Jenn M
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Mar 5, 2007, 1:05 PM
Post #1 of 10
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Our first semi-real wedding - the (long) review
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Hello all!
Shot our first full photo-only gig on Saturday, and it was great! But man alive am I so S-O-R-E sore. My thighs are killing me. I have to get back into shape and start doing some squats! My arms, wrists, back and shoulders feel fine though - unlike when I get home from a video job. This all makes sense to me b/c one thing I notice w/ photo is I'm moving around much more than with video, mainly during the reception. With video, I get up on my step stool and pretty much stay put, relying on camera zoom to get me across the dance floor. But the constant video shooting kills my back and whole upper half! It was nice to put the camera down once in a while.
The day started off a little rocky - bride was late getting to the hotel and then when she finally did get there - she wanted to go out for a smoke and didn't want to get dressed right away. She thought photos w/ the bmaids, etc. would take about 5 to 10 mins. and then she could take her dress off again to hang out. I had this conversation with her at least 2 times before - the schedule and how things fly by, etc - but she didn't retain much of it. She wasn't our typical bride - so that made it more difficult. Like our first job back in October - she wasn't going to hire a real photog - she was just going to have a friend snap some photos. Her DJ hooked us up. That's why I call this a semi-real wedding - we did it for $500, all print credit, BUT she went through all the motions on the wedding day. Booked it last fall when we were trying anything and everything to get some experience.
I'm so glad we did it, though. She prepped at the hotel. Had the quickest damn ceremony EVER at the reception venue (less than 10 mins which kinda sucked), and then a full reception, with formal photos in between. (Our first wedding only had a dinner reception - no dancing or reception formalities.)
I had a blast - I really did enjoy working with everyone. And I got REALLY good practice at 'crowd control!' A low budget wedding with a bunch of drunk groomsmen and crass bridesmaids (belching, boob-grabbing and all) - if that doesn't break you in, what will?
At one point, one bmaid said to me, "Boy - you guys sure are more laid back than my photographer was..." We asked who it was and it turned out to be one that we haven't worked with for years b/c he's so miserable and HATES videographers and just about everyone else. (Can't figure out WHY he shoots weddings.) Anyway, she said the pictures were fine but he was so annoying and rude - she eventually told him to get the F away from her.  Her review didn't surprise me at all. I've heard it a hundred times before.
Here's some things I learned that helped either build my confidence or made me aware for the next time, things I thought might be helpful to other photo-only newbs:
1) Having a background in weddings totally helps! I already knew having backup equipment and everything else is a must. Apparently one of our sets of rechargeable batteries didn't charge and 5 or 6 shots into prep, my flash died. So we changed batteries and kept on going, but it kind of thru us off b/c we were down a set from the start. We stopped and bought some more 'just in case' on the way to the ceremony. Also, Brian used the Quantum pack for the reception - he said, though it made his shoulder sore, it seemed to help with recycle time. I went without it and didn't notice much of a problem, and I was the 'main' photog. BUT I also changed to a fresh set of alkalines right before the reception started - again 'just in case.'
2) If you ask, they will listen. As the videographer, we are so accustomed to capturing moments as they happen. With photo, b/c there is no movement, you sometimes can't get the perfect angle or expression b/c it's frozen (obviously, da). But by the end of the night, I felt more confident in asking subjects to turn in a specific direction, or change their posture to better suit the photo. I wished I had done more of this from the start of the day. I'm not a huge fan of posing everything - I do like some true PJ. But for some things, it is better to offer 'guidance' or direction. And people are much more willing to cooperate with the photographer b/c it's quick and painless - unlike video, where you need to capture about 10-20 seconds for it to be useful. BUT that's the key - make it quick and painless. This comes with practice. Brian is a little slow at composing his shot and snapping the shutter. For some things, like formals, that may be more acceptable. But during the reception, for example, people just want to have fun, so don't hold them up. Get in, get the shot, and get out.
3) It helps to have a game plan. Before the wedding, I sat down and wrote out all the family groupings, in an order I thought would be effecient to execute. Eventaully this may become natural, but to start off, I wanted to have a plan in mind. I was so glad I did that, b/c it saved me so much time and when the couple turned to me and asked, 'What do we do' or 'Who do we need for this one?' I had an immediate answer. I ended up not pulling the list out during the photo shoot b/c I had memorized it, but it was close by in case I needed it. I checked it later to make sure I didn't miss anything. The only thing I missed was a ring shot - which is no biggie - so I quickly did that during dinner while they were in between courses.
