Weding pictures?

Question

Hello, I am an amateur photographer, and my friend just asked me to do the photography for his wedding, which is in July. I was wondering if anyone had any tips or advice to share about prepping for the big day and on that day. It will be at a beach also.

Thanks!

Answer 1

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

You want to make sure you have plenty of memory cards and battery power. Also, take your pictures at a higher resolution, and for the posed shots, consider using TIFF or RAW files. They will capture the most in the picture and are the most useful for editing and enlarging prints. They also take longer for the camera to process, so this is why they're better suited to posed shots. If you don't have a tripod, you will definitely need one. You can pick up an inexpensive, portable one at WalMart for under $20, and it will be quite useful for posed and portrait shots when you may want to set up the shot, then leave the camera to adjust something in the photo before you shoot.

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. Pictures are worth a thousand words. 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.

Remember for outdoor photography to keep the sun behind you. These are some good sites for outdoor / beach photography tips:
http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/10-beach-photography-tips/
http://cameras.about.com/od/cameratips/ss/beachpictures.htm

Don't forget to protect your camera equipment from the elements!
http://cameras.about.com/od/cameratips/a/protect.htm

In other words, try to function as much like a professional photographer as you possibly can. Good luck!

Answer 2

Get an assistant. No matter how good you are, you just can't capture everything. If you ask a friend who is into photography too to help you--he can get a lot of pictures of the guests while you get most of the actual bride and groom stuff. The brides family gets really picky after the fact if there isn't a picture of great-aunt so and so, since this might be the last time they see her. Have the assistant get pictures of almost every couple there.

Also talk to the bride about if she wants mostly posed shots or mostly candid shots.

Get a lot of pictures of just her before the wedding so that she can blow one up to use as her bridal portrait. Take as many as you can before the wedding. If they dont want to see each other beforehand, take all of her side of the family. All of his side of the family. All beforehand. That way you don't have to do as many "both sides" afterwards. Since you are unsure of what you are doing, it will take even longer. and it usually takes at least an hour after the wedding. Be aware the guests are waiting for this couple.

Create a list so you don't miss any crucial shots. My photographer gave me a list of almost everyone possible for us to circle which pictures were "must haves". From me with grandparents, parents, each bridesmaid, me with groomsmen ..any special guests like if most of her sorority is there from college...if this is the biggest gathering of her husbands family and you want the original kids in a pic. You can't be expected to know these things. She had a list of about 50 different thoughts and I circled or stratched off what didn't matter. (like all the siblings since my only sis was bridesmaid so that was taken care of in the "each bridesmaid" option) Then my photographer just read down the list as she was posing each shot.

Also have a timetable. Much easier for you to get into position if you know she is about to throw the bouquet. Most photographers make you fake toss the bouquet and the garter so they can get several shots of it.

Go out to the beach a day or 2 before the wedding at that time so you can get a read on the light and where you need to stand to not just get pictures of the sun and black silhouettes.

Answer 3

Ask the bride to make a list of pictures that she wants (group pictures). Also be prepared for others trying to take pictures while you are doing so. This can lead to some VERY bad pictures since it will be a rarety that all individuals will be looking at your camera when others are trying to take them too. One semi-solution is to address everyone with cameras BEFORE you begin the shooting. Look at websites for placements...you don't want pictures to look lopsided. Usually the bride/ groom are ALWAYS in the center of the picutre...keep this in mind when doing pictures. And...use common sense--tall people in the back take duplicate pictures (for blinkers, etc.) of each pose, take extra batteries, film (more than you think you'll need), and an extra camera if you have one. If you are shooting with a digital, check the previous pictures every so often to make sure lighting looks good. Don't shoot with florescent lighting (all pictures will look yellow).

Answer 4

I saw a really cool picture on the internet recently...a heart drawn in the sand with Jane + John written in the heart . The bride and groom were sitting on the beach next to heart. Just an idea for you. I just thought it was a really awesome picture.

Answer 5

Since its your first wedding I would suggest that you have the bride make out a specific list of pictures she wants taken(with names of each person in each picture) so that you dont miss any and take it with you the day of and just go right down the list.

Answer 6

Here is a simple step by step for digital outside and I would recommend visiting the location and taking some test shots at the time the wedding is planned for so you have the light levels right.
Instructions
Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Steps
1Step OneUse automatic exposure for most outdoor scenes.
2Step TwoOverride automatic exposure when the scene is much lighter or darker than middle gray.
3Step ThreeIncrease exposure to lighten a scene; decrease exposure to darken a scene.
4Step FourOverride automatic exposure when the sun is behind or on one side of the scene to be shot.
5Step FiveOverride automatic exposure when light reflects off of bright sand or snow.
6Step SixExperiment with overriding automatic exposure for high-contrast scenes.
7Step SevenUse a light meter to determine the appropriate aperture setting and shutter speed.
8Step EightAdjust the aperture setting and shutter speed in small steps.
9Step NineShoot a picture and preview it to evaluate settings. Adjust as necessary and shoot again.
10Step TenTry shooting from several angles; you can delete the worst choices on the spot.
Tips & Warnings
Avoid low-light situations when possible, or use a fill-in flash.
Avoid direct sunlight or shooting directly into the sun.
Avoid shooting harsh shadows.
If your camera does not allow manual adjustments, you may be able to compensate with image-editing software.

Answer 7

You can go to a place like Michaels or Hobby Lobby. JCPenney also has nice frames. Custom made frames cost more, but are extra special because you pick the style and color.

Answer 8

Take a lot of back up stuff. Extra batteries, extra film, extra cameras, cleaning materials (especially at the beach ).

Answer 9

Be prepared for this: no matter how many pictures you take, no matter how well you think they came out, the bride will not be satisfied, because she didn't get a "professional" photographer.

Answer 10

make sure you have a photo list. of all the photos the bride and groom expect you to take.