On 2008-05-13 08:29:44 -0700, Barb <sleibo@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> said:
> I am writing this message for my sister, who has volunteered to
> photograph our niece's wedding. She is a marvelous amateur
> photographer, uses a Canon Digital Rebel and gets amazing shots. The
> niece is paying for the wedding herself and is on a tight budget, so
> my sister was glad to offer her services free of charge. She feels
> confident she can photograph all the outdoor shots, reception, etc.,
> but is a little nervous about the actual church photography, largely
> because the wedding will be at 6PM and so the church lighting has her
> a little concerned. She is open to renting or borrowing or purchasing
> any lighting equipment she may need. I guess she could use any
> helpful words of advice from seasoned photographers. I am writing
> this message in earnest, and surely would appreciate sincere
> responses, as I have no wish to start any flame wars, etc. Thanks in
> advance for any 'light' you can shed.
My advice would be to check with the venue and see if any lighting
equipment is even allowed. Some churches attempt to prohibit
photography entirely.
There are reasons wedding photographers charge several thousand dollars
for an event. Event photography represents an enormous expenditure of
time, not only at the event itself, but in preparing for it. Experience
is worth a lot, too. Your sister is attempting to do something for
which a pro would require at least one assistant, a great deal more
equipment than your sister has, several days of preparation, and
extensive interviews with the couple.
Well, okay. Most pros have to admit they started out like your sister.
Robert T. Williams is one of the most highly paid wedding photographers
in the country. It wasn't that many years ago he charged $100 for his
first wedding. It didn't even pay for his film and the cost of
development. He learned his lessons the hard way.
Your sister will need an assistant, preferably one who has a camera of
her own. The assistant, when not doing the thousands of chores needing
to be done so that the photographer can actually take pictures, will be
taking detail shots and secondary views, backing up the photographer in
case anything goes wrong. If the photographer misses it, maybe the
assistant will get it.
Your sister should plan the shots she wants to take as far in advance
of the wedding as possible, scouting the venue for good locations as
well as familiarizing herself with the local area for unusual settings,
quickest routes to and from the church, etc.
She should plan on arriving early to get set up and to take test shots.
If she wants that shot from the choir seats looking over the audience
she needs to get into position before people start coming into the
chapel -- and the assistant needs to be posted at the door to cover the
doors and aisles.
What is she going to do with the pictures? Burn them to a CD and hand
them to the bride? Do you know what happens when you do that? The bride
usually has no idea what to do with the CD. She ends up taking it to
Costco and having a few of the pictures printed to 5x7. No album, no
real mementos, and no real clear idea of how to create them.
--
Waddling Eagle
World Famous Flight Instructor
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