Wedding?!

Bcrary3 · 03-20-2013, 12:44 PM

Okay, so, I don't really know where this should be posted, but... I am thinking about shooting a wedding from an ad I found online. Now, I have never really done any kind of portraiture before, and the client is on a budget, so I really have no experience in this area, and I do not know if I am going to have a second photographer or not,but I am really curious to know what I should include and for what price? Any help would be great! Thanks!

**blackcloudbrew** · 03-20-2013, 01:01 PM

Don't do it. That would be the best help I could give. It's apt to end very badly.

Tom Woj · 03-20-2013, 01:07 PM

Leave it. If you've never done portraits/groups shots/delivered this kind of stuff I honestly wouldn't bother. Weather they're on a budget or not, they'll expect more and more, and the whole thing becomes a headache - not only no the day, but also when editing. More stress than it's worth.

If you want to shoot weddings, find someone who you can assist or be the 2nd shooter - learn from them, and then you'll be able to decide if you want to do one on your own.

**Kerrowdown** · 03-20-2013, 01:20 PM

Originally posted by blackcloudbrew

Don't do it

I'm afraid in agreement with blackcloudbrew on this, if you wish to go down this route, you need to serve a kind of apprenticeship of sorts.

Get yourself a job as a wedding photographers assistant, or a very closely supervised second shooter, both at this stage will probably be unpaid work. But get a good few weddings under you belt, before going it alone. This way you'll get to learn the ropes and find out what is really expected of you as the photographer on the big day.

It's not easy, it's long hours and can be pretty stressful at times, especially when your first starting out. Remember you can't just go back and do it again, so failure is not an option, you need to have back ups for all critical equipment i.e. cameras, lenses and flashes, that means at least two of each and possible three when it comes to camera bodies.

Also you need to get good insurance covering you for public liability, from being sued if it all goes wrong and your equipment being damaged or going missing.

Good luck, let us know how you get on with this.

Last edited by Kerrowdown; 03-20-2013 at 01:27 PM.

Bcrary3 · 03-20-2013, 01:26 PM

It isn't until July, so that would be a big help, but, I do have time to possibly play around with portraits in the mean time, but I don't know if that'll be enough experience. Maybe try to find a professional, and refer the person to the professional, and in extange, be a second shooter, or just tag along with the professional? Maybe that would work?

**MJL** · 03-20-2013, 01:32 PM

Agree with all of above. Wedding photography require good camera skill, fast response/thinking and good people skill. Because of Murphy's Laws, your equipment also need to be in top condition. It will take at least a few outings with a Pro to just get an idea what is is about.

**seventhdr** · 03-20-2013, 01:47 PM

Originally posted by Bcrary3

Okay, so, I don't really know where this should be posted, but... I am thinking about shooting a wedding from an ad I found online. Now, I have never really done any kind of portraiture before, and the client is on a budget, so I really have no experience in this area, and I do not know if I am going to have a second photographer or not,but I am really curious to know what I should include and for what price? Any help would be great! Thanks!

DON'T DO IT!!!!

Seriously. A wedding is a big day in peoples lives. If you don't already have the skills, practising in non-wedding situations is not likely to up skill you sufficiently.

If you really want to do weddings, then you need to start as a second shooter to the main photographer. Learn what needs to be done, learn the skills.

Regards

Chris

Bob from Aus · 03-20-2013, 02:28 PM

I developed my wedding skills first by taking photos at weddings I went to - dozens of weddings. I then I did a a large number of free weddings for couples who couldn't afford a photographer. Then I was cornered and couldn't say no to doing weddings for friends children. I am now starting to feel confident doing weddings, but only when I have my wife organising people and the compositions.

tclausen · 03-20-2013, 02:35 PM

Originally posted by Bob from Aus

I developed my wedding skills first by taking photos at weddings I went to - dozens of weddings. I then I did a a large number of free weddings for couples who couldn't afford a photographer. Then I was cornered and couldn't say no to doing weddings for friends children. I am now starting to feel confident doing weddings, but only when I have my wife organising people and the compositions.

That's the second-best advice in this thread.

The best advice is: don't do it. Brides have zero-tolerance for anything-but-perfection on their "special day" (disregarding that statistically they'll have 2 or more "special days"...but I digress), which is a huge stress to be under.

This, especially, if you expect to ever live on the same continent as a disappointed-with-her-wedding-photos-bride in the future.

Wedding photographers are, in my ranking of bravery, somewhere just below volunteer firefighters.....if you go through with it, at least make sure that your have a good life insurance so your survivors will be well taken care of.

joe.penn · 03-20-2013, 02:55 PM

Lol

You Tube

**MJL** · 03-20-2013, 02:59 PM

Originally posted by tclausen

That's the second-best advice in this thread.

