Wedding photography - Newbie

[snapshot9670]

Hi folks!

Well, after about 4yrs of wedding videography, I've decided to make the switch (and quite possibly on the tech end ...to Macs:D ...noooo!!).

Long story short, the pay was great, but the work just beat the crap out of me. Now I'm not sayin photography isn't work, but I'm sure it's not the same POST wedding day process as video. Now before I get a heated debate going....

After consulting many forums and personal contacts, I know I have to pay my dues again to get this going. I'm looking at tagging along with other photographers to get an idea on how they operate and do their "thing".

What should one expect $$$ when "taggin" along? Or should I be expecting $$$? (or is it just $..hehehe)

[symes]

I would say that there is no question you will put almost as much PP work if not more into photography than you will to video...

Cheers,

[Ronald S. Jr.]

I can't imagine editing a video of a wedding being anywhere near as much work as editing an entire set of proofs. Whew...it's tedious! but hey..."that's what we get paid the big bucks for!" :lol:

[snapshot9670]

I would say that there is no question you will put almost as much PP work if not more into photography than you will to video...

Cheers,


Ok, I guess a debate I could not avoid. Actually, this is something I need to know.

Do tell.

Tasks and approx. hours? And what tasks are outsourced?

[Toogy]

I would have to agree that editing a wedding video takes much more time. I have done both and continue to do both.
Wedding photography is far more profitable than videography.
For one thing people will generally pay more for photography than video.
On average it takes me 30-40 hours of post production on a wedding video. 8-10 hours on wedding photography.

[JMHPhotography]

The key to simplify and expedite the process is AUTOMATE wherever you can. I shot a wedding on the 3rd and was in 3 different rooms, outdoors in two locations thus two different types of outdoor light, and the main venue in the hall, and the function room. I took 7 shots, one of each space with a white balance target card(similar to the gretagmacbeth color checker) so that I could build a profile in ACR, for each room and apply it to each photo taken in the particular space. Boy does that save time. I had Perfect color balance done for over 200 pictures and I only had to make the adjustment 7 times. I know it's better to get it right in the camera, but at a wedding, you try setting custom white balance up in your camera just to move from one space to another and then back again. lol.

[Ronald S. Jr.]

8-10 hours? Sheesh...everyone else must be much faster than me.

[snapshot9670]

I would have to agree that editing a wedding video takes much more time. I have done both and continue to do both.
Wedding photography is far more profitable than videography.
For one thing people will generally pay more for photography than video.
On average it takes me 30-40 hours of post production on a wedding video. 8-10 hours on wedding photography.

Don't remind me :cry: . I'm backlogged about 5 projects.

Cool, you do both! How long have you been doing that?

Toogy, let me ask you. What lenses would you suggest I have bare min for wedding photography?

Thanks,
snapshot

[imchillindave]

I would have to agree that editing a wedding video takes much more time. I have done both and continue to do both.
Wedding photography is far more profitable than videography.
For one thing people will generally pay more for photography than video.
On average it takes me 30-40 hours of post production on a wedding video. 8-10 hours on wedding photography.

That is why I went back to photography once my camcorder was stolen. The additional problem with video is it's quite a bit more expensive as well, equipment, computer mods, software, etc. The real pain is music. Everything is copywritten and royalty free music costs quite a bit. Video has to have music to compliment the images.

Now, to what the original post was in regards to . . .
It all depends on how you arranged it with the photographer you are tagging along with. If you told him/her you were wanting some stuff to build a portfolio and get some experience, don't expect to get paid. If you had asked him about considering hiring a second photographer, then money would be an obvious yes. When I "volunteer" to work along with a photographer, I expect nothing but experience. Ask yourself this, "What do you plan to accomplish by tagging along?"

[Harry Settle]

Your advantage over other new wedding photographers is the experience you have in the wedding ceremony arena. Most newbies haven't attended very many, if any at all. You shouldn't suffer from the fear of the unknown and should be able to control the situation better.

In general with photography you won't have to agonize over creating an epic production for days after the ceremony. On the other hand, putting together a proper album isn't exactly a walk in the park.

[RandyMN]

I see wedding photography more heavily weighed on directing and video as editing. Personally, I have found video is more forgiving if you have multiple camera's shooting. Photography is not very forgiving and can't be edited as much to get your final product.

If you print your own pictures I think the photography can be every bit as demanding in the post-processing as video.

I'm not sure if you interviewed for your video's, but if you do they both involve a lot of people skills. Otherwise, if I was a shy person I'd much prefer video as opposed to photography as there's no sitting back watching during the photo's.

[Carzee]

I surfed into a Kentucky wedding photography site, Kenny Caudill.

Speaking of time involved -they do a web site for the couple and set up online orders for prints too.
That can take time .

1. Lighting/fill flash interest http://www.kcphoto.com/Sample%20Albums/WebSunset/AlbumlFrame.htm

2. Wedding package pricing interest http://www.kcphoto.com/wedding_prices.htm

[Toogy]

The worst thing about wedding video is the Audio, it is a NIGHTMARE, you have to worry about wireless microphones for the groom, minister, anybody else with important things to say. Then syncing up the audio on the 2 or 3 cameras you used, plus whatever other external audio sources you used (irivers, mini-disc etc.) And you are recording the whole time, at least with photography, you take a shot, you move somewhere, take another shot, move somewhere else. Can't really do that easily with video.

