Some advice... (asked to a wedding, where to go from here, etc)

[Serbrider]

Ok...

Not quite sure what I want from this... I guess just to see where others think I am, where I "should" go with this, and so on.

I am a NOVICE. But even that word is a little wrong... I tend to keep most things on the "auto" setting... I know I know... bad me. But I just never bothered to really get to know my camera or all of the settings and what various things such as aperture and f-stop and all of those are. I've tried looking it up before... and then I had school or work... and then the only time when I had time to actually do something with it was when I had to go take pictures for people, for my cousins, for my brother and his fiance, for various pet owners. All for free mind you. I have never viewed myself as good enough to be paid for my work. But it is something I enjoy doing, so I'd be willing to set aside an hour or two here or there to take some portraits.

Editing I currently do is just some contrast (the pictures I'm showing now that are heavier contrast were taken about two to three years ago at least, and back when I was in high school and editing crazy... That was when I was doing all of the various photo manipulation stuff as well.

Anyways... I had been just doing this, taking pictures when people ask me, and slowly developing my portfolio. But I showed my brother's engagement photos that I took to my roommate, and now she's asking me if I would be her photographer in exchange for her buying me a camera (I already have a camera, so if I said "yes" I would be just asking for some 55-300 mm Nikkor lenses instead) and $200-400. It would be saving her around $200-500. And it would be giving me practice.

However... it's her WEDDING. Totally different from going out to my parents' job (a campsite) and taking some pictures of my brother and his fiancee. Or going out into the backyard and snapping some photos of my dog or my cousins. I am currently leading more towards "no, but thank you so much for the offer"... but at the same time... I want to know what y'all think, and if I work from now until then (mid-December) doing free or very inexpensive photoshoots with various people... if I would be able to do her justice?

My camera currently is a Nikon D70. It has a Nikkor 18-55mm lens on it, and just the normal flash. I am looking at getting a 55-300mm lens anyways, and doing this I could go ahead and get it. I prefer the longer lenses where i can truly zoom in from far off... it makes animal photography SO much easier. I used a 55-200 mm lens on my dad's camera (also a Nikon D70) to take my brother's photos, and it made a huge difference in my opinion. I'm personally not a huge fan of using most flashes, as they tend to result in showing every single pore on a person's face... or washing them out... which is why I prefer to just use natural lighting, and she is planning on having an outdoor wedding during the day, so that would work for that time at least... the reception would be a bit different, I'd probably need to invest in a good flash for that. But... yeah.

I have no other props or light panels or anything like that, as I'm more of the kind of person who likes to put people in an area, and tell them to do whatever, like play a game, or talk to each other, anything... as that way I can capture THEM... and not just a pose. So... candid type of shoots are my favorite...

SO... here goes. Here is my photobucket album. All of the engagement photos are unedited, and were saved onto my computer from facebook (as my brother has all of the originals on his computer and I have none) and then reuploaded, so the quality isn't as high as it should be... but you can still see at least enough of it to give it some sort of critique. I do have more time (no job... Nobody hiring), so I am able to watch informative videos and get to truly know my camera and practice a lot... so... again... yeah.

Photography Portfolio pictures by Serbrider - Photobucket

*nervously twiddles thumbs*

 

[The_Traveler]

When you take engagement pictures you can redo shots that aren't good.
Weddings, not so much
Engagement pictures are often outdoors in the natural and you can pick the day and time
Weddings not so much
If something goes wrong with an engagement shoot, you can do it over the next weekend
Well, you can see where this is going.

What I think you should do next is do a search for 'weddings' here and read the advice that newbie photogs are given, then do that.

Lew

 

[Serbrider]

Oh, I definitely get that! All of my shoots are "go with the flow", but most definitely far less pressure or "redoable" than a wedding. A wedding is a WHOLE different ballgame from what I'm used to, and I'm more than willing to acknowledge that, hence my hesitation on saying "yes" to my roommate... and hence my desire to know what y'all's opinions are when it comes to my current composition and photography ability, and then go from there... and if y'all think I would be able to develop the necessary skills by December 12th, or if I should just decline and focus on portraiture...

I have done some searches on here (that's where i started actually and found this forum), and while some things are helpful, most of what I was getting were comments going all "well, i'm tired of people who aren't professionals taking photos at weddings" or "you need this flash or that" or stuff like that... not exactly what I was looking for. Plus... I wanted a personal critique on my own photography.

 

[Dao]

Just based on your photography knowledge, equipments and lighting knowledge, I think it is wise not to do it, or at least not as the primary photographer.

 

[Serbrider]

OK. Thanks. How would y'all recommend I go from here though? What are things I need to improve upon just based on what you can see in my photography, knowledge is something I always need to improve on... but in technique, what can you see?

