Emergency wedding, of sorts.

[sanfranchristo]

Thanks for all the advice everybody, a lot to think over. The wedding is at a church, then reception, pretty simple, not huge.

After reading your comments I've now been considering is talking to him into hiring a photographer, and then I'll just bring my 6d, and pancake lens just for some candid photos to give to them.

If he insists on me, I'll then tell him to at least hire someone for the ceremony and I'll shoot the reception.

If he really insists on not hiring a pro, then screw it, I'll just take my stuff and he'll get what he gets!

I'd much rather see them with quality photos than meh photos, from their friend who just does it as a hobby.

But whatever happens, I think I may invest in a nice 85mm. Maybe a new 50mm if they release a new one.

Wise choice to discuss further. I was in a similar situation and as long as the expectations are very clear, I think you could pull it off. One other thing to consider is whether you want to be part of the wedding or not. I offered to shoot a close friend's location wedding but he rightly said he wanted me to be "part of it" and not worried about shooting. There will be a trade-off. I was subsequently asked by another, more casual friend, whose wedding I may or may not have attended otherwise and it was a much easier decision to do it as it will be a very informal, outdoor event. If your friend knows what you are capable of (walk through some of your relevant shots) and they know what you can and can't deliver (based on location and equipment) then don't be afraid if they aren't expecting more than you can deliver. If you go ahead, I would just add this...

You have a high-ISO beast and some decent options for the wide and normal ranges. If you can, rent or borrow a 70-200 2.8 IS (ask them to cover it). It'd be worth it - that can get you very good results and cover just about every need, including portraits and the ceremony. I would be concerned about the lack of a lens longer than 50mm for portraits (the 85 1.8 is a quality, affordable option to consider adding in general). Do you know anyone that can lend you a second Canon body (or do you have your old one)? Even a lesser-caliber one than your 6D will come in handy to have with a prime attached. Obviously, extra batteries and cards to be safe (or know what the charging options will be). I echo another commentor in cautioning about flash - yes, you "need it" for weddings, but if you aren't experienced with it, you may more do more harm than good, and more importantly, you will spend time trying to manage it and miss shots. Just be clear about where and when you expect to be able to shoot and forgo the flash (if you have one, maybe bring it to have on-camera for nighttime "party" candids, but don't rely on it for portraits - get those done early or outside). A good photographer is ultimately a good photographer - it is about the subjects and moments. Perhaps most importantly, to go to the location in advance (if possible) and establish a clear shot list with times for yourself so you have people when and where you need them, and don't miss anything.

 

[sanfranchristo]

.

If you can sidestep the obligation, do. If you really can't, don't panic. It's a grand challenge, and you can have fun if you allow yourself to.

Beav talked about expectations -- very important. Make sure they know they have no reason to have great expectations. That said, I expect they've seen some pictures you've taken, and you should be flattered they asked you. But again, make sure they know event photography is a specialized occupation and getting a nice landscape shot is not the same as a wedding.

A few thoughts:

1. Keep it simple. Go with the equipment you have. It's what you know. Trying to learn a flash, even just for fill, will get in the way. Forget a second body. The chances that your body will malfunction is about the same as them changing the date back to six months from now. A second body, with a different lens, can be helpful, but you're disadvantaged. First, you're shooting a wedding, and you know nothing about how to do that properly so all your attention needs to be on getting that right. Second, it's too confusing in this situation to remember a second body and what settings are on which body (it's more than just another lens). Keep it simple. Go with the equipment you've got.

2. Work on getting one memorable shot. You can give them 50 mediocre pictures, and one great one -- all they'll see is the great one. That's the one they will come back to in future years, and they'll remember you gave it to them. Try to plan something in advance if possible. If not, keep looking for that one moment when everything comes together perfectly -- and don't hesitate! Shoot the damn thing NOW. And tell them you're best hope is that you can give them one, single memorable picture.

3. Don't be afraid of the high ISO capability your camera has. Use what you need to get the right aperture/shutter speed to make the shot.

