iflynething
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- Oct 26, 2006
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- South Carolina USA
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My cousin got married this Saturday. We talked in the past about me being a possible second shooter. I found out there was a main photographer which was a friend of the groom (it's always the friend). I asked if I could get to shoot this weeding since it would be a pretty big one and I could build some shots in a "major" wedding for my portfolio. I made sure before shooting there was not a clause in the main photographers contract of having a second shooter - there was not.
The wedding started at 2:30. I got to the church at 1 pm and went right to work at getting shots of the bride and groom getting ready in their separate room, going up and down stairs to capture the progress. The main photographer shows up at around 1:45. The groom was almost dressed but I had already made about 30 shots of the groom and about 40 of the bride. I talk to the photographer and tell him I know you're the paid guy, and I will make sure to stay out of your way, he agreed and that was fine. The daughter of the photographer got there and started shooting the bride - only thing is she was already ready, there wasn't much to shoot of her. This was the first thing that irritated me.
Fast forward to the wedding. It was all going great. We were all moving around - myself, the photographer and his daugher. They were in a bind...his camera was a 1D with a L wide angle lens and her's was a 40D with a Tamron 18-200. They couldn't get the shots. Her lens was slow, and his was too wide. I was prepared and had the 80-200 2.8 and was able to get wonderful shots. The wedding photography went great...or so I thought...
We get to the group shots at the end and a little more than half way through, the main photographer gives out. He asked me if I was going to be at the reception for the cake cutting and such. He talks to the groom (I was able to hear) and says he is too tired and needs to take a break. The groom agrees. I come to find out that the guy apparently had cancer of some sort. While I sympathize with the guy, I cannot refuse the fact that I was annoyed he would book a wedding knowing he might not be able to finish it, since he would get tired. Maybe he didn't know this.
I'm in a bind now though. The groom asked me to come to him after the honeymoon with a disc (with all the images.) to surprise the bride. I don't know how much he was going to pay me, how much the main photographer charged, if he got a deposit or anything like that.
I feel like I should be paid in some way other than just a disc full of images for the groom and a "here you go, print at will." Although I was expecting NOTHING from this, things changed as you can see. One of the bridesmaids came into where I work and I kept it professional, but brought up that I was a little irritated the phtographer left and if she knew anything about it. According to her, the guy said - along with he was tired - that I was doing a better job anyways. I remember him saying something to that effect as he was talking to the groom. I talked with a photographer friend and he said bluntly, the guy probably got pissed off that I was there. If he had a clause in his contract that stated there is absolutly not other photography allowed (like I DO in my contract) I would be pissed too, but he didn't and it was ok'ed by the bride and groom that I second shoot, knowing they not pay me. Anyways, my photgographer friend suggested this:
A) First talk to the photographer and see if he is able to compensate me in some way for having to leave and me take over
B) Talk to the bride and groom and charge an hourly rate of $75-100/hr and either charge for the entire 6 hours I was there, with this price of $450-600 including 150 or so prints
C) Charge for the 4 hours I took over after the photographer left, make $400 and then upload the images to my website and let them print from there, lowering my prices since they are in a bind because the other photographer left.
Do I have any other options? What route would be best. I WILL NOT give a disc of just all the images for $200. I'd rather not make any money than have them print off at Wal-Mart or on their home printer and a reputation go down the drain.
Can anyone give their ideas?
Thanks
~Michael~
I apoligize for the long post, but I need to give all the information so I could get a better idea from everyone
The wedding started at 2:30. I got to the church at 1 pm and went right to work at getting shots of the bride and groom getting ready in their separate room, going up and down stairs to capture the progress. The main photographer shows up at around 1:45. The groom was almost dressed but I had already made about 30 shots of the groom and about 40 of the bride. I talk to the photographer and tell him I know you're the paid guy, and I will make sure to stay out of your way, he agreed and that was fine. The daughter of the photographer got there and started shooting the bride - only thing is she was already ready, there wasn't much to shoot of her. This was the first thing that irritated me.
Fast forward to the wedding. It was all going great. We were all moving around - myself, the photographer and his daugher. They were in a bind...his camera was a 1D with a L wide angle lens and her's was a 40D with a Tamron 18-200. They couldn't get the shots. Her lens was slow, and his was too wide. I was prepared and had the 80-200 2.8 and was able to get wonderful shots. The wedding photography went great...or so I thought...
We get to the group shots at the end and a little more than half way through, the main photographer gives out. He asked me if I was going to be at the reception for the cake cutting and such. He talks to the groom (I was able to hear) and says he is too tired and needs to take a break. The groom agrees. I come to find out that the guy apparently had cancer of some sort. While I sympathize with the guy, I cannot refuse the fact that I was annoyed he would book a wedding knowing he might not be able to finish it, since he would get tired. Maybe he didn't know this.
I'm in a bind now though. The groom asked me to come to him after the honeymoon with a disc (with all the images.) to surprise the bride. I don't know how much he was going to pay me, how much the main photographer charged, if he got a deposit or anything like that.
I feel like I should be paid in some way other than just a disc full of images for the groom and a "here you go, print at will." Although I was expecting NOTHING from this, things changed as you can see. One of the bridesmaids came into where I work and I kept it professional, but brought up that I was a little irritated the phtographer left and if she knew anything about it. According to her, the guy said - along with he was tired - that I was doing a better job anyways. I remember him saying something to that effect as he was talking to the groom. I talked with a photographer friend and he said bluntly, the guy probably got pissed off that I was there. If he had a clause in his contract that stated there is absolutly not other photography allowed (like I DO in my contract) I would be pissed too, but he didn't and it was ok'ed by the bride and groom that I second shoot, knowing they not pay me. Anyways, my photgographer friend suggested this:
A) First talk to the photographer and see if he is able to compensate me in some way for having to leave and me take over
B) Talk to the bride and groom and charge an hourly rate of $75-100/hr and either charge for the entire 6 hours I was there, with this price of $450-600 including 150 or so prints
C) Charge for the 4 hours I took over after the photographer left, make $400 and then upload the images to my website and let them print from there, lowering my prices since they are in a bind because the other photographer left.
Do I have any other options? What route would be best. I WILL NOT give a disc of just all the images for $200. I'd rather not make any money than have them print off at Wal-Mart or on their home printer and a reputation go down the drain.
Can anyone give their ideas?
Thanks
~Michael~
I apoligize for the long post, but I need to give all the information so I could get a better idea from everyone
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