M A Andrew Black and White Photography Blog

A lot of people ask me to shoot weddings but up until recently I have been quite reluctant to accept for a number of reasons.

1) I shoot mostly landscapes, still life, abstracts etc
2) I shoot mainly black and white images.
3) All my photographic gear reflects 1) and 2)
4) You are talking about a very special day for the bride and groom which will (hopefully!) not come around again.

Having said all that, I have always fancied dabbling particularly after looking at some so-called Wedding Photographer’s images of friends’ weddings etc. I know i am not alone in thinking “I could have done better!” So with trepidation and excitement in equal measure, I began to accept bookings.
I write this entry as a guide to those people who want to follow in my footstepts!

1) Ensure you have the right gear. If you don’t - don’t accept (or buy some!)

By this, I don’t mean the latest canon/nikon £2500 10FPS monster but there are certain things you need in order to do a good job IMHO. For me, the very basics are two DSLRs, a couple of reasonably fast lenses and two flash units. This isn’t as expensive as it might sound. A Canon 20D/ Nikon D100/ Sigma SD10 can be picked up on ebay for a ridiculously low price at the moment and would do the job. Equally flash units can be picked up in the same way.

Lenses should be fast enough to cope in lower lighting conditions that a wedding throws up. i.e. A kit lens that has a F3.5 -5.6 minumum aperture will probably just not be quick enough to cut it as the light fades/ indoors. Once again, second hand ebay F2.8 or lower lenses are the way to go. I would use a telephoto and a zoom as a minimum. i.e 70 - 200 and 24 - 70

2) Preparation is key.

I know this sounds like the most obvious piece of advice ever but it certainly is true. This is why you need backup cards, cameras, lighting units and lenses. Things will break when you least expect it, so be prepared. Make sure you know and have visited the venue and the location. Speak to the couple and go through the shots and the timings. Think about when you will change lenses before the wedding itself, where you will get the shots (i.e. where you are stood) how much time you have etc. Know your camera inside out. This last statement again is a given. Chances are, people wouldn’t be asking you if you didn’t but just in case, ensure you have shot with that particular model and know how it meters, how it behaves in different situations.

What mode will you shoot and when? You should have a rough idea in your mind as to when you might need to switch. For example, when you move indoors into the church, how much light can you expect. Can you set the camera to M mode here? When might Aperture priority be more appropriate?

Have you charged all your batteries in advance? Do you have spares? What happens if you car breaks down? For every eventuality, you need to have thought of a contingency plan. Hopefully you might not need it but what if you do?

3) Be Assertive

People expect you to take charge. Think about it. You are the photographer. If you want people to behave a certain way, tell them - politely of course. If the B&G want formal shots, organise people how you want them. Talk to them, get them to do what you want before you shoot. If not, chances are you will end up with second rate shots and missed opportunities.

4) Be discreet

Some of the best shots can be taken when people are unaware of the lens. This type of shooting is asked for more and more today and candid shots often more accurately capture the mood of the day. Be careful not to overdo this type of shooting as it can become monotonous and boring. A good telephoto lens is needed here but be sure to ensure shutter speed doesn’t fall too far as camera blur will ruin a good photo.

5) Do the job from start to finish.

Sometimes it is tempting to get caught up in the festivites, particularly if friends or family are involved. By this I mean that if you are a guest at the wedding, make sure you have all the shots in the bag before you indulge in any drinking etc. If the B&G have asked you to take the responsibilty on of shooting their day, do it properly. If you think this may present a problem, don’t agree to accept the wedding.

Good Luck

People often ask me what works when selling online. Having been doing this since 2002, I can offer a little bit of advice based on my experiences. To begin with, my typical customer is an American female, usually between the ages of 30 and 50. A typical order is for a 16 x 12 or 30 x 20 inch print. Over the years, these prints have sold the most.
1. Hong Kong from the peak

2. Singapore boat quay

3. Giant’s Causeway, Co Antrim.

4. Relaxation - Part Nude

5. Botafogo - Rio De Janeiro

Had some nice weather yesterday so took the camera out. Was trying to get some simple landscape shots and ended up with the following. I think they might be sold on my site www.picturesforwalls.com as limited editions.

More at www.picturesforwalls.com

Marrakesh is a city that shocks and surprises. The old part of town is just that - old. Almost biblical, the feel of this side of the city contrasts starkly with the wide, planned out avenues of the French quarter. Walking around here, you could easily be forgiven for thinking you were in LA or suchlike.

Decided to start printing all my prints using Hahnemuhle photo rag 308 gsm. This is arguably the best photographic paper for digital photography and in particular black and white digital photography. As a consequence, I have had to up prices but feel the increase in quality should be more than worth the extra price.

More information can be found at the Hahnemuhle website www.hahnemuhle.com