The little I know about wedding photography comes from reading this list plus watching the photographers at my own weddings. So, no specific advice, but if it were me, my preparation would probably involve a few aspects.
First, read. (By coincidence this offer showed up in my in-box today. No clue if this is good, bad, or indifferent, but it is a reminder that there are resources out there: ( http://www.peachpit.com/deals/?WT.mc_id=2013_July_6_PP_PBM_WeddingShots_EDOW_ends ) Second, at least sample some of the web resources Bruce mentioned. Third, sit with the bride-to-be (and her mother if the mother is going to be influential throughout the process) and go through some of her friend's wedding albums, talking about what shots she (they) particularly want and expect to be in the eventual wedding album. Fourth, practice your flash technique in spaces similar to what you'll see before-during-after the wedding. If you only get proficient in using bounce-flash in low-ceilinged bars or basements, you might be at a loss in a high-ceilinged church. (Speaking of church, find out early what sort of restrictions there will be on photography during the service; if it a church, some pastors can be quite fussy about photography in general, about the use of flash [generally not accepted], etc.) Fifth, make sure that you and the bride-to-be are totally in synch with respect to what the product will be. Prints? Albums? 600x800 jpeg's on Facebook? Does she expect to see everything, or is she willing to let you cull and select the better shots for her to choose from? And then prepare yourself for the process of editing, posting, printing . . . And how soon does she want to see proofs? Note that her friends will have wedding shots posted on Facebook before the reception is over. She'll be willing to endure a wait for your higher-quality images, but it may not take many days before your contribution to the image set is seen as an afterthought, a footnote to the big event rather than a major part of the event. Enjoy the trip! stan On Jul 6, 2013, at 11:37 AM, Walt wrote: > Well, I approached my friend Dan about using the unfinished area of his home > as a studio, and he readily agreed (as expected) and wouldn't hear of > charging me for the use of it (again, as expected -- though, I'll insist on > compensating him by hook or by crook). I'm supposed to go over there today > and get started on the cleanup and preparation. It'll take a little work and > time, but not a whole lot. As I mentioned on a previous thread, the place is > just about ideal as a photography studio. So, as of now, everything's > proceeding nicely. > > After I talked to him yesterday and left for work, I got an email from him > asking if I'd be interested in shooting a wedding. Seems his sister is > getting married early this fall -- in Maine. At Walker's Point. I'm supposed > to talk to her about it today when I go over to start working on the studio > space. Needless to say, I'm a bit nervous about the prospect. I've only done > extremely informal wedding photos so far, and I'm not sure I'm up to the > task. Still, I feel like I'd be a complete idiot to pass up the opportunity. > I just want to make sure I'm not getting in over my head before I even have a > chance to get off the ground. > > It kind of makes me glad I'm going bald. At least no one will notice when I > start pulling my hair out, or if it just decides to fall out on its own. > > -- Walt > > -- > PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > [email protected] > http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net > to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow > the directions. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
