What not to do at a wedding

[Ash]

Just developed a strip of film from the wedding I had to photograph yesterday,

I was using a EOS-1D-mkII for the majority of the time, but I brought my Zorki-4k along, hoping to get a few vintage feeling shots. thanks to RJ I bulk loaded myself some Ilford Pan F+ 50.

So yes, what NOT to do. The first photo here shows everything that could go wrong shooting at a wedding, especially with a rangefinder.

-Pressure plate had got knocked, so you may be able to see the line about 2/3 the way down horizontally.
-Composition is totally off - parallax error with rangefinder
-Catching the subjects totally off guard. Vacant look from the bride, closed eyes from bridesmaid, groom is speaking to the best man, who has their back to the camera!

Of course, other criticisms are totally welcome. The positive thing I can say is, RJ you are amazing - I am in love with Pan F+ now!

I've also included a couple extra photo's that aren't as bad, kinda trying the classic wedding photo style. Slightly photoshopped (emulating graded paper etc).

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

So yes, what NOT to do.

Three rules:

1 Do not fondle the bride.

2 Do not fondle the groom.

3 Put the film in the camera right, focus right, expose correct for white dress and black suit, compose nice and next week take them round some nice prints and let them pay for the Chicken Tikka Masala.

(I think you did OK on No. 3)

 

[Socke]

So you could have done another thing not to do at a wedding, taking the bride upstairs to an unused bedroom while you're not the groom 🙂

 

[back alley]

never drink while photographing a wedding.

fuzzy pictures...😉

 

[Andy K]

Personally I would have used a faster film. Delta 100 or FP4+, maybe even up to HP5+. I have some Pan F in the fridge. I will not be getting it out until summer has properly arrived, the light at the moment is simply too dull for an ISO 50 film.

 

[Will]

So you could have done another thing not to do at a wedding, taking the bride upstairs to an unused bedroom while you're not the groom 🙂

You are too naughty, Socke!

 

[Will]

Personally I would have used a faster film. Delta 100 or FP4+, maybe even up to HP5+. I have some Pan F in the fridge. I will not be getting it out until summer has properly arrived, the light at the moment is simply too dull for an ISO 50 film.

Andy, do you use a tripot with the Pan F?

 

[Andy K]

Andy, do you use a tripot with the Pan F?

Somtimes. It depends on where and what I am shooting. But come summertime the light is good enough to easily shoot handheld.

The attached were shot on a tripod.

 

[kmack]

Never get into a drinking contest with the grooms mother.....

With a little judicious cropping and maybe some toning, shots two and three have a lot of potential. Even shot one, which really can not stand on its own has potential with the correct caption.

 

[lushd]

I was in my local camera shop a few years ago. There was a photographer in despair - one of his pictures of a happy couple who had paid him plenty, had a very rude word spray painted on the church wall in the background (why didn't he see it?). The nice lady took it off him and said she would photoshop it for him. Imagine spending the rest of your life looking at the word "F**k" in your wedding pics?

 

[MelanieC]

A couple of weeks ago my brother got married. There was an official photographer (giant Canon dSLR in hand) but I took pictures with my M3 (mostly), Rollei (three rolls) and D70s (not much).

I got the 120 developed at a lab and determined to do the 35mm at home, but have been too chicken to do it because I'm afraid I'll mess up. I've been developing my own at home and am satisfied with the results, but none of what I've developed so far has been important, and at the wedding I shot a bunch of Neopan 400 and 1600, which I'm not used to working with and which I understand can be tricky to develop. I'm less afraid to develop the Tri-X.

Anyway, here's a scan of a contact sheet from the Rollei. Sorry for the crap resolution. There's nothing innovative here, but I like them anyway and I think they're worth having. Basically what I did here was follow the official photographer around and get different angles from what she was setting up, and then I set up some of my own shots. The latter tend to be the ones I like best. Pictured are my brother, his now-wife, and my mom.

 

[Socke]

I was in my local camera shop a few years ago. There was a photographer in despair - one of his pictures of a happy couple who had paid him plenty, had a very rude word spray painted on the church wall in the background (why didn't he see it?). The nice lady took it off him and said she would photoshop it for him. Imagine spending the rest of your life looking at the word "F**k" in your wedding pics?

Hm, maybe I take the hint and act acordingly? There was a reason for mariage except saving taxes, wasn't there? :angel:

 

[back alley]

i think the worst thing i ever did at a wedding was ...to get married.

a few times...a few weddings...🙂

joe

 

[Socke]

I've been asked to shoot weddings several times but I allways declined.

I'd mess up big time!

A friend did that for another of our friends and he had no fun on the wedding, allways busy getting people to pose for the formals where he had set up the lighting, when we had fun during the reception he was looking for informal shots and and and.

No, you have to be very profesional to do that.

 

[amateriat]

Well, one of my "dont's" involves using more than one camera format. Since I only shoot 35mm (and almost entirely RFs at that), no problem. The last two weddings I shot (arm twisted severely by the bride in each case, since I shy away from doing wedding stuff) were b/w, PJ-style (as requested...I could get used to shooting weddings if I could do it this way only), and all went largely well.


- Barrett

 

[Will]

Somtimes. It depends on where and what I am shooting. But come summertime the light is good enough to easily shoot handheld.

The attached were shot on a tripod.

Love the texture on the stone wall...

When I develop my own B&W (someday), then I will use this baby...

i think the worst thing i ever did at a wedding was ...to get married.

a few times...a few weddings...🙂

joe

Joe, I am young, you are scaring the shit out of me...

 

[back alley]

Joe, I am young, you are scaring the shit out of me...


excellent!

 

[iñaki]

I will never shoot a wedding, because I´m no a pro, but I like doing some photos (or rolls) only for fun, and an album or a big print is always well received 😛 .
Of course, only b&w.

 

[jlw]

I think you were smart to have the DSLR for all the "conventional" shots, but I also think you did well with the photos you posted -- the bride and groom might enjoy them as an alternative view of the proceedings. They have a "historical" look that goes nicely with the background and the style of the men's apparel.

 

[Ash]

Thanks for all the responses. Its great to have some feedback.

Of course I'm only 18, this was the second wedding and its a bit daunting having a hundred people with P&S camera's trying to get in your way, and bucking up the confidence to move people into place. I left my photo's to be the alternate angles, as it can give a bit of interest, rather than the square on shots.

I think next wedding I'll remember a lightmeter as well!