NEVER shot a wedding...jump in head first and charge nothing?

[Rosy]

Co-worker approached me about wedding photography. I was honest and said, never did one. She asked if I was willing. She also is looking around for some 'affordable' wedding photographers.

TELL HER YES - I'll shoot it at no cost for my portfolio

This is what my brain telling me....IF they like the images I can sell them the prints

Sound fair?

 

[Braineack]

IF they like the images I can sell them the prints. Sound fair?

sounds fair if you put that in your contract...

 

[Designer]

Her wanting to save money is understandable, but be sure that your skills match her expectations.

 

[pixmedic]

Selling them prints is only viable if you arent giving them the photos on disk.
Its not that you can't still sell prints, it's just harder when they can just go down to costo and get cheap prints.

Even if you do this for free, do NOT neglect to get a signed contract spelling out what you will be providing, when you will be providing it, and what format you will be providing it it.

 

[pixmedic]

I would also like to point out that it is perfectly acceptable to tell them "no" if you feel you are lacking in knowledge, skill, or equipment to do wedding photography.
just because they say they cant/wont pay for a "pro", does not make their wedding pictures your responsibility.

 

[Rosy]

I would also like to point out that it is perfectly acceptable to tell them "no" if you feel you are lacking in knowledge, skill, or equipment to do wedding photography.
just because they say they cant/wont pay for a "pro", does not make their wedding pictures your responsibility.

i appreciate that - i know myself. i'll make myself SICK because I realize how importantthis day is. My motto is - Deliver MORE than expected, if you can't - don't commit

 

[tirediron]

I would also like to point out that it is perfectly acceptable to tell them "no" if you feel you are lacking in knowledge, skill, or equipment to do wedding photography.
just because they say they cant/wont pay for a "pro", does not make their wedding pictures your responsibility.

i appreciate that - i know myself. i'll make myself SICK because I realize how important this day is. My motto is - Deliver MORE than expected, if you can't - don't commit

Under promise and over deliver - words to live by for the small business person. I would skip the whole money aspect of this altogether. Reiterate that you are NOT a wedding photographer but if they would like, you will come along and take some pictures, just so they have something. No charge. If they like the work, they can buy you a nice dinner or something. I would stay strictly away from all business; there's no quicker way to lose friends or make an enemy of a co-worker. Regardless of what they tell you, the expectation goes wayyyyyyyyy up when there's anything business-like involved.

 

[Big Mike]

Many years ago, I took a class about how to get started in wedding photography. The number one point of the entire class, was that most people fail because they don't charge enough, and that the amount of experience you have, shouldn't factor into your price.

If you are good enough, then you should charge a good rate for it. If you aren't good enough yet, then you have no business shooting a wedding (on your own).

There are several ways to build a portfolio without taking on the responsibility of being the primary photographer for someone's wedding.

This is what my brain telling me....IF they like the images I can sell them the prints

Just playing devil's advocate here, but what if they don't like the images? Would you just shrug your shoulders and say "better luck next time...you get what you pay for" ?
That's not a good way to get started in weddings.

Also, if you shoot the wedding for free, but only hope to make money selling prints...then you are telling them that your time is worth nothing...and that will reflect in how they view you and treat you.

As an example:
Imagine it's the wedding day and after the ceremony you are trying to take photos of the B&G, maybe with their family or the wedding party etc. But all around you are the wedding guests, and most of them are also trying to take photos of the B&G. Most will be using their phones, but some will have cameras, one or two may likely have better cameras than you. The B&G will be standing there, with 20 cameras pointed at them, and they won't know where to look or who to pose for. They see a bunch of friends and family, people they know and love...and then there is you, someone who they didn't pay to be there. It's not a good scenario to be in, and it makes it hard to get the good photos that you want to create for them.

And when you want to take them away from the crowd of guests, to get some photos...how much of a priority are you going to be? It's not like they're loosing any money if they don't give you much time.

Sure, they would want nice photos (who wouldn't?)....but if they are the type of people who 'hired' a free wedding photographer, they probably don't care as much about the photos as they should. And again, this is not a good scenario for you. It can be pretty hard to get great photos of people who don't care enough about helping you to get great photos.

But if they have paid you, especially if it's a significant amount, they will be much more likely to pay attention to you. From a selfish (but understandable) standpoint, they would want to get their money's worth, so the would want to work with you and hopefully have you as a higher priority than the guests with cameras. But from a better standpoint, if they are the type of people who are willing to pay for good photography, and that alone makes for better photos.

