Shooting My First Wedding
It has been my goal for some time now to attend a wedding as the main photographer, a goal I completed over the weekend down in Christchurch, New Zealand - a two hour flight from home.
Overall I found the whole process rather relaxed. My flight arrived in Christchurch the afternoon before the wedding, and I popped into the chapel before heading to my accommodation for the night to check out the lighting, and scout locations for the formal shots.
The morning of the wedding was super relaxed, however I found myself running between two houses shooting the preparation shots from both the groom and the brides sides. I must have swapped lenses dozens of times in the two hour period of shooting preparation shots, though I found myself primarily shooting with the Canon EF 135 f/2L and the Canon EF 50 f/1.4 under the harsh lighting conditions. The primes kept me thinking about composition and created a very ’smooth’ depth of field when shot at low apertures.
The chapel where the ceremony was held was very small, I used the Canon EF 24-70 f/2.8L for shots of the wedding party arriving, along with the bride walking down the aisle. In saying this, the Canon EF 135 f/2L was a perfect focal length for most of the ceremony, and was attached the the camera for 90% of the time. I feel this could be a different story under different conditions (size of chapel/church), so a little extra focal length might come in handy in the future. One of the upsides of the 135L is its immense sharpness, so cropping is possible if more detail is needed to be pulled from images.
The most invaluable lens of the day was hands down the Canon EF 24-70 f/2.8L. The versatility when it came to shooting portraits was invaluable. I enjoyed the ability to go from full-body shots to head-shots within a twist of the zoom. The only other way to provide similar versatility would be to have two camera bodies, one with a wide angle lens and another with a medium length telephoto.
If I was shooting another wedding down the line in the future, there are a few extra tools I’d like to pick up.
Canon Speedlite Flash
I didn’t think I’d be needing to use flash anywhere near as much as I did. I thought with my two super-fast primes, I could make use of available light. Although true, I found I used the flash for over 75% of the portraits as fill light to eliminate shadows on faces.
A Canon 430EX purchase looms in the very near future.
Wider Prime Lens
I shot the Canon EF 24-70 f/2.8L at two focal lengths the entire day, 24 & 70. When shooting outdoor formals the lens was glued to the wide end - I found myself often wanting to shoot wider.
The Canon EF 14 f/2.8L looks very attractive for this use, bar the hefty price tag it carries. Of course the Canon EF 16-35 f/2.8L must be considered, but I could see myself using the lens glued to the 16mm end - hence the want for the prime.
Extra Camera Body
While a different camera body mightn’t have created better images, it’d have made it a whole lot easier to capture the ones I did. Shooting with an aging Canon 350D wasn’t the easiest thing to do, especially when trying to capture focus for candid portraits when the action was moving very quickly.
Ideally, I’d like something which has a more accurate AF system, better performance above ISO 400, and something with two card slots for redundancy. The last thing any wedding photographer wants is lost images.
Overall, I was extremely happy with the images I managed to capture with the gear I had with me - I’m very excited with the results from the day, and I’m looking forward to the next wedding, whenever & wherever that may be.
The Final Figures
1419 frames fired using one camera body, two Sandisk 4GB compact flash cards, three Canon lenses, and 11.19GB of hard-drive space.
1066 Images - Canon EF 24-70 f/2.8L
250 Images - Canon EF 135 f/2L
103 Images - Canon EF 50 f/1.4
#1
JsmythCongrats on doing your first wedding! Some really nice shots there.
You say you want a wide angle… just be careful because they are renowned for producing unflattering portraits, but on the bright side they are brilliant for landscapes etc.
I see you took plenty of pics. That is the best thing to do, just keep snapping away!
Glad you enjoyed it,
Josh
#2
Dennis Coughlin → www.cherrystreet.co.uk
Looking forward to seeing the photos. Are you going to put them up on Flickr?
Dennis
#3
Henning → www.firstofall.net
Congratulations, Glenn. 1800 images…..wow, I think I’d need a couple of months to shoot that many photos.
#4
Umair AttaGr8 work Glenn. How much did you earn? HaHaHa. Kidding. Are you gonna post some of the shots on your blog? I would love to see them. Anyway, congrats dude. You deserve it.
#5
Michael Mistretta → michaelmistretta.com
Great job Glenn. Weddings are particularly hard to shoot. Those lighting conditions are one of the most difficult. Even at f/2 or f/1.4, when you were not using the flash, what ISO were you shooting at mostly?