4. If you're going to be the "official" photographer, be it. Don't let people get in front of you or block you. Direct people into shots you need. You're in charge of this production. Don't be a passive photojournalist just shooting what happens. MAKE it happen. And as I've said here before, the best piece of advice I ever got when I started doing weddings so many, many years ago -- Do NOT be afraid to do it over. If you screw up a shot, stop everything and have them do it again. Now that may not be possible on the altar (but it may be if you've got the chutzpah) but have them restage it a few minutes later if need be. Always better to be embarrassed (which everyone will forget) than hand them a bad picture (which they will NEVER forget).

People have mentioned visiting the venues where you'll be working, good advice. And finally, I'd suggest looking at some wedding photographer sites -- look at the standard shots they all get, and plan to get those at least.

And have fun. The worst that can happen is you take some lousy pictures. At least I haven't heard any mention of a shotgun!

+1 for all points, especially those in #4 which most non-professionals (including myself) are either too polite or embarrassed to embrace in the moment.

 

[Orangutan]

After reading your comments I've now been considering is talking to him into hiring a photographer, and then I'll just bring my 6d, and pancake lens just for some candid photos to give to them.

If he insists on me, I'll then tell him to at least hire someone for the ceremony and I'll shoot the reception.

If he really insists on not hiring a pro, then screw it, I'll just take my stuff and he'll get what he gets!

I'd much rather see them with quality photos than meh photos, from their friend who just does it as a hobby.

Sounds like you're thinking clearly about it. I'll add a few more items in case you end up shooting. I'm an amateur who's done a few wedding gigs as a second shooter , so this is from someone closer to your level. (apologies if others have covered this ground, I haven't carefully read the entire thread)

* Talk to the bride, in person, and make sure she understands the expectations. The fact that your friend says it's OK is not good enough. Her needs/wants/expectations may be different from his.

* Weddings move fast, so simplify as much as you can. Don't expect to have lots of time to change gear.

* Better to know a few items of gear well, than take a lot of stuff and lose track. Take one good low/medium zoom, and one long zoom. No other lenses are needed.

* using bounce flash in the reception (or at the ceremony, with the agreement of the couple and officiant) is not that hard. You can spend 30 minutes with a couple friends in a dimly lit room to figure out the settings you need. (hint: use manual with flash) Don't get creative with flash until you know what you're doing.

* Get the "script" of the wedding in advance. You'll need to anticipate the action to be in position.

* For the reception, couple pictures, and other photos for which you have time, don't be afraid to take a little time to set up a shot, or do a little directing of the action. Yes, it's their wedding, but they'll be happy to let you guide them to a better shot, for example to get a better background, nicer lighting, etc.

* If it's a big "family and friends" wedding, try to get photos of everyone, especially older relatives and close friends. No one knows how much time great-Aunt Helen has left, and they will appreciate photos of her dressed well and with a big smile.

* Take a few cute photos of kids.

* If the wedding is on Sunday, see if there's a local wedding on Saturday, then offer the pro photographer to be his/her free assistant for that gig. Seeing behind the scenes just once can make a difference.

* Take your time with the group photos. Use a tripod, live view and check your depth-of-field charts (in advance) to make sure you do your best. Don't use flash here unless you can bounce off a high ceiling or back wall. Be willing to turn the flash off and make do if needed.

When in doubt, turn off the flash, set to P, and go for composition rather than technique. Your 6D will do well in low light compare to all the P&S in the crowd.

 

[Chris Burch]

As long as the bride and groom have a VERY clear understanding of your experience and have the appropriate expectations, then just go for it. I shot my first wedding in 1999 with really mediocre gear (film back then, too) and I managed to pull it off with expectedly mediocre results, but it wasn't a disaster. You have to start somewhere. Ideally you would have some work as an assistant under your belt, but that obviously isn't going to happen in a week.

You REALLY REALLY REALLY need to pick up a flash. I've never been to a reception yet that was suitable for only natural light. Rent one if you don't want to buy it. Get a 430ex or better -- check Craigslist first to see if you can pick up a used one. You can easily set the camera on program and use eTTL flash, but if you want to step it up a notch or 2, use manual low-light settings that are a few stops underexposed and let the flash fill in the correct exposure. For the 6D, try these settings for the reception (assuming it's in a dimly room)...1/100s, f/5.6, 1600ISO. If it's very dark you can bump the ISO up to 3200. High ISO settings will keep the output of your flash lower so your recycle times will be a lot faster. Practice a lot at home. If you have time and access to a bar or club, get permission to go there one evening and shoot some photos -- just offer to give them to the owner/management. This will give you some practice with the gear and with interacting with a crowd.

