pesphoto
Veteran
well enjoy the wedding and report back how it goes and show some photos when you can.
NathanJD
Well-known
That i definately will! 
can't wait to have some more shots to show you all
can't wait to have some more shots to show you all 
nikon_sam
Shooter of Film...
My advice is just this...Check and then double check all your gear...check each and every setting...twice...never assume that it's set correctly until you know for sure...
Check, recharge or replace all batteries unless you know for sure they're good and strong...
If you think you might need certain gear take it...even if you leave it in the car it's closer than at home...
After you've done this...take a deep breath...relax and enjoy shooting...
Check, recharge or replace all batteries unless you know for sure they're good and strong...
If you think you might need certain gear take it...even if you leave it in the car it's closer than at home...
After you've done this...take a deep breath...relax and enjoy shooting...
Florian1234
it's just hide and seek
I did the photos at the wedding of a friend about 4 weeks ago. I was nervous as hell, since it was the first time that I had to do something like that.
We at first did the formal shots (the couple alone, then with the family - group shots) and I then took some photos of the other guests and at the ceremony.
For nearly all of the shots on film (later on at the party I used a compact digital camera - which didn't perform that well!) I used my Leica M4 with a 85mm lens and an external viewfinder, the film was Ferrania Solaris 400.
I for myself and also the couple were pretty satisfied with the resulting photos as they came back from the lab.
We at first did the formal shots (the couple alone, then with the family - group shots) and I then took some photos of the other guests and at the ceremony.
For nearly all of the shots on film (later on at the party I used a compact digital camera - which didn't perform that well!) I used my Leica M4 with a 85mm lens and an external viewfinder, the film was Ferrania Solaris 400.
I for myself and also the couple were pretty satisfied with the resulting photos as they came back from the lab.
willie_901
Veteran
bring buckets of flash and camera batteries
the SB-800 is wonderful if you understand and know how to use all its capabilities
use i-TTL and set exposure compensation for the circumstances
the key is to balance the ambient and strobe light to avoid the nuclear explosion syndrome that's easy to get with a powerful strobe like the SB-800... use as much ambient as possible
shutter speed controls ambient light contribution, aperture controls strobe light contribution
avoid B-TTL unless the the subject(s) are lower light than the background
use a shutter speed of 1/125 or faster... I use M mode
on the other hand you can get interesting motion effects by dragging the shutter
dragging the shutter is also useful when the subject(s) are not moving
do you have a flash bracket? placing the strobe above the lens reduces red eye and minimizes harsh shadows
watch out for reflections from the strobe head
you got lots of good advice about bouncing the flash, do it
in high dynamic range situations bracket exposure
since it will be dark, use the AF focus assist on the SB-800 (this also eats batteries)
I like using the AF button on the back of the camera instead of the shutter button, but a wedding is probably not the right time to learn and adjust to this method
avoid off-camera strobe use unless you have Pocket Wizards or other pro-level remote triggers
Nikon CLS is very powerful, but the IR control can be unreliable if you are not in a stable environment (like a studio)
shoot people at tables during the reception before the food is served
expect Uncle Bob and Aunt Betty to get in your way and steal shots
learn who are immediate family and very close friends, then be firm with everyone else who impedes your work with their P&S cameras and video cams
it is important that the bride understands that your ability to produce great photos depends on everyone understanding that your shots come first, but she has to deal with immediate family and very close friends
at the least, she has to understand that there will be people in the photos she doesn't want in those photos if she's not willing to intervene in your behalf
as many others have advised, a must-have shot list that the bride has approved is essential
the SB-800 is wonderful if you understand and know how to use all its capabilities
use i-TTL and set exposure compensation for the circumstances
the key is to balance the ambient and strobe light to avoid the nuclear explosion syndrome that's easy to get with a powerful strobe like the SB-800... use as much ambient as possible
shutter speed controls ambient light contribution, aperture controls strobe light contribution
avoid B-TTL unless the the subject(s) are lower light than the background
use a shutter speed of 1/125 or faster... I use M mode
on the other hand you can get interesting motion effects by dragging the shutter
dragging the shutter is also useful when the subject(s) are not moving
do you have a flash bracket? placing the strobe above the lens reduces red eye and minimizes harsh shadows
watch out for reflections from the strobe head
you got lots of good advice about bouncing the flash, do it
in high dynamic range situations bracket exposure
since it will be dark, use the AF focus assist on the SB-800 (this also eats batteries)
I like using the AF button on the back of the camera instead of the shutter button, but a wedding is probably not the right time to learn and adjust to this method
avoid off-camera strobe use unless you have Pocket Wizards or other pro-level remote triggers
Nikon CLS is very powerful, but the IR control can be unreliable if you are not in a stable environment (like a studio)
shoot people at tables during the reception before the food is served
expect Uncle Bob and Aunt Betty to get in your way and steal shots
learn who are immediate family and very close friends, then be firm with everyone else who impedes your work with their P&S cameras and video cams
it is important that the bride understands that your ability to produce great photos depends on everyone understanding that your shots come first, but she has to deal with immediate family and very close friends
at the least, she has to understand that there will be people in the photos she doesn't want in those photos if she's not willing to intervene in your behalf
as many others have advised, a must-have shot list that the bride has approved is essential
Sparrow
Veteran
If you really must do it then herding cats, and talking loudly is good practice, and don’t let them know how you feel. They can smell fear.
This place is good when you need to accurately control the album printing, don’t forget that’s what it’s all about “The Album” that’s what you’re there for. I'm no Pro but if I’m left with no way to avoid it I’ve had reasonably results with these two,
http://www.proamimaging.com/index.html
http://www.jorgensenalbums.com/jorgensen-albums/Home.cms?ident=HOME&analyticsLink=LI_A_Menu
This place is good when you need to accurately control the album printing, don’t forget that’s what it’s all about “The Album” that’s what you’re there for. I'm no Pro but if I’m left with no way to avoid it I’ve had reasonably results with these two,
http://www.proamimaging.com/index.html
http://www.jorgensenalbums.com/jorgensen-albums/Home.cms?ident=HOME&analyticsLink=LI_A_Menu
swoop
Well-known
Psh. You're never going to need that tripod.
Dave Wilkinson
Veteran
I used to shoot a few weddings, back in 'film days' - with a Yashicamat and a couple of Nikkormats, the last one I did, a couple of years ago was made a lot easier by the Fuji S3 pro. Nowadays the hordes of digicam 'photographers' milling around, make life difficult! - and you have to be 'boss', but in a polite and tactfull way - of course!.....Good luck!
Dave.
Dave.
shadowfox
Darkroom printing lives
shadowfox
Darkroom printing lives
OurManInTangier
An Undesirable
Looks like you'll be covering the wedding right about now Nathan...I hope it's going well for you. Plenty of excellent advice here....being the boss, politely, is truly necessary when dealing with any large group of people. If you got that bit right you'll have given yourself time to think and that allows you to get everything else right.
Best of luck and looking forward to seeing some shots.
Cheers
Best of luck and looking forward to seeing some shots.
Cheers
robbert
photography student
Great advice! I'm sure to use it when I'll shoot my cousin's wedding in March next year