| Quite honestly, wedding photography is just about the most difficult way to use a camera. Unfortunately, too many people get goaded into shooting them without proper preperation.
I shot weddings full time for some 25 years, 5 years of which was working as an assistant to another wedding photographer, and every time, I had jitters, an upset stomach, a dry throat, and complete anxiety from the time I woke up on wedding day until I actually saw the proofs roll off the printer.
I suspect now it has gotten worse, as there are too many people on too many internet forums who look for a little advice before soloing a wedding with no background or training, get told a couple of things by other people who also have never shot a wedding but think they know something about it, and armed with this third hand non-knowledge, go off to self destruct on the alter of wedding photography.
They hurt themselves, they hurt the bride and groom, and they hurt the reputation of wedding photographers who are mentally prepared for the controlled chaos that a wedding can turn into.
It's not about which is the best camera, or lens, or which is the best flash.
Any camera can, and will screw up on you at the worst possible moment, it doesn't matter if it is a Holga or a D3, or anything in between.
Any venue can, and will screw up on you, any group of people can, and will, screw up on you, especially when they are embroiled in the pressure cooker that is a wedding, and anytime alcohol is involved, which it often is at weddings.
It's not really about the equipment at all.
It's about being a tough SOB who can take whatever is dished out and roll with it, and bring home salable pictures, no matter what goes wrong.
It is not a profession for the timid, the weak of mind or body, or the sensitive.
Saint Murphy is the Patron Saint of wedding photography, it sounds like he was well and truly in his best form at your wedding, and it sounds like you learned a very important lesson. Sorry to sound less than supportive, I do feel badly for you, but I've heard your story too many times over the years. |