Why shoot weddings?

[Jay12329]

Last weekend I was asked by two different friends if I would shoot their weddings/if I shoot weddings.
I said no to both (one a very close friend who i'm giving away at hers.) I explained that I wasnt confident enough in my abilities to get one chance shots like at a wedding. I'm used to a race track where I get 12 chances to get the shot I'm after.
So my question is, what makes you want to shoot weddings? How good do you have to be to be confident enough to document such an important event?
Thanks
J

[rhys]

Last weekend I was asked by two different friends if I would shoot their weddings/if I shoot weddings.
I said no to both (one a very close friend who i'm giving away at hers.) I explained that I wasnt confident enough in my abilities to get one chance shots like at a wedding. I'm used to a race track where I get 12 chances to get the shot I'm after.
So my question is, what makes you want to shoot weddings? How good do you have to be to be confident enough to document such an important event?
Thanks
J

I'd say that as it's possible to review photos as soon as they're taken, there's less pressure than before. On the other hand, viewing some photos from the 1930s I feel that today's photos are technically more challenging and that customers are now more discriminating.

In the 1930s sharpness wasn't as important as having a record. Thus many 1930s photos aren't all that sharp.

[ohsnap]

Because there's a lot of money to be made shooting weddings. For many women and men, it's the most important day of their life, and they'll spare no expense to put their mind at ease that their photographer is a professional. In this respect, shooting weddings is often actually a luxury good, and a higher price can signal better quality to customers, even for the same product.

Not that it's easy money; you're on your feet all day, there's a lot of pressure, and you sometimes have to deal with bossy customers ("get one of me like this...now like this...now with my uncle..."). But, you are shooting digital. You get a huge number of shots provided you have the memory, and there's bound to be at least a dozen excellent shots in there.

[sapearl]

I shoot weddings because:
1.) I love photography
2.) I enjoy interacting with people
3.) I discovered 30+ years ago that you can make some extra money combining the two
4.) Life is short and we do what we can to enhance memory and "freeze" the moment. I'll never be a great novelist, but I thoroughly enjoy telling a story visually.

When you spend the major part of a day chronicalling the marriage of a couple, you've done a pretty decent job of "writing" the story of that particular day of their life. - Stu

[sapearl]

The more you shoot, the better you get, the more confident you become. We all started somewhere and don't spring from the ground instantly confident.

I first shot "people pictures" in college back in the '70's which is where I began learning event and some news photography. To me covering a social event had a fair amount of similarity to a news story in some regard, so it was a natural progression.

I charged low according to my talents and made sure people understood that, as well as what they'd be getting for their money. And early on I learned the importance of the SIGNED CONTRACT ;) .

........... How good do you have to be to be confident enough to document such an important event?
Thanks
J

[coreypolis]

why dhoot them?

Because I like a challenge, both in technique and to create something of intrest in a generally blah category, and to make boat loads of money doing something that is enjoyable.

How good do you have to be?
depends on who you are. check out craigslist to see the hundreds of photographers just starting out expecting to shoot weddings.

Besides have the proper lighting techniques, knowledge of posing, ability to anticipate shots, etc, you also have to know the business side, which most fail at. That part is much more complex than the shooting side, which is aldready difficult. People see the $$$ thrown around at wedding photogs, and think they can do it and pay for their hobby, and unfotrunetly more often than not, the clients are dissapointed by the bottom level shooting.

[tim]

I shoot wedding because I love doing it, and as a bonus I can make a reasonable living doing something I love. I still shoot an occasional wedding for free, when I see someone deserving or who would be great in my portfolio, mainly outside of summer or when I'm not otherwise busy.

Most people start off either as an apprentice, or doing it for a friend, so by the time you shoot your first wedding in sole charge you're reasonably confident. If you ever lose the nerves completely it's probably time to quit.

[Phil V]

I shoot weddings because:
1.) I love photography
2.) I enjoy interacting with people
3.) I discovered 20+ years ago that you can make some extra money combining the two

Me too.:oops:

I actually like the pressure and the fast pace of the day and the opportunity to give someone something that they couldn't have got without me.

BTW I also shoot motorsport (Rallying), I only get one chance at each car per stage (unlike the roundy-roundy racers which is like shooting fish in a barrell in comparison;) )

[TH!EN]

I dont love the job personally, but when shooting with a partner you can make it more fun and relaxed. It's almost like your just attending someone's wedding eating their food, talking to the company, hanging out on the town before and after the wedding. Then getting paid a couple grand for it. But if yoru nto comfortable turning them down is the rigth choice, i say practice on a few weddings where there is a professional working and get the feel. Then getta partner.

[tim]

I dont love the job personally, but when shooting with a partner you can make it more fun and relaxed. It's almost like your just attending someone's wedding eating their food, talking to the company, hanging out on the town before and after the wedding. Then getting paid a couple grand for it. But if yoru nto comfortable turning them down is the rigth choice, i say practice on a few weddings where there is a professional working and get the feel. Then getta partner.

I don't know how you shoot weddings, but for me weddings are damned hard work. I don't stop moving all day, except for a few minutes while eating, sometimes not even then.

[CyberPet]

Great workout!
Fun to meet people!
I'm a sucker for weddings!
Love photography!

Don't need more excuses than that. :D

[TH!EN]

I don't know how you shoot weddings, but for me weddings are damned hard work. I don't stop moving all day, except for a few minutes while eating, sometimes not even then.

haha i guess i find weddings are all pretty much the same just different variables like people location lighting.

[jessiper]

I don't know how you shoot weddings, but for me weddings are damned hard work. I don't stop moving all day, except for a few minutes while eating, sometimes not even then.

