Weddings.

The wedding is tomorrow at 3pm, good job I checked as I thought it was today. I get to the brides hotel at 1pm to shoot her getting ready etc. I'm not nervous now, just going to go with it, but one thing concerns me.

It's pi-ssing down here, I mean REALLY heavy hard big long fast loud crazy rain. The type of rain that made the planet round in the first place. 😉 And tomorrow at 3pm it's supposed to do the same. Now, after my initial thoughts I'm loving the idea of crazy rain and lets hope we have a hurricane too. But I don't want to get my suit wet, or my gear wet. I can shoot from under an umbrella if I wear a hoody as I can rest the handle in the pocket, I just tried it.

How cheeky would it be to not wear a suit? I can't get hold of the couple, and although they've said it's a chilled 'green' and 'vegetarian' wedding I don't think jeans and hoody would do. 🙂 Can you buy umbrella holding devices?
 
I've not worn a suit to a wedding in decades (including both of mine, 1977 and 1983, or when my father remarried several after the death of my mother). Not jeans, but smart trousers, and Tibetan silk shirts. 'Smart casual' works fine. If it doesn't, maybe you shouldn't go to the wedding.

Just my 2 euro-centimes.

Hey, it'll be OK.

Tashi delek,

R.
 
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Great thread indeed. Today I was invited to shoot a wedding here in Hong Kong. I have only done a few before and last one was 2 years ago. I got 7 weeks to prepare and thanks everybody who contributed to this thread. I learn a lot!
 
I am trying to get info about the venue for reception, I much prefer to shoot 1/8 sec handheld than sync with a flash. Plus my M5 gives me 2 speeds between 1/8 and 1/15 where the newer Ms don't.
 
Larky said:
How cheeky would it be to not wear a suit? I can't get hold of the couple, and although they've said it's a chilled 'green' and 'vegetarian' wedding I don't think jeans and hoody would do. 🙂 Can you buy umbrella holding devices?
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You might be able to deputize a camera-bug guest to hold an umbrella. They might be happy to hang around and watch you work. When we were shooting events, something clean, pressed, long-sleeved and dark was always acceptable. Neckties and jackets get in the way unless you're used to them and most people won't care. Wear loose stuff you can move around in.

Keep your eyes open and try to relax. 😉
 
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Joe Brugger said:
You might be able to deputize a camera-bug guest to hold an umbrella. They might be happy to hang around and watch you work. When we were shooting events, something clean, pressed, long-sleeved and dark was always acceptable. Neckties and jackets get in the way unless you're used to them and most people won't care. Wear loose stuff you can move around in.

Keep your eyes open and try to relax. 😉
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Sport Coat and Microfiber tie, to wipe your lens. ;-) You know Mr. Gandy will have that up on the web site soon, I want credit. ;-)

And you should be able to get one friend who wants a free meal and some possible hook ups to come along and gopher for you.


J
 
I would never wear a suit to shoot a wedding again, I was so hot and uncomfortable.

I've started upping the pics to my flickr account, link below. It'll be a few days before they chosen noes are up, the final post edits are done etc. I stick pics on flickr and use the amount of views etc as a way to judge which people prefer. So my flickr account is always a work in progress. 🙂
 
Blend of reportage, and posed. Very nice looking bride, good angles, don't be shy about moving folks out of your way, you were "official" and RHIP.

Good eye on the right moments.

Certainly you gave her a terrific gift.

Don't give up on the suit, just get a lighter weight and leave it unbuttoned, ;-).

If you do have a go at shooting more, there are people at the wedding that are looking at you.

John
 
Great work! The pictures I saw on flickr are very candid and well framed.

So you obviously used the D200, but what about the Contax G1, SP35 Oly, Polaroid and Ricoh GX-100 cameras you were planning to take? Did you use these as well?

Was the mantra "less is more" applicable to your experience?

Also, did you shoot slide film as you initially intended to??

Kev
 
Hello.

Less is more was exactly how I'd describe it. I used the Polaroid for one shot, the first after they had signed the paperwork, I did it so that I could give them the first shot of their new life on the day, they liked that.

I took the Ricoh, the D200 which I used for 99% of the shots. If I did it again I'd just take the D200 and the D300 I'd buy if I were to do these things and charge. If I were to do more for free to build a portfolio I'd shoot with the SP35 also. I learned to take 4x as many batteries and storage as you think you'll need. 🙂

Thank you for the comments, please feel free to give critique and suggest alterations.
 
The photos I've seen so far on your flickr site look very nice to me. Last year in october I shot a wedding myself, but on colour film with just a Leica M4, a 50 and a 85mm lens (ok and a p&s camera for the party in the dark).
I myself would have chosen b&w film, but that was not my decision. I can not post shots from back then, since my old computer died and I did not put them on disc or external harddrive.:bang:

However, there seem to be a few out there to be able to do this "reportage" style on weddings, another example is "Brett", whose shots appeared in the last issue of LFI magazine.
 
great threat indeed. i just did my first wedding and the advice found here was greatly appreciated, especially "less is more" (i took too much gear, and only a fraction of shots on film).
someone mentioned to get advice from the best man, or whoever knows the party well, so not to miss the (possibly unphotogenic) favourite aunt. staying away from the booze is a good one as well - and keep on shooting and moving and shooting and moving.
since the wedding was in greece it would have been good to have been at the dress rehersal - it is difficult and nerve wrecking if you don't understand the customs, not to mention language, to give you clues as to what happens next....
thanks again

k
 
I do shoot a lot of loose docu type shots at some weddings where I know some of the people involved but keep out of the way of the pro who will at least produce something for the couple whereas I take such chances that it is more often miss than hit.
Anyway, with the pro getting the safe shots I can feel free to take anything than catches my eye. I need little gear; just the m4 with 35m lens instantly ready to shoot.
I realise this might not apply to you but I thought I'd throw it in amongst the many excellents replies. Good luck with the shoot.
 
1 week away from the wedding and I met the bride and groom today as well as paid a visit to the venue. They are really relaxed about it but my fear is; the wedding may not be organized enough. I'm trying to get a hold of the best man an see if I can get a run down/schedule. Also most of the shots will be indoors and I will face quite a bit of back lighting; I'll avoid flash if I could. Also I may shoot film for the ceremony and digital for the banquet.
Any last minute advice? Thanks.
Cheers,
D
 
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