I am a self taught photographer,meaning I have very little technical knowledge, but have been in business now with a fully operational studio for over a year.  I just started shooting weddings. I find it very difficult to light and therefore almost impossible to get sharp photo's in darker churches with very high ceilings which afford very little, if any bounce.  Direct lighting of course causes severe shadows, but flash bounce is not always an option.  I know nothing of apeture or shutter speed or f stops, NOTHING!! So anything would be helpful but I'll need major details to accomplish any adjustments.  Thank you so much. I would be so grateful for any sort of reply.

 

I'm sorry, but if you don't know anything about aperture and shutter speeds, that is a definitely a problem!  My suggestion is to read as many photography books that you can get your hands on!  You also need to have your camera manual pretty much memorized.  That would probably help a lot. 

 Keep shooting,

Alicia
 

 

first off welcome to the forum. You will learn allot on here! IAlthough I  find it kinda crazy that you have been in business for a year and know nothing about your camara nothing is impossible. I would stay far away from doing anyones wedding until you get the hang it. Weddings are very stressfull and you only get one chance. You can start practicing. Take some friends to a place with difficult lighting, BRING A TRI POD, and have fun.

There are some very good and very inexpensive photography books out there, I'd start with them so that you do understand those things.

Photography is interesting because you can take great pictures without any knowledge of those details.  Some people just have an eye for it.  And some people have the best equipment and all the knowledge in the world and can't take good pictures.  They don't have an eye for it.

But, for what you are trying to do, you have to learn more.  You are wanting to do things that "just having an eye for it" will not accomplish.  You now need to know how to get on film/sensor what your eye sees, in situations where the camera will not get what your eye sees without some manipulation.

If you are not a reader, then enroll in some photography classes at your local college...

This is a very good book for starters...  It is easy to understand, covers the basics very well, is up to date and will get you to the next step where you can say you know more than most people with a camera in their hand.  From there, you can read plenty of others.  But this is a good starting point:

http://www.amazon.com/Photography-Bible-Complete-Century-Photographer/dp/0715318063/sr=8-1/qid=1168036185/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-9218287-3261713?ie=UTF8&s=books

Good for you, both for your success and your desire to take your talent to a new skill level!  You really need to understand the basic applied schience of it, if you want to continue to move ahead.  It's not confusing.  You will probably enjoy it!  I am with Tom Steele about the book thing.  The best photography book I know of is "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson.  Even one of the older editions, which you can buy for a song on someplace like Ebay.   It is a lifelong learning curve, but this book really explains the basics as directly as you'll find anywhere.  A book like this will really help it come together for you.  Once you get through that, you will really benefit from all thie informatiion on the internet.  Get this book, you will love it and it will help you plan your future in Photography!

Bryan Peterson has some great books, as does Rick Sammon.  I'd check his out, since you posted on his forum! LOL.

L Stegall:

Bryan Peterson has some great books, as does Rick Sammon.  I'd check his out, since you posted on his forum! LOL.

I mean no slight to Rick by posting the Photographer's Bible, but I have some of Rick's work, and it is great - but what I have read is more intermediate.  The Photographer's Bible will get you from ZERO to 60 and then from there you can learn more about technique.  The book I posted does a great job of covering basic aperture and exposure questions.

I like Understanding Exposure as well, but consider it a tad more intermediate than the Photographer's Bible.  It is a great resource as well.  I only wish he would have put ISO's in the EXIF info as well.  But it is a great book also.

Hi fotomamma

I'm new to this forum too. In the past two days I have learned so much. This place is amazing.

My suggestion is to not get discouraged, just read and practice like your life depended on it. That is if you plan to keep shooting weddings. Learn how to get a correct exposure. Your camera manual should help a little. But I suggest that you purchase a good book and Practice, Practice, Practice. Try every drill that is suggested and keep shooting it until you get it. Know your camera like the back of your hand. And a piece of equipment that I see so many people not using but should is a good light meter.

Good Luck

Gail

fotomamma:

I am a self taught photographer,meaning I have very little technical knowledge, but have been in business now with a fully operational studio for over a year.  I just started shooting weddings. I find it very difficult to light and therefore almost impossible to get sharp photo's in darker churches with very high ceilings which afford very little, if any bounce.  Direct lighting of course causes severe shadows, but flash bounce is not always an option.  I know nothing of apeture or shutter speed or f stops, NOTHING!! So anything would be helpful but I'll need major details to accomplish any adjustments.  Thank you so much. I would be so grateful for any sort of reply.