Wedding photographers are, in my ranking of bravery, somewhere just below volunteer firefighters.....if you go through with it, at least make sure that your have a good life insurance so your survivors will be well taken care of.

Oh, I though firefighter outfits are just for Bachelorette or Stag parties.

tclausen · 03-20-2013, 03:05 PM

Originally posted by MJL

Oh, I though firefighter outfits are just for Bachelorette or Stag parties.

Possibly....I have never been invited to a bachelorette party, though ...

**Kerrowdown** · 03-20-2013, 06:00 PM

Originally posted by joe.penn

Judge Joe Brown - Cheap wedding photographer - YouTube

Originally posted by kerrowdown

Also you need to get good insurance covering you for public liability, from being sued if it all goes wrong and your equipment being damaged or going missing.

That's why I kinda mentioned this, as it seems to becoming more popular these days.

I'm aware of one famous wedding photographer, who is damned good, in fact about as good as it gets. Even he has felt the need to put in a clause in his contracts, that's signed by both parties prior to the wedding, along the lines that you can't sue him for more than that the contract value.

If your not prepared to do that, his words are "your not his bride".

DaveHolmes · 03-20-2013, 06:32 PM

Originally posted by blackcloudbrew

Don't do it. That would be the best help I could give. It's apt to end very badly.

Agree... Wholeheartedly...

But if you're determined...

Originally posted by Tom Woj

find someone who you can assist or be the 2nd shooter

This should be the only way you (with your stated experience) get into it... You (currently) have the potential to ruin some poor girls big day and I really, truly hope you can't live with that.

**JimJohnson** · 03-21-2013, 08:22 AM

I got cornered ONCE into shooting a wedding - my sister's 'no budget, at another friend's home' type wedding. Aside from the guy was (is) a jerk, I am glad she divorced because she no longer had any interest, or regrets, about her wedding album.

I still take photographs at weddings of course, but not with the responsibility of capturing the whole tone of the event. If my candid photos don't meet my minimum expectations, the newly wedded couple never sees them. Take the advice given above. Find an experienced wedding photographer that will mentor you - and just as importantly teach you how to do wedding photography as a BUSINESS.

03-20-2013, 12:44 PM	#1
Bcrary3 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Wisconsin Photos: Gallery Posts: 391	Wedding?! Okay, so, I don't really know where this should be posted, but... I am thinking about shooting a wedding from an ad I found online. Now, I have never really done any kind of portraiture before, and the client is on a budget, so I really have no experience in this area, and I do not know if I am going to have a second photographer or not,but I am really curious to know what I should include and for what price? Any help would be great! Thanks!

03-20-2013, 06:00 PM	#13
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,863	Originally posted by joe.penn Judge Joe Brown - Cheap wedding photographer - YouTube Originally posted by kerrowdown Also you need to get good insurance covering you for public liability, from being sued if it all goes wrong and your equipment being damaged or going missing. That's why I kinda mentioned this, as it seems to becoming more popular these days. I'm aware of one famous wedding photographer, who is damned good, in fact about as good as it gets. Even he has felt the need to put in a clause in his contracts, that's signed by both parties prior to the wedding, along the lines that you can't sue him for more than that the contract value. If your not prepared to do that, his words are "your not his bride". Last edited by Kerrowdown; 03-21-2013 at 05:06 AM.

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03-20-2013, 01:01 PM	#2
blackcloudbrew Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Cotati, California USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,461	Don't do it. That would be the best help I could give. It's apt to end very badly.

03-20-2013, 01:07 PM	#3
Tom Woj Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Stafford, UK Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 163	Leave it. If you've never done portraits/groups shots/delivered this kind of stuff I honestly wouldn't bother. Weather they're on a budget or not, they'll expect more and more, and the whole thing becomes a headache - not only no the day, but also when editing. More stress than it's worth. If you want to shoot weddings, find someone who you can assist or be the 2nd shooter - learn from them, and then you'll be able to decide if you want to do one on your own.

03-20-2013, 01:20 PM	#4
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,863	Originally posted by blackcloudbrew Don't do it I'm afraid in agreement with blackcloudbrew on this, if you wish to go down this route, you need to serve a kind of apprenticeship of sorts. Get yourself a job as a wedding photographers assistant, or a very closely supervised second shooter, both at this stage will probably be unpaid work. But get a good few weddings under you belt, before going it alone. This way you'll get to learn the ropes and find out what is really expected of you as the photographer on the big day. It's not easy, it's long hours and can be pretty stressful at times, especially when your first starting out. Remember you can't just go back and do it again, so failure is not an option, you need to have back ups for all critical equipment i.e. cameras, lenses and flashes, that means at least two of each and possible three when it comes to camera bodies. Also you need to get good insurance covering you for public liability, from being sued if it all goes wrong and your equipment being damaged or going missing. Good luck, let us know how you get on with this. Last edited by Kerrowdown; 03-20-2013 at 01:27 PM.