 

[Dao]

I tend to keep most things on the "auto" setting... I know I know... bad me. But I just never bothered to really get to know my camera or all of the settings and what various things such as aperture and f-stop and all of those are. I've tried looking it up before... and then I had school or work..

I'm personally not a huge fan of using most flashes, as they tend to result in showing every single pore on a person's face... or washing them out... which is why I prefer to just use natural lighting,

That should be the first 2 areas I recommend you learn more about.

 

[The_Traveler]

Oh, I definitely get that! All of my shoots are "go with the flow", but most definitely far less pressure or "redoable" than a wedding. A wedding is a WHOLE different ballgame from what I'm used to, and I'm more than willing to acknowledge that, hence my hesitation on saying "yes" to my roommate... and hence my desire to know what y'all's opinions are when it comes to my current composition and photography ability, and then go from there... and if y'all think I would be able to develop the necessary skills by December 12th, or if I should just decline and focus on portraiture...

I have done some searches on here (that's where i started actually and found this forum), and while some things are helpful, most of what I was getting were comments going all "well, i'm tired of people who aren't professionals taking photos at weddings" or "you need this flash or that" or stuff like that... not exactly what I was looking for. Plus... I wanted a personal critique on my own photography.

What year?

 

[Serbrider]

Well, let me explain about the lighting a bit more. Yes, I do need to learn more about it, but it's not like I won't use artificial light or flashes if I'm able to, but they need to be lightbox type of flashes, in order for me to keep the smooth look I'm still aiming for. But yeah...

December 12, 2012.

 

[rokvi]

Best thing to do is read/Google/U tube things like: Composition, Exposure and how shutter, aperture and ISO correlate. Depth of field, Colour and Kelvins, Balancing the VII zones (digital), Focusing, Focal lengths, Contrast, Lighting, Inverse square law, Perspective. The list goes on. You'll know when your ready to tackle something like a wedding. But what you need right now is a camera and passion!

 

[The_Traveler]

Sure, go ahead.

Whats the worst that could happen?
So, you could screw up, the pictures won't look good and the most memorable day of her life won't have any good memories.

That wouldn't be your problem would it?



Unless of course you're taking money for it and she decides to sue you for damages, etc.




Nah, go ahead.




Your liability insurance will cover it and your best friend is a lawyer so he'll handle the court case for the suit and settle with the state for doing business without a license.
And she'll eventually talk to you again but little short words.

Go ahead.

What can you lose?


That last is a rhetorical question.

 

[Serbrider]

Sure, go ahead.

Whats the worst that could happen?
So, you could screw up, the pictures won't look good and the most memorable day of her life won't have any good memories.

That wouldn't be your problem would it?



Unless of course you're taking money for it and she decides to sue you for damages, etc.




Nah, go ahead.




Your liability insurance will cover it and your best friend is a lawyer so he'll handle the court case for the suit and settle with the state for doing business without a license.
And she'll eventually talk to you again but little short words.

Go ahead.

What can you lose?


That last is a rhetorical question.

No need to be so rude about it. SHE ASKED ME. I haven't said yes. I have actually expressed my concern multiple times to her. She doesn't want to drop it. I've said no twice before, and this is the third time she's asked me. I apologize if you've screwed up someone's life, but that's why I've come on here and ASKED before saying ANYTHING to her. This is one of my best friends, and I have encouraged her SO many times to use a professional photographer, she ended up finding one that she liked, but now her mom is telling her she needs to find somebody cheaper.

I'm not some stupid idiot little girl who is all "MY FOTOGRAFY IS BUTIFUL!! I CAN DO ANYTING!!". I am a novice. And I don't want to do weddings now or in future. But I do want to develop my photography skills, and my friend has been bugging me so long, I wanted another input. OBVIOUSLY I'm such a stupid idiot novice photographer that I should just throw away my camera and never look at it again because all I'll do is ruin people's lives by taking photos of them.

She has told me that all she wants is some posed photos at the beginning, maybe some during the ceremony for her mom's sake, and then some reception photos. She really only wants cell phone photos, but her mom wants her to find a photographer, which is why she's asking me, as her other friend and her brother are more in the wedding. I have said no twice so far, as I've said. As that is a HUGE pressure on ME. She may say she doesn't care, but I do, and it's not about wanting to maintain a good relationship with her, but in my opinion (not hers), the photography at the wedding is HUGE. And very important. Hence, why I wanted an unbiased opinion.

And I got that. So I will not be doing her wedding. Happy?



To everyone else, thank you. I will definitely continue to develop my portraiture skills, and work hard to learn as much as I can, and maybe someday be able to earn something from it.

 

[gsgary]

OK. Thanks. How would y'all recommend I go from here though? What are things I need to improve upon just based on what you can see in my photography, knowledge is something I always need to improve on... but in technique, what can you see?

Everything

 

[The_Traveler]

Don't mistake honesty for rudeness because you don't want to hear it.

