First wedding photography
Okay so my parents best friends are going to have a wedding in Feb. Its going to be low budget and they can't spend any money on a real photographer. I'm only 17 but i offered to help out i have a Nikon d3100 and i have previous experience shooting at other events… I know a wedding is a HUGE step but its better then not having a photographer at all isn't it? I'm not going to be charging them at all i just need a little advice.
the know i have zero experience what so ever with weddings, and they are okay with it.
If you're doing this no matter what… The best advice I would offer you is to plan ahead and prepare as best as you can. Since you have no experience with this, I would check out the venue (church, reception hall, etc.) beforehand so you know what you're up against; and perhaps have a mock run while you're there. (Ask a friend or two to help you by standing in certain places you expect the bride and groom to be.) Also try to get a timeline of the proceedings so you know where to be and when.
I asked a similar question yesterday and was referred to this website. It is invaluable! You should really spend some time reading the information.
http://www.rokkorfiles.com/Wedding101-page1.html
On the actual day, make sure that you come prepared with your camera, different best wedding lens, and extra sets of batteries, memory cards and tripods. An extra hand with an extra camera could also come in handy as you can never know what may happen and it would always be best to be prepared. Also, don't forget to take shots of minor details like the flowers and table settings as they could be a part of your wedding collections. Prior to the wedding, also know the weather conditions to give you ample advantage on your lighting concepts.
Most of all, you also need to be assertive but unobtrusive to get that perfect shot. Be a little bolder and carefree once you get into the reception as this is where all the fun begins after a very sentimental moment. Learn to diffuse the light, find your pose and techniques to make sure you have wonderful shots.