Wedding Photo Story from Ramp.ie

Wedding photography is one of the things lots of people with an interest in photography think they can do but they don’t fully realize how much work, skill and experience is involved. I don’t mean to sound like a photo snob but having done it I can say there are several things to think carefully about:

1. This isn’t like any other event where you can mess around take a few hundred shots, end up with 10 ones you like and pat yourself on the back saying job well done. You will need to produce a few hundred photos of good quality to give to the couple so they can select ones to put in the album. If you don’t then they won’t have an album and you are in a world of trouble. Friendship ending trouble, as your friend weeps over a handful of out-of-focus, cropped head, and missed moments photos.
2. Say no when asked to do it.
3. You can’t just go into Power City, plonk down €500 for the latest beginner camera with kit lens and decide to start taking wedding photos. Todays beginners cameras are great pieces of kit and normally I’d say don’t worry about the gear worry about the photos but weddings are different. Any wedding is going to bring you into a variety of environments from church, to parks to reception and bars that will likely involve dealing with harsh afternoon sunlight then dark dimly lit churches. If you don’t have the lenses to adapt to this then you are going to produce a bunch of shaky, underexposed shots mixed with bright over exposed dresses, pitch black suits and squinting eyes everywhere. Also if you think the little pop flash on top of your camera is going to cut the mustard when it comes to lighting a ballroom then you might as well try to use a bic lighter to cook a turkey. If you don’t have good gear especially lenses and if you don’t know how to use it then you should say no when asked.
4. Ask them if they are 100% sure they still want you to do the photos.
5. You’d better make sure the bride knows exactly what type of photos you like to take. Portrait, photo-journalistic, relaxed, candid, landscape, available light, strobist etc. When picking a pro photographer the couple will view the work of dozens before short listing the ones they like and inevitably those will all be of a certain style. If you don’t take photos of a style the bride likes then it doesn’t matter how well you take them, she won’t like them. After Karen asked me to take her photos I refused several times and insisted she look at professional photographers to decide what she liked. In the end she still came back to us but knew what photos she wanted. Also make sure you do up a check list of photos based on what the bride wants and what you know from experience seeing other wedding photos. If you end the day and you forgot to get that photo of the bride with her grandparents at what may be the last big family event where everyone will be available and dressed up in front of a camera then you will be off her Christmas list.
6. Ask them to at least look at pros and reassure them that if they change their minds and hire a pro you won’t be offended.
7. Prepare and study, look at tons of wedding photos to get posing ideas. This works for every type of photography, learn by looking at others. Know before the wedding starts what photos you want to take. While the formals are important make sure you spend time getting more unusual fun photos that show off the couples personalities. Remember to take photos of the bits around the wedding (rings, shoes, veil, flowers, dresses, cakes, decorations, groomsmen’s/bridesmaids gifts, cufflinks, watches, congratulations cards, the notice board filled with wedding to-dos, the church, the bridal car, the hotel, bottles of champagne with strawberries & chocolate, tables, place settings). The bride has spent months carefully selecting these so she’s going to want to see them in the photos. If you have a partner photographer, split up, one follow the groom the other follow the bride. By doing this one photographer can be outside photographing the bride arriving at the church and the other can still get that shot of the groom waiting while everyone else looks down the church at the arriving bride. Make sure one of you knows to get each of the important shots, getting different angles of the important moments is great, unless you all got the wrong angle. For example you’ll be dead if both of you are in the balcony with wide angle lenses expecting the other would be at the altar with the zoom lens to catch the first kiss. It’s a good idea to search the internet for photos taken at the church and the reception venue. You’ll see good angles and interesting places around behind or beside the buildings that you might not otherwise see. If you can go visit the venues in advance and scout out locations for photos. Also if they have hired a videographer have a chat to him on the day when everyone is setting up, he’s the local professional and is likely to have been here for other weddings but often they let the photographer take the lead on the locations. If you explain you are doing the photos as a favor then he might be able to suggest places or at the very least he won’t be standing behind you swearing and wondering why you aren’t going to the beautiful spot just behind this wall.
8. Tell them you’ll do it.
9. Promise them you’ll do your best and make sure you do your best. Don’t drink until after the main photos are taken (bride/groom preparation, arrival, church, ceremony, formals, couple shots, meal, speeches, cake cutting and first dance).   Sure you’re all friends and are surrounded by lots of friends who are drinking but none of them are there to do an important job all day long, even the bestman gets to relax more than you. Don’t be too bossy, rude or cause people to cry (unless its tears of happiness during her speech) but make sure to move the couple along and get the shots you need. Everyone else will want to spend hours talking to them after the ceremony and while you do have plenty of time so there is no need to rush, push or shove that time is limited so keep an eye on your watch. Don’t lose the groom when he goes off for a few quiet pints with his mates (I’ve seen this happen at another wedding), the wedding photos are missing something if it’s just a girl in a white dress. Make sure your batteries are charged, that you have spare batteries, a spare camera which uses the same lenses, spare batteries for that camera, plenty of empty memory cards, lens cloths, a change of shirt and comfortable broken in shoes (you will sweat more and run more than you can believe).
10. Enjoy the opportunity to be an important part of a good friends special day.