Taking the plunge, your 1st Wedding shoot.

Someone recently asked:

Hey:
I'm going to have my first wedding shoot of two college friends of mine and I have very little knowledge of photography as well as NO experience! I'm a newbie on lighting, what to look/shoot for, tips, what to expect and be prepared for, what I need to shoot, can you help me out with your thoughts and ideas?

My Reply:

Like any photog newbie, you must concentrate on composition. Like other replies here, look at a LOT of wedding work and read about things like "the rule of thirds."

There's nothing wrong with taking the plunge, but hopefully, you and the B&G will come out of it having more respect for what we seasoned pros are accomplishing.

Put your camera (what kind will you be using??) into Auto mode, and pay attention to what is going on around you. Don't be distracted by the B&G all of the time, there's a lot of emotion surrounding them. Be sure to capture some of that too.

If you are using a DSLR, be sure to have a powerful flash with a swiveling / pivoting head. Always bounce the light off of something like the ceiling or wall, never right at the subject, if you can help it. After you try to bounce the light in that section of the room, have a look at the review screen on your camera and see how it looks, and adjust accordingly. If you like it, then you have a "bounce plan" for that part of the room.

For indoor group shots: Keep the folks AWAY from the wall. For full length groups (head to toe) you could be as far from the wall as the tallest person in the group. You can use less distance if you are composing tighter. This way the shadows fall way down and will not be seen in the photos . . .

Want more?? There's lots . . .

A wedding pro has the experience of attending lots of weddings, seeing what goes on and stepping in if needed. Believe me when I write it, sometimes we can save the day, or hour . . .

Can you bustle a dress because the only Bridesmaid who knows how to do it is mad at her boy friend and stormed out . . .?

Would you know how line up the bridal party for their entrance into the reception because the Banquet manager was arrested an hour ago?

If the Bride starts to throw up, be there for her but you may want to think twice before even raising the camera! However, when she squats down to say hello to her little niece but slips and lands on her butt lauging, how many pics do you take before you help her up? Can you suggest to her that she "do it again for the video guy, because he missed it" and be funny about it?

If there's a blackout, see if the piano in the lobby is tuned, then find out if any guests play. If so, have the staff roll the piano out on to the dance floor . . .

When the professional dancer knocks over a light stand which in turn narrowly misses a guest but knocks over the dried flower centerpiece on the table into the tea candles, setting it on fire . . . What exposure do you use to dramatically capture the flames and the expression on the Mother of the Brides face?

Take the plunge . . . enjoy yourself. I'll bet you'll get a GREAT set of photos - you know, "beginners luck" style!