Try to shoot the wedding ceremony with natural light if possible. The 70-200 f/2.8 is ideal for this because you don't want to be standing in middle of everything to get the shots. For ambient shots, keep the shutter speed at 1/80 or above. That will cut out most motion blur from slow moving subjects. This is probably a the perfect opportunity to use auto ISO. Set your shutter to something like 1/100s with f/4.

Get to the venues early and figure out the best settings. Save those as the custom presets (C1-C3). For instance, C3 is your setting with flash...C2 is your setting for ambient. You can even disable the flash through the camera for your C2 setting so you have one less thing to worry about when switching between ambient and flash settings and will minimize mistakes.

You'll need to make yourself interact with your subjects -- this is a skill all of its own. Get some purely candid shots, but don't be afraid to ask people to pose for a quick shot. This may even include you talking to the B&G ahead of time to have them pause for some shots. For instance, they can stop when they frist get to the aisle before walking down so you have time to take one shot. Using AISERVO for motion shots like that is ideal, but I wouldn't bother trying to be that ambitious. The Keep It Simple mentality is definitely the only way to go for you.

 

[davidson]

i'll add my two cents because i was in this position last year. bride and groom were both my friends and they insisted that i do the wedding, i kept refusing because i believed that my skill level and my gear werent good enough but they wouldnt take no for an answer. so i told that not to expect much i am no pro, had never done a wedding before.
i managed to get a EF 24-70 to add to my EF 50 1.4 and i also 19-35 f/ 3.5-4.5. i own an rebel XT and i borrowed my friends 1100d (the second body did come in handy because one of my bodies froze mid shoot and needed to be reset).

if you want to back out i understand because wedding are MAJOR and the pressure is intense, but if you cant then determine that you will give it your best, no room for lack of confidence once you are committed.

make sure to visit the sites of the weeding and the reception and wherever the pre reception shoot will be. visit at the time of day and take someone with you wearing white so you can approximate what your exposures will be, where the shadows will be etc. i did this, came up with my ideas for the shots i wanted and the settings i would need based on the light available (it was an evening wedding)

attend the rehearsals so you know where to be and when and what is coming next, get a program as well so you can refer to it.

make a shot list of the shots you want and also discuss with the couple what shots they want and what they need. also get them to make a list of the shots they want with family members and what combinations so that on the day you dont have to be scrambling (my couple didnt do this even tho i asked and it was confusion on the day)

i didnt do this but i will in future, shoot in burst mode to avoid people blinking.

decided what style (or combination of styles) you plan to shoot in (or what the couple prefers). nothing wrong with the photojournalistic style, i personally prefer it. TO ME its recording the occassion as it happened so you can hand the couple images of what actually occurred. i;ve seen BEAUTIFUL shots of the bridal party lining up and racing, but in my mind i was thinking that i KNOW that didnt actuallt happen in the day, just a photographers idea, which is fine, if thats what the couple wants. but at the end of the day its what you are comfortable doing.

i'm sure i am forgetting more steps that i took so that i didnt mess up but jut plan for as much as you can, run through the whole thing in your head and make sure you cover everything, clear your mem cards, charge the batteries.

oh yes....wear an undershirt or two....i hate to see a sweaty photographer.

relax and have fun.

 

[Don Haines]

Many many years ago, friends getting married and not a lot of money, and instead of hiring a photographer they gave everyone a disposable camera to use. They got lots of interesting shots but not a single nice picture from about thirty rolls of film.

Moral of the story.... If you want great pictures, hire an experienced pro. Anything else is a gamble heavily stacked in favour of mediocracy.

 

[ktabes]

Many many years ago, friends getting married and not a lot of money, and instead of hiring a photographer they gave everyone a disposable camera to use. They got lots of interesting shots but not a single nice picture from about thirty rolls of film.

Moral of the story.... If you want great pictures, hire an experienced pro. Anything else is a gamble heavily stacked in favour of mediocracy.

