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[junkyard racer]

*this is a real deal question. im sure there arent to many photographers on this site, but the same thing can be related with other points in life*

I know that when I get home in a few weeks, I am going to be asked to shoot a wedding for a chic I have known all of my life. (rather she has known me all of her life) I know this because I guess the chics mom asked my mom if I would be interested. In classic form of my jacked up parents, they said I would be happy to do it. I have only been approached by my parents about doing the wedding, (them telling me I am doing it, not asking if I would...REALLY pissed me off but...  ) not the people who I will be 'working' for. fucked up huh?

So yeah, when I finally get approached about doing it (I won't do this wedding until they sit down with me on a real deal, this is what I want 'interview')...I think I am going to inform them I am no pro photographer. They have seen my shots, and like what I do. Cool. I'm glad they like what I am capable of doing. Shooting a wedding is totally on a new level IMO. Sure I can walk around and take pics of casual things, such as beer, the beach and anything else I seem to find interesting, but taking pictures of people is something I just straight up suck at. After my run-in while shooting in Chicago with the bum a few years ago, I have had a problem pointing the camera at random people. How else do you practice?

So I guess, if they still want me to do the wedding (like I know they will) what do I charge them? How do I let them know that im nervous as shit about doing it, without letting them really know. The wedding isnt until March (totally a fucked up time to do a wedding in Indiana, as it will probably still be snowing) but I am already stressing this shit.

If you have never seen my pics, you can go to my flickr and check them out. Click a thumbnail and see the larger image

And no pics of the chic will be posted.

[Logan76]

What happened? you take a picture of a homeless dude and he wigged out?

[junkyard racer]

Yeah. well, homeless chic. I was downtown Chicago (the area where movies and everything else is shot, not the ghetto downtown) with my family and my brother/sister in law...and I took a picture of this homeless bitch. She wasnt even the center of the picture...but the camera was aimed at her, and she got pissed. Long story short, she came up to me, not begging for money but rather tried to get my camera. My dad ran like a little bitch, and my brother in law stood back waiting for me to get my ass kicked first. So after I tell this dumb nigger to fuck off, she is all up in my shit tryin to get me to knock the shit out of her (take the first punch)....long story short, nothing happened except me dropping the n bomb, me letting this nigger know ill kill her in the middle of chicago, my dad running like a bitch and a pissed off bum cause she didnt make out with anything from the situation.

So ever since then, I have left shooting random people out of my normal photography. I guess in the end, she won. 

 

[ratcityrex]

Dude, i know when i got married, the photos were one of the most expensive things on the list. I payed $1200 and that was for 3 people for 6 hours. It was adeal at that price because the company hangs there photos on our walls at work and we dont charge tbem for it. In return they hook us up with free photo shoots. If i were you i would charge $500 thats just .02

[Honda-Tech]

Frank, there are a lot of (seriously talented) amateur and 1.5 pro photographers that chill in the Carolina Cars thread, Cosmetics forum of HT.  It's always first page, couple thousand pages strong, those dudes live off that page.  I know several of them have done weddings, and they can hook you up with the info you need to know. 

There are, likely, a handful of shuttersluts on RHMT, but they don't post much about it.

[Robb]

However difficult you think it will be, it will be worse. 

You arent just shooting in one lighting condition consistantly, that in itself makes it difficult.  Not all your shots will be stills either, as you will probably be requested to shoot people walking in, etc. The "official" wedding pics with the bride/groom/etc will be easiest.  Lenses must be taken into consideration too, you wont always be closeup on your subject, you may be on the otherside of the room, so you need equipment for multiple duties.

Something about large rooms with multiple lighting sources (usually tungsten) in churches make exposure with even still subjects a daunting take.  I suggest you find out where the wedding is taking place, go there, and try out some different angles. Scope the place out before you say yes or no. 

You also have to take into account, things like cutting the cake wont wait for you to setup, you will only have one chance to get it right.  You gotta be on top of it.  There is a reason most pro's charge $1000 and up for weddings. They aint easy, and you get what you pay for.

Weddings are very near the top for most difficult shots in the photography world.  Pressure, timing, and the only one chance to get it right thing makes it an issue. 

[Kenny Rogers]

However difficult you think it will be, it will be worse. 

You arent just shooting in one lighting condition consistantly, that in itself makes it difficult.  Not all your shots will be stills either, as you will probably be requested to shoot people walking in, etc. The "official" wedding pics with the bride/groom/etc will be easiest.  Lenses must be taken into consideration too, you wont always be closeup on your subject, you may be on the otherside of the room, so you need equipment for multiple duties.

Something about large rooms with multiple lighting sources (usually tungsten) in churches make exposure with even still subjects a daunting take.  I suggest you find out where the wedding is taking place, go there, and try out some different angles. Scope the place out before you say yes or no. 