Same for me, but I am usually able to chat with the B&G or guests just for a bit. I'm usually sore the next day from running around, squatting, climbing, carrying stuff, going up and down stairs, etc., not to mention mentally drained.

[tim]

I do get the chance to have a bit of a chat, but usually not long chats, and I usually don't talk to the guests too much. Mainly I want to stay out of the way anyway, so people can enjoy their wedding day without an obtrusive photographer.

[jillybean]

Weddings are:
hectic, nerve wracking, fast paced, always changing ( lighting & everything else), never the same as the last one... all in all- they are a challenge but when you hand someone pictures you are proud of and watch them smile and thank you..it is all worth it.

[picturecrazy]

One reason.... FOOD

Gosh I love food. I love being surprised and not knowing what you're gonna eat that night. Last saturday it was wild salmon... YUM!!!

haha... oh yeah, I love photography too.

[sapearl]

You know, those "photo commando vests" we discussed a few months back under "wedding garb" are quite similar to fishing vests. While trolling the buffet you could hook a few fillet and stuff them into the pocket next to the CF cards :lol: .

.....I love being surprised and not knowing what you're gonna eat that night. Last saturday it was wild salmon... YUM!!!

haha... oh yeah, I love photography too.

[GertS]

You know, those "photo commando vests" we discussed a few months back under "wedding garb" are quite similar to fishing vests. While trolling the buffet you could hook a few fillet and stuff them into the pocket next to the CF cards :lol: .

Do you wear such a west at a wedding? I couldn't do it when I shoot a wedding from time to time. They expect at least a nice jacket.

Take care that you don't insert the fillet in your camera when changing cards. :lol:

[sapearl]

No, no...... I was just cracking on an old thread that went through the wedding section a while back. A white shirt and tie for all my jobs with either a suit or sport coat. They're paying me a considerable sum and are entitled to have me look the part ;) .

Not to worry about inserting the fillet. I only use CF and most of them are SD. :lol:

Do you wear such a west at a wedding? I couldn't do it when I shoot a wedding from time to time. They expect at least a nice jacket.

Take care that you don't insert the fillet in your camera when changing cards. :lol:

[michaelsink]

Good question! When I was ~17 I dreamed of being a professional photographer (15 years ago) and I had been to a few weddings by then and proclaimed to myself that I would NEVER shoot a wedding. High stress for those involved, the once in a lifetime (hopefully!) pressure, dealing with people who may not know what they want, but expect you to produce exactly whatever they want (even though it's trapped inside their wine-muddled heads)... Ugghh! Let me stick to birds, landscapes, artsy crap...

...So 15 years later and I'm making the transition to professional photographer, and guess what? WEDDINGS are on the menu! The first attraction honestly was paying the bills, and buying more gear, but the more I read from photographers who do this all the time, and testimonials from Brides and Grooms I was intrigued by how highly they spoke of the photos, and how the photographer was more welcome to have around than most of the guests. This got me thinking and reading as to how these guys work, and what they do. What I found were very caring individuals that were completely focused on the couple (especially the bride!) and seemed to have a great time themselves bringing creativity to this day for this couple. I found that the way that they present themselves and communicate with the couple before the ceremony is a sure-fire way to ease tensions on the big day. I worked on wedding as a second shooter, and was asked by a few friends to do theirs (next summer) but one of those got bumped up to (GULP) NOW! So the day after thanksgiving I shot a wedding and I intend to assist/second shooter on some more before next spring. The excitement is a big draw, as is the creativity and run-and-gun style of the day.

Sorry that wound up being so long winded, but I am really excited now after doing one on my own and can't say enough about how cool that day was (I'll post a separate post about how the day went after I get the photos to the bride/groom (they're processed, I'm just waiting for them to have free time to meet with me)

Michael

[DocFrankenstein]

Because there's a lot of money to be made shooting weddings.
amen

[Maui Kim]

I just love weddings! I'm also very, very fond of photography:)..there is nothing like a wedding day ..all of the emotion..the enviroment..evrything is awesome..every wedding is different. I love being able to share in that..man I sound really sappy!! Haha..well I'm a stay at home mom with photography and jewelry design as my hobbies so it's not all about the money for me..but sure I think that it's part of it...if you can do something you love and be handsomely rewarded for it..why not?? I think that as long as you know what you are doing, photography and business wise, and you love it why not do it?

[jessiper]

I do get the chance to have a bit of a chat, but usually not long chats, and I usually don't talk to the guests too much. Mainly I want to stay out of the way anyway, so people can enjoy their wedding day without an obtrusive photographer.

:rolleyes: I only chat "just for a bit" with guests if they chat with me first. I don't want to seem unfriendly.

[sblais]

:rolleyes: I only chat "just for a bit" with guests if they chat with me first. I don't want to seem unfriendly.

I do the same. I also try to slip my business card to them at some point too :D

[sblais]

And the ultimate answer to life the universe and everything... 42? well may be.

Why shoot a wedding? Reading through the threads on this forum (of the style: my first wedding as a pro photographer), it seems that the reason to shoot weddings is to have an occasion to learn how to use your equipment and to try new techniques and equipment on that special day. *ducks to avoid flying objects coming from all directions* :p

[Stooge_UK]

Speaking as non-professional...
I have done them because people, usually friends, have asked (and still wanted me after I had explained the not Pro etc etc etc....)
It is the recording of the day for them that I think really enjoy, interacting with various people, and the big kick I get out of seeing there face when they see the photos.
Usually there are eneogh "good" shots from what I take to bring a smile to the face as they remember the day....

That's why I do it (ocassionally...)

Stu