Red - Those are some great shots. The first is very good considering the number of people in the shot, and the other two are some of the nicest outdoor, small-group formal shots I have seen.
I would love to bring an assistant along but the expense of liability insurance and workers comp for the assistant makes it too expensive. How do you handle the insurance or do you have coverage for them?
Over here in Singapore, I hire my assistants on a freelance basis. There isn't actually any insurance coverage or that I know of here, so I cant really advice you on this.
However, I do make it known that formals are only done by an assistant, so the client has to top up for one, otherwise they have to get a friend to do that for them.
Perhaps its the different way in which weddings are conducted here that allows me this kind of modus operandi.
Red, do you really get away with having them assemble themselves? My experience is that they all just stand there waiting for me and my assistants to arrange them. Some of the larger groups take a lot of effort to place in a pleasing way, and so that some are not blocking others.
I definitely use whatever chairs are to hand, as well as steps, small hills, ramps, anything to make this chore as quick and interesting as possible.
And I actually urge couples to get these shots if they are thinking of forgoing them, as in my experience they will wish they did later.
Errr....Patty? Are you me? I always ask for a co-ordinator, I always tell them if they cant see me etc and I always liken it to herding cats...bizarre
pattyw wrote:
I always ask about groups during the initial meetings and if they're large I ask for a co-ordinator. One thing with really big groups is to tell everyone when they are assembled: "If you can't see me then you won't show up in the photograph." They usually start to jostle for position so they can see the camera. But I swear to gawd... somedays I might as well be herding cats... and that's before they get into the booze.
I actually like Red's posts... I appreciate his lucidness and acerbic sense of humor.
I ask the B&G to provide a drill sargent ... er assistant, someone who can gather the groups for the formals
the bride checks off on a pre-provided list, what groupings are important to her
I quote 30 min to set up/tear down plus 3 mins per group, so they have some idea how much time to allow ... can usually do them at 1 min per group (but would never tell them that), and am lucky if there is much more than that left in the day, they always barter that down to 2 mins per group
two weeks ago, did 65 different groupings in 75 minutes
my assistant does a quick look for wardrobe goofs
I do a quick glance at the glasses, tilt up / down etc, to avoid flare
people in the left ... toes to light on my right, people on the right ... toes to the left
this gets no one facing the camera straight on
the people loitering behind me, waiting for their turn in the formals, get the gist of the posing, from those on deck, so they usually get right in there & fall into a decent starting position
two lights (AB800's) with shoot thru umbrellas, set high, aiming down, about 45 angles, one metered at f/8 & the other at f/5.6 ... plugged into electricity as my vagabond would not be able to keep up the pace
take 3-5 shots per group ... next!!!
haven't done a ton of weddings yet, so far, this is the biggest challenge because of the quantity vs, the time ... can we accomplish the task ...
I also do individual portraits of every parent & grandparent that is there for the formals, you can just ask the rest to take a step left or right, to allow for a clean shot of them ... this isn't an asked for thing, but I do it with all my portraits too ... often it is the only good portrait they may get of that senior family member, and they always sell well
Quantum T2 in a Westcott Halo set approximately 45 degrees camera left, triggered via Pocket Wizards. I wasn't doing the formals but grabbed a couple shots from the side as I set-up the lighting and wanted to verify coverage for the entire group. There is some window light coming in form camera right which helps.
This is what we do for lighting on formals, but I’m going to give you lessons in formals 101 and how to cut the time down and how to not have to lug extra lighting to the reception.
We use the Metz 70 with an attached soft box. The shots are usually taken about 15 feet to 20 feet back from the subjects. We also make sure the site that we are doing the shooting has full lighting and we do all our formal shots either before the ceremony or right after. The best way to have a DJ hate you is to start taking people out during a reception.
In the south and most cases, the bride and groom want all formals done within a half hour following the reception. This is how and what we do...
To make sure you get these people prior to the reception is to make your own list. NOT THE BRIDE'S LIST. During consultation I have a form that I fill in and find out if they want an extended family picture including all the aunts, uncles, cousins. Sometimes they want an extended of the Bride's Dad side of the family and then one of the Mom's. I make it their responsibility to tell these people in advance to come back in for the formals. I never chase down family members. I set up first the immediate family. This is the bride, groom, her parents, and siblings. I then add grandparents, and finally the rest of the family. Once I have them up there, I shoot the large group first, and then all the aunts, cousins, and uncles go to the reception. I shoot a picture with the immediate family with the grandparents, and then the grandparents can go to the reception. I then add the Dad's extended family, this time when I'm down to the immediate family, I then take their picture. I dismiss the siblings and take the couple with just her parents. The groom's family is done the same way. This system works and I have all the family formals within 15 minutes. If the bride or groom has an individual picture that they want with someone, I have them come prior to the ceremony. If it is something they want with them together, they I will sometimes do a table shot at the reception. If and only if I do have to do a large group at the reception, I do this before the DJ starts. This is usually following the meal, but before cutting the cake. I always tell the DJ what is taking place and why. Sometimes I will even call the DJ and let them know before the big day.
Yvette
But if you put your single light 45 degrees left or right, there is a chance to have some faces in the shadow of others. Would't be best to set the light high above and maybe slightly behinf camera?
