I just offered to do a wedding for free...

[Aayria]

Because I reallyyyy really want to try shooting one, and I don't want to make any new brides feel like they're investing in a "risky" photographer with lack of wedding experience. I couldn't resist because I met a woman who is having her wedding next spring in a realllyyyy beautful venue that I would absolutely love to shoot at. And because I want to take wedding pictures, darnit!!!

It would be very clear in the contract that this is completely pressure free for both of us.. Not set number of pictures guaranteed, and I would not be releasing digital negatives. I'd be taking this on strictly as a photo-project of sorts to try something I'm really interested in doing. Bonus- she gets a free wedding photographer who would normally ask at least 1200.00 if she was hired for such an event

Am I crazy? She hasn't replied to my email yet....

 

[Big Mike]

There are many sob stories to be found (both from photographers and married couples), that started with free (or just really cheap) wedding photography. It's not something I'd recommend.

But that being said, everyone has to start somewhere.

 

[Aayria]

I know I know.. and that's why if somebody actually hired me to do one I wouldn't start under 1200.00. For portrait sessions I was making an average of 500 -700 for a couple hours of work..

But I've been trying to steer away from paid work and just shoot what I want to shoot for the fun of it. When I heard the venue for this woman's wedding and knew a bit of her personality, I thought it could be really fun.. mayyyyybe ???

 

[reznap]

If she was a friend I could understand but someone you just met?

Your photos are nice and I think you're giving away a heck of an opportunity to at least be properly compensated.

I recently did 'backup' shooting for a friend's wedding (for free) and it was fun but it was also a lot of work - not to mention you may risk your equipment being damaged or stolen etc..

When all is said and done though, you'll have some nice content for your website.

 

[Big Mike]

Hey, if you want to do it, just for the fun of it...that's up to you.

But think about how a plumber might feel, if there was someone going around fixing people's pipes for free. :er:

 

[gsgary]

I know I know.. and that's why if somebody actually hired me to do one I wouldn't start under 1200.00. For portrait sessions I was making an average of 500 -700 for a couple hours of work..

But I've been trying to steer away from paid work and just shoot what I want to shoot for the fun of it. When I heard the venue for this woman's wedding and knew a bit of her personality, I thought it could be really fun.. mayyyyybe ???

That's all you will be able to do after shooting a wedding for free, you will be known as the free photographer

 

[...take the shot!]

I have no experience in this what so ever. But I just thought: charge for your service and make it a "not satisfied = money back guarantee" thing.

 

[Aayria]

If she was a friend I could understand but someone you just met?

Your photos are nice and I think you're giving away a heck of an opportunity to at least be properly compensated.

I recently did 'backup' shooting for a friend's wedding (for free) and it was fun but it was also a lot of work - not to mention you may risk your equipment being damaged or stolen etc..

When all is said and done though, you'll have some nice content for your website.

Oh I know about the work! It's crazy how much goes into it.. But if she accepts hers will be the only wedding I take on this year. I don't want to focus on weddings.. I just want to shoot them from time to time for fun, you know? As weird as it sounds, I really like the pressure to perform well, and the excitement of catching once-in a lifetime moments. It would be a ton of work, but I would love it. =)

That's why I've steered more towards just doing shoots and projects that I want to do.. So I don't get bogged down trying to meet clients expectations and loosing some of the enjoyment I get from photography amidst the business concerns.

As for the website content.... It would really be nice to have something to show any other brides down the road I might shoot for. But I mostly am just looking forward to actually doing it.

 

[Aayria]

I have no experience in this what so ever. But I just thought: charge for your service and make it a "not satisfied = money back guarantee" thing.

Well I thought about that... But if she's not satisfied, just giving her money back is NOT going to make it better. You only get one shot at somebody's wedding pictures.

 

[Aayria]

Hey, if you want to do it, just for the fun of it...that's up to you.

But think about how a plumber might feel, if there was someone going around fixing people's pipes for free. :er:

That's an interesting thought, but really why would a plumber care? I understand what you're trying to say in reference to photographers who make a living from their craft and so on... But if somebody has a family friend who knows about plumbing and always comes over to lend a hand when needed.. What does that matter to the plumbing community? They aren't being undercut or loosing to competition, and people still need plumbers either way.

I'm also not offering to just go around and shoot anyone's wedding for free. Like I said, I wouldn't consider most requests for under 1200.00. But this wasn't so much a request for work, as me offering to shoot a wedding in a really fun venue. Definitely not something I could do often at all.. But maybe worth a shot.

 

[reznap]

In that case you should consider what BigMike said about taking business away from your photographer 'peers.' This couple might be considering paying a photographer $2,000 and when you do it for free it kinda messes up the market for those depending on gigs to pay their rent.

That sounds like a stretch but I think it's pretty legitimate considering the amount of people running around with DSLRs lately (I can't even leave the house without seeing a few).

 

[Aayria]

In that case you should consider what BigMike said about taking business away from your photographer 'peers.' This couple might be considering paying a photographer $2,000 and when you do it for free it kinda messes up the market for those depending on gigs to pay their rent.

That sounds like a stretch but I think it's pretty legitimate considering the amount of people running around with DSLRs lately (I can't even leave the house without seeing a few).

Oh I understand what he meant.. but I'm one of those photographer "peers" who would be making nearly that much for a wedding... So if anything I'm taking buisiness from.. myself?

 

[pbelarge]

My father was a successful general contractor. He has been retired 27 years...not bad.

One of the many pieces of advice he gave me has stuck with me since I started my first business.



If one is to offer work/services for free, the recipient does not know the value of what the donor is providing.

This makes it simple. CHARGE for your services.

Also, you are not doing the working portion of the industry any favors by working for free. One day that may be you.



Imagine if your spouse came home and told you the boss told him to stay home this week, he was offered help by others who were willing to work for free.....................................

 

[pgriz]

Aayria, if you really want it to be no-pressure for you and the wedding couple, have them hire a wedding photographer, and have you as an independent party. That way, they will get the photos they need (from the other photographer), and anything you do becomes a bonus. If things work out well, you'll be able to contribute some really good images, without having to do all the customary shots. If they don't work out, then there are two photographers who can rescue each other, or the bridal party, as needed.

I have participated in weddings where I was the "family" or "friend" shooter, and kept out of the way of the working photographers. A bit of pre-ceremony discussion about what will work and what to avoid goes a long way to prevent during-ceremony friction. I haven't yet had one who discouraged me from participating.

 

[Aayria]

Imagine if your spouse came home and told you the boss told him to stay home this week, he was offered help by others who were willing to work for free.....................................

The problem with that statement though, in reference to this situation.. Is that the boss would call my spouse the next day and still need him. Why? Because in my case, I'm like a worker offering to work for free for one day. Then I'm done. I still have rates, and my rates as listed on the website say that "I am not currently offering custom sessions, but if you are interested in custom work, please expect an investment of 500 for the photographer's time and creative vision only." And when people email me about weddings, I tell them 1200 for time and talent only.. no digital negatives.

So this woman would have the understanding that this is not normal for me, and that she is saving a lot of money because she'd otherwise be paying me quite a bit.

Rather than asking her to pay.. I thought this would be a good chance to offer a free wedding because it's a venue I'd like to shoot at.. The couple has a great personality, and I don't want my first paying bride to feel like she's taking a risk on somebody who's never solo shot a wedding before.

It really helps us both in the end, and I could have a lot of fun in the process.