Wedding Photography Adviece

[Creagerj]

I could use some advice on doing wedding photography. I want to start doing some wedding photography in my local area. I've never shot a wedding and I'm not looking to makea large amount of money. This is mostly for experiance and reputation. How much do wedding photographers usually charge (high, middle and, low range)? What are some things that I should know? Any helpful advice is welcome.

Thank you for all of your advice but before you give me more there are a couple of things I would like you to keep in mind.

Yes I do understand that weddings are one time deals. It is stressful. Mothers are stressed. Its hard work, and its a long day.

No telling me not to go there is not advice. I know you mean well but thats isn't that helpful unless you can explain why not to go there.

This is just an idea I've been turning over in my head for a while.

No I don't want to undercut the pros.

 

[kully]

I'd start by doing them alongside a paid photographer (for free?) to learn the ropes.

Personally, I'd be too scared to mess something up on someone's big day 🙂

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

Don't go there.

 

[Creagerj]

I would do it for free but I can't afford that. I still have to pay for film and developing, I can't exactly afford to just go do that for the experiance all of the time. So even if I'm going along with a pro, I have to charge something. I'm pretty confident about not screwing anything up. And I won't be shooting with my keiv or any rangefinder for that matter. I have reliable gear (nikon f3 kit). I'm not planning on taking the formal pictures.

Jon, why not go there?

 

[lubitel]

If I wasnt sure how to shoot a wedding (and I am not), I wouldn't do it. That has got to be one of the toughest things to shoot (besides being a war photographer). You have to know exactly where to be and at what time, so you can take the photos that the couple expects or wants. You have to deal with tough lighting conditions (like the church) where you may or may not be able to do flash photography at all. I wouldnt want to go there either, without learning from an experienced photographer first.

 

[IGMeanwell]

I just did my first wedding 2 weeks ago ... boy was it nerve racking

It helped that I knew the couple and they were completely comfortable with my work; but if you don't have an exact plan and have the ability to set time aside for portraits... your screwed

rain kind of disrupted my agenda for portraits and then I had to fight for the wedding parties' attention between the ceremony and reception; they only gave me 30 minutes 🙁 (I still got all the major poses)

Now I did mostly digital (had two other film cameras with me) , I used all fast prime lenses (good for the situation but zooms can be better) ... used no flash (shot at ISO 1600 and 800) and was about 90% successful with the shots I wanted.

Have your backup equipment ready at all times, extra batteries, extra film, extra camera bodies, and lighting equipment(flash or a reflector)!!!!

Make sure you find out the style they prefer; my bride didn't have any preference (I shot street/journalistic style, with formals of course) .. however she did have one shot she wanted me to replicate from a wedding magazine (a sillouette shot) ... I was able to get it exactly how she imagined (two of them kissing under an archway)

As far as price; I did it for free (they have to pay for printing)... but since you are new I would say 75/hour would be fair or cheaper if you can spare it... many local experienced weddingphotographers are between 100 and 150 per hour.

 

[Creagerj]

actually I was thinking more along the lines of $10/hr to be present at the cerimony plus a $100-$200 retainer fee. I have plans to line a wedding or two up free of charge (besides materials) to develope my portfolio and to practice (and to see if I like it of course).

 

[Kevin]

I would also recommend you assist a pro for your first few weddings.

Learning by doing only works here with the help of a mentor.

If you try to gain experience by going solo you are risking someone else's very special (and expensive) day.

Not a very good idea!

 

[Dfin]

Dear Joe, You have chosen one of the toughest branches of photography. I did weddings for 15 Years!!! Back breaking ( `blad 2 nikons plus lenses, 3flash guns ect,ect) long 16 hour days/nights,travel all over the countyside,MOTHER INLAW FACTOR. Look if you are determined, have good people skills and can think on the run you should do well. I started as a stringer for a local Wedding Photographer doing 6-8hr. weddings assisting the main photographer. This taught me a lot, the studio style,how to handle the bride, groom and pushy guests not forgeting the Mother Inlaw. I started off using Nikkormats & 645 Bronicas. Both excellent wedding cameras, & ended up shooting with a 500cm Hassleblad & F90x even better. With the F90x I used a SB26 & with the `blad I used a Metz CT60/4, instant sunlight,.The only time I used my leica M4P, I stuffed up!! Not good, Keep It Simple, you`ll be on the GO all day, use a tripod for all your formals, use reflectors where possible instead of flash. An 85mm F/1.8 for head&shoulder portraits with your 35mm or 150mm with M/F,a 24mm / 50mm for interiors & big groups. Try and work quickly with out being pushy, don`t tolerate happy snapper guests, be polite but firm ,This is Your Gig!! Set your pricing low to start and as you grain experiance gradualy increase your prices. GET PAYED, take a substantial deposit!!!, I have photographed weddings, and the marriage has lasted 6 months or less!!!! Good Luck, Alan.

