Okay - for those of you who are currently using the David Jay method of running a reception slideshow - how do you do it?

I do not work with a second shooter, but I do have an assistant. However, I feel like the task of getting to the reception, uploading cf cards, quickly editing, and creating the slideshow would be too much to squeeze into what is usually a very small amount of time before the action starts happening at the reception. I suppose I could train my assistant to be able to do all of that so I could still be catching the action, but she is not a photographer nor does she currently have any training in programs such as lightroom.

Anyhow, just wondering how you all make it happen without majorly stressing yourselves out.

My newest method requires Lightroom and a fast CF reader. I used to use RAW+JPEG so I could use the JPEG for slideshow, but now I'm RAW only. When I stick the cards in the reader, I use Lightroom's built in importer to choose what photos I want to download, instead of downloading them all. Just click on the preview button, uncheck all, and check the few that you want to show. Do this for how many cards you need to. Downloading only the shots that you want to use. Do a quick run down edit using some presets...B&W here, Sepia here, bump color there...and voila! Click slideshow in Lightroom (create a slideshow template beforehand) and you're off and done. Depending on the number of photos you choose, you should be done in 20-40mins.

Thanks Jan! Do you do this all yourself? Is it a big deal to lose that 20-40 mins? Are there times when you skip the slideshow because of the other stuff that's going on?

I am a single shooter with no assistant. I have been using the cocktail hour to download cards and make a slideshow. I bring in all my stuff then start downloading cf cards, once they’re all on the laptop I go through and pull 20-30 .raw files and convert them to jpeg. I save them to a folder on my desktop that is always there called images. I have the screen saver set to use that folder and that's it. Sometimes I miss the first course of dinner but o well its so worth it. This weekend I got two new wedding inquires at the wedding because I ran the slideshow. Good luck!

Carl Stevens
http://axisphotography.blogspot.com/

I would not call this the DJ method. Its been going on since before then. He pioneered it of course, and made it much easier for everyone.

Myself, I use Lightroom. I have an assistant/2nd shooter. Takes about 15 minutes in total to, download with Sandisk CF reader, flag the picks, then just hit the "slideshow" tab in Lightroom....seriously....about 15 minutes tops.....usually nothing happens in that time, however my assistant is ready with the cam incase something happens.

We shoot RAW+sJPEG and then use two Sandisk CF Card Readers to download only the sJPEG. Then we put them into iPhoto and select 60-100 of our favorites, maybe convert a few to b+w and then create the slideshow. My wife usually does the slideshow but it only takes about 20-30 minutes. I am beginning to realize that we don't have to shoot EVERY single moment. Once we get to the reception things are more laid back and we can take the time to put the slideshow together. I don't think you need to do a ton of processing, just the fact that you have a slideshow up is enough to get people talking.

We also put together a bookmark from WHCC with the couples engagement pictures and then the web address where the slideshow will be online. We have done this at all of our weddings this year and it is such a huge hit, everyone absolutely loves it.

I do all the slideshow stuff as dinner is starting and there is pretty much nothing going on. But I do have my second shooter on the lookout just in case but usually we chill cause it's dead. Only time I have skipped the show is when there are so many things going on even during dinner.

Thanks guys! Is there anyone out there that acutally thinks it's not worth the hassle or hasn't had very good luck with it? Just curious - seems like most people have had great success.

It really does get people talking about your work fast. My last wedding I had a groomsman come up to me to tell me he was proposing very soon and I was going to shoot their wedding. You've got to love that...

Use the down time at dinner and even transit in the car wisely. An assistant can drive and you can dump cards in transit if you need to. I like to keep the laptop going the whole day and download cards as I shoot them. Just an extra level of back up and makes selecting for the slideshow much faster.

+1. We do the same thing - choose a few from the preview (a few being 40 or so), have it apply settings upon import, export them, right-click files > iphoto automator I made on my iMac .. done, make sure it is muted. Take away mouse & keyboard, lock down the iMac (nice bicycle lock) and done. It takes us about 20-30 minutes for this to really finish. We usually do it during the downtime of everyone eating (bride and groom eating). We take the needed shots during that time, but it isn't a time where we need to be taking photographs non-stop. We also try to work a bite in while editing - so 2-in-1.

But yeah, lightroom helps a lot.

Quick Edit - why export from lightroom instead of use its slideshow? The Ken Burns effect!!! It makes images so much more entertaining to look at to me.

Slideshows have made the BIGGEST difference in my business!! I can't stress how important they are!! DJ had a slideshow at my wedding and I was immediately sold on the idea. I take a little longer with my slideshows--I do much more editing than just a bw conversion/sepia, etc--but, then again, it's just my type-A personality Yeah, I guess OCD has it's downfall
Anyway, just try it first with only 20 images...pick your favs and limit yourself to 20 so you don't feel overwhelmed...you'll get into the swing of things and then can add a few images as you go on

I relate to that too well.