You don't have the experience, the equipment or the skills.

Tell her no until she stops asking - and mean it.

 

[MLeeK]

Sure, go ahead.

Whats the worst that could happen?
So, you could screw up, the pictures won't look good and the most memorable day of her life won't have any good memories.

That wouldn't be your problem would it?



Unless of course you're taking money for it and she decides to sue you for damages, etc.




Nah, go ahead.




Your liability insurance will cover it and your best friend is a lawyer so he'll handle the court case for the suit and settle with the state for doing business without a license.
And she'll eventually talk to you again but little short words.

Go ahead.

What can you lose?


That last is a rhetorical question.

No need to be so rude about it. SHE ASKED ME. I haven't said yes. I have actually expressed my concern multiple times to her. She doesn't want to drop it. I've said no twice before, and this is the third time she's asked me. I apologize if you've screwed up someone's life, but that's why I've come on here and ASKED before saying ANYTHING to her. This is one of my best friends, and I have encouraged her SO many times to use a professional photographer, she ended up finding one that she liked, but now her mom is telling her she needs to find somebody cheaper.

I'm not some stupid idiot little girl who is all "MY FOTOGRAFY IS BUTIFUL!! I CAN DO ANYTING!!". I am a novice. And I don't want to do weddings now or in future. But I do want to develop my photography skills, and my friend has been bugging me so long, I wanted another input. OBVIOUSLY I'm such a stupid idiot novice photographer that I should just throw away my camera and never look at it again because all I'll do is ruin people's lives by taking photos of them.

She has told me that all she wants is some posed photos at the beginning, maybe some during the ceremony for her mom's sake, and then some reception photos. She really only wants cell phone photos, but her mom wants her to find a photographer, which is why she's asking me, as her other friend and her brother are more in the wedding. I have said no twice so far, as I've said. As that is a HUGE pressure on ME. She may say she doesn't care, but I do, and it's not about wanting to maintain a good relationship with her, but in my opinion (not hers), the photography at the wedding is HUGE. And very important. Hence, why I wanted an unbiased opinion.

And I got that. So I will not be doing her wedding. Happy?



To everyone else, thank you. I will definitely continue to develop my portraiture skills, and work hard to learn as much as I can, and maybe someday be able to earn something from it.

She's asking you over and over because she knows you are wavering and you're going to cave. You need to put your foot firmly down and say "NO" and then tell her why:
1. You don't have the knowledge or the gear to do it
a. it's very very different than a posed engagement shoot. There are incredible demands of a wedding that are extremely high pressure and high stress.
b. there are low light situations that you need a bunch more knowledge to handle properly. Especially if she is getting married in a church.
c. You need additional very high end gear to shoot in those low light situations.
d.You don't have a second set of everything. Should something happen to your gear in this chaotic, high stress, crazy situation where accidents are more likely to happen than in any other situation-you wouldn't be able to finish photographing the wedding. There would be nothing.
2. you don't have the business licensing or insurance to do it. For example if your gear does break and you can't produce anything from the wedding-you have no insurance that will pay that liability that you just took on.
3. If you value your friendship you just cannot take a risk on your friend's WEDDING. Wedding photography is the ONLY thing you have to look back on after the wedding is over and done. If something goes wrong and you can't give her what she is expecting you would feel worse than horrible. It would ruin your friendship and destroy any confidence you have in yourself.

If you are confident enough in producing some PORTRAITS and you are done explaining all of that tell her you will be happy to shoot bridal portraits for her any time before the wedding. Even that you will be happy to shoot a portrait session the day of the wedding-before the wedding and excitement-for the both of them and the wedding party.

 

[tirediron]

A wedding is typically the most important day in a woman's life (men are usually a little more relaxed about it), and while it's great to be an inexperienced shooter and do someone's wedding because they have no money and there is literally no one else to do it, AND they understand what they're getting, that may not be the case here.

A typical experienced wedding photographer will arrive with between $10 and 20K worth of gear. Ideally, two full-frame bodies, f2.8 glass going from ~15mm to at least 200mm, multiple flashes, lights, modifiers, clamps and triggers and equally as important as the gear, an exhaustive knowledge of the wedding process.

If you think that most flashes make people look washed out, or show every pore, then you really don't know enough about it. Even the pop-flash on a consumer body can deliver good results if used correctly.

That said, the images on your photobucket account indicate to me a lack of knowledge in exposure and metering; critical aspects of wedding photography, since you can expect that in 95%+ of the cases you'll be shooting the "black and white exposure nightmare".

Can you learn what you need to know in a few months... maybe. If you spend 8-10 hrs/day five days a week shooting and learning.

What I would like, before I "pass judgement" is for you to explain to me exactly what you will starting in the week prior to the wedding and going right through to the end of the reception. There's a LOT more to shooting a wedding than just showing up at the church with your camera.