*edit* Had to run off before finishing my post
So my point with the example, is that it's not a good idea to charge nothing, especially with the attitude of 'maybe they will buy prints if they like them'. You need to be confident and know that your time is valuable and you shouldn't just give it away. People will respect you more for that...and clients who respect you, will often make for better photos, which makes you happy and them happy.

Now, with all that being said...we all have to start somewhere. And I'd venture that most wedding photographers have stories of similar situations from their early days. I would suggest trying to find a way to be involved but you may not want to assume the responsibility of being the THE wedding photographer.

Most of my first wedding experience, was for family members who asked my to shoot their weddings, but I told them to hire a pro for the most important things like the ceremony and formals, but that I would shoot the rest. Everything from getting ready to the last dance at the end of the night.

 

[Rosy]

I would also like to point out that it is perfectly acceptable to tell them "no" if you feel you are lacking in knowledge, skill, or equipment to do wedding photography.
just because they say they cant/wont pay for a "pro", does not make their wedding pictures your responsibility.

i appreciate that - i know myself. i'll make myself SICK because I realize how important this day is. My motto is - Deliver MORE than expected, if you can't - don't commit

Under promise and over deliver - words to live by for the small business person. I would skip the whole money aspect of this altogether. Reiterate that you are NOT a wedding photographer but if they would like, you will come along and take some pictures, just so they have something. No charge. If they like the work, they can buy you a nice dinner or something. I would stay strictly away from all business; there's no quicker way to lose friends or make an enemy of a co-worker. Regardless of what they tell you, the expectation goes wayyyyyyyyy up when there's anything business-like involved.

the advice I get here is priceless. Ii truly appreciate all who take the time and selflessly help others!

 

[Rosy]

There are several ways to build a portfolio without taking on the responsibility of being the primary photographer for someone's wedding.

Can you elaborate?

 

[KmH]

Set up a mock wedding using your friends/family as a B&G, officiant, audience.
Professional photographers often hire professional models to make portfolio images.

the f stops here: how to attract terrible clients

 

[Designer]

There are several ways to build a portfolio without taking on the responsibility of being the primary photographer for someone's wedding.

Can you elaborate?

If wedding photography is something you want to do professionally, get whatever photos you can get by being "second shooter". You can make the non-model photos using whatever props you can scrounge up. Hire a model for some wedding shots. (Or ask a friend to stand in.) get other model shots into your portfolio such as "engagement", informal and formal portraits, and develop a real business model obtaining whatever licensure that may be required, a tax ID, decent graphics, a website, and anything else you can think of that shows you are a real wedding photographer.

 

[Big Mike]

There are several ways to build a portfolio without taking on the responsibility of being the primary photographer for someone's wedding.
Can you elaborate?

I heard about a photographer who recruited a couple models (good looking friends of his), borrowed a few sets of wedding attire from a consignment shot, borrowed or rented a few backdrops and spent 8 hours in his garage. The end result was enough photos to create a portfolio to help book actual weddings.

I mentioned how I got my start.

Second shooting is also a very good way to get started. You find a working pro who will hire you on and let you use the image for your portfolio. This can sometimes be a paid position, but some will consider it compensation enough that you get to learn (and maybe use your photos).

 

[robbins.photo]

Just playing devil's advocate here, but what if they don't like the images? Would you just shrug your shoulders and say "better luck next time...you get what you pay for" ?
That's not a good way to get started in weddings.

Hidey ho good neighbors. Satan here. Just wanted to thank Big Mike for his advocacy. We certainly appreciate it.. lol.

But seriously, one thing I think you really, really ought to consider here is your current relationship with your co-worker. See, thing is if you do this and things go well then great, everything is hunky dory. But what happens if things don't go well? If your images don't meet expectations you are basically leaving yourself open to having your relationship with your co-worker sour and that might even go on to affect other relationships you have with other, fellow co-workers.

Not knowing what your current relationship is like or what your co-worker is like these are things you'll have to assess for yourself, but a word to the wise - weddings are already pretty emotionally charged to begin with, most of the primary participants involved expect/desire nothing less than absolute perfection and the fact that you weren't paid won't matter to them at all. So just imagine after the wedding your co-worker is showing some of these photo's to the mother, mother in law, etc - and they find them less than perfect. They start complaining to her, telling her how substandard they are, put the idea in her head, one thing leads to another and then you've got serious trouble in river city.

Guess my thinking here is you've got a ton of risk without much of an upside in this situation. So if it were me I'd go for the polite decline.

 

[gsgary]

If you are doing it for free i don't see the point of doing it