 

[kully]

Hallo Dfin, what's a 'happy snapper guest'?

 

[dmr]

There are a number of wedding photographers (amateur and professional) on www.photography-forum.org (I've been lurking there lately) and I'm sure they will be willing to give you some pointers.

That forum is primarily UK based, but there are Statesiders there too.

The wedding photogs seem to be primarily "d-word" people, and they do seem to be following some of the oh-so-trendy things like selective color. HDR, and the like. 🙂

Hope this helps. 🙂

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

She may like RF style photos but her sister and her cousin... Keep out.

 

[BrianShaw]

With the questions you have, it seems like you are still in the initial inforamtion gathering phase. Go to a wedding dress store and ask where/when the next wedding show will be. Then go to the show and look at what wedding photographers are selling in your area. That will give a good idea of the styles people are interested in and all of the pricing information. Maybe you'll meet a pro with a style similar to yours that will be willing to let you assist to build your portfolio/experience. In my experience, cost isn't everything to most brides so low-bidding shouldn't be your #1 sales pitch. You need to have a refined package (or set of packages) to sell and the ability to produce the final product in a reasonable amount of time. More than that, you need to be able to gain the confidence of your customer -- they must feel assured that they will be getting what they want on the first shoot! I haven't met too many brides that just want "snaps" so if your not ready for the formals, you might not be ready for wedding photography. Also, I have great respect for F-3 (my 35mm mainstay also) but what about other equipment... do you have back-up camera(s); do you have adequate flash equipment and experience also?

 

[IGMeanwell]

Hallo Dfin, what's a 'happy snapper guest'?

Exactly what I had to deal with in my first experience ... they're people who follow you around to get the same type of shots as you and ultimately fire their flash as you are taking your shot and subsequently ruining at least one of your frames

also they tend to try and get peoples attention in order to look at their camera as opposed to your's

The groom had this one aunt who happened to be a retired wedding photographer ... she was following me around asking me all these questions about my experience and if I was "up to the task"

Now she was initially offered to shoot the wedding and she turned it down... I was asked to do the photography instead even though I had two weddings that day (one was my best friends) ... so I had to duck out of one ceremony and rush back to photograph the next wedding

But I kept my cool and did my job ... even though I was completely stressed out and a mess by the end of the reception

 

[dcsang]

Oh man...

I don't know where to begin on this one. I hope that T_om will chime in and maybe Shutterflower too.. we're all part of a wedding photography forum and, while it's good to have folks offering different styles/services/price points - I know I don't want you to do something that is going to put you or any of your potential clients in an awkward position.

Kully's suggestion is great - find a local photographer and assist first.

The "doing it for free" is good if you're just starting out but be aware that there is a LOT of work involved with this. Many people seem to think it's "oh, I'll just shoot the wedding on the Saturday and then drop the film off and I'm done"

WRONG

There's follow up with the customer, there's getting the prints back from the lab, there's ensuring that the client is happy with the photos, there's potential for album design, and then, of course, there's potential for clients blowing up at you because you missed (or miscalculated) the "important" shots to them - because a wedding is a ONE TIME (you'd hope 😀) event.

Please please please please please... find a local pro and assist first before jumping into the shallow lake without looking.

If you have specific questions though, I know I'd be happy to help.

Cheers,
Dave

 

[T_om]

I could use some advice on doing wedding photography. I want to start doing some wedding photography in my local area. I've never shot a wedding and I'm not looking to makea large amount of money. This is mostly for experiance and reputation. The idea is that I charge less than other more experianced photographers. How much do wedding photographers usually charge (high, middle and, low range)? What are some things that I should know? Any helpful advice is welcome.

"The idea is that I charge less than other more experianced photographers. "

Now THAT is really going to endear you to the local pros. 🙄

But everyone has to start somewhere. So here is the best advice I can give you.

1. Go here and get a membership: http://www.digitalweddingforum.com

That is the number one professional wedding photography gathering site on the net. The signal to noise ratio is the best you will find. Period.

A subscription there is an education in itself and the cost is trivial. This is not to say there are not other sites with good info, but the DWF puts them ALL in the shade. And puffed up egos are taken care of pretty quickly there. 🙂 Your peers on that forum are some of the best in the industry. Want to see Parker Pfister submit photos FOR CRITIQUE? Go there. You can tell Parker what he did wrong. 😉

Brooks Whittington, Huy, Becker, Becksted, the Boutwells, they're there too. Along with Jeff Ascough (every day), Denis Reggie (seldom), Bambi Cantrell, Paul Gero, Yervant (seldom), and a BUNCH of other top talent. David Chang-Sang (of this forum) is also a member there and can verify what I said about that forum.