True, and I agree with that all together, but still when my parents were married they didn't have any money and just asked everyone coming to bring a camera or disposable camera and give them an extra set of prints. And they could not have been happier with the results. There's an honest quality to non-profesional candid 35mm prints. But I guess it depends on what happens.

 

[RLPhoto]

Scout your locations. It's more important than any gear your going to rent.

 

[bdunbar79]

At all costs, if you can, I would decline this request. I've done it before myself and I definitely don't regret it. People have no idea how much time, effort, and stress these things are when you are committed to excellence within your hobby. In the long run I don't think it will be worth it if you are not ready. Your stress level will be through the roof and it won't be worth it.

 

[agierke]

promise nothing.

shooting weddings well is just about the most difficult photo scenario i have experienced and that includes architecture, commercial, fashion, environmental portraits, sports, and aerial photography.

you have to be prepared to think quick on your feet and turn downright unfavorable conditions into great photo opportunities. i used to dread weddings because i didn't really know how to use my gear (and i was severely undergeared) but now i really relish the challenge they provide. you gotta know your gear really well, and you should understand lighting very well too.

unless the bride and groom AND their parents just don't care that much about the photos. then just go have some fun.

otherwise....there are sooo many potential pitfalls that can be very uncomfortable. i can't tell you how many couples i meet with horror stories and regrets they have about not investing more in their photography from their wedding day.

 

[Old Shooter]

...what you need is a metric fuckton of knowledge

Coffee shot out my nose when I read that... ;D

 

[christianronnel]

I've done a couple of weddings in the past few months. The first one was nerve racking so I know how you feel. I was more relaxed for the 2nd one. So my first advice is to relax and be confident.

You're good with the lenses that you have. Since you only have one camera body use the 28-75 during the ceremony and during the 1st dance (or till after the father-daughter dance if applicable). Switch to the 17-40 to get wider shots during the reception. You wouldn't have time to switch out your lens so don't bother bring too much. It would be best if you can get a flash unit. One 480EXII should be enough. ETTL is your friend. No need to get a diffuser they are useless outdoors and not necessary indoors. Figure out how to do flash compensation with your camera body. Learn about the angle of the light and bounce, bounce, bounce the flash

That's it for the equipment. Now, you have to relax. You'll do fine. Chances are that they would also ask other friends to shoot for them. Be assertive and don't let other people distract your subjects. Take control of the scene and tell them "there's no other camera in the room but your camera." When you're done with the subject, you can then tell the other photographers that it's their turn. Relax some more. Get close to the subject. Get really close or get really wide.

Most churches will not allow flash during the ceremony. Assume that you can't use flash inside the church so practice how to quickly change your ISO. You are allowed to stand and walk around inside the church during the ceremony. Put your 6D in silence mode and turn the beep off so you can get a lot of candid shots. Don't be afraid to walk around but wear quiet pair of shoes. Turn your cell phone off. Get really close. You can stand behind them if you have to.

There's usually an hour before the reception. This is a lot of time for posed shots. Use a tripod if you have one. emember to bounce the flash up the ceiling or wall, or manually zoom it to 24mm if you can't bounce. The altar shoot should not take more than 15 minutes. Start with the bride and groom in front of the altar. Add the best man and the brides maid. Bring in the brides parents. Add any siblings. Bring in the grooms parents. Add any siblings. Ask the bride and groom for any other relatives or friends to be on the shot. Proceed with the outdoor shoot with the bride and groom. Hopefully you've scouted the area beforehand. Treat this like you would a landscape. Slow down and compose your shots. Remember to check your focus. If you go outside remember to check your ISO. Don't be afraid to overexposed a little. After the formal shots you can breathe much easier because the hard part is over. Have fun, have a glass of wine. The reception is not such a big deal. it's just like taking pictures at a club. Shoot something unique to the wedding such as name place, table settings, cake toppers, etc..

Good luck and remember to relax.

 

[Quasimodo]

Like you've mentioned and like most people here say, try to be just a guest with a camera, and let someone else work However, I was in your shooes a year ago. A good friend of mine asked the same question (they hired a professional for the ceremony) and wanted to have me take the rest. I do paid jobs (portraits and stuff), but if I do something wrong (or the pictures turn out not as good as I want them, I always have the option of taking them again. Not so with a wedding...

