Wedding photography

db21111

suckmaster.burstingfoam wrote: »

Wedding photography is a pretty serious affair, and shouldn't be entered into lightly. You should be absolutely sure of your photographic skills (and that means being 100% confident in using your camera in full manual, all of the time) and you must be sure that your photos are of a sufficiently high quality.

You need to be organised, and you need to work VERY hard - not just during the wedding, but afterwards in sorting and processing images.

Remember that this isn't just a quick buck - the photos you take are important. A lot of people assume that it's easy, but the truth is that the majority of wedding photographers are rubbish.

However, I must say, despite being male, I normally get into the bride's bedroom just fine.

Absolutely spot on.

This isn't a quick buck game, and as it is every tom, !!!!!! and harry with a shiny new digital slr are wearing down the industry that just about keeps some of us afloat.

(I liked your full manual comment, suggests either you were around in the roll film days or you are a young purist... nice comment, let's see how many get good enough to do it all manual these days with all the nice extras you get on the latest cameras)

And as davieboy said, you need the insurance too. Experience. Suppliers. Skill. Back ups of everything. Professionalism, patience and endurance.

bonsibabe

davieboy - that is such a coincidence! I'm from Inverness too (although I don't live there just now). My dad used to do wedding photography in his spare time. He never advertised - just did it thru word of mouth. But he gave it up as he was finding it really stressful - he only did it in order to pay for all his gadgets and camera equipment. The last wedding he did was mine 7 years ago (although i did persuade him to do my friends one a couple of years later as a favour to me)

But it is something that cannot be entered into lightly - like you quite rightly said, the equipment alone is expensive.

Good luck to everyone who wants to do this!

Swanlander

Some good comments here - I am still undecided but I just really need a third income - I already have two jobs and we still struggle.
Tracy - I live a long way from Inverness but would have done it for free ( materials only) had I lived nearer. From one struggler to another so happy to have helped if I could.

FrugalFriend

My dad was a photographer all his life and getting paid is always an issue. As a previous poster said try to get paid in advance, at least for 50% of the price. Remember you're incurring costs straight away from the time they book you, ordering albums, using equipment & material, organizing assistance, transport, etc... not to mention your time. So you need to at least cover those costs.

My advice is to be very professional, polite and pleasant and ask for the money in advance. You'd be surprised, most people will actually pay you, if they're genuine. You're selling a service and it's one that has to be paid for like everything else. Photography is not a job to be entered into lightly, davieboy is spot on with his post. The equipment is expensive, it's a people business, and you've only one chance to capture the most inportant day of someone's life.

Go and shoot that friends wedding for cost. Then do another and another until you have the right equipment and experience. Gradually increase your fees and charges to reflect your skills, creative ability and experience. I'm sure you'll be very succesful. Good luck.

suckmaster.burstingfoam

FrugalFriend wrote: »

As a previous poster said try to get paid in advance, at least for 50% of the price. Remember you're incurring costs straight away from the time they book you, ordering albums, using equipment & material, organizing assistance, transport, etc... not to mention your time. So you need to at least cover those costs.

We charge 20% deposit up front and the remainder must be paid in full within 30 days of the wedding. I don't recommend accepting payment afterwards - we did that once and it was more trouble than it was worth.

Timmne

Our photographer's brilliant - I've seen his photos before from another wedding and we spent weeks hunting him down!

I had to convince him to do our wedding because he said he doesn't like people to think of him as a wedding photographer because most are crooks (I'm not referring to you photographers above BTW; just the 'quick buck' ones).

He's charging us £450 for 5 hours work and he'll pass us the copyright free photos at the end of the day for us to reproduce as we wish.

Planning this part of one's wedding is awful as you learn how much people try to squeeze out of you. It's not just the £1k for the photographer either, it's then the £5-£10 for each reprint for your guests!

I guess what I'm getting at is, if you're going to do it, DO IT PROPERLY! I wouldn't have thought it's ever going to be worthwhile doing it part time as you'll never make enough out of it to pay for all the kit & expenses and you'll not be able to spend enough time talking to/being with your customers and they'll get unnerved!

gambon

The best way would be to go and work as an assistant with a professional. I am a very keen amateur photographer and I have been asked by family to cover their weddings. It is one of the most stressful jobs I have done, very very difficult and underestimate this job at your peril.
By working with a pro for a year or so, you will be able weigh the job up and pick up experience at the same time - and if you are any good the pro may pay you too!

party_of_five

I'm a full time pro photographer and I take on weddings, portraits and commercial work.

I have to say that weddings are by far the hardest and most demanding of all and this is on both a technical and personal basis - you are faced with changing environments constantly and you need to be able to make the necessary adjustments instantly so people aren't kept waiting. There is a protocol to the day and how to properly pose groups. Then there is the general people management side of things and you will run into all sorts of issues at weddings, none of which can stump you. The list is endless and even long term pros will still be learning to do it better. Coupled with the fact that you can't do it again, and the couple's hopes (and rightly so) are pinned on you getting it absolutely right.

If you are serious about going into it, even on a part time basis, then you might want to look at some professional training - the BIPP (British Institute of Professional Photographers) offer some courses for folks who are starting out I think. Not to put you off, but wedding photography is a really serious commitment and a decent SLR just isn't enough.

wizardpinball

Swanlander wrote: »

I was asked to photograph a wedding for friends recently. I have a good digital SLR (bought from E bay) and the results are good - the friends are impressed and pleased. So has anyone tried wedding photography? I am thinking I could advertise and do it Saturdays. Any thoughts? Tips? Problems?

You cant just buy a digital SLR, and call yourself a pro photographer.
Remember, its just photos to you, but it is the record of someones special day.
If you want to get into it as a career you could start off offering to do friends and family weddings, as either a gift or cost.
Then see what happens.
You need indemnity insurance and all kinds of stuff.
If you wreck the photos, there is always a bridezilla who will say (ridiculously) that you have ruind their big day, befor eyou know it you will be getting sued for thousands.

I am a pro-photographer, specialising in weddings. If you want any advice on how to get started mailme

Elizabeth_739

Hi all - I'm getting married at 2.30 pm on Friday August 15th at Wellingborough, Northants and I'm am hoping to find a photographer who would attend a registry office ceremony. Only need someone for an hour, barely that to take a few lovely shots in the garden and no-one seems interested. My partner has a photographic printer so we would be happy with photographs on a CD. Can anyone help?

many thanks Elizabeth