Very first wedding, $300 too much or too little?

[pixmedic]

This video is extremely relevant to the discussion at hand:

This video confuses me. Clearly, the defendant was behind the 8 ball on her knowledge of the lenses she uses, but her "off the top" knowledge should not be the point--the point should be the quality of the results. We saw a few bad shots and some bad PS stuff, but I think the Judge was a bit over the top for purposes of sensationalizing this issue for television.

of course...it IS television. that's kinda his thing. its like any of the judges on TV. its all sensationalism.

 

[ghache]

To the one who says don't charge well, **** hem because with the images you showed, you clearly undersold yourself.

 

[cgipson1]

So far i've learned that,

1. None of you can agree on anything
2. many of you make off the wall assumptions that don't make any sense at all

We have all levels of experience, knowledge and education here. The only way to know how worthwhile an "Attaboy" is.. is to get to know that individual, and to check out their "work" and see if it is "much better" or "much worse" than yours.

The "Much Worse" crowd will almost always tell you how great they think your shots are, with no meaningful suggestions (almost like family and clients)...

The "much better" will either:

1. Not say anything at all
2. Make some suggestions on how to improve
3. ignore you if you are perceived as arrogant, and convinced you are so good you don't need help.

Of course.. there are other things that could be said.. but these are the extremes. All advice comes from the giver's perspective... some are knowledgeable, some aren't! It is really up to you to determine what is worthwhile, and what isn't.

 

[skiboarder72]

We have all levels of experience, knowledge and education here. The only way to know how worthwhile an "Attaboy" is.. is to get to know that individual, and to check out their "work" and see if it is "much better" or "much worse" than yours.

The "Much Worse" crowd will almost always tell you how great they think your shots are, with no meaningful suggestions (almost like family and clients)...

The "much better" will either:

1. Not say anything at all
2. Make some suggestions on how to improve
3. ignore you if you are perceived as arrogant, and convinced you are so good you don't need help.

Of course.. there are other things that could be said.. but these are the extremes. All advice comes from the giver's perspective... some are knowledgeable, some aren't! It is really up to you to determine what is worthwhile, and what isn't.

So true... people really need to keep this in mind when asking for feedback

 

[o hey tyler]

To the one who says don't charge well, **** hem because with the images you showed, you clearly undersold yourself.

No, ghache. **** you.

How do you judge a wedding accurately off six images? Especially a 12 hour wedding?

 

[Robin Usagani]

IMO, these 6 photos aren't that strong... but I am just a dad with a camera.

 

[o hey tyler]

IMO, these 6 photos aren't that strong... but I am just a dad with a camera.

We are both just Facebook fauxtographers.

 

[skiboarder72]

At our yearly South Carolina Association of Wedding Photographers contest we have a "wedding day" category where you are only allowed to enter in 8 images that tell the story of a wedding day. It's difficult, but definitely can be done. You can check the results here from this past year's judging: 2011 Winners

 

[pixmedic]

IMO, these 6 photos aren't that strong... but I am just a dad with a camera.

ULTIMATE dad with a camera... get it right!

 

[Majeed Badizadegan]

Okay then, so considering my expenses i'll be charging upwards of $3,000 for my next wedding. Not because i am good or anything but because i want to make a decent sales margin. And understudy/2nd shoot?, why bother? it does't matter if i'm good, This is a business, not an art form. Who cares of the bride is happy with what she paid, along as i can afford my next L lens who cares right? This isn't my day job, nor do i want it to be. But if i can use my camera gear which i have already bought for my own enjoyment and use it to make a little extra cash, whats the harm in that? Maybe my opinion on photography is warped, but i like to think that pleasing people is part of the job. I'd like to think people pay me for my skill, creativity, and style not a percentage of what it costs me to pull out my camera for a couple hours and risking my shutter life.

Oh and the photos are fixed.

Ruining people's memories of the most important day of their life. That's the harm in it.

I charged $750 for my very first wedding I ever shot back in 2006. IMO It says your serious, but learning.

