Get the Job Done: Wedding preparation tips

Even though this weekend's two-fer wedding events won't be my first wedding, I think preparing for it as if it were will help me "stay frosty" as they say in the marines, alert and anticipating every moment. This list of wedding photography survival tips I found on the Digital Photography School site is filled with great ideas, and the comments from fellow photographers that follow the post offers even more real-world insight. As I was reading through the list, it was extremely reassuring to know that I had intuitively done many of the things suggested. I think I'm on the right track and that feels good:

DO YOUR RESEARCH
Find a local bookstore with a large selection of photography books. Take some time to look at books from Bill Hurter and Amherst Media. These resources will give you an incredible amount of information to walk you through the wedding photographer’s experience.

I would add that it's a good idea to take advantage of the internet, as I've done for this week. Wonderful pages about how to improve your photography on that special day abound. Plus, being able to look through other more experienced photographer's work is always a great source of inspiration. This week, I've been inspired by Mark Hayes Photography, a friend and fellow photographer in the Colorado wedding market whom I admire. I saw this unconventional bride and groom portrait pose an another photographer's website and loved it so much that I tried it at my first wedding last year.



DETERMINE THE COUPLE'S STYLE
As a wedding photographer, your job involves more than capturing the events of the wedding day. You must have the ability to do so in the style that signifies the bridal couple. Are they traditionalists? Are they contemporary? Do they want color or black and white? If they aren’t sure what they like, take the time to go through a wedding magazine with them to find clips that match their style. Once you know what they are expecting stylistically, you can shoot to capture just that!

I asked my first couple I will be shooting on Saturday to look through magazines and pull out images they liked so I could have a better sense of what they were looking for in their own wedding coverage. I was surprised when she told me she definitely wanted candid, unposed portraiture as well as images with selective colouring like this one that showcased the special hair accessory pieces she made that her flower girls will be wearing.


Meanwhile the couple I will be shooting on Sunday told me that this following shot was one of their favorites on my website because it made them laugh. I knew right then that they too would appreciate candid moments and lighthearted, fun photography to compliment their laid back style.

http://www.pictureyourworld.net/gallery/5098262_XT2kR/1/461359134_gKFQE#542770581_uCRgd



CREATE A MASTER SCHEDULE
Arrange a pre-wedding meeting with the bride to plan out a 15-minute incremental schedule of the wedding shoot. This should include wedding preparations, bride portraits, bride and bridesmaids portraits; the groom and his groomsmen, the full wedding party, the family portraits, and the bride and groom. If you aren’t experienced shooting weddings, plan for extra time so you won’t be rushed or distracted by the time pressures.

BE CONNECTED
Be sure to get the phone number of the wedding coordinator, the best man, and the bride’s personal attendant. If (and when) the wedding schedule gets off, you will want to be sure that the wedding coordinator is in the know. And when the time comes to hunt down rogue bridal party or family members who are missing out on the shoot, these numbers are handy for extra help.

HAVE HELP
Shooting a first wedding is best done with another primary shooter, or at least an assistant. An assistant will help you keep track of your shot list, schedule, managing the individuals for large group photos. In the very least, an assistant is available to carry equipment, keep track of the cell phone, and holding reflectors.

I am so lucky to have help from numerous people I've meet from the Mile High Digital Photography School Social Group I created. I will have two assistants on Saturday and four on Sunday when we are expected to have that wedding be mobbed by more than 300 guests! You just can't be everywhere at once. While I was trying to run around the church and follow the couple outside, my assistant Jason Peckovitch of Illusive Dreams was able to capture this great shot that I surely would have missed while in transition:



MAKE A SHOT LIST
The bridal couple will undoubtedly have shots they want. Generally, the couple will stress the importance of photos with family members attending, and the bridal party. Once you have this initial list, you can build a more detailed list for your own reference. A shot list will keep you focused and on top as you go about the 5-8 hour shooting day. As you refer to your shot list throughout the day, won’t have to worry about forgetting anything.

This list on the 50 must-have wedding photography shots is a great basic list to get prepared. However, if you read the comments, there are several people who claim that this list is too rudimentary for the demands of today's modern wedding. I agree with posters who said it may be better to spend time with the bride and groom to have them help you refine your list of must-haves.

SCOUT OUT YOUR LOCATIONS
Arrive at the venue at least an hour before you are to begin shooting. Once you are on location, map out your location flow. Where will you start out and what shots will you take in that area? Where will you go next? What distractions must you watch out for in each location? Where is the light? Have a flow plan for your shoot and both you and your clients will stay relaxed through the day.

I would add that you need to be aware of not just the actual structure where the wedding will be held, but also of the buildings and scenery that surround it. This unforgettable shot shown of the bride and groom rushing from the church after the ceremony for a quick moment alone is made all the more better by a wide angle lens that takes in the city in the background. It creates a storytelling moment of this couple's new path in life, taking on the world together.



