Student photographer for wedding

Gloomendoom

ringo_24601 wrote: »

but very rarely ever look at the photos.

I'm looking at our wedding photos now or at least a selection of them. They have been mounted in a frame and it hangs on the wall in our sitting room. I can't miss them and they make me smile every day. Our respective parents have the same framed selection hanging in prominent places in their homes too.

I think this debate could go on for ever. As I said earlier, we used an amateur (my sister) and received excellent results. However, she has an artistic eye, is extrovert in nature and rather bossy (primary school teacher) so I was quite confident that we would get good results. We also asked other guests to send us copies of the pics that they had taken. We received hundreds but, sadly, only a handful were actually usable. Luck can play a part but, generally speaking, composition and an eye for lighting is the key to a good photograph, not megapixels.

Despite us getting good results, unless you know their capabilities intimately, I'm not sure I would recommend the amateur route. Also, if you ask a friend or family member, it is a heavy responsibility and effectively means that they cannot fully participate in the celebrations with the other guests. Luckily, my sister is teetotal too.

GlasweJen

We hired a photographer, professional woman with the whole kit and caboodle. I also have an uncle who is an amateur photographer and takes his high end camera everywhere.

Our professional photos are stunning, photographer caught moments that I didn't realise she was around for.

My uncle sent his photos and they are like a different wedding.

In one half hour time frame the photographer photographed myself and my sister drinking champagne arranging my veil and giggling. In other shots the men standing admiring the latest baby in the family who is pulling on her uncles beard. Everyone is smiling and there's a sneaky hip flask making it's way round the group.

In that same half hour my uncle has a photo of me looking raging (i have a bit of a resting !!!!! face), my sister pushing my chair looking like someone peed in both our cornflakes, me appearing to down a glass of champagne, my mum and husbands mum looking on scowling.

In the men's pictures the baby is pouting, my cousin looks like some sort of illicit alcohol dealer, the babies father looks overwhelmed and my brothers aren't looking at each other.

Honestly it's like someone has taken photos of the same people at two different events.

Kayalana99

FirstTimer4Me wrote: »

As were on a money saving site, this is quite appropriate.

We're getting married but rather not have the extortionate fees professional photographers charge, we we're thinking of hiring a student photographer, hopefully, fees will be lower.

Anyone know of any pitfalls using a student photographer, also, where would be the best place to find one?

TIA

I'm not going to read all the posts but I'm just coming out of wedding photography and my advice is it really depends how much you care about your photos.

Just my two cents, if you cared enough to post on here to ask the question then I wouldn't risk it.

It's not just about how good they are as a photographer and how creative they are, but do they have back-up equipment? do they have the professional range of equipment that can handle low light situations? do they know how to handle a glass ceiling if they are bouncing flash? Do they know how to handle shadows/highlights if it's a really sunny day and there are bright whites and dark shadows?

Can they remember to set the right f / stop on your group photos so your family group shots are all in focus? Do they know what shutter speed to use so that when you are walking down the aisle you don't go blurry? Do they know how to edit the photos to a decent standard and not do silly editing you might not like?


.....there are so many pitfalls....I would only use a student if you can't afford it and anything they give you is a bonus. I used to think wedding photography was pretty easy but I was naturally good at it. I had a student photograph the same wedding as me and the comparable results were just awful, and I wasn't long in the game myself at this point, I only charged them £200 for a full day as I was just starting out myself. If they hadn't of paid me and just had him, I'm postive they would have been distaught.

It really is hit and miss....