Hello Hello.. photographers in here.. or anyone.. help....

Minnie the Minxtress · Hello Hello.. photographers in here.. or anyone.. help....

I've gone and done it.. determined to get as much photography experience as possible I am booked to photograph a wedding on Saturday.

I advertised my services for free (they get the pics on cd.. I get to use the best pics on a website and in my portfolio).

However.. I have just got back from the church (with my NOT exactly professional camera and it's little baby flash), as I went down there to check the layout.. the lighting.. the parking.. blah blah.. and I thought I might die of fright.. with all the variables and expectations.

Speaking of expectations.. the bride is not paying as I've already said.. and yet given me a list (inspite of me saying that I am not doing a huge list for her) of pictures she wants taken. Am feeling a tad lightheaded and my stomach is turning to jelly.

Do any of you photographers or enthusiasts out there have any soothing words of wisdom.. before I go up in a puff of smoke? Shocked

ladytwiglet

try searching on deviantart for inspirational images, and then have a think about how you could achieve a similar look, camera settings etc. borrow a friend or two and visit the venue again and take some practice pics to see what its really like to shoot in there. use a reflector! dead cheap and they help loads!

DONT use on-camera flash unless you have no choice. its unflattering and i have no idea why people use them, ugly ugly things! hotshoe flash is much much better but they can be quite expensive

with regard to the shots she has asked to be taken, once you get what you think is 'the shot', take three more of the same, if you dont you are guaranteed to get home and realise that one of 'the shot's is blurred or someone is blinking-you cant always see those details on a little screen

can i ask what camera you are using? and, without sounding patronising, what you do or dont know about aperture/shutter speeds/iso etc?

hope some of that helps, feel free to PM me if you need any more help!

Pieman

Although I wasn't the 'professional' photographer I took my camera to my cousin's wedding and the bride said that she preferred my pictures as they were of more people, and I also went around and took pictures of people doing their normal things as well as the posed ones that were arranged. So my advice would be get lots of 'casual' shots as well as they show off the mood far better, and probably tend to be the preferred pictures in the album even if they don't end up on the wall.

Ivy Wilde

I concur with Pieman, me and Tim asked for all reportage style ones for our wedding with posed shots kept to a minimum, the really captured the day and every photo has a story or a memory of a feeling, I still well up when I see them. If you want to see the kind of thing I mean a copy of our pics are here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/joineestaceyg/sets/72157594546335112/

Smile

Warren

The phrase "be careful what you wish for ..." springs to mind Wink

And believe me ive put myself in many predicaments similar.

Act confident when you're taking the pix, try not to be nervous or they wont have faith in you.

My worst nightmare if I was taking the main pix at a wedding would be that I got home and found none of the pictures had saved (or whatever the technical term is).

Im shit at anything to do with photography tho.

Im sure you'll do fine....

x

Minnie the Minxtress

Thanks for all your helpful comments lovely peeps..

Ladytwiglet.. thanks too, will PM you at some point (am whizzing out now to yoga - for some deep breathing and de-stressing LOL)..

I'm near the end of my 2nd year of a fine art degree and I've concentrated on photography... however - the whole ISO, shutterspeed and aperture thing is relatively new to me this year. I actually love using the camera on manual - but it's like driving a car.. you know how when you first start driving you think 'will I ever change gear without thinking about it etc?' well that's a bit like how I feel.

I have had virtually no training at college.. the course is very conceptual based and the tutors are like 'if you take fab pics on automatic then just carry on doing that'... which has sent me off on my usual search to teach myself and get out of it what I want.

I have a Sony A100 dslr which will soon be my spare camera once I get some money and can invest in decent new one with some foxy lenses.. I don't have a hotshoe flash but so far have hated using the flash on this camera, I much prefer to change ISO settings etc.

I'm sure I'll be fine.. and it's good experience and a learning curve.. but I'm having a wee wobbly moment today, nonetheless. Confused

Minnie the Minxtress

Ivy thanks for the add on flickr lovely girl... your pics are great! Very Happy

Stuart the photographer

Format your memory card before you do the shoot, should reduce the change of errors on the memory card.

The tips people have mentioned about getting some more informal shot are very true, people love that kind of stuff at weddings. The 15 minutes after they get out of the church door can be best for this, everyone mills around, you can stand far enough away not to disturb people and every one look happy (unless your couples day goes spectacularly wrong).

If they have an epic list of formal shots cut it down a bit. Its not just you hardware they are 'paying' for, but your talent in knowing what will and won't work photographically. If the shot seems pointless it probably is.

Good luck and the fact you have already taken a look at the location means your on the right track!