It was a lot of fun to go out to each session and hash out plans with my assistants who are all very talented photographers in their own rite. It was good comraderie to be able to speak a similar language and share a vision for the wedding. Attending the rehearsals will be even more beneficial.

PUT YOUR GAME FACE ON
Remember that no matter what happens on the wedding day, there will be a plethora of uncontrolled variables. Your role is to take the unexpected happenings and run with them! If you are the picture of calm and the voice of reason, everyone else will be ok! The mark of a good wedding photographer isn’t a perfectly planned and executed shoot but rather a wedding shoot in which the photographer was able to adapt to each scenario and still capture the beautiful moments of the day.
No matter how much reading and research time you put into preparing, there is a large degree of learning that will come from that first experience. Above all, set your mind on enjoying the experience no matter what comes your way. While the pressure is on, so long as you can take nervous pressure and channel it to anticipated excitement, you’ll be just fine.

Get Out There: Shooting by the light of the Full Cold Moon

Today a full moon will grace the skies in Denver, making for a wonderful night photo opportunity. Hopefully it will light up your skies where ever you live too! Known as "The Full Cold Moon," December is the month "when the winter cold fastens its grip and the nights become long and dark," according to the Old Farmer's Almanac. The moon is also called, "The Moon before Yule," or "The Long Nights Moon" by some Native American tribes. The term is appropro because the midwinter night is indeed long and because the moon is above the horizon for a long time.

A bright moon should make for some great captures of the Denver City and County Building tonight when I join several other photographers during a digital photo meet up. Don't be intimidated by night photography. I let those baseless fears keep me away from it for far too long. Once I finally got up the nerve to attend a night photography workshop with Illuminate Photography Workshops, I LOVED it! Watch this video on the Digital Photography School forum to get some tips for shooting in the dark. There's a very different world out there when the sun goes down...learn how to capture it!

Growing Pains: Free Marketing For Your Photography Business

A great thread on the Digital Photography School forum tipped me off about a free marketing services we can use for our businesses.

In the thread, people talked about whether or not networking organizations such as Facebook or Myspace helped their online business presence. One poster mentioned creating a free ad with Google Maps Local Business Center; so I decided to give it a try.

It was incredibly easy to create a listing for my business. I love that it allows you to upload samples of images as well. Plus, I got to create coupons to run with my listing, which will be especially helpful in my efforts to secure new clients during the upcoming holiday season. Be sure to check it out!

As far as Facebook and Myspace goes...well, I prefer Facebook for social networking because I don't get spammed as bad as I did when I frequented Myspace. But I'm not sure yet how helpful this application will be for my business. I was able to create a group specifically for my business. Hopefully, I will be able to gain some "fans" and see if those contacts lead to some booked sessions.

Get Connected: DPS Mile High Social Photography Group Holds Its First "Shoot-n-Greet"

Yep, that's yours truly at the Garden of the Gods


Not too long ago, the Digital Photography School online forum started allowing its members to create social networking groups. Of course, the inner social butterfly in me couldn't resist trying to see if I could throw together one for Colorado DPS members.

The Mile High DPS Group may not have the most members (currently there are nine of us), but we are definitely one of the most talkative groups. We've got more than 100 messages under our belts since the group was established in June, with members supporting each other both personally and professionally in our shared love of photography.

This Saturday, Oct. 4, the social group will host its first "shoot-n-greet." We will be meeting at the Garden of the God's Visitor Center at 3 p.m. If you are in the area, feel free to join us! And consider joining DPS and the social group as well to help us plan more group outings. Colorado is an amazing place to be a photographer. There's no need to capture it alone if you wouldn't mind a little company from like-minded people!

Growing Pains: No Print Sales From Wedding Yet, But Why?

My first wedding and the growing pains I continue to suffer because of it has definitely pinpointed the fact that I need to hone my business skills if "Picture Your World Photography" is going to succeed.

I blogged last week about providing CDs in packaging. This week, I'm having to deal with the fact that no one is buying online prints from the wedding. The presentation went very well and the bride was very pleased with the photos. I'm not sure what the issue is, but I ran into the same problem earlier this year when few people purchased prints from a National Black Skiers association event I covered in January. Given time, I eventually made more than $200 in additional print sales from the NBS event...but it was still confusing considering how many people viewed the images (and continue to do so even months after the event).

My instructor Russ Burden, a veteran photographer, said even he has experienced this same phenomenon. I have posted numerous threads about the issue on the photography forums I frequent, including Digital Photography School and Digital Grin to get some help and explanations. If you have the time, I would suggest reading through these threads, as they are full of great tips from seasoned photographers who have found ways to deal with these issues.

Some people are convinced that online print purchases just don't happen, and if they do, it should be considered "icing" on the cake. To that end, it has been suggested that I need to create a business plan that incorporates print sales into the overall price. For example, $500 was simply too low to charge for the wedding. A more realistic price might have been $1,500 or more (with half or all paid upfront before the wedding) to ensure a profit margin.

