Options
I'm shooting a Wedding Advice please
Hi,
I know in a previous post all of you were trying to talk me out of photographing weddings, and you did.... Well until I got a call today asking if I would be interested in shooting a wedding.
Its at a Holiday inn in June, I dont have many details right now but.. What should I expect, and how should i go about setting this up. The woman i talked to on the phone earlier says she cant afford a "Professional Photographer" and I use that term loosely, because I consider myself fairly good... Good enough to get her what she wants, and then some.
She is going to pay me, She doesnt want an album or anything all she says is "I want to just take the photos to Cvs and print them"
How much should I charge her for my time, and services? I'd be there working from 11-5pm
Any suggestions? Any key things that I'm missing?
Thanks for any help you can provide me with.
I know in a previous post all of you were trying to talk me out of photographing weddings, and you did.... Well until I got a call today asking if I would be interested in shooting a wedding.
Its at a Holiday inn in June, I dont have many details right now but.. What should I expect, and how should i go about setting this up. The woman i talked to on the phone earlier says she cant afford a "Professional Photographer" and I use that term loosely, because I consider myself fairly good... Good enough to get her what she wants, and then some.
She is going to pay me, She doesnt want an album or anything all she says is "I want to just take the photos to Cvs and print them"
How much should I charge her for my time, and services? I'd be there working from 11-5pm
Any suggestions? Any key things that I'm missing?
Thanks for any help you can provide me with.
Nikon D3000
Nikkor 18-55mm Kit Lens
Nikkor 55-200mm VR Lens
Nikkor 18-105mm VR Lens
Nikkor 70-300mm VR Lens
Nikon SB-600 speedlight
Nikon EM Film SLR
50mm Lens
85mm Lens
Canon Powershot SX100IS
Nikkor 18-55mm Kit Lens
Nikkor 55-200mm VR Lens
Nikkor 18-105mm VR Lens
Nikkor 70-300mm VR Lens
Nikon SB-600 speedlight
Nikon EM Film SLR
50mm Lens
85mm Lens
Canon Powershot SX100IS
0
This discussion has been closed.
Comments
http://weddings.about.com/od/photographer/a/Photogchecklist.htm
Smugger for life!
Most Popular Photos
btw do you have flash? do you have a back up body? do you have editing SW?
14-24 24-70 70-200mm (vr2)
85 and 50 1.4
45 PC and sb910 x2
http://www.danielkimphotography.com
I have Flash, Im using a Nikon D40X, but unfortunatly do not have a back up SLR so My back up is my powershot... Which ive had fantastic luck with...
And yes I have editing software. Adobe CS4
I am not a beginner at photography, but this is the first Wedding I will be photographing. $500 sounds like a reasonable price, but is there anything I need to know towards the business end of things?
Nikkor 18-55mm Kit Lens
Nikkor 55-200mm VR Lens
Nikkor 18-105mm VR Lens
Nikkor 70-300mm VR Lens
Nikon SB-600 speedlight
Nikon EM Film SLR
50mm Lens
85mm Lens
Canon Powershot SX100IS
www.tednghiem.com
ok so any suggestions of what should be in the contract?
And again thank you to all of you that have responded.
Nikkor 18-55mm Kit Lens
Nikkor 55-200mm VR Lens
Nikkor 18-105mm VR Lens
Nikkor 70-300mm VR Lens
Nikon SB-600 speedlight
Nikon EM Film SLR
50mm Lens
85mm Lens
Canon Powershot SX100IS
I would take some time to read posts that are in the Sticky section of this forum, and then bring specific questions back here. People have taken the time to gather this information for your benefit
Best post to start:
http://www.dgrin.com/showpost.php?p=745166&postcount=1
And the Sticky of Wedding photography Resources: http://www.dgrin.com/showpost.php?p=745166&postcount=1
50mm 1.4, 85mm 1.8, 24-70 2.8L, 35mm 1.4L, 135mm f2L
ST-E2 Transmitter + (3) 580 EXII + radio poppers
Caroline
- Photographing a wedding is not about luck. There is no luck. You can't rely on luck. You have to KNOW what you are doing, what to expect, be prepared for the expected, and KNOW HOW TO HANDLE THE UNEXPECTED!. That all comes with experience.
