Nice dress, no money for photographer!

[Rumrunner]

Hey all, these are some of my photos from a recent wedding that I shot for a friend. It was a very last minute and short notice wedding with a tight budget. I would first like to say that I am not an established wedding photographer but I offered my services to a friend in need, and I find opportunites like this a great way to gain more experience. I think one of my biggest weaknesses with weddings is the processing. I have been working really hard to improve my processing skills, and I think I have improved, but at the same time, I am happy with the work one minute and dislike it the next! Weddings are such a challenge, but that's why we like them so much!

CC appreciated...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v636/rrrr/20080320-_MG_6835-8.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v636/rrrr/20080320-_MG_6920-3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v636/rrrr/20080320-_MG_6971-3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v636/rrrr/20080320-_MG_6915-3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v636/rrrr/20080320-_MG_6964-3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v636/rrrr/20080320-_MG_7042-3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v636/rrrr/20080320-_MG_7198-3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v636/rrrr/20080320-_MG_7141-3.jpg

[sando]

Some beautiful shots. I would tone the noise reduction down, just a little. I like the last shot a lot.

[collierportraits]

The photos look very nice. I don't really have any suggestions... Well, if you want to see your background, so to speak, like in the last photo, pull them away from it. Don't put them right up on it. Then it's more out of focus and becomes a 'prop', rather than the focus of the image. However, I would like to know more about this 'helping a friend'. Doesn't appear to be a really low budget wedding by any of the photos... Did you just give them a major discount, free, what?

[cdifoto]

Tight budget my arse!

[Rumrunner]

Some beautiful shots. I would tone the noise reduction down, just a little. I like the last shot a lot.

Thanks sando, your right, I have noticed that alot of wedding photogs have almost no fear of noise. It's very comforting to know that because it gives the opportunity to push a photo alot more.

[TeeJay]

Tight budget my arse!

Or... to put it another way(!)... I would have thought that anyone holding their wedding in a location like this couldn't possibly be pecuniously restricted :rolleyes:

TJ

Nice photo's BTW!

[Rumrunner]

Tight budget my arse!


Lol, I suppose it would be like buying a porche and borrowing the money for car insurance, but honestly, I don't think they had enough time to book a professional if they wanted to It was planned in less than a week!


The photos look very nice. I don't really have any suggestions... Well, if you want to see your background, so to speak, like in the last photo, pull them away from it. Don't put them right up on it. Then it's more out of focus and becomes a 'prop', rather than the focus of the image. However, I would like to know more about this 'helping a friend'. Doesn't appear to be a really low budget wedding by any of the photos... Did you just give them a major discount, free, what?

Thanks, I did take a wide variety of shots around the fountain, I may have some better angles. This was basically a job done for cost and gas money. I honestly don't feel like I have enough experience in this type of work to charge yet, I still forget to turn my ISO down when I go outside lol :D.

[sando]

Thanks sando, your right, I have noticed that alot of wedding photogs have almost no fear of noise. It's very comforting to know that because it gives the opportunity to push a photo alot more.

There's a difference between 'pleasing grain' and noise. :)

[Rumrunner]

Or... to put it another way(!)... I would have thought that anyone holding their wedding in a location like this couldn't possibly be pecuniously restricted :rolleyes:

TJ

Nice photo's BTW!

Thanks alot, I did at first recommend a local who does great work, but I think there was alot of polotics with the spending between either of the families and a paid photographer must have went to the bottom of the list somehow. I think, in all the chaos of these weddings, alot of folks don't realize that photos are the best way to hold memories after the fact. And I made sure that they knew that my coverage would be risky without having a second camera body. But at the same time, I was happy to get the opportunity :).

[Zansho]

Wow, they planned it in a week!? @.@ ... and I thought my wedding planning was rough...

[Rumrunner]

Wow, they planned it in a week!? @.@ ... and I thought my wedding planning was rough...

No kidding things like this could make for some interesting TV reality shows!

[Pomona2006]

I particularly like 2, 5 & 8! Only critique of #8 is that her veil and the fountain blend together so much that at first I didn't even notice the veil. But even so, it's still a beautiful shot with the focus on the B&G. Nice job with the rings!!!

[collierportraits]

But at the same time, I was happy to get the opportunity :).

AND, they were happy to oblige. Did they at least give you some vaseline?:lol:

Wow. For any newbie reading this, realize that this hurts our industry as a whole. Why buy the cow, right? Now, I realize that there are genuinely people that cannot afford a professional, and maybe everyone needs good wedding photos, but in this case, the photographer simply got the raw end of the deal.

They spent, quite literally thousands and thousands, on dresses and cakes and jewelry and food and drink and the list goes on and on. Oh, yeah, we can't afford a photographer. Well, my guess is that they would have 'afforded' one, if they had to, but they found someone willing to do it for nothing... I realize you don't do it, yada, yada, but you produced some very nice images for them (much nicer than some I have seen on this board that call themselves professional) for, what gas and food? I hope this couple treats you well for years...! Nice job on the photos...

Ok, I feel better now. [Stepping off the box...]

[wannabegood]

The problem is, when do you feel good enough about your talent to charge the type of fees normally associated with this profession? Without practical experience there is always some self doubt. I shot my first 3 weddings without pay, actually travelled 1100 miles to the first one (wife was matron of honor) and gave the bride the pictures, over 700 of them. The next 2 I shot were in my own church in the shadow of the "hired" pro. One of which was and the other definately was not. In the second case I also gave that bride over 700 pictures that she declared much better than she got from her "pro".

Now that I have some experience as to the intricate working of the ceremony, my second paid shoot comes in June, with 12 bridesmaids and 12 groomsmen! Owww! But I know I will be able to do what needs be done and am reasonably sure she will be happy with my work. I spent 5 hours with her and shot 285 pictures for her bridals! :) And suddenly I have another and another lined up in 2 week increments and turned down yet another just today as I'm booked for their date. But they still want me to do their engagements and possibly bridals while they look for someone else to shoot the wedding.

What all this hot air boils down to is, don't feel bad for the freebie for a friend, as the experience is vital and you did good! Enjoy the moments of praise and remember to check settings in venue changes! lol