Are u kidding me video guy?????

[cchooks]

I worked with a video guy who is a friend of the groom. He was gone for a very long time during the reception and arrived after most of the customary shots. As I was getting ready to leave for the night he approached me and told me he was videotaping free for the couple and since he was gone the first 2.5 hours of the reception if I could give him all the photos during that time so he could do a type of montage. I told him that I sell a slideshow type of production which the couple has available to them (actually when I offered it to them, they said no need cause they had a pro video guy shooting the whole event). Fortunately, someone approached him for something, and he boogied out the door to get home.


This guy is an on and off wedding pro, can't decide if he wants to commit to weddings among his other video jobs. I have Known of him for a long time but he never referred me a single wedding, or even made enough of an impact on the market to make it worth my while to cater to him. I don't see any reason to grant his request, unless any of you can provide me with one.


The way I see it is that even if you have a pro in the family, or as a friend, if he approaches it in a lackluster way, then it is on the couple for not getting a pro. If I do a family wedding, I give it just as much as a regular wedding. I certainly don't leave for 2.5 hours. This is why you let your friends attend your day as guests and enjoy themselves while others do the work. Anyone want to chime in?

[zynetec]

I totally agree.
I fell foul of something similiar by getting a friend to provide the wedding car for my wedding, and he totally let us down at the last minute, but it has to be on us for not making it "important" enough.
Sell them the slideshow, don't let him think he can muck clients around, friends or otherwise.

[cchooks]

Amen, just how I feel. This bride works with my wife, and I told them I would do the slideshow at a discount, but they kinda snubbed me and said no. "well fine" I thought.

[collierportraits]

This is business. In the bounds of friendliness and courtesy, I agree with you. I see no compelling reason to offer him your photos for free. Perhaps a 'professional courtesy' price of some portion off, if you feel compelled?

[cchooks]

This is business. In the bounds of friendliness and courtesy, I agree with you. I see no compelling reason to offer him your photos for free. Perhaps a 'professional courtesy' price of some portion off, if you feel compelled?

You know I thought the same thing at first, but in the end, it is my client, and his friends who benefit from my work through a back door move. They get my images in a slideshow which I myself sell, and they pay nothing for it. Great couple, but like you said, this is business. I can see no way that I benefit from my experience and work, which is the reason anyone ever hires a professional.