I'd also like to get on my soapbox for a second... if you haven't shot a (bunch of) weddings before, I recommend not doing them until you have done them with someone experienced as a second/backup/apprentice.  I don't see how you can take on the responsibility of being the primary photographer for someone's wedding without KNOWING you have the skills and experience to do it right.  There seem to be a lot of people who come here that don't feel that way, but I don't understand that.

Just out of morbid curiousity, how are those customers that you've had problems lighting their wedding taking the situation?
 

Wedding Photography is one of the most challenging disciplines in Photography.  Not knowing your equipment is a recipe for problems and legal issues.  You only have one chance to get the shot and if you miss it,  well it's gone.  I suggest reading, PRACTICE, read some more, PRACTICE, and if all else fails take losts of pictures.  As you get better composing the scene and understanding your camera functions better your clientel will increase.  I love the fact that you're expanding your skill level but be careful not to jump into the pool unless you can swim!!!

 

Good luck

hi there

As I learn more about my camera and photography in general (I'm reading like a banshee and am taking classes), I have made the conscious decision to not do any jobs that can't be re-done.

No weddings as the primary. (I'd only go as a tertiary, for-fun gal.) No birth photography (even though I have done birth photography for 20+ years). No reunions.

These are my self-imposed limitations because, interestingly, I am finding my photos looking worse instead of better as I learn more. I haven't figured out why yet, but I know I don't want to inflict my learning curve on innocent bystanders.

 Perhaps my heart is too darn tender or something, but I would cry for months if I ruined someone's wedding pictures. Probably longer than the bride would.

NavelgazingMidwife:

These are my self-imposed limitations because, interestingly, I am finding my photos looking worse instead of better as I learn more. I haven't figured out why yet, but I know I don't want to inflict my learning curve on innocent bystanders.

Annoyingly, this happens with many things.  Ask a golfer about how a pro ruined his swing sometime!  Basically, what I believe happens is that suddenly you learn new things and begin trying them, and most of us aren't good the first time we try new things.  However, I went through (and am still going through in some cases) the same thing and I found at the other end of that tunnel, I emerged with better pictures than I was able to take before.  I had to take a step back before I could take two steps forward.  (Did I get enough cliches in here?)

One thing that has helped me is project-oriented practice.  When I got my camera, I spent some time in Florida and had lots of large flying waterbirds around.  I could not get moving pictures to save my life at first.  So I made that my goal and that is what I shot, over and over again.  And I'm not pro now, but I FINALLY got some flying shots (and I had to learn my camera better to do it) of birds that were at least technically decent.  I still need to keep practicing and apply more of my basic rules like thirds and such, but I got some that were interesting and in focus basically by practicing over and over again on ONE thing until I figured it out.

You will end up a better photographer AND it won't take as long as you think.

I commend you on your jump into a photography business. I have a similar experience. I started serious back in February and started my business (family photography) in June.  I've been reading a lot, talking with veteren photographers and slowly building my clientele, all happy so far. I did my first wedding on New Years Eve and it turned out OK. Now I have three more prospects considering me.

I am concerned about being the primary photograper for a major wedding and I would also suggest that you do what everyone else is tell you to do and what I plan to do - PRACTICE!! I'm looking for veteren photographers in Charlotte who would be willing to even let me tag along and learn. I've read Understand Exposure too and it's a wonderful book.  It will cover basic exposure elements and some more advanced techniques.

God bless and keep on shooting.

 

I, like you, know next to nothing about my camera. With help from my husband and some of the kind fokes on here, I am getting much better. This is a site that has help me out. Someone posted it on here a while back. It lets you play with the f stop and other settings.

http://www.photonhead.com/simcam/

"Direct lighting of course causes severe shadows,"  Not if you use umbrellas or softboxs and you keep them close to the subject you are shooting.

please don't think i am being sarcastic because i'm not.  in addition to reading the books that have already mentioned (i also give my hearty approval), read your owner's manual for every piece of equipment that you purchase.  for the cameras, you can buy a nicer owner's manual at the bookstore that is more conversational while it gives you the info on your camera.  have your camera with you while you are reading and actually DO what the manual is talking about.  and then read your owner's manuals five more times each - cover to cover.  even the sections in french and spanish!  just kidding about that.

when i was learning (i still am) i bought a photography textbook that my local university uses in their photography program.  i have read it twice and refer to it frequently.  i was telling my husband that it's been quite awhile since i've read anything for "fun" (besides this forum) because every minute that i have for reading i've got my nose stuck in a photography book.  i also keep one in the car with me in case i have a few extra minutes driving down the interstate.  no - i'm just kidding about that - in case i get stuck somewhere waiting on someone or something.

good luck!