offered to do shoot a wedding...

[newatthis]

I am new to photography. I have been taking pictures for years but am just now learning the basics of lighting and all that jazz. I showed a couple of girls at work some of my pictures and one that is engaged asked me to shoot her wedding. I brushed it off with a "ha ha, I dont know what I am doing and dont want to ruin your special day photos" laugh, but again last night at work she offered me a set price, said she knew I would do well and asked me again to do it. Its not until May. I told her I dont have the equip, skill or knowledge that she could get from someone else and she still wants me to do it.

What would you do? I would LOVE to do weddings, you have to start somewhere but I just dont think I want to ruin someones wedding day photos!!! Just dont know what to do!

TIA

[blondine]

she's seen your work, she likes it! say yes... and practice every chance you get from now until May, read books go on the net.... show your work ask for critique...and take it with a spoon of sugar and learn!

we all start some where.... and good luck!

Blondine

[LeesaB]

she gave you a price just to shoot it? are you giving her the images? a book? what?

Make sure you and she know exactly what you are both expecting, I've seen so many of these "deals" gone bad.

I think you should do it, but make sure you are both on the same page. Sit down talk, draw up a contract to protect both you and her!

[jgrussell]

What would you do? I would LOVE to do weddings, you have to start somewhere but I just dont think I want to ruin someones wedding day photos!!! Just dont know what to do! It's the "don't want to ruin" part that's the problem here. Your realistic choices are to tell her you will only do this as a second shooter or to work as a second shooter for someone else several times before May. Otherwise, inexperience in this particular type of shooting could very well end up ruining the situation for both of you. This kind of once-in-a-lifetime shooting can't be "I think I can do it"; it has to be "I know I can do it."

[Ziffle]

newatthis,
there is time to soak in experience-skills before May. Just tell your self to be a sponge.... It is okay to not have every shot be perfect.

There are really-really good wedding shots on this forum. I have learned a lot in the last 2 months just about shooting people let alone weddings thru this photo-sharing thread/blog...

(something i learned about the business end of shooting weddings from this site.....)
When you draw up and get the contract signed - don't forget to get the at least 1/2 the money up front. This helps cement the reality of the contract and if the bridge/groom bail on you - your time has been covered.

Equipment .... there is plenty of knowledge around here ... just ask.
I have seen some great wedding shots done w/ out flash and the use of only a short prime/zoom and a telephoto/zoom tele of good quality.

You can do this .....
Let us know what you do....
Later,
Mark

[Mike]

Have a read of the links in this post: http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showpost.php?p=5999915&postcount=2

[Subimatt]

You have to have confidence in yourself before you should consider shooting the wedding. If you do decide to do it, make sure you have a contract! Good luck! Also if there is time, contact some local wedding photogs who might be willing to let you second shoot for some practice/ experience.

[collierportraits]

I would highly recommend against it.

Having said that, let me tell you just a few reasons why. She sees your photos taken maybe of friends and family and they're good. Great! That means that under controlled conditions, you can do well. That's good. However, weddings are about as far as you can get from "controlled". So EVERYTHING will go wrong, you'll be rushed, you'll be freaking out and then she's not happy with the photos...!!! Augh.

Meanwhile, you'll be blaming everything else. Weddings have flow to them and if you've never shot one or assisted shooting one, well, I wouldn't recommend it at all. Go to a few. Carry someone's bags to a few. Whatever, but get familiar with some before you begin. I suppose if you insist to do it, well, I would encourage you to attend as many as you can, watch, listen, take photos and read all you can, but overall, RUN don't walk away from it.

Offer to shoot some photos for her as a gift, but NOT as the main photographer. You'll be doing yourself, and HER a favor by declining, but that's just my (strong) opinion... ;)

[The_Duke_Of_Eli]

+1 for going in without prior experience.

You could still book it, but make sure you get experience before then. Risk is, you just may not enjoy doing it.

Go carry another photographer's bags, but watch how he proceeds to capture moments. Plus, once the wedding comes around you'll have big guns and be fit to pick up members of the bridal party. After the reception of course.

[cchooks]

I agree with CollierPortraits. This is a once in a lifetime event and even if it is understood how uncomfortable you are with your abilities to shoot on this level, and even if she understands and pre pardons you for any thing that can go wrong..... If indeed something goes wrong it will always be between you guys and not easily forgotten. I would second shoot, and even if you are much better than the other guy, then you are free to party, shoot, get experience, be a hero, add to your portfolio, and it will never go against you if something goes wrong....... Let me make sure you understand you will have 5-9 hours of total concentration where your are not allowed to make mistakes.

[newatthis]

Thanks to all of you for your replies. Some things I failed to mention:
I did shoot my sisters wedding, but it was on the beach in St. Lucia and there were only a few members of the wedding party. The wedding I was asked to do is going to be outside and she said "BBQ" style so I know it will not be intricate like some weddings can be (if it were I would have said NO up front).

