I just found out that at my Saturday wedding they're releasing doves. Does anyone have advice on how to shoot the birds as they fly away? I have no experience with very fast moving things. Should I put the camera on continuous focus? Should I manual focus and hope it's close enough?

I think the dove release will be super cool and I want to get some great shots for my couple so any advice on photographing flying fowl is much appreciated.

Yeah, just be ready! Ask the minister when the release will happen and sit and wait. try and position your self in a good location as well. maybe talk to the person who is realeasing the doves so that he/ she can find you with his /her eye to see that you are ready. And maybe give them the Hi sign (Little rascals Fan Sorry) to let them know you are good to go.

I've done this before...birds didn't fly the direction the bird guy said they would fly!

I wouldn't necessarily try to stop action the birds (that's not all that easy even for experienced wildlife shooters)...instead go ahead and let them have some motion and get people's reaction to the birds.

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I was a second shooter at a wedding where they did this....I can't remember my settings, but here is a picture from the event. I got a couple of them, but the birds were so far away, they just looked like specs in the sky. So make sure you are close enough or have a lens that will take you there:)

Manual focus on moving birds? I couldn't do that. Can you guys do that? I'm so lousy.

Hey there, dove releases are fun. Here's my .02!

I"m sure the B and G will be standing somewhere specific with the crowd gathering around to watch the release. Usually, they also each have a dove in their hand, if not, that's ok too. Ask beforehand where this will be.

Make sure you talk to the bird guys to signal you when they're going to release them, I'm sure it's also in the program. Maybe you can PJ a couple shots of all the kids staring at the doves in their cages before the release too. Good stuff.

IF you're shooting by yourself, get somewhere you can capture the crowd and the B and G. Better to use a super wide angle lens if you have one. Frame the BG as the focal point and have the crowd as the fill but try to have tons of sky in the pic too. Keep your focus on the BG and try not to move when they release the birds. The birds will fly through your super wide frame and you'll catch the reactions of everyone as they fly away. Get ready to hold down that button and shoot away!

If you have another shooter, get them to do the spotting pictures or the face reactions of the BG or crowd.

This is one way to do it. I've done it like this before and it turns out great! Hope this helps and hope it made sense. Good luck!

I have a butterfly release in my wedding tomorrow!

Here are some pics. I had a 2nd shooter for this so I didn't go super wide, but I did step back a bit for the shot. After they released their doves, the rest of them were set free.

Not that this is always applicable, but if the doves are in boxes and if the lids open on one side, lay down on the ground on the other side and let your shutter go crazy. Not all brides want their photographer on the ground, so, use discretion.

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Ricky- those are beautiful. There are soo many doves. And I love that they are all together. The wedding I was at only released three, maybe four...so it definately was not as dramatic. But you did an awesome job! I love those shots.

Thank you Tawny, I'm happy with how they came out. I had a butterfly release at my last wedding yesterday and talk about NO drama! hahaha I thought they were going to fly out and away but they must've been in shock because they took forever to fly away!

Thanks again.

Hey Mike, how did it go with your dove release?