"I don't do weddings"

[ThomasOwenM]

It seems there are a lot of photographers who want to shoot anything other than weddings. "I don't do weddings" is one of the first things that pops out of the mouths of many photographers who I meet. I'm new to photography and am curious why this is so.

It seems to me weddings might be a rewarding thing to do. To capture someone's special memories for a lifetime and beyond -- seems like that could be meaningful work, and there's definitely a market for it. I'm tempted to do weddings, but I'd like to know the good, the bad, and the ugly about them first. Why are so many photographers averse to weddings?

[tlc]

i was at first. i wanted nothing to do wtih them - now i love them to death.

its very challenging and can be sooo rewarding. but there is a lot of stress, dealing with the brides, their families, etc. you get it wrong - and your a horrible monster - get it right, and your one with the world.

the marketing is tough, making it your full time career is tiresome and difficult. you have to develop a 'style' to stand out in the market and find your target audience. i think it takes more equipment and knowledge than other fields and the PP could be more time consuming as well. its also the 'after the event' handling of clients that can be time consuming as well.

in other words, its not just showing up at the wedding and clicking a few...

[stonefence]

wedding photography is a big responsibility. I took 2 years before I started doing weddings, you need alot of equipment, and you have to be ready for an equipment malfunction! After taking many seminars and doing lots of portraits I finally felt ready to take them on. I want to do it right.
Anyways thats just me!

[liza]

-High pressure
-Exhausting
- Very expensive if you do it correctly
- High level of competition
- A one shot deal
- Greater potential for litigation
- Not nearly as easy as it looks

[Karl C]

If I were earning a living from photography, I wouldn't do weddings because of three simple words...

Bridezillas from HELL!


To me, the aggravation and stress level isn't worth the money.

[strmrdr]

Why are so many photographers averse to weddings?
because shooting weddings is a PITA.
Its 90% people skills and 10% photography skills and most people don't have the people skills to do it.
Frankly I never want too shoot a wedding again after doing a few as a second shooter ~20 years ago.
You will see people at their worst while trying to make them look their best.
You will see all the nastiness that feuding families can inflict on each other.

But for those that can handle it you also get too capture very precious memories for people and that is what photography is all about.
That is the reward for all the pain.
The money is nice but don't cover it.

[zacker]

weddings are scarey..... thats why!
LOL

[RobKirkwood]

If I were earning a living from photography, I wouldn't do weddings because of three simple words...

Bridezillas from HELL!These tend to congregate at the bottom end of the market - if your prices are high enough you'll avoid most of them, and the others are relatively easy to spot at an initial meeting - so you can either quote ridiculously high, or make your excuses and leave. ;)

Rob

[tlc]

the upside, i have met some really fantastic clients. sharing those special moments is second to none

[Seefutlung]

as a former news photog ... to me wedding and children on ponies are not where I want to be ... no offense but that's just what most news photogs think. I'm sure wedding photographers think conversely that news is a step or two below them.

Gary

[Maureen Souza]

It's HARD!!! ;)

[Lin-z]

Because brides are crazy. After the obsess over the wedding for a year or more, then after that day has passed the only thing they have to obsess over is the wedding photos, and they can drive you crazy!

[tim]

If I were earning a living from photography, I wouldn't do weddings because of three simple words...

Bridezillas from HELL!


To me, the aggravation and stress level isn't worth the money.

I currently make my entire living from wedding photography, and i've yet to have a bridezilla. I had a groomzilla once, but even he wasn't too bad. Maybe people are just more relaxed at the bottom of the world.

[Emberghost]

It's not something to be taken lightly that's for sure. A lot rides on you, it's not like any other shoot that you can redo. Plus you need a lot of equipment and usually 2 bodies.

[cosworth]

Brides here want a $4000 wedding for $400. "Oh my friend can do it for $500". Well then why are we talking?

It takes a certain kind of reputation and style to truly rise above the crowd and command rates that are reflective of the committment. I'm still crowd and don;t advertise doing weddings. I have done them, I will do them but it has to be the right job.

I have three words for you "mother-of the bride" (de niro humour)