My second wedding - Yikes! - DPChallenge Forums

Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-120 f/4 S

05/05/2007 03:50:57 PM · #1

Hey,
Thought Iâ��d share an experience I had taking photos at a wedding last night. The bride described it as a â��mini weddingâ��. The wedding last night was basically to get a marriage certificate. Later this year they will have a traditional wedding that will be a much larger affair.
Total amount of people at the wedding, including me, 12. They chose a smallish church with extremely poor lighting inside. The church had four lights on each side of the building facing upwards towards the roof. The cone shaped roof stretched up almost as high as the church was long, meaning I could not bounce my flash at all, and with the very shiny dress the bride was wearing I had a very difficult time getting the shots just right. Iâ��m embarrassed to say, but many of the photos had so much noise in them youâ��d have to wear headphones when looking at them. Still, I managed to get some nice shots.
Then off course the ceremony was in a language I did not understand at all, so almost missed the â��you may kiss the brideâ�� bit!
Another distraction was the brideâ��s sister who wore a very revealing dress! How ever is a photographer to concentrate?
Afterwards they wanted photos outside the church, where there was no light. Nothing. Again, shiny dress and flash made for some interesting excuses why I had to take some shots three times.
Off to the reception, which, as luck would have it, was in a restaurant with even less light than the church! Very dim lights for a great romantic atmosphere, but horrible for wedding photosâ�¦
So, a lot of photos that could not be used/rescued, but I think there is enough that the bride will be happy.
I did not want to charge for the wedding as it was only my second wedding, but the bride insists on paying me for at least my time. Nice woman.
Iâ��ll try to post some photos later, need permission from the bride first.

Jan.

ericwoo

Nikon Z7II

05/05/2007 04:29:45 PM · #2

This is why I shot in RAW 99% of the time. Great story and thanks for sharing!

E

Jib

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

05/05/2007 04:38:08 PM · #3

any sample images....??

preferrably of that brides maid.... ;)

....no really i wanna see those pics of that brides maid

Art Roflmao

Canon EOS-6D Mark II

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

05/05/2007 04:40:41 PM · #4

Originally posted by jan_vdw:

The bride described it as a â��mini weddingâ��...
...Iâ��m embarrassed to say, but many of the photos had so much noise in them youâ��d have to wear headphones when looking at them. ...So, a lot of photos that could not be used/rescued, but I think there is enough that the bride will be happy.

Just put together the few good photos you did get and tell her it's a "mini-album" :)

Originally posted by jan_vdw:

Another distraction was the brideâ��s sister who wore a very revealing dress! How ever is a photographer to concentrate?

I bet ALL those shots came out perfect! :P

I am guessing you weren't able to scope out the facilities in advance? I'm not a wedding photog, but I know most of them here say that kind of planning is critical.

Thanks for sharing. I also second Eric's comment about RAW for saving you in situations like that.

soup

Canon EOS-30D

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

05/05/2007 04:55:01 PM · #5

funny story.

sometimes i have someone involved in the wedding take pictures of the locations for the events so i can 'scope' it out. that way they know how bad the lighting is, and if you can make the lighting work - ie get good photos, they think you are a genius ;}

i say in jest, but am going to ponder the idea further...

Message edited by author 2007-05-05 16:55:21.

_eug

Nikon D50

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

05/05/2007 05:04:06 PM · #6

Originally posted by Jib:

any sample images....??

preferrably of that brides maid.... ;)

....no really i wanna see those pics of that brides maid

Down, boy. Down!

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

05/05/2007 05:29:16 PM · #7

I had thirty minutes before the wedding to scope the church as the bride took a bit of time getting the directions to me. I have 74 good photos for a mini album, hopefully that will be enough.

As for the brides maid..... I thought it would be impolite to have the camera pointed at her the whole time, may have to ask her to do a shoot with me one day in the same dress ;-]

Struggling a bit with RAW at the moment, but will get there also.

Thanks for the support guys.

Oh, and one more point on the bride's maid, I sat in the row just in front of her and looked across the church for a nice shot of a crying mother or father, she leaned forward..... I could see her nipples, almost fell off my seat.....

Jib

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

05/05/2007 05:56:49 PM · #8

Originally posted by jan_vdw:

kdbn.ehkne,qr.dsfkner.cfk/jvmhnfljdl;f98t4up8nthmmiefmgknechlfjdhmkknd

lets see some proof....