- Your powershot is not a backup camera. It MIGHT qualify as a 3rd or 4th stringer. Your D40 MIGHT qualify as a backup camera but that camera is soooo limited in so many ways.
- Contracts - first, IANAL, but you can find all sorts of contracts on the web. Take bits and pieces and cobble something together that makes you happy. Then, pay the bucks and take that to a real lawyer for his/her opinion and advice. When/if something goes wrong (thankfully, I've not had this happen ... yet
), it is critical that your contract be worded correctly and cover all the bases. Do not work any wedding without a contract! A contract does more than protect you from your client. It protects your client from you. But, it's most important purpose (to my mind at least) is as a tool to concretely, clearly, and unambigiously communicate your expectations (of the client) and your responsibilities to your client. It helps to avoid the, "Well, I thought you were going to do ....." discussions.
- "I just want to take the photos to CVS and print them...." Sounds to me like your potential client really doesn't place much value on the photos. Experience has shown this to be one of indicators of a problem waiting to happen. Just be prepared.
- Get insurance! Not just for your equipment but for liability and for "errors and omissions". I'm not going to tell you much about this, do some research. Google is your friend.
- As recommended by urbanaries - read the stickies at the top of the forum. There is huge amount of excellent information there. I've even contributed a bit - see the link in my signature.
- As for payment .... $500 might be a reasonable fee if you had 2 or 3 (or more) such events already in your portfolio. You are expecting payment while, at the same time, using the client's most important day as a learning experience, a workshop. Hmmmmm
I really do wish you every success in this endevor, but I fear you are not adequately preparedMy Photos
Thoughts on photographing a wedding, How to post a picture, AF Microadjustments?, Light Scoop
Equipment List - Check my profile
Its all I have right now. ok.
Nikkor 18-55mm Kit Lens
Nikkor 55-200mm VR Lens
Nikkor 18-105mm VR Lens
Nikkor 70-300mm VR Lens
Nikon SB-600 speedlight
Nikon EM Film SLR
50mm Lens
85mm Lens
Canon Powershot SX100IS
I photographed a Wedding Reception last year... They had gotten Married in Key West Florida but had the reception back home for friends and family. The images came out great using the D40X
I know this isnt the Ideal Camera, but I have to use it. I amd good with dealing with the unexpected It What I do.
i will have to look into making a contract, because that seems to be one thing thats unanimous with all of you.
Oh and im sorry if It came across that I rely on luck, in actuallity I know What I am doing behind a camera, luck is only a little part of it for me.
but if anyone has any suggestions on what I should do please dont hesitate.
Nikkor 18-55mm Kit Lens
Nikkor 55-200mm VR Lens
Nikkor 18-105mm VR Lens
Nikkor 70-300mm VR Lens
Nikon SB-600 speedlight
Nikon EM Film SLR
50mm Lens
85mm Lens
Canon Powershot SX100IS
Don't worry. I can fix you in photoshop.
The client told me she "Wanted to print them at cvs"
I am going to talk her out of that, because I do not want them printed there.
Now I have to ask.... I love my D40X and think its a fantastic camera.....
Why is everyone telling me its not a good camera?
Nikkor 18-55mm Kit Lens
Nikkor 55-200mm VR Lens
Nikkor 18-105mm VR Lens
Nikkor 70-300mm VR Lens
Nikon SB-600 speedlight
Nikon EM Film SLR
50mm Lens
85mm Lens
Canon Powershot SX100IS
Well true, but you don't have to have the cream of the crop cameras for it either, though having higher-end cameras does help a lot.
If you are really inclined to do this, rent. I remember seeing that you are not 18, I could be wrong and if I am, I am sorry. Which leads to 2 things, ask your folks if you can rent better gear and read up on the age requirements for working in your state.
www.tednghiem.com
You use Nikon - stick with that, but rent a body and a couple of lenses of a more professional grade. I know Nikon has a couple of low-light/high-ISO monsters that are about as good as anything around. Do some research to find the candidates. Also, rent a couple of professional-grade, Nikon contstant aperture f/2.8 zooms and a good flash. Rent for the week before the wedding so you have time to practice with it and get used to how it works. Do this and you will be set - the rental equipment will by your primary, your D40X will by your back-up.
