[Ryuji]

What I found to be very important is to understand what people want out of wedding photography. Pros know this very well but amateurs dont. They say they have a limited budget, don't need many pictures, just this and that, do whatever you want, etc. Many things don't significantly reduce the cost, or reduce your work, or worse can increase your stress. I also think many people only have vague idea of what they want and can't really communicate it because they don't know what can cost and what requires extra work. I've come to think that most people (those in my circle of friends anyway) are better off with complete set of photographs taken (film and development are cheap) but make a small album. I don't recommend this to everyone, but for the price of an album book, one can take a class on bookmaking and buy all necessary materials. Or maybe they can get a $300 book as a wedding gift from someone else.

Also, as a photographer, you might think anything smaller than 8x10 is a waste of time and quality. But in reality, people want lots of 5x7 pictures, two on each page. Many people seem to want 8x10 or 10x10 or something of that order for posed photos, ceremony, and other major events, but want 5x7 for the rest. Also, people don't necessarily want wall prints larger than 16x20. (Whether they can afford to pay a framer is another question.)

Another cost saving can be made in printing. I've come to think that scanning negs and printing off shutterfly is the cheapest option. When I checked last, they are one of very few online printing services that claim to use Crystal Archive paper. I'm sure a lot of people here don't like to hear this, but when the cost is an issue, this option may be very useful. After all, I insist on the best possible quality on the film and film processing, so they can always redo this part when they get a real job. I also have a list of local labs (both pro labs and consumer labs) that use Crystal Archive paper and give it to them as well. Also, once they have digitized image files, they can make low cost picture books printed online as well. I hand print in my darkroom 8x10 and larger, but I dont want to do too many 5x7s.

Scanning negs at a service bureau is always expensive. Printing straight out of the film is also expensive. Scanning yourself is too time consuming. I haven't found a particularly good solution to this problem yet.

If anyone has to shoot wedding for friends, the most useful thing is to visit the sites a week or two before the actual wedding day. You want to go with a camera with a zoom, a light meter, and a notebook. Take a quick sketch of the site, where people sit, etc., and make quick reading of the light and the useful focal lengths. Set up your equipment and select films with this knowledge. Also, decide where you want to set up your equipment case, battery charger, etc.

Another useful thing is to ask the couple to write down the detailed program and give it to you in advance. Memorize the whole thing. Also, introduce yourself to the wedding planner and/or DJ and ask him to let you know when important events are about to happen.

Another useful thing is to ask the couple to write down the entire list of group shots they want. The original post of this thread has a long list, but not everyone wants them all. Ask them to make their list. Also ask them to have a relative in charge of checking the list off, to make sure everything important is photographed. If a bride's cousin is put in charge, he probably knows the face and name of everyone on the list, and this is a huge help to cut down your stress.

You need to bring a big bottle of water and a couple of boxes of powerbar. When shooting groups, you have to be very fast (due to the influence from the digital technology, people are no longer patient), you have to keep talking something funny, you have to give posing instruction constantly, and you'll be using your voice a lot. Just because you are a friend, don't let the members of the bridal party too comfortable. You'll often have to yell at them to drop their camera and get in your picture. You have to maintain a good level of control during group shot and you need a lot of water. Finding a caterer is a waste of time.