Anita Schep

I survived my cousin’s wedding photography.
1 bride panicking that the photos would be boring.
1 groom tired of smiling & posing.
2 bride’s-brothers telling me to be more directive.
50 guests with their cyber-shots in my line of shot.
20 of my family members wanting to catch up on the last 10 years with me.
2 flower-girls with sore feet.
1 ring barer tagging along looking bored.
1 best-man who didn’t know what to do with himself.

And… what a beautiful, relaxed and cozy wedding it was!

Thanks for the advice and well-wishing everyone. I made it through the day with the help of… well… I don’t know what/who. I was stressed out of my brain, and I don’t think well (or, in fact, at all) when I’m stressed, but we managed to get some gorgeous, relaxed and natural looking photos.

What I learned:

1. Be bossy, pushy, and very assertive!

2. Don’t feel bad if any of the bridal party are bored with photos. Dont feel sorry for them, or take less or go quicker! Jolly them along and try to be funny! (not easy when you are stressed out of your eyeballs).

3.Dont rely on the family to decide who they want in family shots… take a list and check them off one by one!

4. When you think you have enough of a family pose, take 5 more of the same one! Aunty Mabel always has her eyes closed, and the kid in the front has his finger up his nose!

5. Relax. Don’t worry. It wil aaaaaaaall be ok. Photoshop and Lightroom are wonderful programs that make a zing-less photo full of… well… ZING!

P.s Halfway through the day, I had a brainwave (albeit too late) that I should have gone to some weddings with a ‘real’ wedding photographer, to help out and watch them work. I did it once for work experience but that was ages ago, and I’d like to do it again sometime soon – so if anyone would like to borrow me and my professional camera-bag carrying skills…....??