bmattock
Veteran
When I was doing wedding photography, my wife was the 'Boss' of the shoot. She could get Bridezilla to behave, she could force new inlaws who just discovered they hate each other to stand together while I took the photo, she could get homophobic groomsmen to stand close enough together to get them all in the shot ("I said make the man in front of you smile!") and she could do it all with a smile and a gentle voice. When I tried it, I was ready to come unglued. Bridezilla gives me a shot list and then refuses to stand where she said she wanted to be photographed, decides she wants her dad and her step dad in the same photo and they both are half tanked and hate each other, etc, etc. No, I let me wife run the show, I just took the photos. Worked great.
But yes, very very hard work.
robklurfield
eclipse
I can get away this, because no one paid me. I can't imagine doing this any other way. Hats off those of you who earn part of your living at this.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/37531245@N08/sets/72157622118949270/
monochromejrnl
Well-known
Hey Dave - was that wedding the one you shot with Brian or another that you shot on your own? I saw some of Brian's photos and they looked great. A friend and his partner are planning to get married next year and are looking for a photog (they are on a budget) and thought of Brian but his rates might be a bit high for them.
Not sure if you shoot solo, but if you do, let me know what your rates are and I'll pass it along to my friend.
Not sure if you shoot solo, but if you do, let me know what your rates are and I'll pass it along to my friend.
Sometimes I DO "give it away" - not as a duty to the state eh (The People's Republic Of Canada) but because a couple wants wonderful photos and they're tight on cash (not because they give me a wonderfully crafted yarn about how hard it is for them but because I actually know they're struggling) .
Anywho... I enjoy doing it - there are good things and bad things about it but that's the way just about any job is... good & bad... but in the end.. the good outweighs the bad and, luckily for me, the couples are happy with their images and I don't get sued
Good Day eh !!
Dave
dcsang
Canadian & Not A Dentist
Ken, I did shoot those images of Rex & Brian for Mr Tao
It was really cool and I would love to do it again.
I'll fire you my rates - just fire me your email and I can fire one back to you with the rates.
Cheers,
Dave
MPerson
Established
I know my limitations! I hired a pro for my daughters wedding and I had a fun day lurking with the MP and got some great informal shots of the activities.
The Times also gave more grisly details of this wedding story.
Strange - the web site of the photographer in question is unavailable!
Fresh Images
The Times also gave more grisly details of this wedding story.
Strange - the web site of the photographer in question is unavailable!
Fresh Images
Al Kaplan
Veteran
The Times article seems unavailable also!
Frank Petronio
Well-known
I don't shoot weddings on purpose but if someone waves the right money in my face I will. The secret for me -- I'm a sweater -- is to dress light, like a waiter, no tie, staying cool is the primary goal here -- with a couple shirts and small hand towels in reserve. I stash a gear bag in the corner and just shoot one camera at a time, and I pause and check everything right before the important moments. I move around a lot, squat and pop up, etc. and shoot as high an ISO and as wide a lens as possible. Sometimes I put a towel around my neck like I'm back in the Nam (jk). And I try to shoot less than anybody because editing the real bitch. It's an athletic event.
The other thing I love to do is to piss off the priest or whomever since I know I will never shoot at the same place twice. Right at the peak point, step up and get close and get the shots. F-em!!!
My friend is a conventional wedding shooter -- Canons, long zooms, all that junk -- edits 3000 pictures in Lightroom and uses a post processing service -- he does generic suburban crap. And it sure is!
Keep lubricated with light beer, shoot loose, and have fun! There are such great shots to get during the reception. Watching a hot bride getting dressed is fun too.
Finally, don't shoot an ugly bride and groom. That is hell. Good looking people make the difference, shallow and superficial as that sounds -- it is true.
My favorite wedding was Lesbians having a Native American ceremoney, we all got nakeed and did a sweat in one of those portable sweat lodges. Hilarious strange photos. Stinky hippies. Peace Pipes. Fun ;-)
Really, don't worry so much and have fun, it will show in the pix.
The other thing I love to do is to piss off the priest or whomever since I know I will never shoot at the same place twice. Right at the peak point, step up and get close and get the shots. F-em!!!
My friend is a conventional wedding shooter -- Canons, long zooms, all that junk -- edits 3000 pictures in Lightroom and uses a post processing service -- he does generic suburban crap. And it sure is!
Keep lubricated with light beer, shoot loose, and have fun! There are such great shots to get during the reception. Watching a hot bride getting dressed is fun too.
Finally, don't shoot an ugly bride and groom. That is hell. Good looking people make the difference, shallow and superficial as that sounds -- it is true.
My favorite wedding was Lesbians having a Native American ceremoney, we all got nakeed and did a sweat in one of those portable sweat lodges. Hilarious strange photos. Stinky hippies. Peace Pipes. Fun ;-)
Really, don't worry so much and have fun, it will show in the pix.