In an effort to increase your chances of success - you might find it beneficial to start a new thread to get some comment/critique on some of the good and not so good photos from the reception you mention having photographed. Do you have a gallery to which you can point? Failing that, you may want to just attach a couple or three in the new thread. Just a thought.
My Photos
Thoughts on photographing a wedding, How to post a picture, AF Microadjustments?, Light Scoop
Equipment List - Check my profile
A former sports shooter
Follow me at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/bjurasz/
My Etsy store: https://www.etsy.com/shop/mercphoto?ref=hdr_shop_menu
As it got darker outside my pictures got darker and I could not figure out how to do anything about it. I just kept shooting and hoped for the best(I did not have the experience/knowledge to figure out and fix the problem)..but my stomach was in my shoes. Well thank god for Raw I was able to salvage them to some extent but they were so grainy..I felt so bad about it. I owe that wedding to where I am today (wherever that is) because it motivated me to improve so that would never happen to me again.
My third paid wedding....I was seconds away from the bride coming down the aisle and my camera just stopped working...I tried all the usual things and could not get it going...the grand parents were coming down the aisle...I RAN to my truck and got my back up camera, I RAN back to the church (luckily my backup camera was all set to go), got back into position the very instant the bride started coming down the aisle. Saved the day.
When I got back out and checked out my main camera..the problem was that the lens had come unclicked from the body, I did not have the experience/knowledge at that time to figure it out quickly.
My very next paid wedding I was using rechargeable batteries in my flash and they overheated and my flash stopped working (I had no idea at the time why my flash stopped working I did not have the knowledge/experience at the time to figure it out)...again I ran to my truck for the backup just in time to catch the bridal party coming down the aisle.
These are true gut wrenching experiences from my first few weddings...there are more experiences I could relate but you get the idea...you can hope for the best....but reality will bite you if you are not prepared.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/21695902@N06/
http://500px.com/Shockey
alloutdoor.smugmug.com
http://aoboudoirboise.smugmug.com/
You have to start someplace do you not?
you cant honestly tell me that you started your career with the camera you currently are using now can you?
Nikkor 18-55mm Kit Lens
Nikkor 55-200mm VR Lens
Nikkor 18-105mm VR Lens
Nikkor 70-300mm VR Lens
Nikon SB-600 speedlight
Nikon EM Film SLR
50mm Lens
85mm Lens
Canon Powershot SX100IS
My Photos
Thoughts on photographing a wedding, How to post a picture, AF Microadjustments?, Light Scoop
Equipment List - Check my profile
i will look into rental feels... I am at least looking at renting a Flash, and possible a Wide Angle lens
I plan on sticking with Nikon, I have access to using a Nikon D60, but I have a feeling you all will tell me that that isnt good enough either.
Which Camera would you think I should Rent.
I just got a new job, and am planning on buyin a D300 in the next few months, but do not know if that will be before the wedding in June or not....
Any suggestions on cameras, while sticking with Nikon? I want to be able to use the same lens that I have for the D40X if all possible
Nikkor 18-55mm Kit Lens
Nikkor 55-200mm VR Lens
Nikkor 18-105mm VR Lens
Nikkor 70-300mm VR Lens
Nikon SB-600 speedlight
Nikon EM Film SLR
50mm Lens
85mm Lens
Canon Powershot SX100IS
I've shot w/ the D200 and D300s that I've rented for weddings. I prolly should have upgraded awhile ago, I outgrew the D200 at least a year ago, when I started weddings. I can get away with a D200 because of lenses and abilities with flash. I'm not the best by far, but I'm capable with my abilities and equipment.
Now, I'm going D300/D700/D3 by the end of the summer.
D300 minimum.
D300 / D700 / D3 in order of good better best. Honestly, you don't have quality glass.. So I would get the minimum D300, and some good glass. 2.8 or faster.
Don't rent a wide angel for a wedding.
I'm still saying pass on this.
My Photos
Thoughts on photographing a wedding, How to post a picture, AF Microadjustments?, Light Scoop
Equipment List - Check my profile
It's on the same level, and not the wedding level.
I used a 16-35 mk II to shoot a wedding along with my 50mm. And loved it. I hardly ever took out my 24-70. It's really how you use it and think what can it do for how you want to cover the wedding.
www.tednghiem.com