I shot my first wedding recently as well. It was a as favor for some friends
who were getting married. We're all graduate students, so hiring a
professional wasn't an option. I was a nervous wreak the entire day. I
almost never take pictures of people, and when I do, it's in the form of a
deliberately composed shot where the subject will wait patiently for me to
get ready. But, all in all, the day turned out alright, though I will say
that if I was going to make a habit of working in that kind of setting, I'd
want the option of auto-everything (focus, aperture, shutter speed).
(Equipment for the day was an OM-4t with an F280, and a OM-1 with a Vivitar
283)
Worst thing that happened: just before the actual ceremony, I was nearing
the end of a roll. I shot it up quick so that I could start the ceremony on
a fresh roll. But, I was so nervous that I popped the film door without
rewinding! I felt my face go red and the whole rest of the day I kept
thinking about the pictures that I'd lost. In fact, there were even some
group shots that I did again because I thought I'd lost them. After I had
the pictures developed I was quite amazed to learn that popping the film
door resulted in the loss of only two or three images out of the whole roll.
(That was the only time the whole day that the dim light worked to my
advantage!)
Robert Swier
Toronto, Canada
On 8/28/05, Bob Docherty <lostkase@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
>
> Well I went and did it. I hadn't put any red hot pokers in my eyes lately,
> so I shot my first (and last) wedding last Saturday. I got a call at 11:30
> am from my former sister in law asking if I would shoot her friends'
> daughters' wedding at 7:00 that evening. She based her request on her
> viewing of shots I've done of my kids over the years. They hadn't hired a
> photographer and she thought of me the day of the wedding. I guess it was
> her way of getting back at me for divorcing her sister. Anyway, being the
> self destructive kinda guy I am, I said yes. I spent the rest of the day
> sweating bullets and reading John Linds' primer. Thanks John! I gathered
> my
> OM-2n, OM-2SP, OM-4T, and Kiev 60 too many lenses, too many flashes and
> went
> on my merry way to self immolation.
> Everything I've ever read about the horrors of shooting a wedding came
> true. I knew the bride and her parents from years ago and always liked
> them.
> I explained profusely that I'd never done anything like this and if they
> paid for the film and developing I'd be game.I've come to the conclusion
> that wedding photographers are true professionals. My poor anticipation of
> important "gotta have" shots resulted in reloading at in-opportune times.
> And this with 2 bodies loaded with film! I also came to the realization
> that
> having fresh batteries in the flashes and winders doesn't make up for the
> stupidity of not putting fresh batteries in the cameras! The old OM-2n
> doesn't like to feed the flash ready signal too long.The OM2sp eats them
> while sitting on the shelf as does the OM-4T. But fortunately God decided
> that they would all die simultaneously to teach me hubris. Of course I had
> left the OM-4T in my car as a backup. This happened at the conclusion of
> the
> ceremony! Not being a complete idiot I had fresh batteries with me. I
> unwrapped them and reached into my "EMPTY" pocket for a coin to remove the
> battery cover.Flustered was an understatement..
> I had setup near the altar initially but the brides' father decided I
> needed to be at a location surrounded by folks with the courtesy of Attila
> the Hun. A wonderful couple had decided to block access to my gear with
> their baby carriage and child. I had been doing some pre-ceremony shots of
> the bride and groom getting ready. I hope their lovely baby grows up to
> become a crack whore! They were as cooperative as my ex-wifes' lawyer at
> our
> divorce proceedings.
> I got the film back today and sent it to the Brides parents for their
> viewing. The Sunpak 522 did an admiral job ( thank you Chuck for the users
> manual). I hate flash to begin with as I have no experience with it. I had
> no diffusers but the pictures were better than I was expecting. Thankfully
> a
> friend of the family,Patty,had been a photographers assistant and posed
> everyone wonderfully. Without her, the night would have been a complete
> disaster. When the groom asked how I would like them posed for the formals
> I
> remarked, "How about in front of the camera?". Patty, an angel sent from
> heaven, quickly sized me up and realized,"This guy is an idiot.I better
> help
> out". It was an interesting experience and I was pleased with how well my
> OMs performed. I was stalling on getting the film developed imagining the
> worst. I actually got some good shots! Thankfully, I never broke out the
> Kiev 60. That would have been another nail the coffin of my ever using
> cameras again. I am really beginning to realize the need to go digital.
> Wait
> a minute, I'm NEVER going to shoot a wedding again! My OMs still rule!!!
>
> Bob
>
>
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