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? 

[Camilla and Darwin]

Thanks so much!

[Donna K & Quincy]

Camilla, these are wonderful and I really like the black and white of the groom! Good job, I'm sure they will be thrilled with their pictures.

[Nina, Phil, Harlow & Lacey]

You did a great job!

[F, Calla & Luca]

I'm coming late to the party. All I can say is I agree with everyone, very wonderful job and I think a pro might be jealous. There is so much emotion and such a story in these photos. I have no experience at all in this sort of thing but I see Linda has already given you great advice and I'm betting Richard might too. You are brave and skillful.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Camilla, your photos caught the essence of the day.  They are beautiful.  Indoor is really hard and yours are miles and miles and miles and miles better than the ones I tried to take of my son's martial arts competition.  The only good ones I got were using the flash which was distracting to the competitors.  I LOVE the black and white of the groom.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Great job Camilla!  I love the "dancing photo" of the little girl!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Camilla, You did a super job. You can take these pictures and make a gorgeous wedding album for them at Adoramapix.com. Whenever my DD does a wedding, we do that and they come out looking so great. Great job. You are one talented girl :)

[Leslie and Halas]

Those are great!  I don't have any tips for you. I think indoor motion shots are really difficult.  There was a photographer at the flyball tournament this weekend, and he got great pictures without a flash.  The flash can be really distracting to the dogs, so you're not supposed to use a flash.  He was really busy, so I didn't have a chance to talk to him about settings, etc.  He was a professional, and had really great equipment, so I'm sure that's some of it.

[Jean, Rylee and Cooper]

I agree with everyone else.  These are very good shots and you were very brave to take on this task.  You do a great job for being a "novice."

[Joy Williams]

Camilla, these are wonderful shots and I think you should be proud. I am sure your BIL and SIL are tickled to death - with the photos as well as the cake! They are lucky to have you!

[Richard Crowe]

Congratulations on a nice job...

 

If anyone would like the script of shots I used to use for ensuring that any wedding I shot was completely covered, just send me your email address and I'll send the script to you....