I've been doing some research to see how much local wedding photographers charge for their various services and what their packages look like. Few people can afford to pay $3000 for wedding photos, so I really like the idea of creating several types of packages, based on coverage, starting from $750 and up.

I also took a "Managing your Business: Passion and Profits" seminar from Illuminate Photography Workshops several weeks ago to get a handle on the business aspects of photography. Being a good photographer doesn't mean you will have a successful business. Instructor Jim Turley stressed the need for me to create a six month business plan. He is right, and this is exactly the kind of circumstance where having one would have helped me. Instead of getting overwhelmed with trying to create an entire budget, I am going to start with realistic steps to get me through the next six months of my business planning including: nailing an agreement contract, creating service fees and photo packages and passing out all of my business postcards I bought.

Get Connected: Building Your Photoblog

Last week Natalie Norton's Digital Photography School post about setting up a photoblog inspired some of my readers to create their own sites showcasing their photography and ideals. In her follow-up post, Natalie shared more ways to build and boost our photoblogs for greater readership.

Here's the short list:
Keep it Fresh
Share the Love
R.E.S.P.E.C.T
Keep it Real
Keep it Simple
Larger than Life (posting large photos)
Piracy is Better than Obscurity
Chill
Know your Numbers (using analytical tools to study your progress)

I would highly recommend reading the entire post because I find her witty and engaging. I'm still very new to blogging myself, so it's great to use these techniques to produce something that my readers (as well as myself) will continue to find useful. There has been debate on many of the photography sites I frequent about whether it's a good thing to share what's happening in your personal life on a business blog. I have decided (and it seems Natalie thinks so too if you read her point about "Keeping it Real") that being open about what's happening in my world helps others relate to me and know what to expect about the product I can produce for them.

Did you start a new photoblog thanks to Natalie's tips? If so, send me a message and I will add links to your site. I totally agree with Natalie about the importance of "Sharing the Love" in Blogdom. Earlier this week I was so psyched to discover that someone visited my blog after reading about it in a fellow photographer's blog post. Professional Photographer Chad Phillips listed my blog among others he likes to follow. Given how many blogs are out there and how much we have pulling at our attention, I think that's one of the best compliments you can receive. Thanks Chad, and I look forward to staying in contact with you in the future.

Breaking News: Win a Nikon D60

I got an email this morning from Darren Rowse and Digital Photography School Forums with some exciting news:

"Do you want to win a Nikon DSLR?

This month as a little incentive to get all of our wonderful members visiting
and using our forum I'm putting up a Nikon D60 DSLR as a prize for one lucky
forum member.

I'm so excited about it as it's the biggest prize we've ever put up. You can
learn more about how to put yourself in the running for the D60 in this post at
the blog.

In short - you have to be a forum member and you need post on the forum between now and the end of April. Every post you do gives you another chance to win.

So head over to the Digital Photography School - log in - ask a
question, answer someone else's, share a photo, write a review of your camera.
The more active you are the more chance of winning the D60.

I'm looking forward to another great month of fun at the DPS forums

Darren Rowse
http://digital-photography-school.com/forum"


I have been a member of the DPS since July 2007. While I think the competition is a great way to generate new forum members and readers, I can personally tell you that the DPS has been a great resource for me even without the contests and prizes. Forum members are generous with their advice and critiques which I think has helped me become a stronger photographer. When I started my blog and website, I turned to forum members to get their ideas on how to improve my presentation. And the monthly assignments continue to challenge both my skill and how I interpret subject matter.

Join the Digital Photography School forums and participate, not just to win the camera, but to gain the skills to be a more competent photographer.

Instructor's Tip: DPS' "Light and the Pinhole Camera"

Yesterday, the Digital Photography School online forum began its highly anticipated ongoing weekly series of articles titled "Photograhy 101 - A Basic Course on the Camera." The series will cover all the basics of camera design and use, including the "exposure triangle," focus, depth of field and sharpness, focal lengths as well as an indepth look at the camera itself.

When the first "semester" of Photography 101 is finished (and depending on the series' success) future semesters will be offered, possibly including Photography 102 - A Basic Course in Taking Photos, Photography 103 - A Basic Course in Processing and Photography 104 - Increasing Your Options with Gear.

I've been looking forward to this and will be following the series closely. Each lesson includes a list of resources for further study and fun assignments to try out at home.

An Aside: POTW -- Traditions

This week's POTW assignment is really wracking my brain. I have until Wednesday night to come up with a photo depicting a tradition. I think the hardest part of this is trying to figure out what a tradition is and what it means to the photographer. Then you've got to find or recreate the tradition to take pictures of it.

What immediately sprang to my mind was a family sitting down to eat dinner (a long lost tradition all in itself) and maybe stopping to have prayer before they eat. I also thought about blowing out candles on a birthday cake, quinceaneras, or placing flowers at a tombstone. I've gotten some of my friends to discuss the issue with me on the Digital Photo School blog.

What do you think I should try to photograph?