First of all, thank you again for your help.

These clients are friends and it's just the rehearsal that I'm shooting so it's not super official, they just want to remember it. I went to high school with the bride and groom and they're my friends so that's how I got the job. They know it's my first official job but they're giving me a chance that I'll always remember and I'm getting paid for it too, which I never expected.

I'll ask if I can go the night before to their home to check out the yard and the lighting and stuff. I know that the lighting isn't going to be my best friend since I'm new to this aspect (I usually shoot portraits and stuff during the day) but I guess I'll make the most with what I have. Also, we're in Arizona...so the weather is about 88-90 at night.

Thank you for the advice on batch processing. I'm definitely going to look into that. I'm trying to learn as much as I can before the shoot in mid-May.

Also, would you recommend shooting in RAW? I haven't used this much in the past but I know that most photographers use it and I know I can adjust exposures and stuff better with it. Do you think it would help a bit with the lighting situation?

I'm really busy trying to get my degree at this point but I've let photographers that I know that I'm willing to help them in anyway, just so I can be around the environment I want to work in eventually.

Thank you for the encouragement Leigh. I really appreciate it.

Even though it's the rehearsal I still would get the groups shots done first with the reasonably good light.
Shooting in RAW will certainly help and will give you leeway when working with the files in post production. But it will not makeup for what wasn't there to begin with like the lack of light.

With absolutely any of this stuff [I've been a working photographer since 2002] you have to get out there and shoot,shoot,shoot. Then really look at your stuff and give your self credit for what you got right, figure out what you got wrong and why and then go back and try to shoot the same stuff without the mistakes.

There is ultimately no substitute for putting miles under your belt shooting. It really takes more time and effort to get to the point where you really know what your doing and the act of creating impact full images becomes second nature. Getting good takes way more time and effort than most people are willing to admit or dedicate themselves to.

I'm not saying this to be discouraging I say this because so many think that with digital all you do is shoot a ton of images and one is bound to get some good shots, which is mostly true.
Although producing consistently beautiful & emotional photos in a style that is unique and distinctive to the photographer takes experience over time.

Ok, yeah I'll definitely shoot in RAW and take as many as I can before darkness. Thankfully it'll be summer even more then and the last will last longer than it does now.

I'm really trying to just start with whatever I can and get as much experience under my belt as possible before graduation hits!

I'm so ready for the hard work and challenges that I know I'll face. I want this more than anything and I know I will be successful in the future. If I can just get a bunch of experience now and learn from as many people as I can, like you, then I'm hoping I will be in a good place in two years.

Right now, I'm starting on working on branding and just getting my name out there a little so when I'm ready to tackle this full time, then some people will hopefully at least recognize me from forums and stuff like that.

I really appreciate your help.