Am I Crazy?

[Steve Parr]

This Sunday, I’ll be shooting my first wedding.

I’m not a wedding photographer. I don’t play one on TV, and I didn’t stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

The couple who are getting married are good friends of my wife and I. When they first asked if I would be interested in shooting the wedding, I suggested that they might want to get an actual wedding photographer. They said that they weren’t planning on hiring one. Basically, if I didn’t shoot the wedding, they would have only those photos from the little disposable cameras left on the tables for the invitees.

Of course, given that, I said “Sure”. I figured, along with the CD of prints we agreed I would provide them, I would get one of the shots printed up and framed for them as a wedding gift.

I wasn’t concerned about being paid. These two are, like I said, close friends, and I work with both of them. When they asked me what I wanted to charge them, I replied “Whatever you’re comfortable with”, again re-emphasizing that I’m not a wedding photographer.

Well, today, the groom-to-be approaches me and hands me an envelope. He explained that they wanted to pay me something, but they realized that the amount in the “Thank You” card was nowhere near enough to cover prints, etc.

I opened the envelope, read the “Thank You” card, and watched as six $100.00 bills slid onto my desk.

I’m kinda’ stunned. I never expected anything like that, and I almost feel guilty accepting it. If they were going to hop on stage with guitars at the reception, it might be a different story. But, as it is, I’m kind of speechless.

Am I being a little too weird over this?

[sageone]

nah..not at all. After all, they seem to appreciate your photography skills and trust you enough to do the job...even though you are not a wedding photog. Six bills is six bills. Take the cash. Shoot the wedding in your own way. Produce results that they will like. Maybe you'll bring a different persective to the shoot BECAUSE you're not a wedding photog. I'd be interested to see the shots.

Another thing...they paid you up front huh? Not a bad deal at all. Of course, if you go and spend a chunk of change on a framed pic, then you're cutting into your profits.

[tim]

I'd accept it in the good spirit it was offered with, tell them it's more than enough for some prints, and give them as many prints as you're comfortable printing after the wedding. Buy him a beer too :)

[Steve Parr]

nah..not at all. After all, they seem to appreciate your photography skills and trust you enough to do the job...even though you are not a wedding photog. Six bills is six bills. Take the cash. Shoot the wedding in your own way. Produce results that they will like. Maybe you'll bring a different persective to the shoot BECAUSE you're not a wedding photog. I'd be interested to see the shots.

Another thing...they paid you up front huh? Not a bad deal at all. Of course, if you go and spend a chunk of change on a framed pic, then you're cutting into your profits.

Quite honestly, if they had given me enough to pay for the lens rental and a tank of gas, I probably would've been happy. I don't have a problem with dropping a hundred bucks or so on a good-size enlargement in a nice frame...

[sageone]

that's what I was saying...you didn't expect much...got a lot and will do a good job I'm sure.

[PIXI_666]

I think it was very generous for these friends to do this for you, i have done a few weddings for family members and ALL that i want out of it is for them to give me a couple of hundred for the prints and a thank you on the night in the speech's. But i have had them also come to me with a thank you card full of money or gift vouchers. So either way they always want to thank you even more - because really it is a big deal for them.

I think you thank them very much for the money, say it wasn't expected at all, but then go and do them a special few gifts with the photo's? Maybe do them up a table book with their photo's (Momento or Asuka?) that is $150 so at least you feel like you have put the money towards them?

If not, then i am sure that could be put towards a nice little extra - a new lens etc.

Good Luck!

Del

[Steve Parr]

I think you thank them very much for the money, say it wasn't expected at all, but then go and do them a special few gifts with the photo's? Maybe do them up a table book with their photo's (Momento or Asuka?) that is $150 so at least you feel like you have put the money towards them?

That's what I'm thinking; get some things printed up. Not sure how to do the table book, though. They did mention, specifically, that they planned to get one large, framed photo of the two of them on their wedding day. I figure I can do that, at least...

If not, then i am sure that could be put towards a nice little extra - a new lens etc.

Oh, what's left will CERTAINLY be going towards new glass...

Good Luck!

Thanks. I think I may need, at least, a little bit of that!

[Az2Africa]

They are good friends who don't take you for granted and value your work and efforts.Get them something nice and something nice for yourself.

[PIXI_666]

You will be fine i am sure....just do your best and don't stress too much over it...at the end of the day they know the limitations of you not being a wedding photographer - but we all start somewhere don't we?

Go to www.moment.com.au or www.asukabooks.com and have a look - momento has great software to use - maybe just e-mail them beforehand to see if they can do over seas clients. But its a good idea :)

Del

[Maureen Souza]

Steve, you are a creative guy. Shoot lot's, print them out 36 great 5x7's and give them a couple CD's of all your shots. They will be thrilled and feel like they got a lot of bang for their buck..

BTW, you better post some in the Wedding Forum :)

[biggin]

Steve, print them out a couple dozen 5"x7", a 8'x10" and maybe make them a dvd slideshow. They have been going over real well for me.They seem to really trust your skills so just give it hell and have fun!:)

[tim]

You will be fine i am sure....just do your best and don't stress too much over it...at the end of the day they know the limitations of you not being a wedding photographer - but we all start somewhere don't we?

Go to www.moment.com.au or www.asukabooks.com and have a look - momento has great software to use - maybe just e-mail them beforehand to see if they can do over seas clients. But its a good idea :)

Del

There are similar places in the US, easier than momento, and I don't think momento ship overseas right now. Asuka require you to be a professional photographer to register.