I don't have a Mac, so I can't look at iPhoto and figure out what the Ken Burns effect is - but now I'm really curious. What is it?

Christine

Christine, it's basically the zooming in and out effect on some slideshows. I'm not a big fan of it as I think it takes away from the image. At least not on all the images. If you can control it to go on some of them, then it's more interesting.

For me atleast.

Hi folks!

Umm, I agree that LR does a great job with the slideshows, but are you all running them without sound? Nobody has mentioned Showit.

Maybe once the images are web ready thru LR it will be quicker to organize a Showit slideshow.

Any opinions?

Hugh

Slideshows are a huge hit for me...but I only do them if I know the B&G are going to have a projector and screen set up. I know this ahead of time b/c I get a copy of the itinerary. I usually whip something together during cocktail hour..send my 2nd to cover the cocktail. Then I let the magic run all night until they need the projector for their own slideshow

Having read some posts, it appears that you are all running the slideshows from your laptop/iMac, is that right ? If so, where are you setting this up ?

Anyone here actually bring their own projector and screen ?

This might sound crazy but I've been bringing my 30 inch Cinema Display and running the shows off my laptop. I also use the lightroom method but I just export to a folder on the desktop and then select the pictures, right click and hit slideshow. People go nuts, and my cards fly off the table.

IMO, music on a slideshow at the reception is pointless.

I'm actually going to attempt this at a debut I'm shooting in a couple of weeks. If I'm unable to get it going, since this will be my first time shooting an event as a main, do you all think the girls senior pics that I took will be okay to put up instead or will that days event give more impact?

I would definately NOT put up senior pics... that would be sorta tacky. I would only do it with the B and G images from the wedding earlier, or THEIR engagement images.

+1

Absolutely. Nothing. Else.




Is this because you like slideshow effects other than what LR has to offer?

I shoot RAW+Small JPGS. As I am shooting I will go through images and lock my faves. When we get to the reception, the first order of business for my assistant is to download only the JPGS in a folder on my laptop labeled "jpgs". Because I'm only downloading the small jpgs, it takes like 30 seconds for any given card.

Then, I open Bridge and open the JPGS folder. I highlight all of them and click delete. Because I have locked images, bridge will ask me if I want to delete the locked file "????" with a box to check to apply to all images. I click the apply to all box and click NO because I want to keep the locked files. This takes about 30 seconds.

Then I go into the JPGS folder, highlight the remaining images, CTRL+CLICK and select Get Info. From there, I can uncheck the Locked File box and make the images editable. This takes about 10 seconds.

I go back to bridge, highlight all of the images, open ShowIt Effects and use 'selected images in bridge'. On my laptop, ShowIt Effects is set to save the final images to a folder labeled 'slideshow'. I go through the images, add the effects, save as I go (I don't automatically save after an image has an effect on it because sometimes I like to throw another effect or make other little tweaks).

I usually have about 40-60 images selected and I can get the edits done in the 15-20 minutes I have during dinner and it's so easy I can do it while I'm eating. This way the images are ready by the time everyone heads to the bar for their after dinner cocktails and they can check everything out. From there, word travels and the referrals begin.

Every wedding is a little different though, so you do need to make some adjustments at times on the workflow. But overall, since I started doing slideshows, it just makes sense, and I won't be stopping any time soon!

Spencer mentions that he locks everything down with a bike lock...is this what you do also ? I love the idea of the 30 inch display ! Do you leave it at the sign-in table or do you have a separate table for displaying this ? I don't think my 13" MacBook will cut it as a stand alone display.

If I had a 30inch diaplay, i'd probably have to hire an assistant to watch over it...i've heard about a lot of 'inside jobs' where the photographers gear is stolen.

Can you explain why it would it be tacky? The senior pics are of this girl that's having her debut. The debut is like a coming out party or quincenera but at the age of 18– it is not a wedding. Kari I think you misunderstood? Or maybe it really is tacky? Let me know, I don't want to be tacky!

Thats exactly how I do it too! By far the easiest way!

Well, since you asked, I'll be the lone voice that says I don't feel slideshows are appropriate or desirable. I have said it in other threads this way, "I'm the photographer, not the entertainment."

I have the luxury of a day job and don't need to book every weekend for the next 30 years, so I am not concerned about booking future clients on the spot. Would it help? Sure. But I don't want or need that help right now.

I also feel much better having all my cards in my pocket and not running the risk of something happening to them, or something becoming corrupted or deleted by accident. I know people will say it's "safer" to have a copy of the images as a backup but, for me, the risk far outweighs the reward.

It's pretty hard to sneak off with the 30inch display. I'm more worried about people sneaking off with my laptop. I have an assistant keep an eye out and I also talk to the site coordinator if there is one....probably should do the bike lock thing.

The 30 inch is great don't get me wrong, but I think one of the new 24inch iMacs would be perfect as it would be easier to pack around, and easier to secure than my laptop/30inch combo.