Amateur photographer shooting last minute wedding! HELP!?

Question

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!

Answer 1

It's not your skills or your talents that come into question; I'm sure that you're good at what you do but... you're going to be out of your "element." Another reason why I discourage amateurs is that they often lack the experience required for shooting weddings. Yes, it looks easy when you see the professionals doing it; they MAKE it look easy (like a gymnast makes difficult moves look easy, while an acrobat makes them look dangerous and spectacular... same difference). I would NOT encourage you to go through with this unless you have it in writing that you are not to be blamed if anything goes wrong...! That may be the cause of a lost friendship.

I also tell those that are just starting out never to experiment while on a shoot and never take any equipment they are not familiar with or cannot work with eyes shut (like knowing where the buttons, knobs and switches are without looking and searching for them). For that reason, I suggest that you do NOT shoot the wedding with a camera you are not familiar with. There are reasons for this, and I'm pretty sure that you, yourself, can find reasons for discouraging someone else who's not experienced from doing what you're endeavoring: to use an unfamiliar camera on an important shoot without any experience. Why do you think would-be professional wedding photographers usually spend two years in an apprenticeship with an established and experienced wedding photographer? Remember Murphy’s Law... what can go wrong will go wrong! How familiar ARE you with digital technology, anyway? Do you know about White Balance? Setting the ISO and do you know when and how to change it? What about the use of Spot Metering? Is 18 hours REALLY enough to acquaint you with a new camera...? Isn't that an unfair burden on you?

Three rules to remember:
1 - Never ASSUME that an amateur has the same experience of a professional simply because the talent and skills are there (skills and talents are not the same as experience). (making an A $ $ of U & ME... remember?)
2 - Never do an important shoot with unfamiliar equipment, like a new camera. The odds are against you and you WILL miss important shots while fumbling and searching for buttons, knobs, and switches and options and features...
3 - Never mix friends and business; you are sure to lose one or the other, if not both!

My suggestion is that you use what you're familiar with if you cannot get out of the obligation (which you should NOT have volunteered to do... hey, I used to teach driving and but I am not a professional stock car racer... understand?) is that you INSIST on your what you are familiar with. Otherwise, don't do it. Even if you pay $10 for 4 rolls of film ($40, $45 at most; and $3 each for a CD... $12 or $15 more)... aw, c'mon, that's still cheap, and they can make their own copies of the CD afterward and send their friends and family, or make prints at any Walmart, K-Mart or wherever cheap enough... They're LUCKY if you go ahead and do the darn wedding!

Send me an email with a functional email I can respond to, and I'll send you some suggestions to look over. Good luck and best wishes.

Answer 2

I only do weddings on rare occasions, but I will tell you that the first thing you should do is make an outline of shots you will take. If possible go over with the couple any ideas they may have. Remember one thing though, you are taking the pictures. Be confident and take control of the event. Don't let in-laws and others direct you. This is the young couples day. For instance some couples do not want pictures of the actual ceremony for religious or other reasons. Find out exactly what yours would like,. I am also a nature photographer and wedding are difficult, but if can use a 35mm then I have no doubt you will do a great job. Enjoy and don't stress out too much. Also a lot of wedding shots are posed so that won't be a problem

Answer 3

You should refuse to do the wedding if you cannot use your own equipment.

You've stuck you neck out far enough just agreeing to do the wedding at all. Just what you don't need is to try and use an unfamiliar camera (and medium) too!

Perhaps this is the perfect excuse to get out of it (which I would recommend).
If they want digital pictures with their camera - they can fob that off onto someone else.

They choose you because of your landscape shots which you did using your methods and your familiar and favored camera.
Tell them that you cannot guarantee anything - except your best efforts - even with your equipment - as you are a "landscape photographer".

If they want it cheap, offer to go ahead and shoot the film, but don't develop or print it immediately.

Maybe they'll be happy with the digital camera shots, and you can chalk the cost of the film up to experience and get off the hook - or the digital shots will be so bad that yours will be fantastic by comparison.

Answer 4

I did the same thing last year. However, the "friend" called me the morning of the wedding. I did it for the experience, with them covering materials cost. I had a "potato" masher 120 guide number flash which did ttl flash with my camera. I took 3 camera bodies and spare flash units. Of course, in the rush I hadn't changed the batteries in my film cameras but had plenty of AA's for the flash units. I did have the foresight to also bring camera batteries, but in the heat of the battle the camera batteries died. I switched to the backup body and continued shooting. My cameras powered the flash ready light in my camera viewfinder and depleted the weak batteries again. I thought had everything covered until I reached in my pocket for a coin to replace the camera battery and came up empty handed. That cost precious minutes and missed shots.
And this was with a camera system I "supposedly" knew! I rarely shot flash before this and never as many flash shots in rapid succession.
Thank God, I had not tried using the medium format camera I had brought which I had little experience with. If they insist on using a camera that you are unfamiliar with, with an underpowered P&S flash, I'd pass! The damage it would do to your reputation for future work isn't worth it.

Answer 5

Use their camera but take yours with one roll or two for backup. Ask them if you can have five minutes with them alone and use your camera. Just shoot a bunch of photos that you set up with just them. Try to get them by a tree or a pretty part of the outdoors and use your fill flash. I am also an amateur and I used a Ricoh for my friend's wedding. Same scenario. They liked my two rolls better than the digital, but they liked having the digital to share with friends immediately. You will do fine-just relax and have fun taking photos. Enjoy the moments.

Answer 6

I'm a wedding photograher and i would suggest you look at some websites to get ideas on photo styles. I hope for your sake that the digital camera they are offering is an SLR otherwise you will have that slight delay when you take the picture (not good when trying to capture candid moments). Good luck.

Answer 7

I think you can do a fine job with the digital...you said you haven't used your Canon in 5 years...my suggestion...ask the couple if you can at least have the guide that came with their camera, This way you can study the user guide and get a little more familiar with all the buttons at least!!!!
Also....you're used to still life....grab your local yellow pages and look up photographers ...check out some of the portfolios on their websites to give you ideas! Most people want picture of bride w/family...groomw/family bride,groom and weeding party rings and so on!!! I'm sure that you will do fine!!!! Check out the ebsites or go into a few studios and ask to see their wedding portfolios!!! Remember you can always take the card to a kiosk in almost any store and print quality pix!!!

Answer 8

I know time is tight but see if u can borrow their digital camera and get used to it. If u can't, then u have to tell them u need to use your own camera, citing the importance of familiarity with the camera for purposes of the picture quality.

Answer 9

Wedding photos are very important to the wedding couple. Many lawsuits occur due to unhappiness with photographs from the wedding, reception, etc. You do not want to stress the couple by insisting that you use film.

Answer 10

Most digital camaras are pretty small. Keep theirs with you and use it a lot, and also bring yours and do some candid photos with it. You can give them the film to develop at their leisure or you can develop it and give it to them as a gift. But I definitely think you should use a little of both.