I
Iron Flatline
Guest
Yup, like I said, I'm glad I don't shoot weddings.Lets see. You meet with the couple for a couple hours 18 - 36 months in advance, sell them a package and schedule engagement pix. On a day between the 60 - 80 weddings you have scheduled from years before, you squeeze in a few hours, often on location way out of your way to shoot the engagement shots. This while trying not to rush them, giving them your undivided attention and convincing them they are your most important clients ever, but still making that portrait shoot in the executives home on the other side of town. As the "event" nears you need to confirm they are still engaged. Maybe negotiate the balance of the deposit that's due, or explain that sorry honey, but your deposit is non-refundable. And besides, the check was signed by your ex-boyfriend. If it's canceled, you race to fill the weekend, if not start planning. Contact the minister and see if he has flash restrictions, or places he does not want you to shoot from. Schedule a meeting at the church and meter the alter, see what external lighting you might need to set up. Visit the reception hall and do more of the same. Contact the DJ and MAKE him understand the needs you have for him to keep his light show off until you finish, negotiate a time with him to do so that you both can agree to. Go to the rehearsal, shoot it if that's in the contract. If not shooting, talk with the party to let them know what you will/won't shoot and where you will be and where they need to pause or stand for this or that shot during and after the ceremony. This is when you will get your first full dose of the evil Mother. His or hers, don't matter, one of them will be your worst enemy after the bride gets what she wants. The Bride claims that title until they say "I Do". The rehearsal is the time to deal with them in a preemptive manner as best you can while keeping that butter won't melt in your mouth smile tattooed on your kisser the whole while. Next comes that "special" day. ALL day. Don't expect to show up 30 min. before the service and have everything go as planned. Never did I attend a wedding and it go as planned. Then the reception. Expect a drunk relative to spill a drink on your camera, or worse in your pelican case. The DJ will play the "Let's pi$$ of the photographer game all night. If you are lucky the best man wont make a pass at the bride or your wife after he's had a few drinks and get his teeth rearranged. And there's more, always more. But let's move on, to editing, ordering prints, frames, mattes, and albums. Then assembling the package. Hopefully you did your part and exposure is right on, composition is outstanding, and the processor or printer did his job without a huge color shift to bright magenta. Now spend an evening assembling the album, framing the large prints and getting the mattes right. Including the appropriate packaging, wrapping, boxes, and written material that makes a pro look like a pro. Schedule a time good for you and them, mainly you and show/present the package. UNLESS, by the time they are to show up, they have already filed for devorice. (Try getting the balance paid then.) But I digress..... Sell your reprint services and advise how long prints will be made available for what price. Collect the remaining funds if needed and wipe the sweat off your brow. Anyway, if you smoke, it's time to light up a congratulatory cigar. I just have a diet Coke. Then race out the door and make it to that pet protrait you wonder why you scheduled anyway.
Yea, one and a half to three years of grief, planning, expense, and abuse for a couple a grand is really hiding behind all that expensive equipment. Makes me wonder why I quit weddings. NOT!