I started with family members (grandparents, esp. so they could go sit down and didn't have to stand around waiting). I took care of those. I discouraged extended family b/c I KNEW I would lose too much time during that short cocktail hour. I learned that lesson with the October wedding. We did waaaay too many family photos that we nearly ran out of time for just the bride and groom. So I told the bride that we could do it during the reception, between courses, as they visited their guests at the table. That ALSO saved time b/c everyone was contained in one place and we didn't have to round them up and wait.
So I made sure to get the bride and maids all before the ceremony; the groom and all the ushers. Then after the ceremony I only needed to do the large groups of bridal party. So we started with family, dismissed them so they could go eat and mingle (b/c really, that's all they care about). Next shot bridal party. Then b/g, moh, and best man. And finally just worked with the couple.
AGain, I was glad I had a game plan and experience shooting weddings, b/c the bride wanted to start with just her and the groom. That would have been a baaaad idea. Also, before the wedding day, I had this discussion with the bride - I told her to designate a 'gofer' - someone to go out and grab individuals, so I didn't lose the bride or groom or any key players. (This is also where it helps to have an assistant - Brian was great at getting equipment I needed, etc. And he didn't mind b/c he wanted no part of organizing formals.) While the gopher gathered people, I might have shot a few detail or solo shots of the b&g. The only thing I missed was not being more 'available' to shoot the spontaneous moments in between the photos - the stuff I usually get on video. sigh. That's where a second shooter would be a nice addition. Brian could have done it if we had more time.
4) Time is a balancing act. Speaking of time, I felt great about keeping on schedule and moving thru the formals quickly, but I was so ramped up that I feel I rushed thru the b/g portraits. I should have glanced at my list, b/c I also jotted down a few couple-shot ideas in case I blanked out. I'm sure I got enough, but we were so ahead of schedule, that I probably could have gotten more of the things on my list. And the bride and groom were fairly willing, though the bride WAS consumed with her next cigarette break. sigh
One thing I did remember to do at this wedding which I didn't do at the last wedding, for lack of time and opporunity, was get a solo shot of the bride and solo shot of the groom. I was surprised to find how easy it was to forget to do this. You get so caught up in making sure you get all the requested group shots, that you lose track of time and overlook the 2 most important people.
5) Don't fear the flash. This might be my own issue. I know most newer photogs use too much flash and don't allow enough ambient light. But I have the opposite problem. I'm not a big fan of the 'miner's helmet' look and therefore, try to minimize the hot look of flash by boucning nearly 100% of the time. This turned out to be a mistake during the ceremony b/c it was dark in there and I was too far from them. I realize that in most ceremony locations, I won't be allowed to use flash anyway, but they usually have some kind of lighting up on the altar. The photos are okay. I don't think the couple will even care, b/c like I said, the ceremony was such a rush, and they never faced one another or hardly looked at each other. (They were both nervous.) But I was hoping to get some decent ceremony shots.
Ceremony - For the most part I shot at 1000 ISO at f4.5 and 30 shutter, boucing flash off the 12 ft. ceiling, with it pointed slightly forward. (OH, and we also made a few Better Bounce cards and used those throughout the day. I'm a fan! The Fong-dong sat quietly at home, waiting for our return.) While I didn't get blur (b/c they hardly moved), the images are rather soft. We will correct for noise using Neat Image.
Oh, and our processional and recessional shots pretty much suck. We practiced for these so many times, but when it comes down to it, argggg - they are the worst part of the ceremony. Apparently I'm not alone - I've read several other photogs complain about them too. Brian shot from the front, I shot from the back - our shutter was too low, b/c we both got some blur. Brian, not as badly b/c he used more flash and he was closer to the subjects when he fired. I should have pointed my flash more directly, and/or used a higher shutter.
Reception - same thing. We can correct the noise in Neat Image (b/c we shot at high ISOs again), but there is more blur than I think should be there. I will post photos soon to show you. My 'tech' guy (Brian) is currently unavailable (working the day job) and I can't figure out half that crap, so as soon as he gets home, we'll work on getting those up. (We had our neice's b-day party yesterday - we were both so annoyed that we couldn't stay home and play! Nerds.)
