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Thread Title: Help with Wedding Photography
Added by pinkkimbus on 05/Mar/06 at 19:02:07
I am in the process of setting up my own wedding photography business. I am doing a 4 day course in August with a model bride, and I''m also doing my own mok wedding in August. Are there any professional wedding photographer''s in the South East who would be kind enough to help me gain experience in this field? Any help with this would be very much appreciated. Thank you.
Kim
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Added by Taff on 05/Mar/06 at 20:31:22
Where are you in the SE? I''m based between Ashford-Folkestone-Canterbury.
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Added by pinkkimbus on 05/Mar/06 at 20:43:13
Hi there, I live in Greenhithe - Dartford
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Added by Terra Photography-Kevin on 06/Mar/06 at 11:59:42
Hi,
Firstly it''s good that you are seeking some experience first. Wedding photography is all about people management as much as it''s about photography. No normal wedding day is like a mock wedding or a model shoot so some real stuff is vital.
Hopefully you have duplicates of everything also.
Good luck
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Added by (G)Garry Edwards on 06/Mar/06 at 15:50:45
I question both the wisdom of your 4-day course and your own mock wedding - as Kevin says, a real wedding is nothing like a mock-up or a training course can be. Also, every wedding is different.
My own view is that as you can''t possibly learn the people management skills from a training course the only benefit it can have is to teach you which way to point the camera etc - and if you need to learn that then you aren''t ready to photograph weddings...
Going to weddings with experienced shooters (you need a few different people) is by far the best way forward - you''ll learn different skills from different people and you''ll learn how to cope with different types of weddings, different lighting conditions and different types of clients.
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Added by pinkkimbus on 06/Mar/06 at 20:12:12
Thank you for your advise. I have been an amateur for many years now, and the course is for not just the model bride, but also studio work and digital imaging. The mok is purely to get my Port Folio started. I understand that I need to be with professional photographer''s and is the only way forward, so please, if there are any offers to help me with my future development with this then your help by attending weddings with you would be very much appreciated. My amateur work is very good...
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Added by Alan W on 07/Mar/06 at 06:38:37
Kim, I am in the same position as you in that I am starting up this year and funnily enough right on your doorstep. My first bit of advice is to stick with this forum as you will gain a lot of knowledge and find there are a lot of very helpful members here that are in the trade. I have two bookings for this year that have arisen through people getting to hear that I was starting up and I guess as the word spreads, and if my clients are happy with my work, more work will hopefully follow. It all starts off quite slowly at first and then grows year on year. If you are planning on doing this full time from day one you will find it hard going. I have spent the last six months finding out everything I can about the industry and have started off as a part time venture. There is a lot to learn, a lot of kit to buy and most of it seems to be about marketing and personality. Good luck in your new venture, there is loads of work out there - it''s just getting it. If you are good, have the right personality and persevere, you will succeed. Ebdons photography at Bexleyheath are always looking for photographers during the season, they pay you a daily rate, give you a card, you shoot the wedding on your camera and give the card back to them and they do the rest. Sub contracting I know, but you will gain valuable experience from shooting their weddings and won''t have all that editing and albums stuff to contend with. There''s a lead for you.
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Added by (G)Lisa on 07/Mar/06 at 15:05:00
When you say there is a lot of kit to buy, what exactly do you need to get yourself started, I have my camera, two lenses, a tripod and two 1GB memory card, oh and yes my husband to help out :)
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Added by Alan W on 07/Mar/06 at 15:23:19
Two camera bodies definite, two flashguns if possible, spare batteries and because you are digital - a PC with at least 1Gb RAM, Photoshop CS2, and a very good monitor which has to be correctly callibrated. Forget about the tripod as it will slow you down. Shoot RAW and learn how to use photoshop properly. I would get one more 1Gb card too.
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Added by Barry Moir on 07/Mar/06 at 15:44:07
I hope im wrong but i find a tripod an integral part of my kit for weddings.
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Added by Terra Photography-Kevin on 07/Mar/06 at 16:34:59
Tripods allow lower speeds and can help in unusual conditions I guess.
I don''t use one, not for speed but, it''s expensive to leave around, you tend to leave your camera on them as you set up a group etc. You have to lug them around. I have 2 and not used one at a wedding yet, but hey horses for sourses!
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Added by LDP on 07/Mar/06 at 16:39:09
Only used for the internals from back of church while ceremony is going on. Apart from that that not at all.
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Added by Paul Smith on 07/Mar/06 at 17:15:27
I''m joining the wedding band wagon this season, and I would consider this my minimum setup for initial capture
2 Pro bodies (1 series canon)
17-40 F4
24-105 F4
70-200 F2.8
50mm 1.4 (for low light inside church)
2 x flash
Quantum turbo 2x2 external battery
4 batteries
spare set of AA for flash (just in case quantum gives grief)
Ladder (in the car)
Tripod (in the car)
Top level AA membership
Laptop (for backup and downloading)
10 gb SD cards
Inverter in the car for charging laptop / batteries.
Whistle (for Marshalling the guests)
Spare tie
Spare shoes
Full indemnity cover
A list of at least 3 other photographers I know I can trust in the event that I have a catastrophic problem in the run up to the event.
For post processing
CS2
Calibrated 21'' Monitor
Soon to be delivered kick a*se PC with 1tb of raid storage
No doubt once I start attending weddings in earnest I will find other kit essential, but I feel this is a minimum required to do a professional job, that will justify a professional fee
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Added by missphotography on 07/Mar/06 at 17:54:11
Whistle - ha ha. I love it!! You forgot reflector and a towel in case you sit the bride down outdoors.
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Added by Event Photography on 07/Mar/06 at 17:59:48
I use a whistle when doing groups, and Patrick Litchfield used one at Royal weddings so not a bad idea, but Paul - whats a tie?
Gary
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Added by Paul Smith on 07/Mar/06 at 18:04:00
The whistle was recommended by a Friends Dad who used to do traditional wedding photography, he could and often did use it, and prided himself of being able to shoot all the formals after the ceremony in under 25 mins, no matter how large the party.
Towel - this has now been added to my list. I didn''t feel the need for a reflector, as feel I''m rather adept at Fill flash, and for the odd shot where I feel it could be used, it will just get in the way, especially as it would take me 20 mins to pack away...
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Added by stevew on 07/Mar/06 at 18:08:25
reflectors are good for long distance shots, where a flash would have no chance of hitting the subject. I use a large lastolite sunbounce & get my assistant or a member of the wedding party to hold it (them) they love it. Just never let a guest pack one away, I did once took me a day to untagle and re-alighn it LOL.
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Added by (G)Damien on 07/Mar/06 at 21:05:41
forget about tripod Hmmmmmm
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Added by (G)LDP on 07/Mar/06 at 21:06:07
Only used for the internals from back of church while ceremony is going on. Apart from that that not at all.
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Added by (G)Barry Moir on 07/Mar/06 at 21:06:48
good point about AA membership.
oh i always wear a shirt and tie.
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Added by dan on 08/Mar/06 at 15:17:16
Ive seen photographers at wedding turning up in jeans and t-shirt....shocking!!!! Has to be a casual suit surely...no t shirts at a wedding....thats just plain wrong :)
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