Just a brief comment on volunteering to shoot weddings for friends. The cautionary advice that's been given -- just don't do it -- is all very sage advice, but sometimes one can't say no to friends. I've been in this situation a couple of times and had to take the pictures or put a friendship at risk. People have been pretty happy with the results -- they still speak to me -- so I must not be doing too bad. I try to learn from reading about wedding photography in magazines -- Shutterbug often has some wedding photo how-to articles -- and at sites on the WWW. I try to use gear that has proved dependable in ths past. I try to anticipate problems and deal with them in advance. I try to come well prepared with everything I might need -- plenty of film, extra batteries, ideas about when and where to shoot. But I know I'm not going to produce results that match the pros. My suggestion is to clear up potential misunderstandings in advance. Remember that you will get into trouble because of the differences between what you might produce and what people expect you to produce. What people expect "wedding photographs" to look like has been shaped by their seeing professional results done by at least technically competent shooters whose livelihood depends on delivering the goods. These folks have experience, training, and equipment on their side. They are worth the money they get paid because they will deliver a dependable product. You do not have the experience and training going for you, even if you have the equipment. Therefore make clear to the people doing the asking that you are not going to be able to duplicate pro work. Find out what they want -- if they want the posed group shots, they will need to plan time for you to get those (usually after the ceremony itself) -- if they want to make sure that certain guests are included, you need to know who they are -- and the like. I try to get a sense of what people want, and try to provide it. The happiest situations are people who do not fit the traditional wedding situation -- the smaller, informal weddings that are gatherings of friends -- where expectations are lower and images are less rigid. Finally, I make the results my wedding present to them. I buy the film and give them the slides/negatives and a set of prints, and beyond that they're on their own. Regardless of the results, they've gotten what they paid for, and they usually turn out grateful to you for your effort as well as the product. You get the shooting experience, provide a very personal wedding present (better than a toaser), and have a role at the wedding. Hope this helps. -- John N. Wall email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] WWW: http://www4.ncsu.edu/unity/users/j/jnweg/html We are not revitalized or transformed as often by a change of circumstances as we are by a change of perspective.
