First time shooting a wedding...

[RustyTheGeek]

I'm not being bullied into anything. When I talked to the woman, she said they were considering buying a camera and having a family friend do it... and that annoys me.

But I figured one person would step up to the plate just for some paid practice. I go and shoot sporting events for practice...

I know the cost hurts the market value of photogs, but there wasa discount photog who did my wedding, so I guess I have a good deal of empathy for their situation.

I was contacted this weekend to do a simple wedding ceremony, and I said no because I don't do weddings. .. so I told the lady I would ask my local contacts and no one wants to do it for $200 for two-ish hours. So now I feel bad so I might say, sure, I'll do it despite my better judgement.

Don't let anyone push you into doing something you are not comfortable with. Especially if you are friends with this lady.

Have her contract with some other amature. That way she won't be bitchin at you when something does not turn out perfect.

I think I understand your point and thought process. You hate to sit back and watch something go badly if you have it in your power to help. If you have a solid and positive relationship with the bride and she is pretty laid back, then you're a hero. If not, then I would pass. That's just me...

Keep in mind the old saying, "No good deed goes unpunished!". I tend to re-learn this lesson over and over, seems like I never learn! People who ask for favors you would assume and think would be gracious and grateful but more often than not, they are quite the opposite. It's very strange but I've witnessed or been the recipient of demanding or highly critical recipients of good will on more than one occasion. And the bigger the favor, the bigger the mess. ???

 

[Valvebounce]

Hi Jd.
I have shot weddings for friends that I knew were already spending way more than they could / should just to try to have a nice day.
I really hate doing weddings due to the pressure to succeed, and the devastation failure would cause!
I concur with Rusty, often "no good deed goes unpunished".
Good luck.

Cheers, Graham.

 

[jdramirez]

She found someone... so I'm off the hook. I was thinking about it as I resigned myself to doing it... and I don't think I could do a $200 job... it just doesn't seem to do justice to the event... so there would be a studio session, a ring macro thing maybe... then 800+ shots @ the event... maybe the time lapse for shits and gigs... then then the post... then giving prints and a release... well... I can't see half assing it... even if it is for a half ass amount of pay.

 

[RustyTheGeek]

She found someone... so I'm off the hook. I was thinking about it as I resigned myself to doing it... and I don't think I could do a $200 job... it just doesn't seem to do justice to the event... so there would be a studio session, a ring macro thing maybe... then 800+ shots @ the event... maybe the time lapse for shits and gigs... then then the post... then giving prints and a release... well... I can't see half assing it... even if it is for a half ass amount of pay.

I'm not sure where you're located but if you're near DFW, Texas... I want to be your friend!!

If I was doing a favor like this for someone... I would shoot a few portraits but in a candid fashion, no fancy lights, etc. I would shoot the heck out of the event the best I could. Then I would process the images and upload them to my zenfolio site for the bride and groom to do whatever they like with. They can order prints from there, etc. That would be the end of it for me except for tweaking the images a bit extra and maybe giving them a thumb drive with the images.

I'm the worlds' worst about giving someone a ton of work for free because I'm a nice guy. But at some point I figure that free (what I normally charge) is free and if they want the full meal deal, there's only so much I can offer. And in your case, for this amount of work and its' true value, $200 is about the same as free.

 

[jdramirez]

She found someone... so I'm off the hook. I was thinking about it as I resigned myself to doing it... and I don't think I could do a $200 job... it just doesn't seem to do justice to the event... so there would be a studio session, a ring macro thing maybe... then 800+ shots @ the event... maybe the time lapse for shits and gigs... then then the post... then giving prints and a release... well... I can't see half assing it... even if it is for a half ass amount of pay.

I'm not sure where you're located but if you're near DFW, Texas... I want to be your friend!!

If I was doing a favor like this for someone... I would shoot a few portraits but in a candid fashion, no fancy lights, etc. I would shoot the heck out of the event the best I could. Then I would process the images and upload them to my zenfolio site for the bride and groom to do whatever they like with. They can order prints from there, etc. That would be the end of it for me except for tweaking the images a bit extra and maybe giving them a thumb drive with the images.

I'm the worlds' worst about giving someone a ton of work for free because I'm a nice guy. But at some point I figure that free (what I normally charge) is free and if they want the full meal deal, there's only so much I can offer. And in your case, for this amount of work and its' true value, $200 is about the same as free.

I like Dallas ...I may move there One day .Get Some Cowboys season tickets ; My daughter Marries Tony Romo's Kid...

I work for free more often than I'd like ; partly due to The wife volunteering my services .

 

[Synkka]

Congratulations Dylan sounds like it went well and was a good experience, can't beat that

 

[RustyTheGeek]

So yeah, back to Dylan! Hey man, you're not off the hook! We want to see how you did!

 

[Dylan777]

So yeah, back to Dylan! Hey man, you're not off the hook! We want to see how you did!

Work load is getting heavier. I'm still working the photos. Here is another one...

 

[agierke]

why is the officiant wearing a graduation gown...lol. did he do a graduation earlier in the day?

 

[Besisika]

Thanks guys. I made it.... ;D
I prefer NOT to do this for living.

Congrats on your first time.

"I prefer NOT to do this for living."
I am with you. I have done it few times and I do it twice or 3 times a year to fund my gear.
In fact, I do it only for friends of friends who know what I have done before. But doing it as a main source of income is not in my agenda at all.
All 3 parts of it (the prep, the shoot and the post) cause me stress and I have never fully satisfied with what I did. I always find something I did wrong.
But it is a good practice, if you can handle the stress.

 

[RustyTheGeek]

From the images you have uploaded so far, I'm impressed. It's not easy pulling off an outdoor backlit scene like that. And the 2nd shot with the bridesmaid on the left, that gives the whole shot a great dose of color!

From what I can tell, it appears that it was a pretty informal and casual wedding. That doesn't make it any easier to shoot, maybe even harder, but I think that might help a little with the stress since there isn't as much formal 'hoopla'.

I agree that I would NOT want to make a living doing weddings but the occasional casual wedding is a nice change of pace if everyone is laid back and not divas. Plus, there's always the free food and drinks once you got 90% of the shots.