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Home: Video University Forums: Digital Photography for Videographers:
My first wedding as photographer

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Jenn M
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Feb 1, 2008, 10:50 AM

Post #26 of 37 (1317 views)
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Re: [Postal Boy] My first wedding as photographer [In reply to]	Can't Post

That's how I learned to pay closer attention too = coming home and looking at the images. I had read some books and some online articles, but until you put it into practice and see how the tiniest adjustment can make a huge difference - and I still don't really control every movement as I like it to look somewhat natural (made that mistake, too - got too technical) but simple things can help.

Another corny thing that helps is actually posing in the mirror and making note of what you are doing to make yourself look better.

Great job though!
-Jenn

Brackish
Veteran

Feb 1, 2008, 6:36 PM

Post #27 of 37 (1312 views)
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Re: [Postal Boy] My first wedding as photographer [In reply to]	Can't Post

I just worked with a photog who was fanatical about telling them their posed feet "have to be at a 45 degree angle". So you can add that to your bag of tricks. Smile

----------------------------------------------
"We'll always show up at the wedding with a gift bag for the bride. Inside we have these incredible fuzzy slippers in the teal of our branding."

Jenn M
Veteran

Feb 2, 2008, 10:30 AM

Post #28 of 37 (1306 views)
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Re: [Postal Boy] My first wedding as photographer [In reply to]	Can't Post

Great lighting. Where did you get that dual T mount for the flashes?
We opted for the Pocket Wizards instead of relying on the Canon IR. They're more relyable but the Canon works great at close range when the re's no time to set up the Pocket Wizrds.
We had to buy a special cord to use the Pocket Wizards on the Canons.

Brian M

Postal Boy
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Feb 2, 2008, 5:10 PM

Post #29 of 37 (1294 views)
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Re: [Jenn M] My first wedding as photographer [In reply to]	Can't Post

The posing books go into a lot of the "why they are angled this way" and have samples of straight on and angled. I don't know that 45 degrees EXACTLY is a standard though Tongue

I don't recall where I got the flash mount. It came with the shoot-through umbrella, and I think the umbrella and the mount were less than 50 bucks combined. So far it has been kind of handy.

-Postal

rkorb
Novice

Feb 8, 2008, 10:35 AM

Post #30 of 37 (1256 views)
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Re: [Postal Boy] My first wedding as photographer [In reply to]	Can't Post

I know i'm late in this conversation but I have always traditionally shot video at weddings. Only recently have I gotten interested in photographing weddings. It's always been for friends and family that had no expectations of what would turn out. Not that I want to jump ship completely to photography, it's a refreshing switch to see both sides. I think its going to make me become a better videographer because at least in my opinion with video you can cheat so much more than photography. I feel like I have to work harder with photography, maybe just because i'm not as familiar with it.

Just my two cents. Enjoyed the photos.

Rob

---

Rob Korb

Memories Forever Video Productions
4EVER GROUP AFFILIATE

Postal Boy
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Feb 8, 2008, 1:28 PM

Post #31 of 37 (1250 views)
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Re: [rkorb] My first wedding as photographer [In reply to]	Can't Post

I figure I can cheat more with videography, but have to pay much more attention to what is going on all of the time because of the "continuous nature" of video. Photography does require keeping track of many more "items", such as "to do" lists, though. In post production, hands down videography is much more difficult and time consuming. My first wedding was sorted, processed, and ready to put on the web in less than 2 days. My second, after a week - and that is because my day job flew me out of town for 3 days during the week.

Different focus, that is for sure.

Postal Boy
Veteran

Feb 13, 2008, 2:45 PM

Post #32 of 37 (1190 views)
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Re: [Postal Boy] My first wedding as photographer [In reply to]	Can't Post

Found the flash mount...it was at B&H

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/...sku=90003&is=REG

and here is the stand it is on:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/...ku=253074&is=REG

-Postal

WLR
User

Feb 19, 2008, 12:00 AM

Post #33 of 37 (1132 views)
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Re: [Postal Boy] My first wedding as photographer [In reply to]	Can't Post

A thousand images is just NUTS.

Friends don't let friends shoot jpeg.

