Don’t leave home unprepared
Many thanks to Kevin Mullins, a Wiltshire based wedding photographer, for the following piece of advice. For a wedding photographer, getting lost on the way to a wedding is the stuff of nightmares, so these are very wise words indeed!
As well as being a fabulous wedding photographer (check out Kevin’s site at www.kevinmullinsphotography.co.uk) Kevin is also an SEO expert and runs a dedictaed SEO site especially for photographers, which I would certainly recommend subscribing to: www.photographywebtips.co.uk
The boring, but necessary preparation
Wedding Photography is all about preparation. Preparing for the “decisive moment”, preparing your camera gear, preparing the bride and groom at consultations and preparing yourself for the day ahead as the photographer…
That preparation should not stop with blowing the dust off your lenses; One of the most important things is preparing the peripheral aspects of your day – such as the car:
- Make sure you car is regularly serviced.
- Make sure you have paper printed maps (two) and directions as well as the Sat Nav. Sat Navs’ do fail, and invariably send you somewhere completely different.
- Get Fuel the night before the wedding.
- Make sure you car is well stocked with items such as water, and perhaps even a spare fuel can.
- Always make sure you have break-down cover with a reliable firm.
- Check the traffic constantly in the morning and have back-up routes prepared if necessary
We are all dependant on our vehicles on the morning of a wedding, and they do go wrong.
Very true Kevin, you can always rely on something to go wrong when you least expect it. The only way to deal with it effectively is to be prepared. As a wedding photographer preparation and visualisation are very important.
This is a very good point, i was lost my car keys at the church & had to get to the reception, Oh & apart from 2 4 Gb cards 1 flash gun & 2 lenses all my gear was in the car….
that was a day I’ll never forget, but also some of my best work, go figure.
Andy
Another little tip I would offer is to make sure you have at least two mobile phone numbers of someone who is going to be at the church – then if there are any issues you have a number you can call immediately
great website – lots of useful ideas – thanks!
Sharon
Yes -agree with all the above. Its strange how the first puncture that I have had in years, just happens to be noticed as I came to leave for one of my last weddings.
Its not a great way to start the days work, seeing how quickly you can get the jack up, wheel off, changed and driving off again. Luckily – I made a personal best and had a few minutes spare to degrease the hands !