Booked to do a wedding - HELP

[Deleted member 651465]

Hey all,

After shooting some pictures for a friend's wedding (reception), as a gift, her friend has asked if I'd like to do her wedding *gulp*.

Been to a few weddings, but always traditional churches. This is a civil ceremony at a spa, so will only really involve getting ready and the day itself.

Question: what can I do to make the pictures seem special, given they'll be walking in a room full of chairs and signing a book on the front table.

Wedding is in September, so no guarantee of good weather, which may limit options further.

Advice welcome.

 

[Deleted member 651465]

WRONG! It should involve you visiting the venue at least once before the day itself (preferably with the B&G when they go for a run-through/visit) and testing the lighting/views/layout to try and figure out where your best shots are going to be from. Being as you need to take shots of the bride getting ready you will not have time to scope it out on the day - trust me, for some reason women take aaaages to get ready

Other things you should find out before the day: What sort of shots do they want? Formal? What groups/poses/style do they want? Is the registrar happy for you to be taking photos during the actual ceremony or will they want them "posed" afterwards? (different registrars have different rules).



And for god's sake, if you haven't got an off camera flash rig, get one. Pronto.

You've misread, my post. Their day will only involve getting ready & venue. I know I need to scope the venue out a few times before hand and get in touch with them regarding what they do/don't mind in terms of photography during ceremony etc.

They want story book type shots. Informal, basically. They liked some of the shots I did of people laughing at her friends wedding and said "Oooo nice".

Kit includes
Canon EOS 1D Mk IIn
Speedlite Flash
18-55mm
70-200mm
wide angle lense

Can you recommend a decent off-camera flash?

My backup is a decidely "low" tech Nikon D3100. I know, not ideal due to lack of lense compatibility, but it was a present and I can gain access to some decent lenses from a friend.

Probably going to get hounded , but this is my first break in to this (first paid), so I'm asking now as I don't mind spending the extra upfront and want to make sure I go in prepared.

Here are some pictures. They are from Facebook (hence the poor compression) as I'm at work and can't get access to the full resolution ones. Only had my wide angle lense for this, stupid mistake.

http://db.tt/NssowWz
http://db.tt/DeDxs90
http://db.tt/9SeBWho
http://db.tt/W92hZbQ
http://db.tt/Ur9ZIqM
http://db.tt/HgGW9cw
http://db.tt/AkpVNCb
http://db.tt/IjqTePB
http://db.tt/rncfSuF
http://db.tt/OIMgZ3I
http://db.tt/DPkZPn4
http://db.tt/rU2rERd
http://db.tt/K1QR4gd
http://db.tt/ikPZmgs

 

[Deleted member 651465]

Although I am not doing any weddings, but wanted to learn anyway, I bought Mark Cleghorn's Wedding Photography book. It was recommended by several people on TP. I have to say it is a very good book from what I have read so far.

I've got it. Read it cover to cover about 10 times

Thanks for the comments Ejizz. That shot of the girls in the booth was taken over someone's shoulder, so no option to crouch.