Ivy Wilde

Minnie the Minxtress

Stuart the photographer

Minnie the Minxtress

That certainly sounded like a good description to me.. (hardly one from a useless teacher!! LOL) Thanks Stuart. Very Happy

Stuart the photographer

Aw thanks Minnie you are very kind.

Minnie the Minxtress

Well, I'm back from the wedding.. I have never been sooooo cold (it was bitterly cold and raining) but it all went well..

I had a few moments where I thought "I'm going to faint with nerves in a minute" but I got through it and actually really enjoyed the whole experience. Thanks for all your helpful advice everyone. Very Happy

Warren

Hurrah for you Minnie x

ladytwiglet

Stuart the photographer

Really glad to hear that you enjoyed it, do you think you would do another one now you know what it's like?

Minnie the Minxtress

Thanks Guys... well to be honest.. I went along and like I said, a couple of times I felt almost dizzy with nerves - but on the whole I'm good at connecting with people and am used to managing people in my past job life. nevertheless, it was a very swift learning curve in people management, direction and visual skills as well as being confident with my camera (which to be honest I wasn't). When the bride came down the aisle my hands started shaking a little and I know that some of the pics are out of focus due to my wobbles and the intense cold and rain too.

The pics are on flickr.. they're not edited just yet and I'm already picking holes in them like mad - too blurry, too overexposed etc... but as for editing and cropping etc, I haven't managed to do that yet. I downloaded them all last night and John came along with me and took some on his camera too, so he could get a different angle up in the gallery of the church.

Would I do it again? Well... I fully expected to feel more apprehensive after yesterday and yet YES YES YES.. I'd do it again.. I absolutely loved doing it, loved using the camera and it was very 'in at the deep end', considering I'd not met the couple before.

I just want to get to a point when I can use my camera manually without having to 'think' too long and hard about what I'm doing..
Please criticise constructively if you wish - I am all ears (although may run and hide under the stairs if you're too cruel Very Happy

)

xxxx

Stuart the photographer

Fantastic, glad you got the bug. Although it can be more expensive than a bad drug habit.

Hope I have the flickr links right for your photos;

I really liked

http://www.flickr.com/photos/look...6913677/in/set-72157604627856731/
Great range in the mid tones, very nice!

Nice macro, good depth of field
http://www.flickr.com/photos/look...6278228/in/set-72157604627856731/

Again great depth of field, the confetti makes for a great background. The focus on the eyes is striking.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/look...6579266/in/set-72157604627856731/

The only other thing I can think of is all hardware related. The flash seemed a bit harsh indoors, but direct flash always is! And I am guessing your camera wouldn't have been too forgiving with natural light and long exposures (plus people would have been moving too fast). Any flash you can point away from you subject is always a great aid indoors. Not sure if you made the B & W photos on the camera, but if you did avoid this, you can do it in post and you wouldn't believe the range of options you can use if you get into photoshop (especially CS3). Any way, great job, you should give a burlesque gig a whirl, there a lot more fun!

Minnie the Minxtress

Thanks so much for your words Stuart - it's great to get some feedback. I changed the pics to B & W on CS2 which I have at home.

I would like to do a burlesque night - I assumed that only 'designated' photographers were allowed to do that?

Stuart the photographer

Well not exactly designated. I have always asked if it is ok to take pictures or been asked to take pictures at a night. I think it just a matter of, if you know a night organiser offer to help them out with some pics.

I have been to some nights with 3 photographers all working at the same time. Another instance had 2 different film crews and me taking photos. Good photos can help promote a night, or just make the audience more frequent flyers if they know the can get a nice picture for free out of it.

Minnie the Minxtress

Can I ask what camera/lenses etc you use? I'm seriously looking around now to see what kit I want in the future.

Thanks for all your comments so far, too. Smile

Stuart the photographer

A very basic set-up, Canon 350d, Battery grip, 24 - 105 f4 IS canon L series lens, EX430 flash with special defuser and some other stuff. I am hoping to make the jump this year to a canon 5d mark 2, its not out yet but should be out soon. Then I can get a couple more L series lenses to go with it. I sometimes take so portable studio heads with me, if you go on ebay you can get some cheap and they really change the feel of portrait stuff. Then again, a £20 reflector and a book on lighting can provide equally dramatic results.

When you get to the mid to high rang stuff (anything above a canon 350d or nikon d40, there are new models out), it usually becomes a matter of paying more = higher quality. A good lens can make a big difference, something with a low f number, like f2.8 and below.

I will stop now because I can really go on about photo hardware forever. Although I would be interested to know what you and other people in here are using?