Keep the replies coming! I am still rooting through the replies I have gotten, thanks to all of you!:):)

[intheclouds]

If you would love to do it, jump on it! You never gain anything from fear. Don't run from this. A door of opportunity is opening for you, so throw yourself through it! It may never happen again or may not happen again for a really long time, so take it. This is the exact same situation how i got into photography. I explained to the couple that I had no experience as a wedding photographer and that as long as they were ok with that, I'd do my best and I offered to do it for free (so that if anything didn't turn out, I wouldn't feel guilty). In the end, they were happy, it was a win-win. They had one less thing to budget, I got my first wedding under my belt, the pictures turned out great .. they were happy, i was happy. GO FOR IT!!

[ShotByTom]

Definately do it! Just make sure you have the right equipment and know how to use it. I would strongly suggest renting if you don't already have the proper lenses and flash. Good luck!

[SuzyView]

I moved this thread to "Talk" as it does not images to "Share" but I hope more members will respond here.

[tim]

Have you read the wedding FAQ (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=255604)?

[Wilt]

You say you are 'new to photography'...and in that light, I would steer you away! If you had many hundreds of days of shooting as a photojournalist, and your skills are sound, then taking on a wedding is a more manageable task. Weddings are high pressure situations, often quite diverse in terms of the technical situation and the skills to cope with them, fraught with Murphy's Law (if it can go wrong, it will, at the least opportune time). Even the most professionally skilled studio photographers often cave in to the pressure of wedding work and quit doing them! So the chances that you, the 'new to photography' shooter, will manage are fundamentally stacked not in your favor. It's not that you won't, it is that you have the odds against you from the beginning.

I remember my first wedding, at about 19 years old. I had years under my belt alreeady, including many hours in photojournalism, many hours of event coverage, many hours of shooting fashion runway and portraiture under my belt. And the person who asked me to shoot their wedding was a coworker who was well aware of my prior photographic experience (without wedding coverage). Things went right, fortunately, but I would not have tried to do it as someone 'new to photography' , as everything I had already done was 'more of the same' in a wedding situation.
There is a bit of contradiction in describing yourself as 'new to photography' vs. 'taking pictures for years '...I presume you mean 'seriously into photograhy' vs. 'snapshooting'. There is a right time and a wrong time to venture into new territory. You have taken the very wise approach so far. What you might want to do is to offer to be a 'second' for her, at a drastically lowered price, so you can get experience yet she gets a pro to shoot the formals and relies upon you for the reception shots (and she sends the pro home after the formals).

[mineymole]

I think you should do it. Just work with your equipment until then and gain confidence.

Everyone here started somewhere.... you can't learn without throwing yourself into a situation. You might surprise yourself.

[newatthis]

I had casually told her no already. This past week I heard her say my name and asked what I did and she said "I was just telling them you are going to shoot my wedding..." looks like she is persistent upon it. As long as she knows what she is getting into. Now I just need to sneak in some weddings......:lol:

[mineymole]

I had casually told her no already. This past week I heard her say my name and asked what I did and she said "I was just telling them you are going to shoot my wedding..." looks like she is persistent upon it. As long as she knows what she is getting into. Now I just need to sneak in some weddings......:lol:

I'm in the same situation. I shot my nephew's wedding last summer and it went very well. They loved the photos... and guess what... I had so much fun, that I am trying to take on free jobs right now so that I get better at it and can eventually charge for the service.

As long as they know what they are getting they will probably love what you do...

[FocalPrincess]

I'd say do it, BUT I very much agree with LeesaB's advice as well.

Here's why I'd say do it. If she likes you work, she's seen what you're capable of. You can only improve from here, right? Another reason...I got thrown into the same situation with my sister this past summer. I had 2 months to prepare myself. I did however, fly a friend out as a second shooter. That helped a lot, knowing there was someone else there with another set of equipment who would potentially see the shots you'd miss.

I would also work a 2nd body and lens rental into your agreement with the friend. If you've only got one body and one or two lenses, and something would happen, voila, you've missed all those shots (and believe me, the ceremonies move FAST).

Beyond that....shoot, shoot, shoot until then. Practice, post for critique, practice in the venue around the same time of day, shoot in different types of weather with the same venue...all of that. You'll be as well prepared as you're able to be.

Good luck.

[newatthis]

I would also work a 2nd body and lens rental into your agreement with the friend. If you've only got one body and one or two lenses, and something would happen, voila, you've missed all those shots (and believe me, the ceremonies move FAST).



Good luck.

Would you consider my 35mm Canon Rebel Ti as a sufficient backup body? Or is a film camera a "should not?"

[Wedding Photography]

It´s the first time for all of us. Good luck!

[kiwichris]

Hi Newatthis here is a thread I posted my take on a similar situation as yours, I hope it also helps you.

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=588598