bmattock
Veteran
My friends:
Please forgive the off-topic post (as well as the others I've made of late). I was asked to shoot my first wedding, I accepted, and I needed help. I turned to my friends on RFF and you didn't let me down. I got great advice, I listened, and I think it may have all come down to one word - success!
I have in my trembling hands 9 rolls of Kodak 400NC film - most exposed through a Canon FTbN and Canon T60 SLR with a Canon 50mm f1.4 SSC or Vivitar Series 1 90mm f2.5 lens. Most shots were at f5.6, 1/60th and 1/4 power on a Vivitar 285HV flash bounced off the ceiling of the church (the pastor did not mind, we discussed it ahead of time).
My wife was my able assistant and sherpa - in fact, she was better than that, directing traffic and barking orders where necessary to get dazed and confused wedding participants in the right place at the right time for photos before and after the ceremony. I could not have done it without her.
We went to the church the night before the wedding, for the rehersal. It was there that we got the order of services (just hot off the press) and I went through my shot list, checking flash exposure and everyone's positions - it was very helpful. I brought a small stepladder with me for the services - I was on the altar in the choir area, behind the pianist and overlooking the bride and groom - but they are both taller than I am. So I was able to stand on the ladder and shoot down at them, which I think helped. I was still out of the way of the congregation, I think.
I was also worried, because I shot a few rolls of cheap Walmart Polaroid 200 film at the rehersal, and they scanned very badly - underexposed, the lot of 'em - and grainy, and just plain ugly. I was *so* worried that I had blown everything, since I didn't see the rehersal shots until this morning, AFTER the wedding was in the can. Argh! I didn't get nervous before or during the shoot, it was afterward when I was worried that I had blown the entire thing.
I also found out that shooting a wedding is HARD WORK! Man! We were there at 12:30 - ceremony started at 2:00. We left at 4:00. I was soaked in sweat - my eyes burned the whole time. Very hot up there on the altar, and I was moving around as well. Next time I bring a terrycloth towel or something.
Anyway, I have a power lot of work ahead of me this next week. Hope to get it all scanned and on a DVD-ROM before the end of the week, then the bride and bride's mom can pick out what they want and I'll get prints made and put them in the album, etc. But at the moment, I am called to begin cleaning the house like I promised my wife I would, so I must sign off for now.
Thank you ALL very much for your time and advice - you cannot know how important it all was to me!
Best Regards,
Bill Mattocks
PS - I blew the 'money shot'. The bride and groom are out of focus on the 'kiss' - I got the reverend's face in perfect focus in between them. Oh man.
PPS - And I shot the reception with my Bessa R and Canon Serenar 85mm f1.9 lens - just to keep my RFF credentials!
Please forgive the off-topic post (as well as the others I've made of late). I was asked to shoot my first wedding, I accepted, and I needed help. I turned to my friends on RFF and you didn't let me down. I got great advice, I listened, and I think it may have all come down to one word - success!
I have in my trembling hands 9 rolls of Kodak 400NC film - most exposed through a Canon FTbN and Canon T60 SLR with a Canon 50mm f1.4 SSC or Vivitar Series 1 90mm f2.5 lens. Most shots were at f5.6, 1/60th and 1/4 power on a Vivitar 285HV flash bounced off the ceiling of the church (the pastor did not mind, we discussed it ahead of time).
My wife was my able assistant and sherpa - in fact, she was better than that, directing traffic and barking orders where necessary to get dazed and confused wedding participants in the right place at the right time for photos before and after the ceremony. I could not have done it without her.
We went to the church the night before the wedding, for the rehersal. It was there that we got the order of services (just hot off the press) and I went through my shot list, checking flash exposure and everyone's positions - it was very helpful. I brought a small stepladder with me for the services - I was on the altar in the choir area, behind the pianist and overlooking the bride and groom - but they are both taller than I am. So I was able to stand on the ladder and shoot down at them, which I think helped. I was still out of the way of the congregation, I think.
I was also worried, because I shot a few rolls of cheap Walmart Polaroid 200 film at the rehersal, and they scanned very badly - underexposed, the lot of 'em - and grainy, and just plain ugly. I was *so* worried that I had blown everything, since I didn't see the rehersal shots until this morning, AFTER the wedding was in the can. Argh! I didn't get nervous before or during the shoot, it was afterward when I was worried that I had blown the entire thing.
I also found out that shooting a wedding is HARD WORK! Man! We were there at 12:30 - ceremony started at 2:00. We left at 4:00. I was soaked in sweat - my eyes burned the whole time. Very hot up there on the altar, and I was moving around as well. Next time I bring a terrycloth towel or something.
Anyway, I have a power lot of work ahead of me this next week. Hope to get it all scanned and on a DVD-ROM before the end of the week, then the bride and bride's mom can pick out what they want and I'll get prints made and put them in the album, etc. But at the moment, I am called to begin cleaning the house like I promised my wife I would, so I must sign off for now.
Thank you ALL very much for your time and advice - you cannot know how important it all was to me!
Best Regards,
Bill Mattocks
PS - I blew the 'money shot'. The bride and groom are out of focus on the 'kiss' - I got the reverend's face in perfect focus in between them. Oh man.
PPS - And I shot the reception with my Bessa R and Canon Serenar 85mm f1.9 lens - just to keep my RFF credentials!
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