What did I learn from shooting my first wedding? Part one*

I shoot my first wedding free of charge. I desperately needed some experience. And of course I needed some wedding photos to build-up my portfolio. I just needed someone who would trust me with their wedding photos. I was completely honest with my lack of experience and the bride was fine with (lack of) it.

I contacted her on #barkcom and told her that I am looking for couples who would be willing to put their trust in me. They accepted my offer.

I remember that day. It was a very windy day in July. At that point I was working in a hotel. Saturdays in hotels are very busy and I finished my shift shortly after 2pm totally exhausted.

The wedding ceremony was due to start at 3pm at the local registrar. I dashed home, quickly changed into something more classy, grabbed my bag I had prepared the night before, straightened my hair and ...ran!

I made it in time. In fact I was early ( I do not know how I did it) and I thought the couple I was looking at was in fact MY couple. And then I thought they can't be MINE, because there was a photographer mingling with the guests.

They were not my couple.

I didn't have a clue what my couple looked like or whether to actually expect a bride and a groom. I only spoke to the bride and knew her name. I didn't know the name of the person she was about to marry.

This is how I learnt

1. Lesson number one

Get the names of the people you will be working with. Not just the names of the newlyweds-to-be, get the names of their parents, bridesmaids, best man, children, flower girls. I always ask my couple to provide me with the names of their nearest and dearest. I write them down and study carefully on the way to the wedding. The couple will appreciate that you want to know those names. It means you care and you really want to provide them with unforgettable experience. remember- It is not just about them. Their families are there to be a part of it. Include them on a personal level.

2. Lesson number two

The ceremonies in a registrar happen fast. You really do not have much time to get a perfect shot. The first wedding ceremony I photographed must have taken about 12 minutes.

I learned later on that ceremonies in a hotel tend to last a bit longer simply because they are not pressed for time.

Honestly, on Saturdays in peak season Registry office acts like a conveyer belt for producing newlyweds. Things happen fast. There are a lot of people there. You might see guests from two different weddings.

Be prepared and have some sort of a strategy. Which at that point I had absolutely no idea what to expect so it was really a wild ride.

3. Lesson number three

You really need a good gear.

I shot that wedding with two bodies. Actually with just one because I got so caught up in a moment I forgot about my other camera. At that time I owned Nikon D800 and Nikon D610. Both cameras bought second hand and really had been through a lot. The point is- I really struggled to focus. I initially thought it was down to my poor skills, but later I found that better gear really is a game changer. Focusing was a real struggle- so much so that most of the photos taken indoors where out of focus. I shot the whole wedding with an old Sigma 24-70mm 2.8 the lens was ridiculously stiff and slow. I also had a Nikon 85mm 1.8 but did not manage to use it.

4. Lesson number four

Flash indoors is a must

Well-it is for me. I would not shoot indoors without a flash. But I know people who do and they get great results. I need a flash. This is how I work. I would rather pop a Speedlight on, bounce the light of the ceiling and add some precious light to the scene than increase ISO. I dread ISO. Especially that my old cameras didn't handle ISO very well. I know you can denoise your photos in post-processing but denoising makes them look tacky and 'airbrushed'.

After I shot my first wedding and I reviewed my photos at home I decided that the photos I took would really benefit from more flash. Now, when I shoot a wedding I mostly use Speedlight in a manual mode. I always find a second to quickly review my photos during the ceremony and I adjust flash power accordingly.

*article to be continued