AboutJohn Wilson Expertise Over 25 years specializing exclusively in professional wedding photography. I can answer most questions relating directly to wedding photography concerning the business, film, digital, traditional & digital labs, marketing, effects, pricing & packaging, shooting outdoors and in-studio with multiple flash, color management and creating magazine style wedding albums. I can't answer questions regarding other fields of photography. I am a full-time self-employed wedding/portrait photographer. I can comprehensively answer most questions regarding portrait and wedding photography. I've operated a custom color and black & white photo lab processing films and photographic prints. I now shoot digital exclusively and process in Photoshop CS3.
Experience I have over 25 years experience working as a portrait/wedding photographer.
Education/Credentials School of hard knocks. Self-study. Purchasing all books I can find about portrait and wedding photography and attending photography seminars over the years.
Expert: John Wilson Date: 6/29/2007 Subject: My first wedding.....lots of questions!!!!
Question Hi John,
my name is Jennifer, I am 21 yrs old and have been interested in photography since I was 15,when I was in highschool I took classes, I would like to further my education and experience...now that I decided I really want to do this as my carrer. Anyways, one of my best girlfriend's is getting married in October and asked me to be the photographer at her wedding. I am so honered and excited!!!! I have been doing a lot of research, and looking at lots of different wedding pictures to get some more ideas of what I want the pictures to look like. I don't really have just one clear question for you, I would really just love some honest advice, and ideas, and what ever else you can think of to share with me. Also I only have one lens right now but before her wedding, I would like to get a couple different ones. Which len's would you recomend for wedding photograpghy....I have a 35 mm camera. How many rolls of film should I bring as well, and what's the best film to use?
thank you so much for your time!!!!
I'm excited to hear from you
Jennifer
Answer Hi Jennifer,
My website www.weddingphotographics.net has a lot of information about wedding photography as it is asked by brides and by other professional photographers. Check out my FAQ page. Then some differences between film and digital are discussed at www.weddingphotographics.net/digital.htm
Based on the idea that this is your very first wedding and your friend absolutely knows this is your first wedding and that she and everyone should be ready to help you as much as possible:
The 35mm film you might want to use will be Kodak Portra 160 speed. You might shoot it with your camera's film speed set at 200 though to increase color saturation. But you have time between now and then to experiment to see which you prefer.
You will want to avoid flash as much as possible. But when you do need to use flash, use a diffuser of some kind for relatively close-up shots. For large groups, you might use flash directly aimed at them. For diffusion, there are all kinds of devices. As you will see on my Wedding Dates page at http://www.weddingphotographics.net/weddingcalendar.htm my wife and I use Gary Fong's "lightsphere" for diffusion as well as other devices.
I don't know what brand 35mm film camera you have, but a professional lens with the best optics and telephoto is a great way to go. I personally favor telephoto of 24mm-70mm to work great for the vast majority of my shooting. Then use a 55mm-200mm for distant shots of the Ceremony itself.
Don't invest a lot in film equipment as everyday it is becoming more obsolete for wedding photographers.
How much film? Depends on how big the Wedding Day will be. How many bridesmaids and groomsmen. Will there be a reception with music and dancing? Many family and friends? Without knowing anything about the wedding, I would say take more film than you think you will need. If a lot of formal group poses you might prefer working on a tripod. Especially if you are using a heavy camera if it has a motor drive, large & heavy lens, flash and all those batteries.
Don't be afraid to let everyone on the day of the wedding know that you are an amateur. At least that this is your first wedding. Ask them kindly for their cooperation and help to set up poses etc. Let them know the bride is a great friend and you just want to be able to provide her with a lot of great photography as a wedding gift.
Best of luck to you. If you have any specific questions or more specific information about the wedding which I may provide some ideas, just write me and I will be glad to help the best I can.