[Toogy]

Don't remind me :cry: . I'm backlogged about 5 projects.

Cool, you do both! How long have you been doing that?

Toogy, let me ask you. What lenses would you suggest I have bare min for wedding photography?

Thanks,
snapshot

I'd suggest a good medium range fast zoom lens, I use the older 28-70 F2.8L for 80% of my shots. Before I had this lens I used a Tamron 28-75 F2.8 and it did a great job. I have actually shot a complete wedding with just that lens.
A wide angle helps for large group shots and dramatic shots as well.
A good 70-200mm is nice as well, I wish I have the F2.8 IS version, but I am saving for it.

Anyways, hope that helps.

[snapshot9670]

[quote=Harry Settle]Your advantage over other new wedding photographers is the experience you have in the wedding ceremony arena. Most newbies haven't attended very many, if any at all. You shouldn't suffer from the fear of the unknown and should be able to control the situation better.


You'd think. But for some reason, I've got this nervousness about the whole thing. It's a healthy feeling (I think). I guess the concerns wandering my mind are that this requires soooo much more know-how...as far as lighting, lenses, positions, where to take'em for photos, and etc.

I'm sure once I do a wedding (on my own or otherwise), that'll it'll all come back to me and I'll feel comfortable.

Keep y'all posted!

Snapshot

[tim]

After some practice, I take 4-6 hours to produce proofs of a wedding if I take around 800 shots. To produce prints i'll further refine them and give each large image a good amount of time. To produce 100 6x4 prints last night took me about three hours processing.

[Harry Settle]

[quote]


You'd think. But for some reason, I've got this nervousness about the whole thing. It's a healthy feeling (I think). I guess the concerns wandering my mind are that this requires soooo much more know-how...as far as lighting, lenses, positions, where to take'em for photos, and etc.

I'm sure once I do a wedding (on my own or otherwise), that'll it'll all come back to me and I'll feel comfortable.

Keep y'all posted!

Snapshot

True, but, remember that all stress isn't bad. It takes a certain level of stress to get you out of bed in the morning. Think of what that "nervousness" would be if you were truly a newbie. More like sheer terror.

Trust me, because of the years you've had being able to sit back and watch the weddings unfold, you know the routine. Once the formals are out of the way, everything, and I mean absolutely everything, is a candid.

[kampphoto]

I have to agree that doing photography is alot easier the videography for weddings. Currently my company provides both services but we definatly lean towards the photography alot more. The thought of having to digitize footage... then sit and try to find that shot you wanted to put in that spot... then creating all the titles... and then creating some cheesy effects... then rendering and watching the whole the 15 times to make sure it's absolutly perfect and you didn't miss anything... then out putting DVD and VHS copies... Ewwwww...

Now don't get me wrong I love shooting and editing video (I also work for the largest media company in Canada - Canwest Media Works) but the post production on pictures is much much much less time consuming and the profit per hour of work is much higher. Well now time to get ready... we are actually shooting a wedding video tonight as well as doing the pictures...

Cheers!

[dengli]

I often work with a videographer doing weddings. I'm much more comfortable shootoing video of the wedding using multiple cameras than can be spliced and edited later. Stills photography is much more demanding on the day . You need to know your equipment inside out as most of your energy and concentration should go on organising the groups and poses, considering lighting, backgrounds, exposure, white balance, depth of field and so on.

I personally wouldn't touch video post processing for the reasons already given in the post - synchronising, adding music, transitions, effects etc etc etc. Stills are another matter. It is more demanding in terms of materials and resources (paper,ink, preview and final albums, pages, adhesives, mounts) but post processing time is much less.

[PIXI_666]

Hiya!

The first wedding i did, i had no idea what i was doing, but on the day it all just came to me! I did some research on the internet, i looked at a few shots to see some idea's and then off i went - perfect!

All that i did to learn more (A lot of weddings from the famiyl came up in this year) was that i would watch the photographer's of these weddings, saw how they interacted with people etc. and then asked the Bride about what packages they gave them, also looked at the album's etc.

People think i am wedding crazy, but in actual fact i am photography crazy and because Wedding's are one of the main sources of income for photographer's i figured id start with that and work my way up! I am not professional at this, and i am only starting out in weddings, but just from word of mouth i have 4 weddings in 2006 already booked from September this year!

Look at some websites (Photographers wedding websites) and just see how they have things set up, what they use, packages etc. just involve yourself in wedding photography for a few nights per week to get a more of an idea.

I tell ya what...wedding videography i can understand would be very tedious! Now i know photography is the same...but editing...phew leave me out of that one! I can sit there for hours tweaking one photo...but atleast it's not MOVING AROUND!!!! lol your brave for being in the industry, but i have to admit, in MY opinion photography even though it is hard work, has to be easier than video editing!

Del

[snapshot9670]

lol your brave for being in the industry, but i have to admit, in MY opinion photography even though it is hard work, has to be easier than video editing!


I'm hoping it is. I have a family and having to stay out ALL day and night on a Saturday (we tend to stay later too! "we'll be leaving by helicopter and want you to capture that too", and then editing the following week, is such a drain.

Well, this is the first photography forum I've signed up with, and everyone seems to be very helpful. I was totally expecting the video bash sessions.

Thanks everyone!

If there's one thing that I'm getting from the various replies, is that y'all have confirmed the most important thing - more pay for not-as demanding work :lol:


PIXI

What lenses do you have in your arsenal?