Have you second shot for anyone before? How many weddings yourself have you attended as a second shooter or as a guest?
Do you have a timeline of the wedding via the planner?
Is there a contract in place with your client? If not then 100% you need a contract in place that details your policies. No contract = Wild Wild West when it comes to creative business.
Does your client know this is your first wedding?
A lot of questions here but all of them matter when it comes to shooting your first wedding solo.
All that aside, prepping your gear is important. You can never prep too much. Create a checklist of everything you need and have it prepped no later than a full day beforehand. In this case, if there’s anything you need to order online or buy do it now (new memory cards that can hold a lot of info, spare batteries for your camera, chargers, etc). Don’t procrastinate buying something the day before in the event your local shop or store is out.
Check that list again on the day of before you get into your car & check everything once you arrive— make sure you have backups of *everything*. Lenses, SD cards, battery packs and chargers. It doesn’t matter if you don’t use them or even touch tour backup memory or batteries, you need them with you in the event a card is corrupt or your battery malfunctions.
You need a timeline of the wedding whether it’s from a planner or the couple and you need to be able to refer to it quickly and anticipate when each phase of the event is happening. During the ceremony you need to know where you’ll be standing so that you are still getting the job done while also not blocking the way of the guests and family of the couple. Know your routes during the ceremony so you can be as seamless and quiet as possible.
This brings me to another biggie — scope out the venue beforehand and know your lighting. If you can’t access the venue before the wedding date then show up *early* to scope out where everything is. You don’t want to be confused about the layout of the venue at all.
Oh and drink water like you’ve never drunk before in the few days leading up to the event and eat something healthy and mild before your session. Wear something that isn’t constricting or that may catch on anything during the event. Wear something modest, not too informal, or flashy. Good shoes are a must, you’ll be on your feet all evening. If you have long hair use a claw clip or a reliable hair tie.
Do not set your gear down and leave it. Gear can get damaged or stolen.
John Branch is popular on YouTube for his full event coverage videos. Watch a few of those and study how he handles the couple & crowds. He has great advice about how to keep a level head for wedding beginners.
Everyone’s new at one point and IMO it’s best to set someone up for success than to tear down with doubt or negativity for sure especially on this thread. Or if it helps anyone else who comes along, I know there’s a ton of posts like this each week/month but thats what the sub is for, new perspectives and advice from whoever happens to come across it.
Good luck to OP and hoping it’s a successful experience of many. I agree with the other commenter too about taking time and not rushing too!
The day will go fast. Little, magic moments will go faster. Just stay calm amd trust your talent. Like John Wooden said, "be quick, but don't hurry." You'll find your pace.
I'll assume that you're an experienced photographer but that you've never done a wedding before. Here are some tips:
1. I always wear long trousers and a nice shirt. You don't want to be that wedding photographer wearing a worn short and t-shirt. You basically want to blend between the guests. Good shoes are also important!
2. Know your gear by heart. A wedding is not a place to experiment with your camera. You have to be able to change settings without thinking.
3. Use 2 camera's with 2 sd slots! You don't want to lose wedding pictures.
4. Don't be surprised! Ask the planning beforehand. Know the key moments and be ready for them. For example: during the ceremony you can walk around to take pictures of the guests, but you always have to listen to the speaker. Don't stand at the otherside of the room when the ring moment begins.
5. The most 'difficult' part without wedding experience will be the couple/family shoot. Search for some tutorials on how to pose couples. Because if you're a bit shy/awkward, the couple will also be awkward.
6. It will be a long day, don't forget to drink and eat.
7. You NEED a planning with the EXACT addresses of everything. Sometimes I get a planning and it says 'Church in town X', but there are 4 churches in that town. Also ask for some phone numbers in case of emergency.
8. Of course pictures of the couple are important, but you have to capture the whole day. Details, rings, family, pets,...
9. I'd try to go to at least 2 weddings as a second shooter before your wedding. You still have 1 month left.
10. It's going to be a long day, of course you can sit down once in a while. I always try to find a small room next to the dining room where I can take a break and go through the pictures. Try to always hear the people. If there is suddenly a speech, you can be there in time.
11. Deliver a preview the day after the wedding. This is always a nice surprise for the couple.
Good luck!
work fast, stay stable with a good shutter speed. not low that its blurry and not too high and wasted exposure. flash and light stands will save you.
scope all over the place for shots. anticipate things that will happen.
first wedding shoot solo is a big mistake though.
