Wedding Photography Tips

goto the rehearsal and learn the lay of the land, get your timing down so you know where to be for the best shots, and check with the clergy about house rules re: flash and pics during the show...i mean wedding.
use that time as an opportunity to share with the party YOUR rules regarding other picture takers. You're not getting paid to take 300 photos of the back of weird uncle Wally's head, so people need to be aware that YOU work for the BRIDE and GROOM, and YOU get the right of way when taking shots. If your camera is at your eye they need to wait till you shoot before they get thiers, and to try not to block your view. Most people get that, but it doesn't hurt to POLITELY remind them.

Getting good shots of the guests arriving is really where the financial profit lies. Choose a good background. Lots of people will say they dont want their picture taken but tell them that the bride has asked that everyone be photographed. If they have kids, photograph them separately as well. Later at the reception when their wallets have been lubricated they wont be able to resist a 5x7 in a folder of them in their smart new clothes. Even 30 prints should give you about £200 profit and you were there anyway.

Dont ever move the cake! If you need it moved get the hotel people or whoever to do it and it is better to stage the 'cake cutting' picture.

Attitudes from the clergy vary enormously. In my experience Roman Catholics are the most relaxed going all the way to an absolute ban on photography during the service in many Scottish Presbyterian churches. Sikh weddings can take 3 to 5 days to cover - no kidding!

Although many people want a reportage style it still seems to be the traditional pictures which sell.

On the subject of backgrounds is there any mileage in taking along a portable background support system to make sure you've got a nice clean background to use?

For me I reckon lugging around a background would be a real pain. I don't even bother with a tripod - I prefer to move quickly.
I'd much rather use the f1.4 lens.

But then it depends what kind of shots you (and the B&G) want. Whatever you do just make sure it's quick so you don't overload the B&G, or keep anyone waiting.

Matt

I agrre with Matt and Niblue...A background is great to have available, but don't use it unless you absolutly must. (I personally believe that even if hell freezes over; there's gotta be some fantastic photo ops there...)I'v only set mine up on location, twice in the last 4 years....once when a mishap (drunk relative) knocked over a beautiful display thet they had built. this couple didn't have much money and had planed a Justice of the Peace to marry them in thier reception hall. I set up my backdrop (18x30'), brought an arbor in from the garden and some lights and salvaged decorations from the broken display, and we built a set in the rec hall for them. even with a set, we still shot most portraits outdoors.
the other was a new years eve wedding and it was -35 that night and we still did an outdoor shot of the couple, (x-mas lights at the park and added snowflakes to final image)but had planned in advance to shoot the groups indoors at the hall before the reception.

also a white sheet (groundsheet for bride) a first-aide kit (with bandaides and safety pins and bobby pins lint brush, sewing needle and b+w thread, scotch tape and crazyglue, black mascara, hairspray, wet wipes, tissues).
make sure your bride has runners in the trunk for the park..she'll thank you later when she see's her mother-in-law struglling to hike through the park in heels while she's got sneakers on...lol

Sometimes you arrive at the venue and cannot believe how awful it is, you have to remember that the B&G chose it because, presumably, they liked it so I think you just have to get on with it and do the best you can. I think the use of a background is a bit Victorian.

Further up this thread someone mentioned umbrellas (rain sort I think). One of the rules from the firm I worked for was that if it is raining get shots with umbrellas - the limo drivers always have them, because after the event clients have been known to deny the precipitation and the way it might have limited your photography.

Ken

Hey guys I've been crazy busy...as opposed to just crazy..
further to my tip about marketing and thank you cards at the wedding here's a sample of what I printed out a distributed in stead of business cards last night. (about 100 4x6's)

Hi all,

Forgot all about this thread, many thanks to all for taking the time to add their tips and trick, all duly noted in the green book.

The bad news (or good depending on ones viewpoint) is the wedding never took place, got cancelled about 2 weeks before the event was due to take place, heard it was something to do with a cheating b$%-*/#d.

[quote="niblue"]Best of luck on doing the wedding. I've only done one so far (my mothers) and I've refused others since!

You were a precocious brat.

G