[ooheadsoo]

Ah-hah, good trick.  I will definitely try it if my flash can do remote TTL.

[thunderbrick]

Which model do you have?  The SB600 MIGHT do TTL, but won't have much power.   I doubt the SB-28 will do TTL with your rig, but I am too lazy to look it up and be sure.  It may be more powerful than the 600 but again, I don't know.  You can use any auto flash in AA model; it doesn't need to be TTL.

[ooheadsoo]

I have a SB600 and yes, the SB-28 is more powerful but no, it won't do TTL.

I'm not familiar with AA mode.  I'll look it up...

Meanwhile, I plan on breaking down the camera angles and lighting of some shots I've seen online and in magazines.  Given a little time, at least I can get the formal portraits to look decent so that they have SOMETHING nice to look at in case the ceremony candids go to hell in a handbasket. 

Does anyone have any sources for interview questions to ask to get the couple thinking, reflecting, interacting?

Again, the ceremony is March 14th but the formal portrait session will be on Feb 21st.  Potential chances for do-overs on the formals.

[Mister Pig]

Well first you need to wait for wedding season

Then you need a wedding tag

Next find a shooting blind

Then when the appropriate wedding herd walks into view.....they are often referred to as wedding parties

Then you can open fire with a champagne bottle....and possibly throw rice as a distraction.....

[SET Man]

... as I pointed out in an earlier post, people don't put as much importance in wedding photos anymore. 
...

Hey!

    I have to disagreed with you on this. Maybe to you but believe me people still value their wedding photos. Otherwise they wouldn't ask anyone to take picture for them at all.

    Look at ooheadsoo's couple here. True that they can't afford to spend a grand or two on photographer. But still they want to something beyond and above what they and their family could do. And this is where ooheadsoo comes in.

    It is after all a once in a lifetime for many couples, sorry not to scare you here ooheadsoo.    OK, even it this will not be much importance to the couple, but maybe it will be to their children and grandchildren years down the road.

Take care,
Buddy

[SET Man]

...maybe you should bail out and live for another day.    . 

Yeah, that was my first response when they asked me, but they insisted.  They really don't have the budget for a "real" photographer.  Their closer friend, the second photog, doesn't even have an SLR yet.  He should be buying one any day, now   

You see how high priority pictures are on their list?

I'd post more pics so you could see something more representative of my flash work with PJ style portraits, but our staff doesn't like having their faces on the internet (law enforcement.)

Hey!

    ooheadsoo, listen... if you bail out now believe me than you will bail out again on the next wedding.

    I assumed that you've already said yes to them right? I do have a few questions I want to ask you.

1. Are you confident enough and believe that you can do this?

    If yes, than go for it. Well, you have to start somewhere right? Even if you don't do wedding again than at least you will know what it like from this.

If it is an absolutely no than what else can I say, but back out from it. The sooner the better for them so they could find someone else on time for their wedding. But like I said before. If you bail out now than you will again.

2. Do they know that this is your first wedding gig?

    If they know than they will also know the risk of having you doing this for them. Make sure you be honest with them and tell them that you are doing this the first time and the final photos might be as good as those pro, but you will do your best.

3. Have you show the couple your photos that you have taken so far?

   This is very important part. Make sure you show them what you have done so far. And see if they are confident enough after that to have you as their main wedding photographer.

   Wedding photography is not for everyone. It could be a long and grueling work. But at the same or sometime it could be fun to go. Once you get the hang of it you could actually hold a bottle of beer in one hand and shoot in another.

   True that the responsibility is extremely high but as long as you are confident in yourself, your photo skill and careful this could be done.

   Now it is time for you to decide for yourself if you ready for it. Good luck

Take care,
Buddy

[ooheadsoo]

1) Yes, I think I can do something that will be passable.  No it won't be top notch, but then, nothing I ever do seems to be top notch...

2) Yes they know it's my first wedding, or at least they should know 

3) Yes, they've seen my pics. 

Now you have me worried if I can even match my usual lackluster standards.............................. ...

But no, it's too late to bail out, I know they don't have anyone else lined up.

[JackD201]

I have just a couple of suggestions to add. First is stage the money shots ahead of time the couple will be yanked all over the place, the quicker you can get them through the formal money shots the better. These are the shots that the couple would likely frame, the kiss, exiting the Church, the formal portrait. The rest you can relax about a little bit. Just pay attention to your WB and go for a slight under exposure if you wanna be on the safe side. Better yet practice exposure bracketing and just shoot in triple bursts. Safest way to not "miss" those precious special moments. Secondly, borrow the 90. Mount the 55 or the 55-200 VR on it and the 12-20 on the D40.  This way you'll always be ready for group shots from close range that are almost always spontaneous. Again in keeping with not missing special moments, the worst thing is to be fumbling with a lens change while the best man slips on a banana peel .

Good Luck and Enjoy!

[ooheadsoo]

I'll try to do as many staged formal shots as I can.  I figure they should be happy if I get those at least half way decent.