RustyB
Veteran

Feb 26, 2008, 12:00 AM

Post #34 of 37 (1080 views)
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Re: [Postal Boy] My first wedding as photographer [In reply to]	Can't Post

Shot my first freebie this weekend. It really was a learning experience, not to mention a crash course in using a camera that I purchased 15 hours earlier. Laugh

Bride wanted to hire me for video, but changed her mind when I said I'd do the photos for free. It was a VERY small Orthodox wedding, with a cake & punch reception, so it was perfect for a freebie. I knew my pictures would probably suck, but most importantly I wanted to see what kind of workflow would be required to pull one off.

1. I didn't need to bring 492.7 AA batteries for my flash. Laugh

2. AA don't recharge the flash fast enough anyways...I regretfully sold my hi-power flash power pack to pay the rent a long time ago. Now I need another one. Mad

3. When shooting without a flash, a f2.8-2.5 zoom lens is way too slow, especially since my new Olympus 510 is noisy at ISO1600. The constant f2 35-100mm Olympus lens is now at the top of my wish list...it would be perfect for shooting natural light ceremonies.
4. The in-body IS of the Olympus e-510 is awesome. As for the live-view...I didn't find it useful, but I guess it has its applications.
5. Didn't use a tripod at all...especially since I had the in-body IS. Shot the formals handheld as well.
6. The photographer is the most respected person at the wedding/reception, but just like with video, there is always an Uncle Charlie there who wants to impress you with his gear. Sly

7. One of the most useful new features of the E-510 is that you can lock the buttons on the back of the camera...to keep from accidentally switching the cam to Continuous Auto Focus. Unfortunately, I didn't look into the feature until today...after realizing how many pictures I missed focus on. Crazy

8. I used an omni-bounce type diffuser on my flash, just to keep it simple. All of my flash shots came out crappy...really crappy. Next time I won't use a diffuser, or bring my Demb FlipIIt+Diffuser.
9. It's more stressful than video for me, in a sense that you're EXPECTED to get certain shots, because you have a real shot list of requirements from the customer. This is difficult due to the usual time contraints at a wedding. BUT...
10. The physical requirements of photo versus video is almost silly. Taking handheld snapshots with a little DSLR, versus carrying a car-load of video equipment...not to mention the audio requirements? I didn't need a handfull of painkillers Sunday morning.

Oh yeah, and I was worried about not taking enough pictures. Instead, I came home with SEVERAL HUNDRED...from a very small wedding!! Crazy

It was nice, however, to be able to delete bad ones while you shot, unlike with film. I deleted more when I got home, but still have almost 600 photos! I just did some auto color correcting, and burned them to data disc. It's Monday....and I'm technically done with it. Now I'm just putting together demo stuff with them.

This bride only wanted me to take about 20 pictures. Laugh

Is she going to freak when I give her nearly 600, plus a ton more that have been converted to B&W and some with other cheesy editing?

the People's Video Collective blog
wedding video and the means of production

Shadow
Veteran

Feb 26, 2008, 12:32 AM

Post #35 of 37 (1075 views)
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Re: [RustyB] My first wedding as photographer [In reply to]	Can't Post

Cool! I'm sure you'll do really well at photos, from the few that I have seen on your myspace I think you take great photos.

Think you'll do another freebee or is that the only one?
I learned a lot from my first wedding too that I did for free.

I've started to take less photos now, but it's hard sometimes to tone it down.

Anyway, have fun with it!

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RustyB
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Feb 26, 2008, 12:45 AM

Post #36 of 37 (1072 views)
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Re: [Shadow] My first wedding as photographer [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

I need a lot more practice as far as weddings go, so I may do 1-2 more free ones, or at least do them at a discount. A burn-to-disc photography package at a huge discount is still more profitable than video at regular price. Laugh

the People's Video Collective blog
wedding video and the means of production

Shadow
Veteran

Feb 26, 2008, 1:00 AM

Post #37 of 37 (1068 views)
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Re: [RustyB] My first wedding as photographer [In reply to]	Can't Post

I know it's way more profitable in terms of hours worked vs. how much they pay.
It wouldn't be a killer to do 2 weddings in a weekend either.

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