Again, b/c I shot at such a high ISO and low shutter (keeping apeture somewhere around 4.0 most of the time), AND bounced flash with high ceilings (20+ feet in the reception), my images were soft. AND too often I didn't get close enough to the subject. SO next time, I'll be more careful to throw more flash forward and/or get closer to the subject to 'freeze' them and overpower any unwanted light, such as a DJ's flashing strobe (unless, of course, I'm going for that effect).
OH, and I had the same problem with large-group formals. I should have thrown more light forward. I used fill flash on my camera, and Brian held another flash 45 degrees to the side, both bouncing. The images aren't as sharp as I would like, esp. if they want enlargements. I think I should have had Brian point his flash more directly at the subjects? (Since I don't have umbrellas and all that jazz - just the 2 580EXs - master and slave.) By the way, I was the master, Brian was my slave. ha ha ha 
6) Learn the camera and how the image translates in print. While many of the images looked great in that tiny viewfinder. When we got home and uploaded them and started viewing them, I was disappointed, as mentioned above, to find that many of the images weren't as sharp as I would like. Most of it can be fixed or enhanced in post, but getting it right the first time is obviously more economical and practical.
7) It's easier than video but it's not easy. I never meant to say it was easy, period. I knew there would be challanges and if it's done well, and done right, it's work. But I have to admit, it was so nice not worrying about the audio. It was so nice to have a little downtime between events. And it was so nice to have the banquet manager at my beck and call, asking me if I needed anything, how is the lighting, when am I ready to do this or that? Wierd. But nice. It was nice to have people turn toward my camera, rather than away. It was nice to be able to come upon a moment and not startle it or squelch it with my freakin' video light. I could get in, pop off the shot, and before they realized what was happening, I got what I needed.
8) Timing is key. Getting what you need isn't always a piece of cake though. The most frustrating part was snapping PJ type shots at just the right moment, esp. during dancing - not losing an expression or moment to a random body part flying up in the shot. Not having someone making a goofy face or facing the wrong way. B/c you have no movement to put the shot in context, the image has to stand alone and explain itself. For example, I have a shot of the bride singing at the groom and it looks like she is yelling at him. I don't think it's a good image, but at the time, it was a great moment. (Here's where I prefer video.)
9) And this is the funniest part - videographers ARE a pain in the butt! Well, the family friend ones are. It's amazing - photogs are constantly telling us how there hardly see any videographers at gigs and we shot 2 (low-end) weddings that had videographers.  Granted, both were family friends (FOF), but oi, jeezus. This made me even more annoyed that more photogs aren't nicer to us, b/c we don't do half the crap these guys do. We don't circle around the couple during formal dances or at all really. We don't jump in front of the photog or call attention away from them during formals or group shots. We don't blast our light in people's face.
I had to laugh - I was shooting the bride and groom with extended family during the reception and the video FOF came over and turned on his Sony 10/20 light and one of the aunts put her hand up in front of her face and squinted, grumbling for him to go away. I actually had to tell him to kill the light - I felt like such an ass doing that, but... sigh.
Brian came over to me a few times and gripped how much of a pain this guy was - really nice, but clueless and annoying with the moving around. "No wonder they hate us," he said. I once again reinforced that this is why I want to offer both - so we don't have to deal with that as much. I mean, I know there will still be the FOFs who just can't leave their cameras at home, but we are less likely to run into that if the b&g are paying us to do it - then they won't ask cousin or Uncle Joe to 'videotape' it for them.
Brian is a little freaked out about us having to shoot both, but I still believe it will make things easier overall. Both will be scaled down to a manageable level. We won't both be shooting video, so there will be less crap to go through and we won't need 2 of everything brought in with us. And we won't both be shooting stills, so there won't be as many images to go through and more of what we shoot will count.
We did pretty good yesterday - came home with about 1000 images, which included a lot of crap - some test shots and lots of dancing throw-away stuff. Yesterday morning, I scaled it down to about 550 images which we will run for proofs. Of those, I would say there are about 200 solid useful shots that would be delivered as paper proofs for any other package. (In this case, she only gets a CD of high rez proofs.)
I knew we would have more than we need b/c this was more of a 'learning' experience for us. (By the way, I informed the bride of our situation when she 'hired' us, so she's well aware.)
Sorry my post is sooo long but I wanted to share with those who are on the fence or getting ready to venture out in the same capacity. Photos will follow soon. Any and all feedback or input on my review and/or experience is very welcome.
As always,
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