Free wedding photographer in Dundee -Opinions needed

wanttogetwed

Hi, I was looking on my local gumtree for a wedding cake. When I typed in wedding cakes on Gumtree Dundee I came across someone offering free wedding photography. His ad says he hopes to take it up professionally but he needs a portfolio so is offering his services free so that he can start charging people.

Think is we have paid a non-refundable deposit (£50) to another photographer - the outstanding balance is £375. Am now thinking whether we should cancel our original and ask this guy. The guy we have booked only does photography as a hobby too he is a GP. Thing is the guy we have booked has his own website and looks reliable - what if this 'free' guy does not show!

Anyway anyone in the area can look up gumtree and see if he would suit you. Might help someone and any opinions welcome.

tabskitten

you are getting taking a gamble........could be great...could be disaster.......

pretzelnut

I cant find the photogapher in question.

Is it a risk you are willing to take, ie the photos not turning out how you expected.

Only you can decide if you like his style, we cant tell you which to do as we all have very different opinions.

Is it a money thing, do you want to save the money. If not ask your photographer if he's ok with allowing a second photographer as he's a student and let him come along, you'll getmore photos of the day.

Im wondering why a GP earning that amount of money would consider giving up that role and go into photography, unless he's doing it as a second job but again i wonder why.

Toothfairy4

Wont hurt to e-mail him and ask for some of his work? Agreed with tabskitten though, could go either way. I have to admit it would make me feel very jittery, i think i'd rather pay and be minus the stress of wondering whether he will do a good job or not...

Toothfairy4

princesswoo wrote: »

Im wondering why a GP earning that amount of money would consider giving up that role and go into photography, unless he's doing it as a second job but again i wonder why.

She said he is doing it as a hobby?

pretzelnut

Toothfairy4 wrote: »

She said he is doing it as a hobby?

My mistake i didnt read it properly.

I thought the FREE photographer was a GP.

So you have booked a photograper who only does it for a hobby and now your looking to book one who does it for a hobby but is free, is that correct?

wanttogetwed

princesswoo wrote: »

My mistake i didnt read it properly.

I thought the FREE photographer was a GP.

So you have booked a photograper who only does it for a hobby and now your looking to book one who does it for a hobby but is free, is that correct?

Yeah that's right, the photographer we have booked is the GP his name is Jason Twinn and it is costing us £425 which is very reasonable for what we are getting - but free sounds better LOL.

wanttogetwed

princesswoo wrote: »

I cant find the photogapher in question.

Is it a risk you are willing to take, ie the photos not turning out how you expected.

Only you can decide if you like his style, we cant tell you which to do as we all have very different opinions.

Is it a money thing, do you want to save the money. If not ask your photographer if he's ok with allowing a second photographer as he's a student and let him come along, you'll getmore photos of the day.

Im wondering why a GP earning that amount of money would consider giving up that role and go into photography, unless he's doing it as a second job but again i wonder why.

Sorry, it was wedding flowers I typed into Gumtree Dundee - I get confused easy just now :rotfl:

Toothfairy4

Is it this? Doesn't fill me with confidence to be honest, i'm sure he could be ok but I don't think going to a few friends weddings is really going to give you the skills you need to photograph one.

pretzelnut

Hi, getting married is the most important day of your life, so trust it to someone who is willing to do it for free!
Personnaly i wouldnt trust it to someone whos email asddress is ''let me practice on your big day''

I've had an slr camera for a good few years now and I can take great pictures of landscapes and flowers.
Landscapes and flowers are a whole different ball game to moving human beings.

I haven't done any expensive training courses but all my friends and family love my photos.
Not all photgraphers do go on traing courses, but a lot do and they go to uni as well. Of course all your friends and family love your photos, they always do, Let someone ompartial critique your photos and im sure you'll get a shock and a new insight.

I'm willing to do a few free weddings then I will be offering services at £150.

I dont have proper insurance or 3 cameras or lots of lenses and extra lighting like the pro photographers so I can do it much cheaper.
Personnal liability insurance is a must, what if he accidentally hits someone with the camera, its not that expensive i have personnal liability insurance.

I also haven't paid lots of money for training courses so I dont have to make the money back on that (beware some of these photographers go on training courses every year to keep their skills "up to date" but its you the customer who has to pay for it!)
Yes they do as photographing people is very different to flowers. Going on a training course or refresher course shows commitnment to the job / hobby. There are always skills you can learn, no-one knows it all.

Some of them also have lenses that cost £1500, and more than one of them! I feel the one I got free with my camera and a couple of others I bought at £150 each do just as good a job! - again it's you the customer that are paying for all of this!
Yes lenses do cost a fortune, well some of them and they are needed for the job, you cant take all types of photo with a kit lense. They also spend huge amounts on lighting as this is key, as well as flashes and light / white balance meters to make sure the exposure isnt over or under exposed.

Anyway I haven't ever taken wedding photos before but I've been to lots of friends weddings so know how it works and I need photos for my portfolio so I can start charging.
Never taken a wedding photo before - EVER, he as no idea of the HUGE task that is in front of him. ITs not as simple as just point and click and praying the camera set on auto does all the work.

Before he ventures out on his own he should have become an assistant to a proffesional photographer so he can ''really'' see how it works.


IF this is the guy, close the screen and walk away NOW! Stick witht he one you have booked.

Stageshoot

Toothfairy4 wrote: »

Is it this? Doesn't fill me with confidence to be honest, i'm sure he could be ok but I don't think going to a few friends weddings is really going to give you the skills you need to photograph one.

Jeez just reading that ad made me spill my tea!

Yes Pros have decent kit and for a reason!. and they have more than 1 camera again for a reason

The sort of Kit lenses this guy is using will not be as sharp as a desent pro lens they will not focus or work in the low light inside a church, and what happens if his 1 consumer camera decides to go belly up during the shoot,

Please please your big day is worth more than a freebie, Not even sure about your "Hobby GP" but at least you have some comeback if he narfs it as you are paying him for a service.