That time a shutter died mid-wedding and I had to improvise

I was shooting a wedding in a small chapel outside Portland last summer when my trusty Canon F-1's shutter just stuck halfway through the ceremony. I had to pull out my beat-up backup, but it was loaded with Tri-X instead of the Portra 400 I needed for the low light. Managed to salvage the day by pushing the film two stops in development, but I still feel that moment of panic when I think about it. Anyone else had a camera fail at the worst possible time?

3 comments

3 Comments

riley_schmidt2d agoMost Upvoted

Whoa wait hold on, you missed the first kiss? That's like, THE moment. I'd probably have just sat down on the altar steps and cried right there. I mean, I guess you gotta respect the hustle of pushing Tri-X two stops and getting those grainy emotional shots though, that's actually kind of a cool accident. But still, missing the first kiss because your gear died? That's my nightmare fuel for real. I don't know how you didn't just pack it all up and go home after that.

bettywood7d ago

Opened my camera bag at my daughter's wedding to find my main body had a full sensor error. Had to switch to a backup that I hadn't used in years, which meant fumbling with settings I barely remembered while the vows were happening. Missed the first kiss entirely. Pushed that roll of Tri-X two stops too just to get something usable, and ended up with some of the grainiest, most emotional shots of the whole day. Still felt sick about it for weeks, even though the couple loved the gritty look. Now I always carry three bodies to any wedding, no exceptions.

emma_clark7d ago

Oh man, I read a blog post from a wedding photographer who said the same thing happened to them, and now they literally pack three cameras and check them all before every ceremony. Did you have to change your whole setup after that day?

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