Are you serious? This comes off as totally arrogant and misinformed. You shouldn't be LEARNING if you're charging somebody $750 to take photographs of an extremely important event of their lives (maybe the most important). You need to re-examine your thinking, because it is severely flawed.

The images are "ok" I'm sure the bride and groom liked them, but other photographers look at them differently. Your flickr says you use a 60D, is that what you shot with? I assume you rented the fisheye, and maybe a telephoto? I wouldn't shoot with a 60D - I would have rented a mkii or iii - or at least a 7D. 60D's are more on the line of Rebels. While image quality is alright, the technical aspects of the 60D aren't on the professional line. I personally like the 50D better. I realize I'm getting off track, but back to your OP - I would've charged a minimum of $500. Without knowing the budget of the bride and groom, you may have been able to get the job done for $750-$1000. I personally try to steer clear of weddings, unless its for someone I know. I enjoy doing model shoots and other print stuff. Having 2 cameras or even 2 shooters for larger weddings I find a must..

No.

You're just plain wrong. The 60d and 7d have the same APS-C sensor, and the 60d (released late 2010) is actually NEWER than the 7d (mid 2009). Have you actually used a 60d or are you just talking out of your @$$???

I own it and have shot 50,000 frames on it, and to me, you sound like you don't know what the hell you're talking about. The resolving power of the 60d 18MP APS-C sensor is actually extremely high, and has everything to do with the glass in front of it. At higher ISO's, both the 7d and 60d will suffer pretty much equally, where you'll find the benefit of the high ISO in full frame.

I guess I must have gone a different route. I've actually still never 2nd shot a wedding. Even my very first wedding, I was the main photographer. I guess I just work well under pressure. I had about a year and a half experience shooting at that point though and felt pretty comfortable shooting friends and family members. So I shot their engagement photos, they loved them, and I charged them $750 to shoot their wedding. I invested about half of that into a new lens and flash, and the time to learn how to use it well. Was it risky? Yea. Are couples that only spend $750 on a wedding photographer willing to take a risk. Yes! Long story short it worked out great and I shot 3 of her bridesmaid's weddings the next year, and things just took off from there.

While going the 2nd shooter route is probably safer I think it teaches you to shoot like everyone else, which in the long run won't get you very far in a very competitive market.

No.

 

[cgipson1]

IMO, these 6 photos aren't that strong... but I am just a dad with a camera.

We are both just Facebook fauxtographers.

I hope to someday be as good a Facebook Fauxtographer as you are, Tyler! lol!


(hmmm... was that a compliment.. or an insult?)

 

[Designer]

...everywhere i've showed these photos everyone has loved them, except in this thread.

Sometimes people don't want to hurt your feelings. How about a blind test? Send the photos to some professional wedding photographers, using someone else's return e-mail address. Don't include your name. Ask for honest opinions from the pros.

 

[o hey tyler]

IMO, these 6 photos aren't that strong... but I am just a dad with a camera.

We are both just Facebook fauxtographers.

I hope to someday be as good a Facebook Fauxtographer as you are, Tyler! lol!


(hmmm... was that a compliment.. or an insult?)

I don't see how I could take it any other way than a compliment.

 

[skiboarder72]

I charged $750 for my very first wedding I ever shot back in 2006. IMO It says your serious, but learning.

Are you serious? This comes off as totally arrogant and misinformed. You shouldn't be LEARNING if you're charging somebody $750 to take photographs of an extremely important event of their lives (maybe the most important). You need to re-examine your thinking, because it is severely flawed.

I've been shooting weddings for 6 years professionally and I STILL learn something at every wedding I shoot. I don't think I ever want to stop learning.

Charging a number like that says that you have a least some confidence in what you do and it explains that while your not a experienced professional, that your time is still value able.

Also, just because I'm learning doesn't necessarily mean the photos are going to come out looking like some wacked out experiment. The photos came out great, and she (and others) apparently thought so otherwise I wouldn't have shot 3 of her bridesmaid's weddings the next year!

 

[Robin Usagani]

^^^^ good wedding photographer ^^^^^