> -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] > On Behalf Of J. C. O'Connell > Sent: Wednesday, July 17, 2002 8:20 AM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: RE: Wedding photographing > > There are good books on the subject. > I suggest you buy one and read it. > > I shot 3 weddings as a semi "pro" > for friends and got lucky they didnt > go wrong thank god, cause I was like you > and didnt have a clue at first. After > I read a good book I did great job and got tons of > referrals from that one GREAT job but I > retired because I didnt want the pressure. > There is only 1 try at weddings! No reshoots! > > In your situation I would do the following: > > 1. Explain to the bride&groom you have > zero experience at weddings and they > are risking getting poor or NO results. > This is ESSENTIAL because things can go wrong > and you must make it known you will try > but cant guarantee ANYTHING AT ALL. That > way if they are unhappy for any reason > you can honestly say & know you warned them!!!! > > 1A. Get them to use two or more photographers > during ceremony, even if they have to > resort to amatuers w/disposable-flash cameras, the more > viewpoints the better. Plus it takes pressure > off you if something goes wrong. > > 2. The book will explain the types of shots > to get. Pre-ceremony, ceremony, reception, > etc. Individuals, couples, gruops, > church, hall. etc. BUY THE BOOK!!!!!!! > Explain to bride/groom in advance > what amount of time youll need to get these essential shots. > on day of wedding, many couples think the > photographer can passively get the shots, not true. > You have to be the director!!! Ask bride/groom > what shots are "must-have" in advance, that > way when you ask for poses wedding day > they must comply your requests. > Take notes and bring them with you on day of shoot!!!! > > 3. Do not drink alcohol, if anything goes > wrong you will be blamed for being a "drunk". > > 4. Do not use any new equipment or techniques. > You need reliability above all. Test flash sync > on all cameras in advance with back open > if possible looking thru film gate. > > 5. Carry backup cameras, lenses and flashes > > 6. Carry twice the film and batteries you think youll need. > > 7. Use flash cord if possible not hot shoe and test > flash sync between every roll of film/ > > 7a. Use alkiline or lithium batteries for flash, > nicads run out to fast. Change when recycle gets too long > . Dont be cheap with film OR batteries. > > 8. Constantly check that camera is set to flash > sync speed as you shoot. On many cameras its too > easy to bump speed setting > > 9. Shoot film and hand over exposed rolls at end. > If you take to lab and they screw it up YOU will be blamed. > Let them pick lab. > > 10. Shoot two of every critical shot or many more when photographing > groups. All too often someone blinks. > > 11. Use Fuji NPH 400 and use EI of 200. This gives you more room > for exposure errors. The results at EI 200 are gorgeous. > Use 36 exposure rolls for obvious reasons. Make sure all > film is from same emulsion batch. > > 12. If your using 35mm SLR which i recommend, dont attempt > fill flash outdoors. Use open shade lightling without flash. > I used a 28-105 F4 lens which is ideal, but it can be > hard to focus. Thats why 400 speed film and small apertures are a must. > > 13. Ceremony is difficult, get position behind pastor if allowed so you > can shoot faces of bride/groom and also get aisle shots. But dont > attempt aisle shots too long, flash has limits... > > 14. Reception - ALWAYS take table groups shots BEFORE food is > served, afterwards tables will be too messy. > > 15. Get pix of band or DJ, ( my book didnt suggest this > but its nice). > > Then theres the OBVIOUS!!!!! > > 16. MAKE SURE film is advancing after loading. > > 17. Dont forget to rewind BEFORE opening camera back! > > > Thats all I can recall off hand, > I'm sure I forgot a ton of stuff, its been > 10 years since I did one. > GOOD LUCK > JCO > - Argh! Seventeen points to burn into my brain.
Many voices about buying a book. I will have to find that one! Thanks JCO Petter - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
