when shooting a wedding reception
i learned a few things. on the fly and looking back. [i’m a hobbyist, with only about 15000 shots in the past 4 years]
first off. be prepared. with the gear obviously: batteries, memory cards, appropriate lenses, etc. and know HOW to use all of it properly. with the location: indoors, outdoors, natural light available etc. with the itenerary: the flow and order of how the event will turn out so you know where to be situated, where to look/shoot, and so you are never playing catch up behind all of the camera-phone photographers.
second. roll with a second body. i rented an identical 5dm2, along with a 35L, 24-70L, and a 70-200L, totaling about $300 including return shipping for 4 days (got it thursday, mailing back monday). borrowlenses.com and cameralensrentals.com are amazing. i got the 2nd body in case mine failed. if you’re being paid or doing it for a favor for a friend, don’t risk ruining their special day. i found on the job that 2 lenses with 2 different focal lengths REALLY pays off. no need to lose a precious moment when fumbling/switching lenses.
third. get a second shooter if you can. not having a second shooter sucked big time by only having one perspective. but simply asking my friend (groom’s brother) and giving him a quick and dirty lesson, i had a different eye than me. the family felt more comfortable asking him for shots while i stepped in and took some on my own (again the language barrier)
forth. be flexible. for me, i had a language barrier and couldn’t communicate with 98% of them. my best friend (the groom’s brother) helped escort me and translate for me (i’m cantonese but don’t speak a lick of it) but in that case, smile, and use body language as a tool to help bridge that barrier.
lastly. have fun. make jokes with the family and friends. get involved with them. you’ll see more emotion and be able to capture it fully. they’ll loosen up and be more willing to take direction and not be camera-shy.
stuff that made my life a million times easier.
- the best gear for the situation. less time spent editing or doing re-takes to replace a blurry photo.
- a fast computer. makes processing, copying and moving files faster, thus cutting down on your post-processing time.
- identical camera bodies. my opinion since that’s what i did and didn’t have to look at where the controls were. however, 2 bodies that compliment each other (a crop and full-frame) can do wonders to change up the focal length of 2-3 lenses, allowing you to be more flexible.
- a prime lens. i used the 35 f/1.4 L lens, and that was by FAR my most used and loved lens. in low light - amazing. bokeh - creamy. color - natural and outstanding. i have decided that i will most likely only go with primes from here on out. i’ll gladly give up the convenience of a zoom for the image quality and low light capability.
- a proper strap. black rapid. cinch. or c-loop. not only does this cut down on the fatigue, but it allows you to navigate tight spaces (between tables/chairs for me), be quick to pull up after shooting with my other camera ( while holding it in my left hand), be consistently at my hip ready to draw. amazing and worth every penny.
i now know why wedding photography is so incredibly tough, demanding and expensive. much respect for those who do it. it was easy for me since i’m friends with the groom and his immediate family. harder since i don’t want to disappoint and ruin a friendship. but to be able to deliver so many memories is well worth it.
