Each location is different and some may offer unique opportunities, like the site shown in Figure A.

FIGURE A

The smokestack on this riverboat provides an interesting setting. Click picture for a larger image.

When you've staked out your primary shooting location, gather your equipment nearby, and make sure your assistant if you have one, is also close at hand, so that anything you might want will be easily available.

Battle plan
We all like to make things easier for ourselves and there was never more of an occasion to make things as easy as possible than when photographing a wedding. Of all the weddings I have been involved with, there was one very simple thing I've seen that makes the photographer's job much simpler, and that is to take the photos before the ceremony.

Some brides, or grooms for that matter, can be rather old fashioned when it comes to seeing the bride before the wedding. If their mind is set on not seeing one another before the ceremony, don't fret. You can still take nearly half the photos before. You'll just have to work out a system whereby you get all the men together and get their pictures done, and then do the same with the women. The combined photos can then be done afterwards.

Here's the logic in doing as many of the photos as possible ahead of time. If you get to the location early enough, you can scout it out and take your time setting up while everyone is getting ready, rather than rush after the ceremony. After the ceremony, everyone is itching to get moving and go to the reception. People become impatient and sometimes downright rude, which is not going to improve your performance any, especially if you have an equipment problem.

Speaking of equipment problems, it's much better to have these before the wedding, when there is still time to come up with a solution, than when everyone is standing around after the ceremony and waiting for you to finish so they can get to the reception. Also, if at all possible, you only want to set your equipment up one time.

You can even stipulate as part of your agreement to do the photos that they must be done before the wedding, or at least a portion of them. You would not believe how much of a relief it is to you and the bridal party to have the photos done before the ceremony. That's just one less thing everyone has to worry about.

In part two of this series, I will cover what you should be doing and the shots you should be taking leading up to the ceremony.

James Booth is a self-taught PC and Palm device user that dabbles in graphics and photography. He can be reached at lizardworks@mchsi.com.