I find I stay around the ISO 800 point, but it has far too much noise for my liking. I’ve been looking into getting a shoe-mounted flash for moments like that as well. I would love to see your impressions if you pick one up.
Also, what new camera body are you considering? Canon 40d?
#6
Michael Mistretta → michaelmistretta.com
Oh, and by the way, now you have me looking at the Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8. Thanks a lot. My wallet is hurting…
#7
ben → www.29twelve.com/blog
I’m very jealous, I’d love to shoot a wedding at some point as ‘the’ photographer. Sounds like it all went pretty well though, I’d recommend 2 bodies next time so you can cover off the wide and more distant shots.
Or maybe a 40d and ef-s 10-22?
Hopefully we’ll see some of the photos?
#8
Joe Jacobs → joejacobs.tumblr.com
One of your best posts in a long time! I loved hearing about what you used and how it worked out for you. Really, I was very impressed with this post.
Keep up the great work man!
-Joe Jacobs
#9
Travis Reynolds → TravisReynolds.com
Congradulations on shooting your first wedding! I am as passionate about filming as you are about photography. I’ve shot two weddings and I love it, its so much fun, my favorite part after the wedding is edditing :-)
#10
Alec Feld → alecfeld.com
Alright, if you knew what you were doing then you would have bought an external flash a long time ago. Not only that, but if you shoot indoors at all then you should be using a flash, at least for fill. 1.4 really shouldn’t be used on people unless it’s in low light, harsh light will fuck it up and make them look like deformed fetuses. Learn.
If you were smart then you would have chosen one lens instead of switching them like a pretentious 40 year old walking in SoHo with Dean and Deluca coffee.
An aging camera? Bitch please, a 350D isn’t old or aged at all, you just can’t stand not having the latest and greatest. Clearly it worked and you worked with it, so unless you’re doing pro wedding photography (which is NOT relaxed, unlike what you said), I don’t think you need anything else.
#11
Hector A. Henry Sjogreen → www.blinkyit.com
jajajaj great for you in my case i will get married this 6 of April and they get a photographer that well she are from Canada and they say she are great taking pictures i hope so. lol.
And I hope you go good. its a great step for you and its something really serious so juts imagine.
Bye
#12
Thiemo Gillissen → www.thiemogillissen.com
Great shots. Congratulations, I really want to see more of them. Please upload them (at least a few) to flickr…
regards
#13
Glenn Wolsey → www.glennwolsey.com
Alec. I didn’t shoot at f/1.4 often, the portraits were at f/5 and above. I do know what I’m doing. Fill flash was used indoors - the in-built flash underexposed by two stops.
I’m trying to learn, and do something with my life. Most of the comments you post only seem to criticize - I welcome them, but how about taking a look on the flip-side and trying to be positive for say, an hour?
#14
Aidan GirardInteresting. I agree that a wider prime lens would be a good idea.
It looks like you did a great job. Are you planning on making photography a living? Or keeping it a hobby?
#15
Phil Bowell → phil.electricweekend.com
Glad you enjoyed the opportunity Glenn. You seem to have made the most of it and learnt from the experience, which is the most important thing.
In regards to Alec’s comment, I would take it with a grain of salt he seems to be an expert yet can’t write a simple about page.
#16
Alec Feld → alecfeld.com
Well it’s hard to say something positive without samples or examples, I can only base my comment off of what you have written.
Actually I was positive for an hour today listening to the craptastic cover version of The Zuton’s Valerie by Mark Ronson and Amy Winehouse today. I learned that I’d rather listen to a chav and a crackwhore rather than an actual band. Quite interesting, really.
Anyhow, I can fully critique if you actually put up semi-related examples, but all I see is a cross, some hair, and some guy taking a picture (YOU TAKE PIC-CHAR OF GUY TAKING PIC-CHAR, OH EM GEE).
And Phil, I would write an about page, but in reality, who the fuck cares.
#17
Glenn Wolsey → www.glennwolsey.com
Alec - ever though these may be the only images online down to the discretion of the client, not my personal choice?
#18
Aidan GirardAlec, why do you care? He tries his best with photography and writes a great blog.
If you care so much don’t read his blog, also think before you type because it’s not very intelligent.
#19
ryangood job on the weding.could you post some(obviously not all of them)
#20
JoebaynhamAlec be nice, Amy Winehouse isn’t a chav, she’s a crack whore.
#21
Alec Feld → alecfeld.com
Well I didn’t know that the client asked for some photos to not be published.
Photos usually don’t go under NDA’s ;).