You also have to take into account, things like cutting the cake wont wait for you to setup, you will only have one chance to get it right.  You gotta be on top of it.  There is a reason most pro's charge $1000 and up for weddings. They aint easy, and you get what you pay for.

Weddings are very near the top for most difficult shots in the photography world.  Pressure, timing, and the only one chance to get it right thing makes it an issue. 

+1

My uncle is a professional photographer for Weyerhaeuser and refused to be the "main" photographer at my wedding.  He still took his own shots and they turned out great, but there is just an extra layer of pressure if you know the people getting married.

[junkyard racer]

i'm fully aware of all of those things. Maybe I wasnt clear enough in my op. i am nervous as shit about doing this, and its still about 10 months out. im nervous about all of the things listed above. The photographer basically runs the wedding. Everything goes through that mofo.

Lenses, i'm not real worried about. I do need a better flash.

I think i am going to try and hop on board this summer and link up with a wedding photographer to start tagging along. BTW, FGTI. Franks going to Indiana. For good.

[97Econobox]

I giggle when the trolls forget to log out before they post serious lol.

[robus]

500$ is really low. A professional photographer won't do it for less than 1200-1500$... I'd ask 700$, even if it's your first.
Will you need to rent/buy telephoto lenses, flash and/or another camera for the day? Will you be asked to make a DVD, a book and organize prints? Consider that too.

[Robb]

I think i am going to try and hop on board this summer and link up with a wedding photographer to start tagging along.

Thats probably the best thing you could do for yourself (and your friends).  It makes the little details seem easier if you can engrain them into your brain, and leave your actual thought process for the imagery.

[junkyard racer]

500$ is really low. A professional photographer won't do it for less than 1200-1500$... I'd ask 700$, even if it's your first.
Will you need to rent/buy telephoto lenses, flash and/or another camera for the day? Will you be asked to make a DVD, a book and organize prints? Consider that too.

the lens, yes. Im planning to rent as of right now. The flash I will be buying here real soon. Id like to buy a tele lens real soon also (actually I have about $2700 worth of gear id like to buy)

I wouldn't do it for anything less than $500- Shes a family friend. Like my sister. If it were a random person, id say no less than ~$1000 bucks. Pics will most likely be givin on a CD, not copywrited.

[Sinister]

A few friends of mine have done weddings before and have charged 700-1000 per wedding, providing them with various pictures printed out and framed and such, and when I was approached about doing a wedding, they told me not to charge less than 500, even if it was family.

For the record, I was offered $100 and declined... 

[junkyard racer]

wtf. when did you start doing photography?

[Sinister]

I used to do a bit years ago of just random shit, but I don't have a decent camera and don't feel like spending the money on one so I haven't even taken any pictures in a while.

[turbob16hatch]

dude i would be freaking over doing a wedding. shit can get fucked real fast if you know what i mean.

i know when my sister got married it was $4600 for pictures.

the guy they picked has done ALL of our family photos for as long as i can remember. he is borderline insane, and he makes standing in the same pose for 2+ hrs in a hot church kinda fun.

idk just picture a crazy photographer who drives a pimped out convetrable 70's cadillac dudes nutz.

anyway yeah i think you need to be a little crazy to do weddings.

[junkyard racer]

yeah. fuck. I just got off of the phone with my mom who no shit just said "well, they have everything planned except the photographer" ...like how weird is that. I made this thread and then its talked about tonight.

fuck.

[5thgenlx]

weddings are easy. take a fuckton of pictures of the family and randoms. get a few pics of bride and groom, say shit like "i like the light over there better" blah blah and you're good to go. people are expecting to have pics taken. get people at the tables eating dinner, dancing, etc. pics of rings, center pieces, food, drinks, the couple kissing, some shit like that. you can worry about all that before/after the ceremony though. you gotta be keyed in on the actual ring on finger, first kiss, first dance, drink, cake. then you get time to go around and snap the rest of it.

what you need to lock down is the prep. check the area its being done, indoors or outdoors, whats the weather going to be like. what type of lighting will there be, colors of the building. colors in the wedding etc.

sit down, have them say what they want and just do it. and since its for friends and its your first, 750-1000. that is cheap as fuck for wedding photos.

[buk9tp]

how can you even think about charging them?

do it for free. and make it clear to them that you obviously dont want to do it because you dont trust your shooting skills.

done.

[junkyard racer]

how can you even think about charging them?
do it for free. and make it clear to them that you obviously dont want to do it because you dont trust your shooting skills.
done.

probably because this isnt an easy thing to do, and the value is not a couple hundred dollars or whatever. I am fully confidant I can take the pictures, its doing everything right, and the fact I have never done it before that has me worried.

that said, Im not going to ask for anything, but if they ask how much they want......I wont turn anything down. 

5thgen, sounds easy.