My first wedding!! Help!!

[Wandering Cat Lady]

I already posted this in the women's discussion but I figured I'd post it here (I just found this section today lol:o)

Alright here's the deal...lol

Well I have officially been hired to shoot my first wedding! I have exactly three problems. 1. I don't own a flash, nor do I know how to use one, so I have the pop up flash at my use and that's it. 2. I only have a 18-55mm kit lens which usually works really well but I don't know if it's sufficient for the wedding. And 3. I don't usually have great luck taking pictures of white things and I'm not great at figuring out the lighting.

The wedding is November 29th, so I don't have a lot of time. However I'm willing to study all I can to make this the best thing possible. I am just an ameture with no classes taken but I have an excellent eye and I have already done 3 senior photo shoots, 3 school photo shoots, and 1 family photo shoot, 1 best friends photo shoot, and 1 engagement/couple photo shoot. The couple loves my photography and that is why they hired me. However, I feel a lot rests on my shoulders and my short comings may disappoint them.

There are a couple of things that will help, however. Another photographer will be under me...a girl that is giving them photography for free. She has taken a few courses and will be using the Rebel XTi which is just under the XSi. She most likely knows how to use flash and a bigger lens. The groom owns the XTi and is willing to lend me the flash and the 70-300mm lens, but since I don't know how to use either one, I'm thinking that the other photographer will get to use them. That's fine, but I was wondering if ya'll had any tips for me?

I don't want the white dress to look grey, and I don't want the black suit to look over or under exposed. Thanks guys...you're always the best...I am so nervous!

I just ordered a couple of books for the XSi specifically and for digital photography and how to use lighting and such. I also got a UV filter. The wedding will be at 3pm and I will be able to see the church and experiment before hand with no problem. As for the reception I am not sure what the hall will be like but they said it's huge and well lit and beautiful so it shouldn't be a problem.

I'm just nervous out of my wits!! My biggest concern is the lighting and over or under exposing the white, especially since the bride is fair skinned with blonde hair and blue eyes...I fear she will be washed out!!!! Yikes!!

 

[Picture.Of.Obedience]

Good luck! Never done a wedding and never gonna do one for a looong time, and I am in school right now for photography. A wedding is a big thing to do. Hope you do well! No advice but good luck! I hope it all works well !

 

[integra evan]

As for whites, you can custom set the white balance to tell the camera what is white (because cameras cannot see white). This is what you do:
1. In the place you will be shooting, find something that is pure white.
2. Take a picture of that white thing at a proper exposure level, make sure it fills the whole frame. You'll probably need to set the lens to manual focus, as a plain white thing will be hard to focus on.
3. Once that picture is taken, go into the menu to go to the white balance settings. Choose "Custom WB"
4. Once you choose "Custom WB" it will go to a screen where you scroll through the pictures. Go to the one you just took of the white thing, and hit set. Now your white is set to stay white.
You'll have to do this for every location you shoot in....one setting for the church, and another one for the reception place.

For lighting, don't be afraid to use what's available. The pop up flash is a great fill-flash. Also try different techniques with the external flash. Depending which flash unit it is, you can adjust it so that the flash bounces off the ceiling, wall, behind you, etc. You can really get some neat effects with bouncing the flash. I would practice a little for the lens. Take shots at full zoom and full wide to see how it affects pictures, etc. Practice Practice Practice! Have fun!

 

[IanB9]

Freetalive,
I was showing someone last week at a funeral would you believe, how to take photos against the light.Someone was sitting at a window and wanted a photo.
Another person said it won't work because of the light.
I said "watch and learn.
The first photo didn't work as subject was in complete shadow. I was not using flash. I rarely use it. The second shot was spot on!
"How did you do that without flash" says he.
I was using my Canon 350D with 18-55mm lens.
The trick is to meter on the subject by pressing the shutter button half way and hold it there, then frame the shot with window included and press shutter fully.
This would probably be a good ploy with subject in a white dress. Go to face and meter then frame shot and press shutter fully. This would be particularly applicable if the subject was of dark / black complexion as they can be difficult to get contrast right.
I helped out at a wedding last year and the guy who was officially doing the photography had the same camera.
I took around 300 shots In the end we picked out around 60 for the album / DVD. you wouldn't take so many shots with film. Cost being a factor.
As this is now after your event, how did it go?
Ian

 

[Wandering Cat Lady]

Thanks Ian, it went incredibly well!! I got 1700 pics LOL but they were extremely happy with the results!!!

I could have done a few things better, as the church light was LOW and there was a lot of noise. I'll have to keep those suggestions in mind as I prepare to do photoshoots this year.

 

[maisie325]

congrats for your wedding...good luck

 

[Freelansir]

Have you tried asking your friends for help yet? surprisingly, it can provide stunning results!