Wedding Preperation

As I prep for tomorrow's wedding I am sitting and contemplating how preparation has changed from wedding 1 a short three years ago to wedding 78 tomorrow. Some things have really changed and others remain the same. I thought some of what we've learned could help some starting photographer out there. We get questions all the time on how we do things and why. So I wanted to go ahead and talk about our current preparation steps.



The Night Before


- Review all notes and details from our final preparation meeting with the bride and/or groom. I am meticulous and will run through the entire day in my head several times. Playing out possible scenarios so I can start to build contingency plans, specifically around outdoor photos and regarding pre-ceremony formals.

- Charge all 16 of our batteries. We have three different types of batteries for our different cameras. It can take some time to get through them all.

- Go through 192 gigabytes of memory cards to ensure that we have everything removed from them. Then format ALL of them. There is no reason to take any chances here. Make sure all of your tools are ready to go.

- When we first started I had a checklist for our camera bags and lighting equipment. I would go through the entire list checking things off. Now this far in, I just know what we always have. I eliminated our list, but still do a through inspection for cameras, flashes, cables, memory cards, batteries, stands, pocket wizards, .... etc ....

- I make sure every camera has batteries and a freshly formatted memory card. All settings are put at our base of Av, AWB, ISO 100, evaluative metering, one shot AF, and -1 step flash compensation. From there things go all over the place throughout the day, but those are our base settings before each wedding.

- I stack all of our gear in piles. Camera/Lighting gear in one pile. Step stool, table, extension cords, and rugs to cover them in another. This helps me validate that I have loaded everything the next day.

- I set out whatever clothing I will be wearing the next day. Time can run short the next morning and if I am waiting on batteries to charge I can always get something else done.

- Check the weather forecast to have an idea heading into the day of what may take place.



The Morning Of


- Check the weather again. Formulate my own prediction. I like Ed Wilson, but when we are out and shooting I have to trust my own instincts and they are typically right. Just ask Carmen and Ron...got all the shots in RIGHT before it started to rain.

- As I load the van I go through the entire checklist in my mind again. Visually checking to ensure everything is in place.

- Double check directions and/or maps to make sure I know where I am going. Google maps even failed us once. The road looked like it was there...but it wasn't. (Sorry for scaring you Emily)

- Check to make sure I have some Vitamin Water for the day, if not, stop and get some.



That pretty much sums up the preparation. From there out we will arrive and start to run through our steps for gearing up on site. Then it's show time...I am so nervous when we start shooting. I'd guess our brides and grooms never know that as one of my main jobs is to keep them relaxed and I have to appear relaxed to make that happen.