[PIXI_666]

oops i put moment.com.au i meant momento....
im sure there are plenty of places out there in the US to our 3 they will have 6 LOL so just do a google search :)

Del

[jesusdelallata]

Steve...take a nice deep breath ...remind yourself that you are a great photographer...and that this might open up a world of opportunities.

I can't say I'm extremely experienced in wedding photography, but I've shot 5 weddings so far. Clients have always been happy. I read up many many books and read photography forums for one year before shooting my first. I do have a few suggestions.

1. Go to the local Borders bookstore (not Barnes and Noble - very limited selection) and pick up a bunch of wedding photography books and read through them while you have a nice cup of coffee. You'll get inspired and pick up some tips along the way.

2. Have back up equipment...just in case.

3. Shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot as much as possible during the event.

4. Have fun.

5. Think of what you can buy for yourself with money from future weddings

Best of luck.

[Ronald S. Jr.]

If you can stand the stress and get the work, weddings pay. At least twice what you're getting there, too, I might add (which is already a good amount).

What lens are you going to rent? What lens are you going to buy?

Have fun. It's not so bad.

[Steve Parr]

If you can stand the stress and get the work, weddings pay. At least twice what you're getting there, too, I might add (which is already a good amount).

I've turned down wedding gigs before, and only took this one because I knew how unhappy they would be with only shots taken from disposable cameras. I don't know that I'd want that kind of stress.

If I shoot a band, and the shots aren't acceptable (thankfully, a very rare occasion, these days), I can always reschedule the shoot. With a wedding, though, it's a one-time thing. Screw it up, and the couple will hate you forever.

I just don't need that kind of pressure!

What lens are you going to rent?

I was going to rent the 17-40L but, at the recommendation of my buddy at the local shop, will be renting the 16-35mmL...

What lens are you going to buy?

Right now, I'm leaning towards the Sigma 17-70mm. I want something in a short, walk-around zoom. I've also been considering the Canon 17-85mm IS, but the Sigma seems to be pulling ahead in the race...

Have fun. It's not so bad.

Well, that remains to be seen!

[sageone]

The "one time thing" is what gets me too. I've yet to shoot a wedding, but I know I will eventually be asked to do one - formally or informally. And you're right, there's no do-overs with a wedding. Everything happens so fast and you don't want to screw anything up because the people that are paying you want to have pictures they can look back in 30, 40, 50 years down the road...and then have their kids look at them 50,60, 70 years down the road.

Pressure? What pressure?

[Steve Parr]

The "one time thing" is what gets me too. I've yet to shoot a wedding, but I know I will eventually be asked to do one - formally or informally. And you're right, there's no do-overs with a wedding. Everything happens so fast and you don't want to screw anything up because the people that are paying you want to have pictures they can look back in 30, 40, 50 years down the road...and then have their kids look at them 50,60, 70 years down the road.

Pressure? What pressure?

Well, we've discussed their expectations (which, thankfully, aren't real high) and my abilities in this form of photography.

I know I'll do a good job, and I know they'll be happy with the results. They're getting married in a beutiful setting on Mission Bay in San Diego. They don't expect prints, an album; just a photo CD.

The $600.00 is for my time (and I was an invited guest) and effort. I guess I just didn't expect more than one or two hundred dollars. I almost feel guilty about this. When I spoke to the groom yesterday, he told me that since I'd told them to pay me whatever they're comfortable with, they did. They're comfortable with six bills.

I'm going to try my damndest to give them their money's worth...

[sageone]

And they will appreciate every shot you take, I'm sure. And because you'll do a good job, it might turn into referrals from other guests, friends, etc. Consider this your trial run and nail it.

[mackb]

This is one of the more exciting posts I read here in awhile, I feel like it’s a movie unfolding in front of me! You have to post the pictures when you’re done. Good luck!

OH yeah, IMO, no your not crazy, they know your wedding experience, but I’m sure the have seen plenty of your work already.

[sageone]

OH yeah, IMO, no your not crazy, they know your wedding experience, but I’m sure the have seen plenty of your work already.

I think that's why they coughed up 6 Balloons before he took a single picture! On top of the fact that he's a friend...

[TheSteveMadden]

Just wondering, Steve, do you have a flash, or are you shooting the wedding ambient only? I only ask cause I've not seen any flash in any of your shots. A 430EX or 580EX might be a good use for some of the bills (and leave a little beer money left over)

[Edit] Oops... Never mind :o I just saw in your other thread where you're planning on renting.

[Steve Parr]

Just wondering, Steve, do you have a flash, or are you shooting the wedding ambient only? I only ask cause I've not seen any flash in any of your shots. A 430EX or 580EX might be a good use for some of the bills (and leave a little beer money left over)

[Edit] Oops... Never mind :o I just saw in your other thread where you're planning on renting.

Yep; gonna' rent one.

I'll buy one, eventually, but I would never use one for concert photography, which is my preferred area of photography. Still, though, the availability of a good flash is never a bad thing...

[Ronald S. Jr.]

Don't skimp on the flash for the wedding. The full bounce and swivel capability, along with the catchlight panel, higher guide number, etc. are all well worth the money for the 580. Also, if you're gonna rent, rent two. Who knows if the flash is gonna die on you?

[rklepper]

I would also get the battery pack for the flash. I just bought one for my 580 as mine died at the end of the Grand March at Prom this year. I just give away photos and do not charge, but I missed a couple of photos, not of the march, but of the shindig afterward and the $140 would have been cheap compared to losing the photos.