Author Topic: Not your usual wedding... (Read 5978 times)

fleitao · « **on:** September 05, 2007, 13:44 »

Hi all,

I've been booked to cover a wedding, for a couple friend of mine.

Until now, nothing strange, but this is where normality ends... as the wedding is a bit out of the ordinary. The wedding and reception will take place on the same venue, which is a restaurant. The surroundings suck, so no chance to go out and take some pics in a garden or beach or so. Those guys don't want nothing ordinary, i.e., no formals and no group shots.

So my question is... without many of those occasions that we normally have on a normal wedding, i'm a bit afraid that there won't be much material to shoot... just a quick ceremony and a long dinner... probably no dances, no speeches, i don't know... they do have a wedding cake tough, which is good... we also have the details which will be rich, i'm sure.

The other thing is the restaurant, when night falls, they have no light... only a few low watt modern lamps (wrapped in paper and stuff like that) scattered around and one candle in each table....

My question, rather than asking how do i take the pictures, which i'm fairly ok with (i've done some tests on location and it's feasible, although not very easy), is what . do i shoot

500 pics of people eating may not be the best thing to do... Any ideas ??

Regards

Francisco Leitão

leaf · « **Reply #1 on:** September 05, 2007, 14:01 »

pictures of people eating generally turn out HORRIBLE. mouths wide open ready to stuff in another piece of cake

I would get a longish lens that is fast (like 2.

if you can and shoot people during the break while they are visiting with others... shoot close up 'portraits' of as many people as you can get. Often people have nice natural smiles while visiting.

-and watch out especially when people greet eachother. they often give a nice big smile then.

hospitalera · « **Reply #2 on:** September 05, 2007, 14:43 »

What about funny images, pretty extreme like: Wide angle lens stuck into a face of eating person, focus on front teeth?

What style/ sense of humour do your friends have? Close up shoots of each course to give a certain continuity for the wedding album, if you do one. Tell us more and surely we come up with something, SY

admart01 · « **Reply #3 on:** September 05, 2007, 15:40 »

tough one -- trying to think wild and out there for you...

how about a limited time "special area" where you've set up a backdrop and invite guests to get a photo with their mate/date/auntie? Could encourage one serious shot and one kookie shot - maybe go as far as bringing props?

Read_My_Rights · « **Reply #4 on:** September 05, 2007, 15:49 »

pictures of the food - before eaten. Available light Stills of flowers, gifts, rings, hands,paperwork (wedding certificate), Details, details details. good luck.

fleitao · « **Reply #5 on:** September 05, 2007, 17:04 »

Quote from: leaf on September 05, 2007, 14:01

pictures of people eating generally turn out HORRIBLE. mouths wide open ready to stuff in another piece of cake

True... but i really menat was people at the table... naturally i'll wait for a break between plates...

Quote from: leaf on September 05, 2007, 14:01

I would get a longish lens that is fast (like 2. if you can and shoot people during the break while they are visiting with others... shoot close up 'portraits' of as many people as you can get. Often people have nice natural smiles while visiting.

-and watch out especially when people greet eachother. they often give a nice big smile then.

Let's see if my 100-400 will do.. it's a bit slow for this... but has much quality, and the camera is also noise friendly, so i can crank up the iso a bit... The greetings is a very nice idea... but guess for those i won't be stealth... at that time i'll probably also need the short lens...

Quote from: hospitalera on September 05, 2007, 14:43

What about funny images, pretty extreme like: Wide angle lens stuck into a face of eating person, focus on front teeth?

I guess this would be a bit radical... probably something less extreme will do... of course one can always try and see if they like it in the end...

As for sense of humour, they certainly have it... i just don't think their idea is that radical... they just don't want to pose a lot (if you ask me, there will be at least some people that will force them to take a pic together, and when one goes, everybody follows, but for that i'm ready...) and want a reportage approach. My problem is that the venue is rather limited and we don't have all those bride's house/groom/arrival/church/drive/arrival/time out for a few pics alone/etc, etc... I'm trying to squeeze some stuff wherever i can juts to add some variation...

Right now i just had a good idea... near the restaurant there is a very fashionable outdoor bar... i'll try to go there with them for a few minutes just to get some "catalog pics" (hopefully).

Quote from: admart01 on September 05, 2007, 15:40

how about a limited time "special area" where you've set up a backdrop and invite guests to get a photo with their mate/date/auntie?

As said, this may happen anyway... i'm not sure whether i can set up any area, because according to the restaurant set up there is not much space available... Nevertheless the restaurant has a cool feature, a big window (in fact one wall is entirely glass) with a fairly nice landscape... i may just try that.

Quote from: Read_My_Rights on September 05, 2007, 15:49

Details, details details. good luck.

This is also my idela... lots of details... hopefully there will be many...

Thanks for everybody's input and best wishes... it's great to have such a community...

Regards

Francisco Leitão

fleitao · « **Reply #6 on:** September 10, 2007, 17:07 »

Hi all,

just to say that the wedding was last saturday and it wen't ok... i got 900 pics so i think i found what i needed... of course i will not use all, but i'll use around 500 which is very good...

Again thanks for everybody's help

Regards

Francisco Leitão

digitalshooter · « **Reply #7 on:** September 13, 2007, 13:22 »

You could wait until 1am and take photos of all the then drunk couples who did not come to the wedding together... sneaking off to the bathroom to fool around! If anything you can make some extra money off of them not wanting the photos printed. LOL