My first wedding

[Rhys]

they would know the tog was inexperience though wouldnt they.

surely they would book withour seeing a portfolio.

i also have experience of several people paying a lot of money for photos from a 'pro tog' and the pics were awful.

the saying you get what you pay for is not always true.

the forum was invented im sure to help people not hinder them.
correct me if im wrong

Agreed. The photographer that did our wedding photos came to within an inch of getting sued. It was just because we didn't have the time to invest that we didn't sue her. I managed to rescue one or two photos by scanning them and adjusting the colour balance as well as straightening them with photoshop.

 

[jols]

why would it turn into a pm?

im happy to discuss this

if your not refrain from reading any more

 

[jols]

With all due respect to the original post and to you and me I was hoping this would end up in the form of a PM. That will not be happening until you turn on your PM.

Yes we are here to help, but I will always give my opinion. It is important to hear all sides of the story. Only by discussion can we help each other. I am here because I love photography. I am not here to tell you "go get 'em" when I think it is ridiculous. Generally I have pleasant things to say. That does not include this topic.

LUV AND BASS

why would i pm this subject im happy to discuss this topic.

if you are not do not participate

thanks

 

[eclipse13]

Seriously, am I supposed to PM random people and hope that I luckily get someone that can help me? No. That is why this is called a message board.

Now, can we please drop this. I understand that you do not want to help me. However, others might, and I would like to not upset any mods/admins with petty arguing and have this close.

 

[photogoddess]

Please cover yourself with a contract - even if the photography is a gift and to help you to get needed experience. It should list out all the parties, what is expected and a disclaimer of sorts that state that you're an aspiring professional, not a professional and hold no responsibility for not getting any specific shots or the quality.

I am a pro that does this for a living and even I've done a couple of free weddings. Thankfully I've not had problems but the stories I've heard turn most people off of working for friends or relatives. Protecting yourself is a must IMO.

 

[craig]

My idea was to have Jols PM me so the original post could stay on track.

Love & Bass

 

[eclipse13]

Well then I apologize. My mistake.

 

[Rhys]

If it's free then there's no need for a contract. An oral agreement isn't worth the paper it's written on. Thus, if you agree to do the photography and they hate it, they have no come-back because there is no contract. It is - for you - good practice. Plus you can put the photos in your offline portfolio (unless they specified you can use them in advertising in which you can use your online portfolio too).

 

[Fiendish Astronaut]

Good luck Eclipse13 - I have very little wedding photography experience, but if you do it be nice to the guests so they relax around you and shoot in RAW so you can post-process them. And don't be afriad to spend a few weeks slowly processing the images to make them look at their best. And look for other people's wedding photography online to give yourself some inspiration.

 

[craig]

why would i pm this subject im happy to discuss this topic.

if you are not do not participate

thanks

I am happy to discuss this topic as well. Just not in this particular thread. I am afraid that the OP will go off course

Love & Bass

 

[JIP]

I really don't understand how some of this is helping me. They are both recent college graduates, and she is an elementary school teacher. They are skimping on almost everything. The 'DJ' consists of an ipod connected to some of the groom's band's audio equipment, the 'catering' consists of a mutual friends dad catching all of the fish and cooking it himself (he is a comercial fisherman), the cake is being made for free by the bride's aunt. The only things that they are really paying full price for are the venue and the dress. If I don't do this, they will not have a photographer, plain and simple. I am doing this to help them out, and hopefully gain some expierience.

I am taking all of your warnings seriously, but at the same time, I am doing this regardless of what you tell me. I want all of the help I can get, but the decision has already been made.

I am planing on doing as much research and learning as I can until then, I will have a backup camera, hot shoe flash, and batteries in case of an accident.

Big Mike, errant star, and Jols, I really do appreciate your input. As for everone else, your negativity isn't helping me in any way. I have known these people for a while now and I have made it very clear to them that I am not comfortable with charging them, and that there is a reason for that.

Well O.k. then first of all to help you how many 2.8 lenses do you have in case the church will not allow flash photograpy and you find out on the day of?. I don't mean to be negative but you need to be prepared fo all of the things that can go wrong. If the DJ/IPOD plays the wrong song for the first dance you can reset it and start again, if one dish tastes bad usually with a wedding like this there is a buffet you can try something else. Just remember if something goes wroing with you that's it no going back no do-overs and even friends or elatives get pissed off if something like this gets screwed up.

 

[eclipse13]

I have a 50mm f/2.8, and the backup camera/flash I am borrowing will have the same lens.

 

[jols]

I am happy to discuss this topic as well. Just not in this particular thread. I am afraid that the OP will go off course

Love & Bass

this thread is about helping the original poster, not about you and me.

why would you want to pm about this?

 

[craig]

Seems to me that eclipse13 wants to now how to shoot a wedding. Not the whys and where fors of shooting a free wedding.

Love & Bass

 

[JIP]

Well at the top of the wedding gallery there is a sticky of general tips and helpful hints on shooting weddings. I really dont think you can teach someone on a forum how to shoot a wedding but that thread is a good start.