Nikon SLR Cameras

I'm photographing my first wedding this weekend, any pointers?

nikki
nikki

I have a Nikon D3000 and will be shooting with the standard 18-55mm lens as well as a 70-200mm f2.8 & a 60mm prime 1.8

I'm nervous because I want my pictures to turn out perfectly, just seeking advice from any seasoned pros out there!

Perki88
Perki88

Back up batteries, back up camera, back up flash. Bracket for the flash, back up sync cord and an experienced wedding shooter partner.

mlgbaby
mlgbaby

Make sure you make your exposure perfect, no one wants and over/under exposed photo.
And don't shoot on auto.

EDWIN
EDWIN

If you're the primary photographer I see nothing but a complete and utter disaster awaiting you. I see no mention of an external flash such as a Nikon SB-700 AF Speedlight. I see no mention of a tripod. Your 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 zoom will be all but worthless without a flash and without a flash how are you planning on taking pictures of the bride getting ready and of the groom getting ready and the bridesmaids entering and then the bride and her father walking down the aisle and then the group pictures after the ceremony and pictures at the reception? The 70-200mm f2.8 zoom is useful for available light pictures during the ceremony when flash isn't allowed but I'd still use a tripod.

Swallow your foolish pride. Call the couple and tell them you simply aren't prepared to photograph a wedding. Think about this: A few years ago a NYC bride sued her florist - HER FLORIST! - for $35, 000.00 because, according to her, the colors of the flowers in the arrangements provided didn't perfectly match the colors of the flowers shown in the pictures in the catalog she chose them from. Can you imagine what she'd have sued for if the pictures hadn't been as perfect as humanly possible?

Buying a cookbook doesn't make you a chef.

Buying a chemistry set doesn't make you a chemist.

Buying a DSLR and one expensive lens doesn't make you a wedding photographer.

If all this sounds harsh it was meant to - to discourage you and prevent you from ruining some innocent couple's special day. You can't call them and tell them they need to do it all over again because you messed up the pictures.

If you want to get into wedding photography take a couple of years of photography classes and work 2 or 3 years as an assistant to a seasoned wedding photographer. Begin building your equipment base.

sarahashleyphotos
sarahashleyphotos

Edwin has a very good answer. You should work with a pro first and get advice from them. I just wanted to add: know the flow of a wedding. This is another reasion it helps to work with a pro first. You have to know what pictures to get & you have to know when to get them. You can't miss anything. Have you made a plan with the couple? Have you sat down with them to discuss the details and figure out what photos are the most important to them? You are nervious that the quality of your work won't be good enough? Thats not good either. Here is a wedding day shot list: http://www.sarahashleyphotos.com/blog/2012/5/wedding-day-shot-list Now this won't help you if they are doing anything diffrently which is why you should have met with them or talked with them on the phone weeks ago.