Hi all,
From time to time someone on this list is asked by a friend to
photograph their wedding, and then they come to the list and ask for the lists advice. Frequently the list essentially says: 'tell them to hire a pro, the responsibility is huge and you could ruin your friendship'.
While this is true, and probably wise, I went ahead and photographed my friends' wedding recently. I was relatively confident in my abilities, and having been to a wedding a couple of weeks before I was able to really think about what I wanted to do. So here are my experiences of wedding photography: 1) It is stressful - I was rushed off my feet all day. I was knackered by the end of the day, and I had that constant worry in the back of my head that my flash would pop or I'd melt a CF card. 2) It is an awesome experience - I was always right in there with the couple, and was able to fully feel how excited and happy they were to be getting married. Photographically it is exciting also - you have to know your camera inside out, and when you pull off the shot it's most exhilarating. I found that the stress was all worth it - the most beautiful shots you see in magazines tend to be from the photographs of the bridal party after the ceremony, and this is by far the most laid back time. Time constraints are quite loose, you have the freedom to direct the bridal party as you like, and you can take the time to control the light if you need to (having a large silk was absolutely priceless). The hard parts were getting enough light inside the church (bounce flash ain't so hot off a 25foot dark wood ceiling) and directing the family for the formal group photos immediately afterwards. In all though, I would do it again. I understand now why wedding photographers charge so much. And for anyone thinking of photographing for a friend, I would say if you are confident in your abilities then go for it, I think it has actually helped our friendship. I found going to the rehearsal a tremendous help as it allowed me to do some metering and test shots before the big event. Also, scoping out the venue for bridal photos before hand is equally valuable. Well, I've gone on long enough. I've picked out a handful of my best shots. These haven't had the full treatment yet, but they are close, only a few minor adjustments remain I think. You can see them here - http://www.bmphoto.co.nz/lightroom_galleries/Weddings/ (comments and critiques welcome) Cheers David * **** ******* *********************************************************** * For list instructions, including unsubscribe, see: * http://www.a1.nl/phomepag/markerink/eos_list.htm ***********************************************************
