I'm a... wedding photographer?!?
Ever since I started reading about photography from serious sources, I've known that wedding photography is one of the hardest jobs in the business. The expectations, the one-chance-to-get-it-right, the high contrast black and white, the amateur snapshooters getting in the way, equipment failuers etc etc etc. I'd sworn I would avoid it like the plague[1], but somehow I ended up on the business side of the camera, ordering the bride and groom around, trying to get the mother-in-law to smile, and looking anxiously at the clouds threatening to deliver more of the wet disaster that they teased me with ten minutes after the appointed meeting time[2].
Fortunately, this was a fairly low-pressure job. The photos, while asked for by the bride, ended up being my wedding present for them[3], since they're very good friends of ours anyway. And since they are both geeks, it wouldn't be the end of the world if they didn't have the absolutely picture-perfect wedding. Plus, they're both pretty photogenic.
Still, it was an educational experience. I didn't have time to take notes during the event (I was extra busy, being both photographer and guest, so I still had to talk with people and eat the -- fairly fancy -- dinner and all), but could definitely point out several issues afterwards, especially when reviewing the photos. The main issue is really a person issue, that I don't have the knack of ordering people around, talking a lot and make the subjects comfortable. The "lack of equipment" issues curiously are mostly about simpler equipment like flashes, bounces and such, not an overwhelming need to buy the newest camera and the most expensive glass.
For what I had to work with, I'm rather pleased with the result. I'll probably put some highlights on my photo journal later on. First, I need to make some prints.
[1] I guess I should have checked up on what the plague actually does to avoid things
[2] Good thing everybody else was even more late than I.
[3] It turned out I wasn't the only one with that idea, somebody else gave a little sample folder and said her gift would be a photobook from the wedding; hers didn't look very good, though.
Fortunately, this was a fairly low-pressure job. The photos, while asked for by the bride, ended up being my wedding present for them[3], since they're very good friends of ours anyway. And since they are both geeks, it wouldn't be the end of the world if they didn't have the absolutely picture-perfect wedding. Plus, they're both pretty photogenic.
Still, it was an educational experience. I didn't have time to take notes during the event (I was extra busy, being both photographer and guest, so I still had to talk with people and eat the -- fairly fancy -- dinner and all), but could definitely point out several issues afterwards, especially when reviewing the photos. The main issue is really a person issue, that I don't have the knack of ordering people around, talking a lot and make the subjects comfortable. The "lack of equipment" issues curiously are mostly about simpler equipment like flashes, bounces and such, not an overwhelming need to buy the newest camera and the most expensive glass.
For what I had to work with, I'm rather pleased with the result. I'll probably put some highlights on my photo journal later on. First, I need to make some prints.
[1] I guess I should have checked up on what the plague actually does to avoid things
[2] Good thing everybody else was even more late than I.
[3] It turned out I wasn't the only one with that idea, somebody else gave a little sample folder and said her gift would be a photobook from the wedding; hers didn't look very good, though.