Forget everything your friend says about you being a guest and that you should enjoy yourself. You will be so consumed in doing a good job for him that you will not hear a word in the speeches

I was so scared that I would not get this right, that when I gave them the pictures they received 1400 high resolution jpg's (all was shot in RAW), and I told them that they could pick 10 pictures that I would work on in lightroom and photoshop. The good thing is that according to them, my pictures were much better then the professional (BTW. if they do get a professional after all, stay away from their working path...).

If you do this, the best advice I can offer is to follow the bride! She is your real constituent In addition to the required shots mentioned by others I would try make some context shots, like the food, flowers, the cake and such. People tend cherish these details.

Different countries have different customs. In Norway it is not uncommen for the bride and groom to hold a speech for each other. Some of my best shots that evening was them looking at each other (and the following laughter, crying ect) when they spoke to each other.

As for lighting I agree with the previous comments. Stay away from it, but there is one instance where you cannot avoid it - the waltz. I if I were you would make sure that the flash is in ETTL mode, and switch to the green button to let the camera do the whole job for you. That is a picture you will not feel comfortable screwing up, lol.

Good luck

Enclosing a shot I took of the food that night.

PS. I bought a 85 after that wedding as I saw that my 135 was too long (to many people who move between you and the subject) for many of the guest shots.

 

[Rat]

...what you need is a metric fuckton of knowledge

So it seems Friend of mine asked me to be second photographer at his wedding, which I've never done before, but I'm getting lots of excellent advice here. Thanks and keep it coming, please

 

[docholliday]

...If you do this, the best advice I can offer is to follow the bride! She is your real constituent

Wrong, wrong, wrong...done too many weddings and this will get you in trouble. Quickly. Follow whoever is PAYING for the wedding / who is asking you to do it / who is paying for anything involving you (even if they just give you gas money). I don't care if it's the second-cousin's grandfather's sister - if they pay, they are who I listen to. If the B&G want something, they need to clear it with the "sponsor". If the paying person says to do what the B&G says, then that's fine.

Next, get it in writing. Even for friends who I give them the gift of my services, there's still a agreement. In your case, I'd be sure to get it in writing that you aren't a pro, but will do so as a gift to them or whatever. Any expectations, any specifics, etc. should be in that. No sense in losing a friend because they assume you said something (and trust me, there's a lot of things that are said and forgotten during a wedding). It's not worth the headache to end up in a life long fight over something stupid that should have been a fun experience for you and a great experience for them.

I shot my first with a C330 and ONE lens, as well as a Metz 45 that was loaned to me. Had a friend who was an old veteran (over 30 years of shooting and retired) tag along to shoot/give me tips. That was a long time ago. Never would have realized how fast things go. It was nice to have somebody say "now, quickly, go over there and get ready for the xxxxx shot". One of the first things he taught me was that "an agreement is only as good as the paper it's written on" (never call it a contract - it's an agreement in the marketing world).

Nowadays, I don't shoot people - I prefer product, macro and other commercial work. Less headaches, contracts always, and much more relaxing to do! Well, maybe one or two weddings a year just for the rush again.

 

[digital paradise]

After reading your comments I've now been considering is talking to him into hiring a photographer, and then I'll just bring my 6d, and pancake lens just for some candid photos to give to them.

If he insists on me, I'll then tell him to at least hire someone for the ceremony and I'll shoot the reception.

If he really insists on not hiring a pro, then screw it, I'll just take my stuff and he'll get what he gets!

I'd much rather see them with quality photos than meh photos, from their friend who just does it as a hobby.

Sounds like you're thinking clearly about it. I'll add a few more items in case you end up shooting. I'm an amateur who's done a few wedding gigs as a second shooter , so this is from someone closer to your level. (apologies if others have covered this ground, I haven't carefully read the entire thread)

* Talk to the bride, in person, and make sure she understands the expectations. The fact that your friend says it's OK is not good enough. Her needs/wants/expectations may be different from his.

* Weddings move fast, so simplify as much as you can. Don't expect to have lots of time to change gear.

* Better to know a few items of gear well, than take a lot of stuff and lose track. Take one good low/medium zoom, and one long zoom. No other lenses are needed.

