Wedding Photographers Unite: NOT ANOTHER NOOBIE/Wedding Post

stsinner · Jan 2, 2009

Holy God! You people are loaded for bear! And apparently rich as hell... I couldn't imagine having all that equipment..

One question-looking for a consensus here-do you guys get rid of lenses once you're gotten a better one, or do you keep them around just in case? To clarify, I've got a 50 1.8 manual lens, but I've since bought the autofocus version.. I probably won't use the manual anymore, but I can't bring myself to sell it. Many of you seem to have many lenses that overlap the same focal ranges.

JerryPH · Jan 2, 2009

stsinner said:
Holy God! You people are loaded for bear!

Less experienced people just do not have a clue as to what it takes to shoot a wedding. Besides the fact that this is a ONE TIME event that can never be repeated, a wedding is one of the most difficult and challenging venues to do well out of ALL other forms of photography. In no other aspects will you have fast movement, VERY low light, close and far distances to cover, non-stop action and such a variation of talents needed. Low and mid-grade equipment *simply cannot* fill those needs properly or with any acceptable level of final results. Of course there are exceptions to any comment, but we are talking the majority here. There will always be a few weddings done on bright days outside that last 2 hours, however, I think we can agree that the majority are done in dark rooms of homes, churches, and poorly lit reception halls and are one fast moving maniac of an event of motion from start to end.

stsinner said:
One question-looking for a consensus here-do you guys get rid of lenses once you're gotten a better one, or do you keep them around just in case?

Everyone is different and entitled to their opinions, of course... but I don't even bother with low quality lenses, period. Probably the "lowest quality" lens that I own is the Nikon 18-200 VR and this is the absolute best walk-around lens on the market. Sure it vignettes a little and is not very sharp at both ends of it's range (both easily correctable in post process), however, in the 70-150mm ranges it is as sharp as the $1600US Nikkor 70-200mm lens (that I also own), at apertures between F/8-F/13.

I would rather do without photography for several months (saving up for a PROPER lens), than slap a kit lens on my D200 or D700. IMHO, thats money that is tossed out the window uselessly.

People wishing to become serious wedding photographers basically have no choice. You *must* have the high end lenses and good cameras to get the good pics (you'd also better be damned good at using them too!!!). The demands of a wedding leave you no choice... well they do, but the choices are either to have the equipment... or NOT be able to get the best results that your client is paying you for... simple as that.

When I learned photography a little and wanted to do weddings, before I decided to do them, I mentored with a pro for 4 weddings and with that knowledge, I now *could* do them, but prefer not to. The efforts required to run a proper photography business and to churn out quality results is incredibly more challenging than what 99% of the people realize, over and above the equipment demands... which is really the EASIEST part, after all, all it takes is money. Learning the laws, business and of course quality photography practices are what I consider MINIMUM considerations on top of having $10,000 in equipment.

Big Mike · Jan 2, 2009

I forgot to mention tools. The fidst time I used my bracket, the screws came loose and I couldn't use it. Now I carry a small selection of tools, including Allen keys.

ksmattfish · Jan 2, 2009

stsinner said:
Many of you seem to have many lenses that overlap the same focal ranges.

You have to have back ups of everything. I've only ever used 1 off camera shoe cord at a time, but I've had 2 break at the same wedding, so now I carry 4.

Good gear makes it easier. IMO almost everything sold today is amazing good gear. I love my 5D, but I could still shoot weddings with 20Ds like I used to, or even film, gahhhhh.... If money wasn't an issue I'd buy 2 Nikon D3s with all the fixin's today. Since money is an issue I'll probably be buying another 5D mkI (waiting for the price to drop

). I have yet to find a modern lens that wasn't way sharper than me.

Peanuts · Jan 2, 2009

dtornabene1 said:
Well, its maximum aperture is 2.8. You don't feel you are sacraficing speed by not using the 50mm prime? Just wondering, not as though there is anything worng with that.

-Nick

No not at all. I usually use it out in natural light where there is an abundance of light (well... half of the day). There is the odd time I will use it during the ceremony or reception (usually when it is really long and I am bored out of my socks and want to try something else.. that being said, I always have a second camera with me with a 'normal' lens like a 70-200mm so I don't miss anything), but during these times I will mount it on a tripod.

jcolman · Jan 2, 2009

chrisburke said:
lol... i didnt even look at the text.. just the images... your post says that your not an experienced professional.. but your ad says you are...

