Anyone care to share their thoughts on how they game plan a wedding they shoot alone? Can't be everywhere...how do you do strategy when you dont have second shooter?

-M

Hi Mickey, try this thread out for some ideas!
http://www.opensourcephoto.net/forum/index...amp;hl=timeline

I shot w/o 2nds for years...back when we could get away with it! And I still shoot w/o 2nds every now and then. Just keep moving and always keep aware of the schedule. It's easier than a lot of people think.

Watkins!!!! You are the man, always very sound advice!!! Hope you are well!!!

I shoot 90% of my weddings alone... and the other 10%.... I usually just have a shooting assistant that is there to learn.... usually don't get any images from them and I certainly don't assign them any tasks....

I don't have a problem getting everything I need... but I do prioritize what is more important. I usually ask the groom to wait for me before he puts on the tie, vest & coat... they usually don't mind waiting... thats the only thing that I really ever feel like I might miss...

The only times I've taken a 2nd shooter was when there was a SUPER large wedding party, a SUPER short time span, or some other extreme circumstance. I think I've shot maybe 5 weddings with a 2nd.....

I'd be glad to answer Qs about what you're most worried about. I've been doing it so long, I can't really think of anything else to tell you that just sticks out in my mind except the groom getting ready.....

Thanks Sticky! Loved your Christmas card BTW -- didn't take me long to figure out who shot it!

Thanks...I am about to do my second in May. First one felt harried and I missed some shots I wanted, in order to get the ones I got. Hard to get Good close of Bride's emotion at the altar and get Groom's too. One of them will have their back to you, unless you are in the aisle.

Want to spend time with the Bride as she and her father are coming up to get in position to enter church, but I will miss wedding party, ringbearer and flower girl walking down. How to get Bride as she is presented and get Groom's reaction at the same time.....you see my questions....there are others, but this is a healthy start.....thank you in advance
-M

You can't get all of these shots if you are flying solo. You have to choose what's more important. I'd take the position at the front of the church if I were you and get the bride and her dad as they walk in. I do this with 2 cameras. I'm kneeling down right in front of the first pew, opposite the groom. I have a 70-200 on one camera for the bride and a 24-70 on another camera for the groom's reaction. You can easily get both if you aren't afraid to juggle 2 cameras. You won't be able to get that alone time with the bride and her dad...but if you have pictures of them walking in AND you have the wedding party, ring bearer and flower girl shots -- you have better total coverage. From my experience, these aren't big sellers...but if you don't get them, you risk being criticized for missing shots that Uncle Bob got with his digital rebel.

Here is an example from a recent wedding -- I got both of these shots from the same position -- using 2 different cameras...





As far as getting the emotion shots -- bride gets first priority so make your way to the side of the church to get her face and don't worry about getting the groom. If you have time, mosey (in your quiet shoes and ninja moves) to the opposite side to get a few shots of the groom...but the bride ALWAYS should get the top priority in your camera angles.

One other big tip for shooting solo -- go the rehearsal. You'll be able to find out the answers to a LOT of unknowns (in terms of light, angles, etc.) in advance. You won't regret it.

Hope this helps.

oh rehearsal for sure...i am driving in friday morning and will have all the time i want to walk the ceremony and the reception site, and get some hardware set up

I shoot the seating of the parents and grandparents in the processional... everything else up until the kids is worthless usually... bc either the attendants are looking dead into the camera and NOT smiling, looking down, licking their lips, etc... Sometimes I'll pop into the lobby to get a shot of the bride while everyone else is processing in... then I'll go back out before the flower girl goes down the aisle... then again sometimes I just shoot from the front of the church and don't go into the lobby....

I'll keep my 70-200 on one camera and my 24-70 on another so that I can quickly swap btwn the upclose groom's reaction & the bride coming down the aisle.

Don't know if that helps... I guess I recognize that I CANNOT get everything, so I choose the BEST vantage point to get the most..... You are right about the groom's and brides faces during the ceremony, so I usually choose to stand in the center aisle about 2/3 of the way back.

Just move around! I've only had guest shooters a couple of times. I shoot all my weddings solo. We've kind of saturated the market with the idea of second shooters to our own detriment, I think. I've never had a client say, "Wow, I wish you would have had a second shooter."

Mickey,

I've never used a second and I've never heard any complaints to the contrary. Quality work trumps quantity anyday.

This season I probably will use a few assistants. Give me a shout (again) if you'd might be interested in helping out.

~wj

I'd suggest know the day, and know when things are going to happen. Then be selective when and where you will be. Also I suggest that you find a way to carry everything you will need. Think tank offers some great belt bag systems that I love and use. Actually mines from a photographer Asia. You don't want to be waste any time running back to your car for more stuff. Or get your bag you left at the back of the church. Otherwise just shoot, don't try to get everything, because you can't.

I like what one guy said, quality over quantity. But still capture the emotion of the day, be mindful of whats going on around you. Don't hesitate to stop shooting a formal shot because you see two little girls goofing around. The bride and groom will be ok with this, but also impressed that you can see this happening while managing a formal shot. Show of your skills.

My wife shot with me for years, back in the film days, when you had to have someone to load backs, hold the meter or fire the lights, etc. When she stopped working 7 days a week I shot my first wedding solo. I was totally lost. She had the shot list in her head, and I didn't have her with me to tell me what to do. But it got easier, and the first wedding 3 years ago that Lauren Wright shot with me was harder for me, because I wasn't just doing my thing. I had to worry about her, what she was doing, etc. She's a good shooter now, but she was just starting out then, so I had to watch her and do my thing, It was tough. I'm so used to shooting by myself that I know where to be when, and getting what I need that I don't really need or want a second unless it is just logistically impossible or difficult to get it without one. I have one coming up in April that I think I want a second for, just because of the area I'll have to cover, but unless someone volunteers, I'll be doing it by myself, and choosing what to let go, and what to concentrate on. You just learn. It's getting into a rhythm, and just getting it done.

i shoot about 90% of my weddings alone. I would say I ama very aggresive in the quantity and approach.