Miss Kitty Lou

ladytwiglet

moi is using a 400D with sigma 18-55 and 70-300 F4 lenses. i am also the queen of cheap photography as i have a hotshoe flash that cost me 25 squid and i bought an adapter so my old film camera lenses fit on it, so i also have a 50mm F1.2 *drool* cost me a fiver Razz

i've only had me SLR about 8 months, i have big plans for the next year (i.e. setting up a business and doing a photography degree) and am lucky enough to know some seriously good professional photographers who hold my hand if its needed Very Happy

Minnie the Minxtress

I am reading this and laughing at the similarities from this neck of the woods too... I recently spent a day with a lovely photographer who uses the Canon 1DS mark 3 (I think I've got that right.. it was the newest one) and by god, it was a beast..so darned heavy especially once the 24-105 IS lense was on it.. he was telling me how he loves it with all of his heart (much more than his car etc) but it's heaviness was hard work when you're doing a day long wedding so he was waiting for the new 5D to use as his 'non work camera' (heaven or what??!?!?). as the rumours are that the new Canon 5D upgrade is lighter etc..

He said that he'd been checking the Canon website daily for the past year every morning, like a kid at Christmas.. waiting for its arrival which is steeped in suspense and the subject of many forums who try to predict when it will be launched!

I think I will be hanging out for this new one to be honest rather than buying anything else in the meantime.... Me and beloved were talking about all the boot sales we're going to do this year to put money towards 'the camera fund'... as well as me selling anything I can on ebay to stick in the fund too...

Stuart.. I sooooo understand your previous comment about photography being more expensive than a drug habit.. Laughing

I'm feeling the pain already Laughing

Currently I'm using a A100 Sony DSLR with a 18-70 lens.

The word 'covet' keeps springing to mind... CONSTANTLY! Rolling Eyes

Stuart the photographer

That's really cool, nice to hear that many of us are roughly at the same hardware stage. Makes for better tips!

Minnie the Minxtress

Who would have thought that deep in the depths of the BWI, there would be a photography thread nestling in the Smoking Lounge.. Happy Days... Very Happy

Miss Kitty Lou

Minnie the Minxtress

Hey guys... I did another wedding last week although it was rather different from the previous one.

The couple had a designated photographer in place (the grooms best friend) who wanted to shoot the wedding as a wedding present. So Ian, the groom asked if I wanted to mill about taking pics and anything they got from me would be a bonus.

BUT - a week beforehand, the photographer drops her camera whilst on holiday in New York (Canon 400D) and smashed it to bits. Ian rang me, absolutely freaking out and I, (in a moment of madness Shocked

) offered the photographer the use of my camera.

So.. between us we did the wedding last Friday but for me it was super nightmare time.. My father-in-law loaned me his Canon 400D but all he had were very old lenses that he uses for photographing his plants.. he forgot to mention that when you press the shutter button (50% of the time) NOTHING happens. I was aghast to miss so many shots... thank heavens the responsibility was NOT mine to capture the main pics for the day.

However.. I got a few... but on Saturday John and me went a-walking up to Tottenham Court Road to see if we could nab ourselves a bargain....

We came home having maxed out our credit card (it was smoking by the time we got to the till) - and I bought the 5D, plus the 24-105 F4 USM IS L lens... plus John got his 40D and a 50mm 1.8 lens to get going with.

I am so happy... we can't stop fiddling with them and are desperate to get out at the weekend and take some photographs.

If you want to take a peek at the few photographs I did get last friday, they're on my Flickr account (Ian and Sharons wedding)..

I'm going to have to sell my body Shocked

to clear my card now.!

OHHHHHH speaking of Memory Cards.. you guys might want to check these out at this price..
http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/p...Path=777_6&products_id=101212

ladytwiglet

ooh you naughty girl! Laughing

enjoy your new baby Wink

my camera is on the blink Sad

keeps coming up with an error 99 which is a generic error which could mean anything. going to take it to my local photography shop to see if they can do anything because i dont want to send it back to canon as i have a gig to shoot next sat and a wedding the week after *cries*

Minnie the Minxtress

Ohhh I do hope you get it sorted....what an awful time for it to mess up.. how long have you had it - is it under warranty? Shocked

ladytwiglet

Heather Sweet

Get mia and steve to stand still at random moments and say click to ease the pain xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx HUGZ xxxxxxxxxx

Minnie the Minxtress

Any updates on your camera yet? Have canon managed to fix it? Confused

ladytwiglet

Stuart the photographer

ladytwiglet

Stuart the photographer

Agh, my friend just got an f1.8 35mm for his nikon, the results were very nice. Everything in macro just looks amazing.