Whew, I did it! The Wedding....

[Camilla and Darwin]

Don't know if this is the right place or not... but I decided to put it here because I would love advice for future events. A while back, my BIL and now SIL asked me to photograph their wedding and do their engagement photos. This was about 2 weeks after I had gotten my camera. I very plainly told them that I was a novice and had never done a wedding or anything like it. They said they were okay with that, so I agreed to do it. (They can't complain much when it's for free right? LOL)

 

Anyways, I've been stressing out pretty badly since then, trying to research and practice like crazy, make list of must get shots, etc. Well the big day was this last weekend and I finished editing the photos late last night. Thought I would share some of my more successful and less successful shots. 

 

More successful

less successful

Obviously I have a better time taking photos of posed subjects in outdoor situations. (who doesn't, those are the easiest to take. LOL)

 

I had a really hard time getting in focus shots with the in-motion indoor shots! I tried my sports mode. Then quickly switched back to AV to use my 1.8 light gathering setting. I think I need to practice quickly switching settings and actually knowing what the settings I switch to will do. :-) I took these indoor photos in RAW and adjusted the white balance on some of them which helped, but they are still leagues away from those beautiful dancing wedding photos I always see. Have any of you done photography with super low light situations, and crowds of people? What settings did you use? Do you have tips? 

[Lynda Kamrath]

Fantastic!  No, I do not think your photos are "leagues away" from the wedding photos I have seen.  I think that they are, in fact, better than most professional wedding photos because of your personal connection.  They are not posed professional shots, but who likes those anyway.  These are much better in my opinion.  Keep up the great work!

[Pat and Traveler]

Camilla--you did a fantastic job!  My camera can do lots of things that I can't--or at least, not yet.  Some action shots were fairly good because I just held down the shutter and and the camera takes several real fast shots.  Another thing I've done, on some less good JPEG shots, gone into Bridge aspect of Photoshop and after clicking on File, selecting Open in Camera Raw and using the editing tools available there.  You don't actually have to shoot in RAW to use this, which is a thing I love!

[GBK]

I think these are really wonderful, and you have captured such pure emotion in everyone's faces.  You have a great eye!!!!

[Kim]

I think you did a wonderful job.  If I was the bride - I would be thrilled! 

[Diane Margetts]

Beautiful job!! You are totally NOT leagues away! I'm not a flash photography expert at all and I have no advice. I do know that some pro photographers actually carry more than one camera, each set up differently, to quickly accomodate different situations. Most people don't have that luxury and I think your photos turned out lovely!!

[Carol and Banjo]

Wow Camilla.....You not only did a wonderful job - but kudos to you for taking on the task!   I'm sure the bride & groom will be thrilled with the results.

[Linda and "Toby"]

Hi Camilla! You did a fantastic job and captured some beautiful, heartfelt moments!!!

On the shots you are less happy with, it appears to me that your camera is defaulting to "closest object priority" and this would account for the subject not being in focus quite as well as other objects in the shots. 

As much as I hate using my flash, I have found it to be a necessity when taking indoor action shots. A diffuser helps (if you are close to your subject). And a battery pack - to continuously supply your flash with all the power it needs to shoot repeatedly - is enormously helpful. This one is pricey, but works very well: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/502464-REG/Quantum_Instrument...

I've shot 3 weddings and they are soooo stressful. I know better than to say, "I'll never" but... I hope I'll never have to shoot another one - ever! lol!

[Camilla and Darwin]

I agree that a flash would have been helpful. I only have my camera's built in flash, and no diffuser for it. I need to get one for sure. Thanks for the advice, and I agree about the weddings. I will have to have a lot of convincing to do another. LOL. I'll stick to making the cakes!

[Camilla and Darwin]

Thanks everyone, it makes me so happy that you guys approve! I really hope she likes them. Next time (if there is a next time, ha.) I will definitely be using a flash/diffuser set up I think. As well as trying to get more, more more photos. I got lots (2 8g memory cards each filled twice) but I still ended up wishing I had more shots at the end. It was a really good learning experience for me!

[Ann Kendig]

I am so impressed, Camilla!  Wonderful job!  I would have been a nervous wreck!  I adore the photo of the little girl.  You are doing a great job and learning so fast!  BTW, did you make the cake?  Ann

 

[Camilla and Darwin]

Yes I did. :-)

[Ann Kendig]

It's beautiful. : )  What a talented young lady you are!