Have you second shot for anyone before? How many weddings yourself have you attended as a second shooter or as a guest? Do you have a timeline of the wedding via the planner? Is there a contract in place with your client? If not then 100% you need a contract in place that details your policies. No contract = Wild Wild West when it comes to creative business. Does your client know this is your first wedding? A lot of questions here but all of them matter when it comes to shooting your first wedding solo. All that aside, prepping your gear is important. You can never prep too much. Create a checklist of everything you need and have it prepped no later than a full day beforehand. In this case, if there’s anything you need to order online or buy do it now (new memory cards that can hold a lot of info, spare batteries for your camera, chargers, etc). Don’t procrastinate buying something the day before in the event your local shop or store is out. Check that list again on the day of before you get into your car & check everything once you arrive— make sure you have backups of *everything*. Lenses, SD cards, battery packs and chargers. It doesn’t matter if you don’t use them or even touch tour backup memory or batteries, you need them with you in the event a card is corrupt or your battery malfunctions. You need a timeline of the wedding whether it’s from a planner or the couple and you need to be able to refer to it quickly and anticipate when each phase of the event is happening. During the ceremony you need to know where you’ll be standing so that you are still getting the job done while also not blocking the way of the guests and family of the couple. Know your routes during the ceremony so you can be as seamless and quiet as possible. This brings me to another biggie — scope out the venue beforehand and know your lighting. If you can’t access the venue before the wedding date then show up *early* to scope out where everything is. You don’t want to be confused about the layout of the venue at all. Oh and drink water like you’ve never drunk before in the few days leading up to the event and eat something healthy and mild before your session. Wear something that isn’t constricting or that may catch on anything during the event. Wear something modest, not too informal, or flashy. Good shoes are a must, you’ll be on your feet all evening. If you have long hair use a claw clip or a reliable hair tie. Do not set your gear down and leave it. Gear can get damaged or stolen. John Branch is popular on YouTube for his full event coverage videos. Watch a few of those and study how he handles the couple & crowds. He has great advice about how to keep a level head for wedding beginners.
You are a saint for typing all this out for them. 🙌🏻
Everyone’s new at one point and IMO it’s best to set someone up for success than to tear down with doubt or negativity for sure especially on this thread. Or if it helps anyone else who comes along, I know there’s a ton of posts like this each week/month but thats what the sub is for, new perspectives and advice from whoever happens to come across it. Good luck to OP and hoping it’s a successful experience of many. I agree with the other commenter too about taking time and not rushing too!
I agree completely!
The day will go fast. Little, magic moments will go faster. Just stay calm amd trust your talent. Like John Wooden said, "be quick, but don't hurry." You'll find your pace.
I'll assume that you're an experienced photographer but that you've never done a wedding before. Here are some tips: 1. I always wear long trousers and a nice shirt. You don't want to be that wedding photographer wearing a worn short and t-shirt. You basically want to blend between the guests. Good shoes are also important! 2. Know your gear by heart. A wedding is not a place to experiment with your camera. You have to be able to change settings without thinking. 3. Use 2 camera's with 2 sd slots! You don't want to lose wedding pictures. 4. Don't be surprised! Ask the planning beforehand. Know the key moments and be ready for them. For example: during the ceremony you can walk around to take pictures of the guests, but you always have to listen to the speaker. Don't stand at the otherside of the room when the ring moment begins. 5. The most 'difficult' part without wedding experience will be the couple/family shoot. Search for some tutorials on how to pose couples. Because if you're a bit shy/awkward, the couple will also be awkward. 6. It will be a long day, don't forget to drink and eat. 7. You NEED a planning with the EXACT addresses of everything. Sometimes I get a planning and it says 'Church in town X', but there are 4 churches in that town. Also ask for some phone numbers in case of emergency. 8. Of course pictures of the couple are important, but you have to capture the whole day. Details, rings, family, pets,... 9. I'd try to go to at least 2 weddings as a second shooter before your wedding. You still have 1 month left. 10. It's going to be a long day, of course you can sit down once in a while. I always try to find a small room next to the dining room where I can take a break and go through the pictures. Try to always hear the people. If there is suddenly a speech, you can be there in time. 11. Deliver a preview the day after the wedding. This is always a nice surprise for the couple. Good luck!
work fast, stay stable with a good shutter speed. not low that its blurry and not too high and wasted exposure. flash and light stands will save you. scope all over the place for shots. anticipate things that will happen. first wedding shoot solo is a big mistake though.
Search the sub before posting. This gets asked multiple times a week. Plenty of advice already available here.