Wedding Photography

[Eastside Parkway]

So after doing wedding videography for the past 6 years, I decided this week to shift into photography instead. I enjoy photography quite a bit more and I think that I'm better at it than I am at the video end. Plus I think there's a better market for wedding photography... not everyone wants a video, but EVERYONE wants photos.

I've been to a ton of weddings, so I'm pretty familiar how it all goes. I'm also a fairly experienced photographer. However, most of my experience is with candids, so the only thing I'm a little unsure about are the portraits. I was wondering if anyone could offer any advice as to how they set these up, in terms of lighting, arrangements (bride-groom, bride-groom with parents, bride-groom with wedding party, etc) and anything else that might be important for me to know.

Thanks a bunch!!

[egproductions]

I went the same direction as you. After 6 years of event video I tried to do photography. More demand and less time spent working to pay ratio. I gotta say though photography is a lot more demanding to do professionally. It can be very unforgiving if something with your setup or equipment is wrong. Part of this reason is that people expect a lot more out of photography than they do video. People are more trained to it and there are more standard ways of doing things. Lighting is so important in event photography since you will have to use a lot of flash. My first suggestion is to protect yourself in case a lighting situation occurs that you can't overcome (ie. your flash breaks or there is no good way to light a room) I would have a least one really fast lens that you can use without a flash in case you have to. If you have to shoot without flash at a high ISO is better to shoot at 1600 and have a slight over exposure than to shoot at 800 with a underexposure. Always shoot Raw.
In terms of formal portrait variations you have should do many different combinations of immediate family and make sure to do this all before the reception because you don't want your couple sweaty. Bring someone along to direct family members because you have to be quick while arranging people. diffused lighting is important and you have to really learn how to use remote flash setups. The bride should have special attention given to her and her dress. Take her to different locations and really give her a lot of fun and intersting head shots. Don't forget to smile and be happy it can really effect your shoot.
Good Luck.

[Zim]

start going to wedding photographers websites and see what they are doing. You can get a lot of ideas from doing that.

Also ask the bride and groom what pictures they want. Don't miss the big pictures. The kiss, cutting the cake etc. Take lots of pictures. It is tough work really.

[MattinSTL]

It's tough work but if you think taking pics at a wedding is hard... try shooting video. As far as the work load goes... stills are about 10x easier... and that's no exaggeration.

Personally I think shooting wedding photos is ALMOST fun... but I've never enjoyed videotaping a single wedding yet. I consider it a favor every time... and afterwards I can hardly get to sleep from being so wound up.

A wedding is way harder to videotape then an indi-film. There's not one professional actor in the bunch and once the action starts it's 100% out of your hands... you either do a good job as it unfolds or you don't.

At least with stills you can burst through several moments all day... snapping a burst of 5+ shots during anything important... and chances are, if your gear is good... that you'll have something nice. Videotaping requires each shot to be planned and your position to be committed through the entire "take".

You could do an ok job photographing a wedding with one camera and a few good lenses... but for videotaping you really NEED two cameras... and ideally a second cameraman on the second camera.

Finally... and this is the part that's really nuts... wedding photographers... good ones... are pulling down some pretty serious jack on that day. Locally I know a couple who gross $5k-7k for their package... even after figuring GENEROUS overhead costs (including second shooter, etc.) you gotta' guess that nets out to somewhere between $1200-$2K PER DAY counting the wedding itself and the editing process afterward.

[after_effects]

MattinSTL I feel the exact same way.

I have done both wedding photography and video. The thing i hate most about video is the workflow afterwards. If you want to do something really good it requires so much more time and rendering. Where in photography I can make a great looking photo in 4-5mins, with no rendering.

Also I only work in PS for photography, but in video i use up to 4 different programs for video.

Another thing that i hate is in photography if you mess up your exposure during the ceremony, you just retake the shot quick. If you change your exposure on video it looks like crap because you need to keep it, instead of throwing it away in photography.

Also i hate the setup time it takes and breaking down, I hate how your mobility is taken away and I really hate how the post process for me takes 2 days in photography to do a really nice job, but takes almost 6 days for video to do something custom and decent.

[alwayslearning]

How much control, as a wedding photographer, do you take over shots? Obviously during the wedding, none ... but before and after? How do you get shots you/she want but also allow folks to do their own thing? Especially before if time is an issue? Sure timeliness matters but certain shots ... most shots, can only be had once.

Input appreciated as I have my first wedding to photograph. I've done wedding videos since 1994 and while there are similarities, the more I look into it, the more I realize it is a whole different animal. I'm not too concerned about all the "standard" shots, it's more the "candid", real or contrived that I wonder about.

Thanks,
Larry

[after_effects]

always, do u have any links to samples of wedding videos u have done in the past?

[DivotDan]

I'm in the same boat. I've always loved photography, and I'm ready for a change.

Too bad I have 7 weddings in the can and seemingly endless Vegas time lines waiting for me. May was a busy month!

[poopnoodle]

amen after_effects. thats why i ended my pursuit of videography. the results and the time involved in photography seem much more rewarding, while allowing the more lattitude in your creativity.

[WaveRiderXIX]

I do both. But started with just video.
Actually, you can make more money doing still photography.

My quick write-up.

Photography is physically more demanding the day of.
However, less post-work. You touch up some zits here and there. Some blurs & BW filters to some etc... Books on the other hand are a different story with prints.
You have to worry about more and be aware of what is going on more in photography.
Gotta make sure you get all the shots in a crunched time frame.
Also, if schedules are running behind, sometimes the church or venue will assume and blame the photographers for being late.

Video, you can get by with a tri-pod most the day. But you do need lights for the camera.
However, MUCH more post work involved with video.

