<span style="font-size: 9pt; color: #000000;"]<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"]White Balance: Don't use AWB! Pick a setting that's close to what you're shooting and keep it there. AWB will shift with the light but if you keep the camera set to daylight you can change the white balance globally in post. Get as close as you can in camera though. In a church I'll set the camera to Kelvin and tweak it until the histogram and display looks good. You could set a custom WB but here's the rub, weddings move QUICKLY. You need to be able to react and not have to fiddle with your camera.<o></o>


<span style="font-size: 9pt; color: #000000;"]<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"]Shoot in RAW! With wedding photography the emotion capturedis much more important than technical aspects of the image. An overexposed image of just the right moment is better than loosing that moment all together. If you shoot in RAW you'll be able to recover much more detail whether it be over or under exposed. That being said, get as close as you can in camera.<o></o>


<span style="font-size: 9pt; color: #000000;"]<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"]Your 5D II rocks so bump that ISO. Motion blur kills an image faster than high ISO noise ever will. Do not be afraid of 1600 and even 3200 if necessary. Don't let those shutter speeds fall too low.<o></o>


<span style="font-size: 9pt; color: #000000;"]<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"]Don't expect everything to go to plan. Sometimes you have to improvise. KNOW your gear! Be able to make changes on the fly. You'll go from ISO 1600 and WB of 2800K to ISO 100 WB 6500K in a heartbeat when leaving the church to the bright outdoors. Be ready for it.<o></o>


<span style="font-size: 9pt; color: #000000;"]<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"]Stop down. If you're shooting a group of people stop down. I'll often shoot at around f/8 for a group. When it's just the bride or the bride and groom you can open it up but often times the surroundings are beautiful and you won't necessarily blur everything. Context is good. They paid a lot of money to have their event, help them remember it the way it was.<o></o>


<span style="font-size: 9pt; color: #000000;"]<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"]Don't become complacent. Weddings are all action or all waiting around doing nothing. Be ready to jump when the action kicks back up.<o></o>


<span style="font-size: 9pt; color: #000000;"]<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"]Carry an extra card or two in your pocket. I put mine in my Black Rapid strap. You don't want to run out of space and miss a shot so always monitor the shot count on your LCD.<o></o>


<span style="font-size: 9pt; color: #000000;"]<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"]Be confident. You have to be. You are a great photographer so do what you do!<o></o>
<p class="MsoNormal"]<span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Courier New';"]<o><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"]Care...if you care about creating great images you will. Don't just go through the motions.</o>
<p class="MsoNormal"]<span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Courier New';"]<o><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"]Take control. You know what good light is and what's not. You know what will look good in the background. Everyone will have an idea of what a great shot will be. If familiy members ask, ALWAYS do it, but then suggest that you do whatever your idea was too.</o>
<p class="MsoNormal"]<span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Courier New';"]<o><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"]Don't be afraid. Ask people to move. Ask them to take their hand out of their pocket. People often have no idea that they have a nervous tick or that they are clenching their fist. Let them know and get the picture.</o>