And Joe, Amy Winehouse is the crackwhore, Mark Ronson is the chav.
And Aidan: think before you type ;).
#22
Glenn Wolsey → www.glennwolsey.com
Not a NDA, just a friendly word wishing for images to not be published online :)
#23
Alec Feld → alecfeld.com
Aww but portfolio sharing is the best.
#24
Taylor OlsonGlenn, that’s awesome. Not all that up-to-date on that whole camera stuff so all your lense stuff made no sense to me. But one question about the third picture. Why were you taking a picture of a guy taking a picture of the ceremony, and not taking a picture of the ceremony yourself? :-P Great job. The hair looks amazing.
#25
JsmythActually I think the pic of a guy taking a picture is rather creative. If you made the couple on the back of his camera in colour an the rest of the picture in black and white it wiuld stand out more, just a thought…
“YOU TAKE PIC-CHAR OF GUY TAKING PIC-CHAR, OH EM GEE”
It’s called being creative Alec.
#26
Michael Mistretta → michaelmistretta.com
Yeah, I thought the same thing. Great idea.
#27
Brian C. → www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1659270050
congratulations for your goal achieved!
#28
Brian C. → www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1659270050
congratulation for your goal achieved!
#29
Lasha → onefusedlife.com
Glenn, congratulations on this wonderful experience that you’ve gained. This will now permit you to expand your knowledge and skill-set even more. I look forward to reading more about what you’re up to, and the things you have planned.
Alec, honestly, what are your real intentions about being so critical and mean? Is it that you want attention or traffic to your website or something? A true professional never expresses themselves in such way, but then again, your response would probably be that everyone is different and that you can act and do whatever you want.
You know, people aren’t born knowing everything so they have to start somewhere and take steps towards learning whatever it is, especially when it comes down to photography. There was also a time when you were new to Photography, and you were learning and being taught by others. You probably didn’t have such a great experience like Glenn is having now, and that’s probably why you’re acting the way you are, but then again, that’s just what it seems like to me from the way you express yourself. Just try to be nice and keep it low on the negativity. Do you even realize how many time you technically called Glenn stupid from your posts? Jeeze…lighten up.
#30
Calvin Chu → www.calvinchu.net
I enjoyed reading your experience Glenn. Even though we’ll probably never get to see the photos it’s still nice of you to share your account of capturing such an event. The most I’ve done is a friend’s Baptism and a relative’s Graduation, both of which were far from relaxed! You definately grabbed a lucky one there.
Speedlites are great, I think that is a good purchase for the future. I don’t own one yet, but I did inherit an older Flashgun to play with and have found it most useful when shooting indoors.
#31
Jonathan → www.jonathandavies.org.uk
It sounds that you managed to get a lot of experience in a very short amount of time, by doing it in the best way - diving right in.
You’re making leaps and bounds, not many people, I would guess, at the age of sixteen are photographing weddings. It’s been very interesting watching your hobby grow into a source of income so soon.
Keep taking some of these wonderful pictures, though I wouldn’t mind if you blogged a bit more as well! :-)
Jonathan
#32
Wesley Yendrys → www.wyendrys.com
Congrats on the gig Glenn.
I myself wouldn’t have the balls to do a wedding. I would be to afraid of images coming out bad and letting down the bride and groom.
I would love to see some of the images you took, but if the bride and groom asked for them not to be shown, I understand.
Congrats, again.
#33
Pierre Lourens → pierrelourens.org
I am horribly jealous of your opportunity! Great job.
#34
Nathaniel → green-flamingo.com
Congratulations on shooting your first wedding! And nice photography. Very interesting site.
#35
MalcorSon, i’m sorry but you need to find yourself a new hobby…
#36
Techn0phile → techn0phile.wordpress.com
Nice Shots Glenn.
I was wondering what do you use to transport your gear. I’m looking for a smallish Tamrac bag or something, any suggestions?
#37
Nathan → www.ishotimages.co.nz
Congrats Glenn! although those shots don’t actually show much, I’m sure you got some awesome shots that the couple love.
Tbh tho, I think you made a mistake buying the 135L if you are going to be shooting weddings, I personally find primes a pain in that situation, The flexibility of having zoom lenses can sometimes be the difference between getting that ‘must have’ shot and not getting it. Also a really easy way to create awesome looking photo’s is by learning off camera flash.
oh and Jsmyth - wide angle can produce flatting portraits (possibly better than a 24-70) if you learn how to use it ;)