I'm an experienced photographer, just not an experienced wedding photographer. Brides don't have to know that. :wink:

ksmattfish · Jan 3, 2009

Looking through my photos from this summer and fall my favorites are the unposed ones where I managed to be in the right place at the right time.

Bride's G-pa signing the marriage license

Champagne!

Watch out! More champagne...

This is probably my all time favorite from the summer. It's not a difficult photo to come up with or take, but I love those windows (Mulvane Museum of Art, Topeka, KS).

600+ new wedding photos are up at mattneedham.com

chrisburke · Jan 3, 2009

For those of you who shoot with a second photographer... do you have a contract with them (or if you are the second shooter, do they have one with you) or vice versa...

i've got a couple of packages where I offer a second photographer (upon availability) and when they ask for it, I bring my friend in.... but for those of you who read a post this summer from me, I got screwed by a different friend... so in the future, i want to be able to bring a second photog if needed, but i want to have a contract that clearly states things like pay, use of images, things like that... if any of you have a contract that you give, or have a copy of one that was given to you, can you send it my way to take a gander at.

stsinner · Jan 3, 2009

Wow, ksmattfish, those are really good. I was also looking through your wedding galleries, and you do some amazing low-light work. I'm very impressed with your work. Obviously a professional.

JerryPH · Jan 3, 2009

chrisburke said:
For those of you who shoot with a second photographer... do you have a contract with them (or if you are the second shooter, do they have one with you) or vice versa...

i've got a couple of packages where I offer a second photographer (upon availability) and when they ask for it, I bring my friend in.... but for those of you who read a post this summer from me, I got screwed by a different friend... so in the future, i want to be able to bring a second photog if needed, but i want to have a contract that clearly states things like pay, use of images, things like that... if any of you have a contract that you give, or have a copy of one that was given to you, can you send it my way to take a gander at.

I had a signed agreement that everything I took on that day was their property and I was not allowed to use it in any way shape or form. The other 3 were a verbal agreement of the same kind and only a handshake to confirm it.

It is not hard to come up with something like that. It can even be in point form, short and brief, and as long as it is dated and signed by both, it is legally binding. Just cover points like how much they are to be paid, duration of the work day, to whom the copyright belongs to, and whether or not they can use the pictures for non-profit or portfolio use and perhaps if posted on the web, what are the maximum pixel sizes and resolution permitted.

The KISS method is the best.

chrisburke · Jan 3, 2009

JerryPH said:
I had a signed agreement that everything I took on that day was their property and I was not allowed to use it in any way shape or form. The other 3 were a verbal agreement of the same kind and only a handshake to confirm it.

It is not hard to come up with something like that. It can even be in point form, short and brief, and as long as it is dated and signed by both, it is legally binding. Just cover points like how much they are to be paid, duration of the work day, to whom the copyright belongs to, and whether or not they can use the pictures for non-profit or portfolio use and perhaps if posted on the web, what are the maximum pixel sizes and resolution permitted.

The KISS method is the best.

you dont happen to have a copy of the one you signed do you?? I do understand that its smart to follow the KISS principle, but, seeing as I want to look as professional as I can, i would like a contract that has a professional look to it..

JerryPH · Jan 4, 2009

chrisburke said:
you dont happen to have a copy of the one you signed do you??

Sure I do. You need the exact wording form it? It was not drawn up by a lawyer and is not the most professional document out there, it was just a series of points that we agreed upon and both signed, as I mentioned. Most of what is in it are already here.

Let me know and I can duplicate it here or on a PM if you want.

chrisburke · Jan 4, 2009

JerryPH said:
Sure I do. You need the exact wording form it? It was not drawn up by a lawyer and is not the most professional document out there, it was just a series of points that we agreed upon and both signed, as I mentioned. Most of what is in it are already here.

Let me know and I can duplicate it here or on a PM if you want.

i would love a copy, it just gives me something to work from to create my own.. I'm not so good with the coming up of the words and the putting them together!! so having something to go from would help a lot!

DWS · Jan 4, 2009

this book may be of interest: [ame=http://www.amazon.com/Business-Legal-Forms-Photographers-CD-ROM/dp/158115206X]Amazon.com: Business and Legal Forms for Photographers (with CD-ROM): Tad Crawford: Books[/ame]