_eug

Nikon D50

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

05/05/2007 07:25:20 PM · #9

Originally posted by jan_vdw:

she leaned forward..... I could see her nipples, almost fell off my seat.....

I think she was telling you something...

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

05/07/2007 09:22:50 AM · #10

Well, delivered the Photos to the bride today, she was very pleased with the results. Nice to see someone so happy knowing that your photos actually captured the moments they wanted. Makes all the hard work worth while.

Derf

Canon EOS-7D

05/07/2007 09:35:15 AM · #11

Did the bride like the nipples shot? j/k

I just had to do it! I KNOW, I AM A BAD PERSON! (I hold my head in shame....while chuckling)

Derf

Canon EOS-7D

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

05/07/2007 09:37:00 AM · #12

Can we see some of the shots? As bad as the lighting was, I am curious.

Simms

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

05/07/2007 09:51:52 AM · #13

Hey Jan_VDW,
are you thinking about becoming a serious wedding photographer, that is, making a bit of cash from it and actually letting people put their trust in you to capture that once-in-a-lifetime (or maybe not so much these days) day? If so, and dont take this the wrong way, I would suggest updating your equipment a bit. Maybe something like a Canon 20D with a couple of fast lenses (at least f2.8). You can pick a a used 20D relatively cheaply and if $$$ is tight then pick up the Tamron 28-75 f2.8 and maybe the new Tamrom 70-200 f2.8 as cheaper alternatives to the Canon versions.. Or you could go down the Nikon route and look for their euqivalent equipment (I am not very knowledgable on Nikon stuff) although I think the Tamrons are available in Nikon mount as well.

Also a couple of flash units.

Would like to see the shots as well. I love critiquing wedding shots. good or bad!

Prof_Fate

05/07/2007 10:25:40 AM · #14

Are you getting paid?
Do you have a contract with the bride? (in writing)

Get a contract no matter what. In there have a model release so you can show the images. Model release is always a good idea so you can post pics, sell pics if you want, use as samples, in ads and mailings, etc.

The Fuji 9500 is a nice camera (i had a S602 and am looking at a fuji for my wife). But it is NOT what the proper gear for a wedding, or any paid job beyond maybe ebay photos.

Reasons...technical ones - SLRs have lower noise, better focus (low light, speed, accuracy)
liability ...people get pissed and sue. if you go to court and aren't using 'industry standard' gear you're opening yourself up big time to losing the case. As a pro (you charge money, you're a pro) there are certain expectations - legal ones - that you are capable, competent, and equipped to do the job.
back up - you NEED back up gear - body, lenses, flash and a plan. things fail - my buddy's 1D was in the shop last week, one button on the back quit working. I know a top photog that knocked over her tripod with the camera and lens on it. It happens. You need to be prepared.
price - shoot with a 'real' camera and two things happen - you get more respect and you get more/better images. Both of those allow you to charge more for you work. More money for the same work...isn't that called a raise?

Bouncing your flash...what flash? on camera won't bounce... Many preachers won't let you use flash during the ceremony - get better gear and bring a tripod!

With my 30D I can shoot ISO 1600 and make 8x10 prints with NO post processing needed. A 5D can do that at 3200. It makes a difference in what you can shoot, what it looks like and how much time you spend after in PS. Time is money.

I too had a dark, small wedding (13 including me and the pastor). Thank god I had just bought the 17-55 2.8 IS lens - I was shooting at ISO 1600 , F2.8 And 1/30 to 1/40 second. Now that's DARK.

I went out the next week and bought the 70-200 2.8 IS lens for $1700. Why? I am paid to get the image. It is expected I have the gear to get the image - every image every time. I got to use it last week at a speech contest...flash was not allowed so I was shooting ISO 1600 2.8 and 1/30 at 150-200mm and getting beautiful images. I lost some to the subject's motion blur!

Why pay someone if they can't deliver the goods?

handheld, no flash, expodisc for custom WB - as captured, no processing other than resize for web.

This as slow as I want to go - 1/25 second at 148mm (ISO 1000 f4.5)

add a little shutter speed and things get brutally sharp
1/80 2.8 ISO 1600 148mm