*rules*
Never shoot a wedding with only 1 still camera.
Strongly- recommend an assistant.

Personally, when I do video, I don't worry as much as when I get hired as a photographer. Which is why I only take jobs as a secondary photographer now and just charge by the hour with a 2 hour minimum. Only 10 pics touched up no prints.

[WaveRiderXIX]

How much control, as a wedding photographer, do you take over shots? Obviously during the wedding, none ... but before and after? How do you get shots you/she want but also allow folks to do their own thing? Especially before if time is an issue? Sure timeliness matters but certain shots ... most shots, can only be had once.

Thanks,
Larry

Usually photographer has control. But that's where you work in a happy medium with the video crew. The shots you/he/she wants is something you have to consult with the couple about.

With video, they give you an itinerary of the day and you work with that.
With photography, they meet with you and you both decide the itinerary for the day so you get the time you need them.

Personally, I ALWAYS encourage the couple to take pics with the bridal party or family before the ceremony. That way, when the ceremony ends, you don't have to rip them apart from everyone congratulating them and crying and hugging and letting the emotions run naturally. And you can shoot your "candids".

Where as if I shoot the portraits right after, I don't get the "candids" from natural smiles and emotions etc...

[after_effects]

WaveRiderXIX, I feel the same way. It boils down to having more stress on the wedding day with photography, or having more stress later in post with video.

[ImagineFilmCompany]

Do one for $500.00 bucks and go up from there. That's the best way to learn the game. Always try new things, but get your safe shots first.

[after_effects]

500? For photography start or video?

[Jeremy Ordan]

I've posted my experience with weddings before... maybe a little too much.

My progression was as an assistant, to lead photographer for a local company, to eventually doing my business exclusively on referral.... Since I have gotten engaged I want nothing to do with anyone else's wedding so I'm taking a break (BTW: make sure that you collect your 20% referral rates when you give your gig to another shooter).

When I photograph a wedding I control my shots and thus far have never had a run in with a videographer. I don't know if there is an unwritten code or because I charge more than the videographer, but my requests take priority. A lot of that could also come down to my personality.

Shot order:
1. Bride getting ready
2. Groom getting ready
3. Bridal party
4. Grooms men
5. Location, detail shots
6. Ceremony
7. Group shots of family and top priority portraits (have them fill out your questionaire of what you must capture)
7. Second Priority shots off questionaire
8. As man 3rd priority shots until entrance
9. Wedding party entrance
10. Table shots
11. First Dance, Father Daughter dance, Son Mother dance
12. Table Shots (cont.)
13. Speech
14. Cake
15. Candids until time runs out on contract (normally 1.5 hours into reception)

Your questionaire is your best friend... that and an assistant, 2nd camera, and high speed zooms.

Weddings, to me, are a race, you shoot a lot, you shoot fast, and you make sure that you nail it the first time. I shoot in cont. high and get 5 shots (my D200 is 5FPS) of every pose, and in post delete the ones I am not happy with. This has saved me a lot.

There are several great workshops out there but the number one key to growing wedding photography as a business is to sell your prints/album services. There are great seminars on this. And please, never GIVE your digital negatives away unless you negotiate that figure. Your services extend far beyond the actual ceremony.

Just some random thoughts :)

[alwayslearning]

Thanks much Jeremy for your "random thoughts". Some of what you said may be just common sense, but when one is getting started in wedding photography, it can seem overwhelming (it MUST be right ... no wedding re-do's) and so it is too easy to miss something that afterwards would send someone into smacking their forehead and saying a loud DUH!

Larry

[holymexicobatman]

i love random thoughts... :)

[after_effects]

Jeremy do you do any candids after the ceremony but before the reception?

[Ken K]

Wow, some great info here! This will be a good thread to bookmark.

I did video for a friend's wedding once and I will never do that again. Not only is not fun because all of your friends are having a good time and you're working your butt off, but there IS just so much work to be done during AND after the wedding. Then I did a bunch of unofficial photography at another friend's wedding, even though I was a groomsman. At no point did I feel left out and it was just so much more fun shooting stills and getting some great candid shots.

I'm interested in possibly doing some wedding photography and this thread has been very informative. :)

[WaveRiderXIX]

Do one for $500.00 bucks and go up from there. That's the best way to learn the game. Always try new things, but get your safe shots first.

This may disagree with others here, but my motto is... when it comes to weddings... it's all or nothing.

That being said, I wouldn't charge a cheap price unless it were my best friends.
I honestly rather do stuff for free than charging anything under $1500.00.

If you charge $500, you become in debt to the couple... and if you aren't experienced on the business aspect of weddings and contracts, that $500 can cost you money.

Did you factor in gas? time/liability costs? Tape stock? Hard drive space? Bringing out your assistant? tax? What about the lunch and dinners you'll have to buy over the next 2-6 weeks of editing? Sometimes 3-6 months if you are busy?

And then you deliver something only to get a response of a couple that wasn't so happy with what you delivered... and now they want their money back.

No, that never happened to me (knock on wood) but I know TONS of people who had to go through it. Photography is the same, except with photography, if the family pays for it, there is ALOT more people who want pictures than just the couple. So you may be able to make money off extended family. Depends how you setup your business model.

Once I finish Summer, I am over weddings and cashing out to get a D3, and go back to the fashion world.

[after_effects]

Another thing i forgot to mention. The end product in photography I am always proud of, but when it comes to video I always feel ashamed. Mostly because i always think back to my production days and how the finished product of a show or movie always looked awesome, but a one man wedding video looks well, like a one man wedding video. You can get away nicely doing photography as a one man show.