* using bounce flash in the reception (or at the ceremony, with the agreement of the couple and officiant) is not that hard. You can spend 30 minutes with a couple friends in a dimly lit room to figure out the settings you need. (hint: use manual with flash) Don't get creative with flash until you know what you're doing.

* Get the "script" of the wedding in advance. You'll need to anticipate the action to be in position.

* For the reception, couple pictures, and other photos for which you have time, don't be afraid to take a little time to set up a shot, or do a little directing of the action. Yes, it's their wedding, but they'll be happy to let you guide them to a better shot, for example to get a better background, nicer lighting, etc.

* If it's a big "family and friends" wedding, try to get photos of everyone, especially older relatives and close friends. No one knows how much time great-Aunt Helen has left, and they will appreciate photos of her dressed well and with a big smile.

* Take a few cute photos of kids.

* If the wedding is on Sunday, see if there's a local wedding on Saturday, then offer the pro photographer to be his/her free assistant for that gig. Seeing behind the scenes just once can make a difference.

* Take your time with the group photos. Use a tripod, live view and check your depth-of-field charts (in advance) to make sure you do your best. Don't use flash here unless you can bounce off a high ceiling or back wall. Be willing to turn the flash off and make do if needed.

When in doubt, turn off the flash, set to P, and go for composition rather than technique. Your 6D will do well in low light compare to all the P&S in the crowd.

Good points particularly the one about weddings moving fast. Often you have zero time to think and you don't get a second chance. Also knowing your gear. That was reason I suggested to pass on the 85. It is only a lens but you have not worked with it and is different. If you do this and get a flash you will have enough on your plate.

 

[michi]

I have taken two weddings for friends. I'm no pro. I am pretty decent technically, I can usually get a well exposed and properly focused shot in most situations. And that's how my pictures were, good quality, but nothing spectacular. I can't imagine doing a wedding without a flash. The bride and groom walking down the aisle in a dark church in the winter, good luck getting that without motion blur with no flash. Dancing at the reception if it's inside and poorly lit, that will be tough too, unless you're just looking for artistic blur.
I survived those two weddings somehow, and probably wouldn't do it again unless the couple was so poor that they couldn't afford a photographer at all.
And like others have mentioned, you need to make it perfectly clear that they will not get amazing pictures like we all have seen from some pro's. Maybe even print out an amazing picture, and then a average one, and show it to them to make it clear where your level of expertise lies. Believe me, the couple will expect more than you can offer. Good luck!

 

[digital paradise]

You know what I find the hardest part? Directing people for poses during group shots. Even tougher the informal's before and. People are looking at you for guidance and you need to look like you know what you are doing. You can look at hundreds of wedding shots and sites that suggest poses but when your are on the spot trying to remember them.
That comes with time and shooting often.

Fortunately they asked the OP just to take some candids.

 

[docholliday]

You know what I find the hardest part? Directing people for poses during group shots. Even tougher the informal's before and. People are looking at you for guidance and you need to look like you know what you are doing. You can look at hundreds of wedding shots and sites that suggest poses but when your are on the spot trying to remember them.
That comes with time and shooting often.

Fortunately they asked the OP just to take some candidas.

Directing people isn't actually that hard...you just have to be very clear, and concise. Don't beat around the bush - it's not "could you give me a pouty lip", rather it's "ok, bring your chin up and head to the left just a bit. Good. right there. Now I want you to push those lips out. Good. Stop right there. Look right here (point at lens)."

The hardest part of any portrait type shoot is being the director. I loved my infrared Hasselblad remote. I could hold the puck in my hand, stand next to the camera, duck down to the sitter's level - making eye contact, and drag them to where I wanted. Then, I'd just talk to them until I got the right look and hit the remote shutter button without every blinking.

Almost every wedding I've shot has involved the B/G telling me to grab them when it was time and tell them where to stand, what to do, etc. Remember that you are technically the only person who is spending the WHOLE day with them. And, as a pro, they would expect you to know what to do (since you would've done tons of weddings). In your case, I would get with them and run through the schedule of events. Then, be the person to step up and keep everything on time and flowing along - the B/G and family have too many other things to think about on that day!

 

[RustyTheGeek]

...what you need is a metric fuckton of knowledge

Coffee shot out my nose when I read that... ;D

Meeee toooo!!! ;D