your concerns. They may see your point, and opt for the film. They can always hand their digital cam off to a friend to take back-up pictures. If they insist on using the digicam - just try your best to familiarize yourself with it before the wedding, and give it your best shot (ok, no pun intended!) Having an amateur photographer with a digicam is better than not having any at all.
2006-11-08 04:48:23 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
tell them the pictures will turn out better if you use a camera you are better equipped in using esp you dont want to be using just a point and shoot digital for wedding photos.. tell them it wont be able to get the shots for their wedding and film isnt that expensive i just did a wedding with film go to wal-mart or somewhere and buy 4 packs of film or costco or somewhere if you have a membership and then developing same thing go somewhere cheap just get doubles dont pay for the blurry or badly lit ones and youll be fine. also tell them that no one will take you seriously as the photographer if you have a small digital camera they will think you are just another guest taking pics and will not respect your authority when it comes time to organise people for posed pictures. just be honest with them and if they refuse to let you use film then let them get someone else and have their pictures turn out badly.. it will be their loss not yours
2006-11-08 04:31:32 · answer #6 · answered by B. 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tell them you want to use both digital and film cameras. The film gives you a camera you are used to and the digital gives you and them something that you can see right away (think of it as security against something happening to the film). If they are worried about cost, have them buy the film and then give it to them (undeveloped) after the day is done. If they want to spend the money over time they can get a roll or two developed as they have the money.
2006-11-08 06:13:14 · answer #7 · answered by brews 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Possibly you could talk them into you using them both. This way you would get a number of quality shots and they could pick the best ones. This way be using the digital, you don't have to worry about running out of film. And with the other, they may see top notch quality in your work, Maybe you could donate a couple of rolls of film as your gift. Or possibly your friend would foot the bill as his/her gift?
2006-11-08 04:33:09 · answer #8 · answered by roncarolhillsstupid 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wedding photography should be done on real film.
There was a bride on this site just last week complaining about how her pictures all came out bad, and she can't get the neg, b/c they were digital.
2006-11-08 04:44:44 · answer #9 · answered by ee 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If they have a good quality camera you should be o.k 18 hours is probably long enough to get used to the camera
2006-11-08 04:28:14 · answer #10 · answered by jo_jo_baby2004 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