Wedding List
I just read a story on Reuters about a woman whose wedding pictures were so awful it may have marred the day forever. The couple were so angry and disappointed they sued the photographer and the judge awarded for the plaintiff. The photographer not only had to refund the money but pay damages. As the woman said, they have memories of the happy day but no real commemorative shots.
The video taken is horrible in quality and resolution, and at the altar point of the ceremony the photographer drops the camera and mutters an expletive. Of the shots taken using still and video, only 22 of hundreds or thousands were deemed usable. Once in a lifetime pictures have heads chopped off or were strangely omitted.
The quality of the video is very dark or light, backlit shots where they are not appropriate and features and actions more hidden than revealed. The woman even states that the photographer missed the limousine driving up and the bridge getting out, so he requested the driver to drive the limo round again and open the door to the empty car.
 I would venture that this person had never used these cameras before or had never taken photographs in his life. Even a slapdash recovery would have provided suites of shots of marginal quality that could have been cropped into respectable images. A working knowledge of your camera is necessary when an event is taking place. Every moment is dense with photo opportunities.
Here is a list for anyone looking to take a wedding suite of photography or video.
1. Use Humans When Available
People on wedding days are dressed in their best clothes and professionally styled and made up. Get the pictures of the ivy creeping up the stone towers later. Photograph humans before something happen to their styling. Children especially muss up fast. Snap them ASAP.
2. Map a Schedule
Trying to crisscross a wedding sitetaking pictures like from a travel stand is impossible. The venue in front of the church won’t stay empty for long, the decorations may blow away, the best vantage point from the East to the village church may be full of cars next time you come round. Map the area and make sure your paths are not crowded with guests hamming for photos.
3. Bring an Extra Camera.
Sounds elementary doesn’t it? But if one camera breaks, one camera doesn’t work and one camera is out of charge, you’ll need a fourth camera to complete the job adequately. That is what you’ve been paid for. Have a camera bag fully primed and an assistant to guard your cameras and help you work with lighting and color.
4. Bring Accessories
Bring flashers, filters, extra lenses and white balances and know how to use them. Cloudy and sunny days may need lighting help. Practice using these objects and fitting them on and off. Don’t wait until 40 people are holding a grimace of a smile while you fiddle with a lens cap.
5. Site Pre-Visit
When possible visit the site ahead of time and review good shots. Black and white shots should be planned. Review other pictures taking for weddings at that space and see what cribbing you can do to shave time. Plot out restrooms, paths to drinking fountains, where you’ll park, and which places you can keep photo subjects waiting for a crowded backdrop.
6. Submit Schedule
Let the bridge and groom, parents of the bride and the wedding party know when and where on the premises you plan to take informal video and formal still shots. Make sure locations are taped off and x’s marked on the floor where people should stand. Have an alternate ready in case of bad weather. Be ready for physically challenged guests of the wedding to attend. These people to need a place to sit or rest.
7. Hash Marks in Your Head.
Look at the members of the wedding party and start a count in your head of how many shots you are getting. Use a memo pad to keep tabs in between wedding photography shoots and when the players change in a church or banquet hall setting. Less than five of anyone important is a problem. Use the sound on your video recorder or digital camera to note who the people are and what relation they are to the bride.
This post has 2 comments
October 8th, 2009
The worst thing about the story in question, the guy is a member of SWPP and a proclaimed professional wedding tog. (many years experience, allegedly!).
Begs the question, how much research did the B&G do? It seems unlikely he would suddenly and spectacularly fail at their wedding.
Hopefully, the widespread exposure of this story will make prospective Brides and Grooms more careful as to their choice of photographer, and possibly deter the occasional weekend warrior
November 1st, 2009
Hi,
Thank you for the great quality of your blog, every time i come here, i’m amazed.
black hattitude.
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