03-20-2013, 01:26 PM	#5
Bcrary3 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Wisconsin Photos: Gallery Posts: 391 Original Poster	It isn't until July, so that would be a big help, but, I do have time to possibly play around with portraits in the mean time, but I don't know if that'll be enough experience. Maybe try to find a professional, and refer the person to the professional, and in extange, be a second shooter, or just tag along with the professional? Maybe that would work?

03-20-2013, 01:32 PM	#6
MJL Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: The Canadian WetCoast Photos: Albums Posts: 384	Agree with all of above. Wedding photography require good camera skill, fast response/thinking and good people skill. Because of Murphy's Laws, your equipment also need to be in top condition. It will take at least a few outings with a Pro to just get an idea what is is about.

03-20-2013, 01:47 PM	#7
seventhdr Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Christchurch, New Zealand Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,452	Originally posted by Bcrary3 Okay, so, I don't really know where this should be posted, but... I am thinking about shooting a wedding from an ad I found online. Now, I have never really done any kind of portraiture before, and the client is on a budget, so I really have no experience in this area, and I do not know if I am going to have a second photographer or not,but I am really curious to know what I should include and for what price? Any help would be great! Thanks! DON'T DO IT!!!! Seriously. A wedding is a big day in peoples lives. If you don't already have the skills, practising in non-wedding situations is not likely to up skill you sufficiently. If you really want to do weddings, then you need to start as a second shooter to the main photographer. Learn what needs to be done, learn the skills. Regards Chris

03-20-2013, 02:28 PM	#8
Bob from Aus Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,094	I developed my wedding skills first by taking photos at weddings I went to - dozens of weddings. I then I did a a large number of free weddings for couples who couldn't afford a photographer. Then I was cornered and couldn't say no to doing weddings for friends children. I am now starting to feel confident doing weddings, but only when I have my wife organising people and the compositions.

03-20-2013, 02:35 PM	#9
tclausen Veteran Member Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 1,397	Originally posted by Bob from Aus I developed my wedding skills first by taking photos at weddings I went to - dozens of weddings. I then I did a a large number of free weddings for couples who couldn't afford a photographer. Then I was cornered and couldn't say no to doing weddings for friends children. I am now starting to feel confident doing weddings, but only when I have my wife organising people and the compositions. That's the second-best advice in this thread. The best advice is: don't do it. Brides have zero-tolerance for anything-but-perfection on their "special day" (disregarding that statistically they'll have 2 or more "special days"...but I digress), which is a huge stress to be under. This, especially, if you expect to ever live on the same continent as a disappointed-with-her-wedding-photos-bride in the future. Wedding photographers are, in my ranking of bravery, somewhere just below volunteer firefighters.....if you go through with it, at least make sure that your have a good life insurance so your survivors will be well taken care of.

03-20-2013, 02:59 PM	#11
MJL Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: The Canadian WetCoast Photos: Albums Posts: 384	Originally posted by tclausen That's the second-best advice in this thread. Wedding photographers are, in my ranking of bravery, somewhere just below volunteer firefighters.....if you go through with it, at least make sure that your have a good life insurance so your survivors will be well taken care of. Oh, I though firefighter outfits are just for Bachelorette or Stag parties.

03-20-2013, 03:05 PM	#12
tclausen Veteran Member Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 1,397	Originally posted by MJL Oh, I though firefighter outfits are just for Bachelorette or Stag parties. Possibly....I have never been invited to a bachelorette party, though ...

03-20-2013, 06:32 PM	#14
DaveHolmes Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 1,501	Originally posted by blackcloudbrew Don't do it. That would be the best help I could give. It's apt to end very badly. Agree... Wholeheartedly... But if you're determined... Originally posted by Tom Woj find someone who you can assist or be the 2nd shooter This should be the only way you (with your stated experience) get into it... You (currently) have the potential to ruin some poor girls big day and I really, truly hope you can't live with that.

03-21-2013, 08:22 AM	#15
JimJohnson Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Summer:Lake Superior - Michigan Winter:Texas Hill Country Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,774	I got cornered ONCE into shooting a wedding - my sister's 'no budget, at another friend's home' type wedding. Aside from the guy was (is) a jerk, I am glad she divorced because she no longer had any interest, or regrets, about her wedding album. I still take photographs at weddings of course, but not with the responsibility of capturing the whole tone of the event. If my candid photos don't meet my minimum expectations, the newly wedded couple never sees them. Take the advice given above. Find an experienced wedding photographer that will mentor you - and just as importantly teach you how to do wedding photography as a BUSINESS.