Can I pick the vast brains and experience of the forum for a completely non dog related topic?

Two young friends of mine are getting married next week, they are paying for everything themselves with all friends rallying round and doing whatever we can. I'm the official photographer! I know nothing about wedding photography, in fact I haven't been to a wedding for about 20 years. I have a good camera and can take great pics of the dogs :-)

So, now I need to know what I should and should not be taking photos off.

I'm meeting the bride early on the morning to get some photos of her getting her hair done.

I'll take photos of bride and parents coming out house and getting into the wedding car.

Presumably photos getting out car at registry office.

Then I'm lost between that and photos after on the steps outside. What can I take photos of inside, during the ceremony? I don't want to make a faux pas, but don't want to miss something I should be photographing.

I'm thinking of groom waiting, bride coming down aisle, the two together during ceremony, first kiss, signing the register. Maybe some shots of guests, mother of bride crying :)

Does that sound ok, has anyone paid more attention to wedding photographers?

Ask the registrar what you're allowed to photograph and when.

Agree with jeangenie you may be able to take some in the actually ceremony or at least before. My wedding, registry office ,  we have photos taken at the registras desk where the ceremony was but taken after if you see what I mean. Oh yes and before the start of the ceremony as well it is the same in churches usually but definitely check with whoever is officiating 

Tips from a Wedding Photographer

My father was a Wedding Photographer.  It's not easy and is very intense, with a huge responsibility - you will be recording a day that can't be repeated ;-)    At the very least, you need to know your equipment, how to use it under all conditions, and have a spare camera and batteries.   You also need to know how to use whatever light is available to best effect - especially if the bride is wearing white and the groom a dark suit.    Using flash on a white or light dress will not only result in a white blob for the dress, but also reflected light will likely burn out the bride's face too ;-)

Another consideration, is how well do you function when nervous?   Some people thrive on pressure, others get flustered and make mistakes.  Only you know which you are likely to be ;-)

http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2013/07/31/10-wedding-photography-mistakes-every-beginner-will-make-and-why-its-ok/

http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2010/08/25/wedding-photography-tips-10-steps-to-pro-quality-pictures/

Wishing you all the best with this  :-)

Oh, and get good insurance! If you lose your memory cards or something goes wrong, you could find yourself in trouble.

Do they want family group photos etc - check with them what they want ? We went to Roger's nephew's wedding a few years ago and the photographer only took one very large group photo of everyone. We have a small family and don't all get together very often so I was very disappointed :( We did try to get everyone in our photos, but failed due to the normal chaos at a wedding :) :)

The photographer who did my sons wedding went to the brides house and took a number of photographs as she was getting ready, make up, hairdressing etc and fun pics of her with bridesmaids etc. After the wedding,there was a break before the reception in the evening, so my son and his new wife went with the photographer to some woodlands where he did a number of arty shots with the sun shining through the trees. Mind you this was Kefalonia where there is lots of guaranteed sunshine.

>Oh, and get good insurance! If you lose your memory cards or something goes wrong, you could find yourself in trouble.

As the OP seems to be doing it as a favour to save the couple money I doubt they would have grounds to sue if something went wrong. If they were that concerned about having a guaranteed fault free record of the event then they should pay a professional photographer and not rely on a friend. 

I have sent you a pm Jane as David was a wedding photographer :-)

>Oh, and get good insurance! If you lose your memory cards or something goes wrong, you could find yourself in trouble.

They're very good friends, and they're not paying me so I'm pretty sure they won't sue should it all go horribly wrong :)

Thanks so much everyone for all the tips, Dill I don't have a spare camera, or even a spare battery but the alternative to me taking photos was to give guests disposable cameras so I think I'll be better than that :-)

I'm sure you'll be fine,  Jane :) A friend of my son and DIL took their wedding photos which were excellent and this was much less intrusive because he was also a guest and took photos throughout the evening :)

I'd buy a spare battery and card just to be on the safe side.

> I don't have a spare camera, or even a spare battery

I would get a spare battery. If you're staying for the evening you may find the battery drains quickly once you start using the flash.

Make sure to take a few pics of the bouquet, the cake and the decorated tables. It is nice to have a couple of large group pictures, pics of bride and her parents, groom and his parents and then mostly bride and groom. 

It sounds like you'll have a fun time, and what a great gift for your friends :)

Thanks everyone, I'll get a spare battery just in case though the one I have easily lasts a show weekend and 1200 photos. I'll work through the links over the next few days and make a list with the bride and groom of shots they definitely want, which people etc. On Thursday we're going out to check the venue out again and choose the best spots for photo taking :-)

Get the bride and groom to give you a list of the Absolute Essential photos that they want - ensure that you get those - and then .....use your artistic skills for others :-)

Yay, I'm off the hook :-) A friend who is a really gifted photographer just happens to be visiting Scotland this coming week. I've roped her in, actually she volunteered :-) Phew, that takes the pressure off, I'll still take photos of course but won't have to rely solely on them :-)

I'm getting a list from the bride of essential shots and of course take zillions more :-)

Thanks again everyone :-)

:-) :-)

:-)  :-)

Brilliant!   Now you can enjoy the day without the worry of missing something or something going wrong :-)

Treat the couple to loads of those disposable cameras to put on the tables. It's a fun way for the guests to take pictures of themselves and nobody gets missed out. There's usually somebody who's popped to the loo when the official ones are being taken !.

These days even with basic mobile phones you have picture taking facility.

They do but you have to rely on people to print them off or email them to you. The disposable ones are fun for the bride and groom, you can even find special wedding ones that have table cards with them. I think they are great fun - wish they'd been around when I got married, I'd love to have had casual pics from the tables, I missed it all !.