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Trius
Waiting on Maitani
Ronald M
Veteran
Easy as pie.
To do a first class pro job, more skills than you can imagine are required.
Start as a second assistent.
To do a first class pro job, more skills than you can imagine are required.
Start as a second assistent.
JohnTF
Veteran
According to the Times article, IMO, the guy got off very light, did not even refund the whole tab.
The bride seemed to know exactly what she wanted, it must have been an interesting day for her. The contract must have been interesting as well.
I have heard of getting the main characters in costume back together for some formals at a later date after some unforeseen catastrophe.
You would think a guy off the street would have done better.
There are certain organizational skills, you need to talk to the food people and the music people, and know what is going on and coordinate.
You also learn to ask people to do things with some signals, in a way that can be photographed, and not to run down the aisle or look at your feet, otherwise they need to be reposed. There are perhaps a hundred small things that you need attend to.
Hopefully the surprises that occur are pleasant or funny, perhaps photogenic.
If you are a competent photographer, but have not attended many weddings as a photographer, you might get by, but you should not be charging, or taking responsibility for the shots that are going over the mantle or in the book. You don't get paid to "get by".
If you do it right, you do not need to shoot 1000 images, but some do.
Bizarre that this guy would hook up with what seems to be an otherwise well organized event.
John
The bride seemed to know exactly what she wanted, it must have been an interesting day for her. The contract must have been interesting as well.
I have heard of getting the main characters in costume back together for some formals at a later date after some unforeseen catastrophe.
You would think a guy off the street would have done better.
There are certain organizational skills, you need to talk to the food people and the music people, and know what is going on and coordinate.
You also learn to ask people to do things with some signals, in a way that can be photographed, and not to run down the aisle or look at your feet, otherwise they need to be reposed. There are perhaps a hundred small things that you need attend to.
Hopefully the surprises that occur are pleasant or funny, perhaps photogenic.
If you are a competent photographer, but have not attended many weddings as a photographer, you might get by, but you should not be charging, or taking responsibility for the shots that are going over the mantle or in the book. You don't get paid to "get by".
If you do it right, you do not need to shoot 1000 images, but some do.
Bizarre that this guy would hook up with what seems to be an otherwise well organized event.
John
Zoeica
Well-known
Thanks for that!
It IS a ton of work, but I do love my job and wouldn't want anything else! The best response I can get is "wow, I had no idea just how much you captured during the day, I never saw you!"
Yes, many many people get into wedding photographer cause they think it's quick $$$. Buying a 5d or D3 does not make you a wedding photographer. And sadly there are plenty of websites and other photographers that make it seem like it's glamorous so they can sell you snakeoil.
simonankor
Registered Addict
I just shot one of these the other day, it was well more laid-back than any straight wedding I've ever done. It was located in a cinema, shot with a 50D, 17-40/4 and 430EXII. Results are okay - but I wish I'd had my IIIa and some pushed Tri-X.
The light in there was baaad though.
Al Kaplan
Veteran
I think that I'd prefer to shoot B&W myself, but I find that shooting at least some traditional posed shots in color at a wedding helps to make everybody happy.
Ronald M
Veteran
It is easy to photograph a wedding. Getting pics that people will want to keep and be proud of takes lots of many skills.
bo_lorentzen
Established
Having shot roughly 40 weeding a year for several years... I can comfortably say weddings are hard work.
The wedding industry though is riddled with more posers and wanabees with big cameras and fine words, than probably any other industry. I think those are the ones with real possible problems. The rest of us just need to do what we do, and consistently deliver reasonable good pictures again and again. focused, clear, pretty well exposed etc.
The problem here is not working photographers, but gass station attendants with a slick DSLR who think they are photographers, and who have the nerve to go charge people (money transfer implies a contract obligation by the way) to do a particular job which they often is simply not qualified to do.
Wedding photography is the multi sport of photography,
portraiture in the morning,
product (rings)
Food cake etc
architecture
groups,
candid
posed
party
oh and action sports, watch out for desperate brides maids in high heels backing up at the bouquet toss.
The wedding industry though is riddled with more posers and wanabees with big cameras and fine words, than probably any other industry. I think those are the ones with real possible problems. The rest of us just need to do what we do, and consistently deliver reasonable good pictures again and again. focused, clear, pretty well exposed etc.
The problem here is not working photographers, but gass station attendants with a slick DSLR who think they are photographers, and who have the nerve to go charge people (money transfer implies a contract obligation by the way) to do a particular job which they often is simply not qualified to do.
Wedding photography is the multi sport of photography,
portraiture in the morning,
product (rings)
Food cake etc
architecture
groups,
candid
posed
party
oh and action sports, watch out for desperate brides maids in high heels backing up at the bouquet toss.