Lesson's Learned from Jeremiah and Catherine's Wedding

This last weekend I was the best man at my friends Jeremiah and Catherine's wedding. When I wasn't trying to untie rings from the flower girl's basket, or chasing down the groom's boutonniere, or trying to figure out when I was supposed to walk the maid of honor out, I was snapping pictures and acting as a "backup photographer" (as Jerry kept calling me).

Shooting the wedding, even as a secondary photographer, was an interesting experience. The wedding was indoors and mood lit (read pitch black). Recording it really pushed my limits and skills. Because I was part of the ceremony, I didn't take any pictures during it, however I took my fair share before and after. Here are some lessons learned or reinforced, notes on the experience and some pictures I liked!


Lesson #1: A cool location can trump bad light.
This shot was the result of the groom exploring in the back while we waited for the ceremony to start. The light was that typical dim, bare bulb, "warehouse" florescent light that just gave everything a nasty green color. But, even if it had bad light, it did have a cool location . So we shot the picture. It is black and white, because I liked the texture of the brick; it is not black and white because I was salvaging it. In fact, out of the people who have seen both, the color version is more popular!


Lesson #2: Small mirrors are great compositional elements
Because you can get great reflections and still hide the camera!


Lesson #3: The spectators are interesting too
This is grooms mother and sister (who was also a bride's maid) watching the groom take formal pictures with his father. While the main photographer was taking the formals, I pointed my lens to capture them having fun watching.


Lesson #4: Move your feet
Lesson #5: Get low
I almost missed this shot. The music started and the bride and groom hit the dance floor for their first dance, so I started taking pictures including the one at the top of this article. These were cool, but after taking 5 or 6 I was looking for something different. At this point I noticed the disco ball and worked my way around to include it and the only way to get the ball and the couple to fit was to drop down really low.


Lesson #6: Backlighting is awesome
Stuff like this you can't plan. The light coming through her veil is the "annoying-auto-focus-doesn't-work-in-the-dark" light from the main photographer's camera. Note, unless I really need it, I do my best not to use this light. This might be the only time I have had one of these lights pointed my way and not been annoyed by it.


Lesson #7: Candids only happen if your subject doesn't realize you are taking a picture
I was taking a picture of the fountain and one of the bride's maids came up, ducking so as not to ruin my picture. I assured her that she hadn't and she went about covering this berry with chocolate, while I went about finishing up taking that picture of a chocolate fountain.

In the end, weddings are pretty cool to shoot and I quite enjoyed watching my good friend get married.

Congratulation's Jerry and Catherine and best wishes in your new life together!