2. Ditch film. Film is pretty much gone from the scene and NO top wedding shooters use film any longer except in 'boutique' circumstances. A photographer I much admire, Joe Brussink, still uses Tri-X BUT he has one and sometime two OTHER photographers shooting with him, all digital, all color. He has a niche, and very upscale, market. As a matter of fact, Joe labels HIMSELF (tongue in cheek) as a "Second Shooter". 🙂 He gets the art shots, his other photographers gets the bread and butter stuff.

Even Jeff Ascough, another very talented photographer who shot film (with Leicas) changed to Canon digital some time ago.

3. The advice you got to second-shoot with a pro is good advice. Even if you get the chance to go along to carry equipment, do it every chance you get until you have a grip on how wedding photography has to flow during the day. And no, it ain't like you probably are thinking now. 🙂

4. Don't even THINK about showing up at a wedding without at least three of everything. Three cameras, three strobes, etc. There are no second chances with most wedding shots. When I shot film, I had 5 Nikons with me. I wore two and had 3 in the van. With digital I have four cameras, two Canon 5D's and two Canon 10D's. I take 6 strobes. Make sure your lens selection has backups too, i.e., 70-200/2.8 IS primary tele, 135/f2.0 backup - 16-35/2.8 primary wide, backups are 24-70/f2.8 Canon and Tamron 28-75/f2.8 as backups and 'main' lens for most of the day, etc. The only lens I do not have a backup for is my fisheye.

My point is, HAVE BACKUPS and not just 'one' backup. EVERY wedding shooter I know, including myself, has had multiple failures at weddings. Be prepared when this happens because it WILL happen.

5. Network. Get to know the people in the industry where you live. Contact other pros, contact wedding planners (when you get at least something in your portfolio to show), venues, etc. I can't tell you how important this is, you will find out for yourself. Provided you conduct yourself in a professional manner, other pros can end up referring business your way when they book up, provided you end up being good enough for them to recommend.

That will get you started, and yes... there is lots more.

Tom

PS: Did I say "Take BACKUPS" ?

 

[BillBingham2]

Joe,

I did this a bit in NYC when I was younger. I used an M6 (M4-P as backup), a Vivitar 283 off camera (sensor on camera), 21/35/90 lenses and a lot of film. I did the standard shots (groups, family, bride, etc.) but I brough great candid shots before and after the wedding and during the reception.

Never tried to earn a living, but it paid for a lot of equipment and a few vactations. It is a LONG day and you need to have GREAT people skills. When you scew up be prepared to give your money back (keep the cost of film and processing), it will happen.

Kodak did a book years about about wedding photography. I do suggest following a photographer around for a couple of times. I did not, but I did years of group, event and people photography.

B2 (;->

 

[dcsang]

<snip>
2. Ditch film. Film is pretty much gone from the scene and NO top wedding shooters use film any longer except in 'boutique' circumstances. A photographer I much admire, Joe Brussink, still uses Tri-X BUT he has one and sometime two OTHER photographers shooting with him, all digital, all color. He has a niche, and very upscale, market. As a matter of fact, Joe labels HIMSELF (tongue in cheek) as a "Second Shooter". 🙂 He gets the art shots, his other photographers gets the bread and butter stuff.

Even Jeff Ascough, another very talented photographer who shot film (with Leicas) changed to Canon digital some time ago.</snip>

*GASP* 😱 😱 😱 😱 😱

You know around here "ditching film" is an expletive!! 😉

Glad to see you were reading this thread too 😀 Good advice as well!!

Cheers,
Dave

 

[oftheherd]

Another good resource is at the Popular Photography and Imaging magazine forum. There have been a lot of threads there on the subject. A search will get you lots of opinions and advice. Some of it will sound a little, no, very negative. Listen to that too. As mentioned above, it is a big responsibility. And as mentioned, you don't always have pleasant people to work with, including the bride and groom and their immediate family. They will be stressed to.

I did several weddings years ago. My skills were my wedding present to those for whom I did it. I only did it after trying to talk them into getting a pro, reminding them that when they didn't pay, they took the chance of getting what they paid for. Only one group complained, and then I showed them I had gotten what they asked, and the printer had left out what they wanted. They were then happy too. That was either the last or next to last I ever did. All photographic experiences were happy for me then.

I talked to them about what they wanted and insured I delivered. Even so, there was some stress to make it happen. I usually told them it was up to them to aid me in getting the photos they wanted as they knew the people and I didn't. It worked for me, but then they knew for free they had to get involved too, and did. That was luck for me. It isn't always so.

Try it if you want, but as others have stated, be sure you are prepared. I always had MF and 35mm gear, several good flashes, plenty of lenses, tripods, and so on. I was ready for anything and always had my backup cameras with me even though I never needed them on a wedding shoot.

If you have friends getting married, you might consider offering to be a free backup to their paid pro. Just make sure you do not get in the pro's way nor violate church rules such as no flash or no flash during the ceremony, etc. Good luck.

 

[Kevin]

Tom, what is a 'boutique circumstance' ?