Diving head first into professional wedding photography..

[KevC]

Hey guys,

Thanks tonnes for the advice. I really appreciate it I'm still gonna do my friend's wedding, but I'm not sure if I'm gonna handle it professionally. (I mean not officially.... )

I still want to start a business though. Maybe not wedding photography...but a business nonetheless. Portraiture? Glamour? Fashion? Not sure yet.

Oh, and .... I wasn't planning to start anytime soon. I was planning on waiting after my first (shot) wedding.. soo.. yeah. Hehe. I'll hang around here mostly in the critique corner and try to improve!

[KennyG]

Originally Posted by Bloo Dog

Maybe try auto racing. IndyJeff and KennyG will tell you that it's a matter of watching cars driving in circles and owning a long lens. It's a snap.

I get the feeling that I've been baited. That was too easy.

Trust me BD, drivers can get as tetchy as a PM bride. Here in the UK we run proper races that have left and right bends. Jeff would get confused if he came over (wish he would).

[Avalonthas]

Canadians dont do things for profit, we do it for the love of the activity :P.......although getting your photo printer or 1/4 of your camera paid off from one event is a nice friendly gesture.

[JX]

KevC,
Read some of Bloo Dog's posts about his Adventures in Wedding Photography. If you still feel that you’re interested in doing Wedding Photography, then try and get a job as an apprentice photographer. Learn the business before you try to do it on your own. I think Wedding Photography is most difficult profession any photographer can enter into. Even if you are the world’s foremost expert at photography, you may not be a successful Wedding Photographer. You need the people skills of a cruise activity director, business skills, patience and diplomacy, and a personality that can take criticism and abuse from customers who think they are paying too much for your work.

[IndyJeff]

Originally Posted by BlooDog

Maybe try auto racing. IndyJeff and KennyG will tell you that it's a matter of watching cars driving in circles and owning a long lens. It's a snap.

Oh yeah it's a snap anyone with a 200 or better can be out there and is assured of getting a cover shot on Sports Illustrated at least 3-4 times a year.
Oh and we don't have to worry about getting picked up by the brides sister, nor do we have to worry about watching our calories with all the buffets and wedding cake, not to mention getting smacked upside the head by a deadly throw of the bouquet either, right Kenny?

Originally Posted by KennyG

Trust me BD, drivers can get as tetchy as a PM bride. Here in the UK we run proper races that have left and right bends. Jeff would get confused if he came over (wish he would).

Left & right turns? What the hell is a roght turn on a race track? Oh I know that is the one they take when the come out of the garage area to pit lane. See Kenny, we have right turns too!!!

Actually I have shot races with both left and right, they were motorcycle races. Man you talk about fun but dangerous. Kenny there is no warning on a cycle crash. Running along fine then before you know it a rider goes down and if your not on it when it happens all you get is a guy laying on the ground. No safety on the inside either. They can go anyway when they come together.

Besides, I'd like to see a wedding guy stand his ground when a car comes at him with flames coming out of it. He'd be outta there faster than a guy named Brian at a certain wedding LOL.

[martcol]

Originally Posted by IndyJeff

...don't have to worry about getting picked up by the brides sister, nor do we have to worry about watching our calories with all the buffets and wedding cake....

Wow! Wedding photography just got prettier!

WeddingyMartin

[Claire]

Originally Posted by IndyJeff

Oh and we don't have to worry about getting picked up by the brides sister, nor do we have to worry about watching our calories with all the buffets and wedding cake

Wait, weddings involve the bride's sister hitting on the photographer? Hm, what about the brother? Darn about the calories though. Guess I'm not getting into wedding photography.

[IndyJeff]

Claire sorry but the brides brother is usually the kind that stands in the corner and picks his nose and wonders why none of the bridesmaids will dance with him. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. Don't worry, sometimes the brides father is available. Of course he is divorced and wearing a shirt with wide lapels, unbuttoned about halfway down with a hairy chest and gold chains exposed. Oh yeah and he has the longest hair on the rightside of his head, that of course is combed over the bald spot on the top. But good news....he drives a convertable and likes riding around blaring the sound track from Saturday Night Fever by the BeeGees. It makes him cool!!!


Hey the Dj is usually cool tho.

[Claire]

Indy,
I've actually met the bride's brother when he visited in London. He's a cool guy. Actually received an email from him today. The bride's still trying to match us up with each other, she figures it'd be terrific as I'd be able to move to MN and hang out with her.

Oh, and I don't generally go for the older divorced gentlemen dressed as a pimp. Although, I've always wanted a convertable. Unfortunately they don't work well in Sweden. I'd be able to use it 1-2 months only. Ah well, I'll stick to driving my folk's BMW...

The DJ's usually cool? Hm, I'll check that out. What about the photographer?
/Claire

[Tom W]

Originally Posted by Bloo Dog

Okay, maybe you and KennyG DON'T have the easiest gigs. Maybe there's an easier gig out there.

The easiest gig, by far, is that of the amateur/hobbyist/artist with a reasonably decent day job, a low mortgage, minimal car payment, health insurance, a pension, a 401K, and absolutely no concerns as to whether the photography client is happy or not.

No commitments, no regrets.

(and now to the original poster)

But, if the "reasonably decent" day job doesn't pay the bills, and if one enjoys the art/hobby/science/whatever of photography, then one might wish to venture into the business of photography for supplemental income or for a living. However, if one chooses that path, then one must become acquainted with good business practices and must possess the desire to pursue the business with a strong effort. Talent is a prerequisite as well, if you want to build a good name for yourself.

With regards to wedding photography, take the words of Bloo Dog and Bob Gross as words of experience. They don't talk to discourage, but to forewarn that the job is still a job that requires a good deal of effort if success is the goal.

If what they say doesn't scare the poopoo out of you, then you're already halfway down the road to becoming a professional photographer.

[Andy_T]

KevC,

I wish you luck with your venture into the deeper waters of photography. I also trust that you will give your best to make sure your friend gets the best wedding pictures possible.

I've seen some of your work in the 'Share pictures' section.

Now I know that you can profit from honest critique ... you might use the time until the great moment to get additional practice with the 'standard shots' that are normally needed for a wedding... candids, group shots, formals, headshots and so on. Pay special attention to lighting (that will be far from optimal at a wedding)

The more practice you have, the easier it will be for you to quickly respond to how the celebration is developing.

KevC ... don't get me wrong ... I really like some of your work I've seen. But unless you're comfortable that ALL of your pictures have good potential, you might get some more exercise ... maybe look for some pro photographer that could need a (lowly paid) assistant in your area.

Best regards,
Andy

PS: I don't know about the current recruiting requirements at business schools you mentioned ... but my guess would be that if you're successful with a photography business it would more be a testimonial of your photographic talent than of your business skills.

In my job I did a fair share of recruiting future management consultants over the last years... typically interviewing top-10-% B-school graduates. Let me put it that way, a successful photography business would be high on the originality scale, but it certainly would not win you any credits as to judging your business acumen.

Your testimony that you only did it to get some government or state subsidies for your camera equipment would not put you any higher on the ethics scale, either. (Maybe helpful if you want to become a lawyer , but for most professions not exactly an asset)
Sorry, but that's the way it is.

If you want to get into photography as your future career, then fine ... do it. Join the campus newspaper, try to work freelance as a PJ, try to score a job as a wedding photographers assistant. Be good at what you do.
A B-school degree will *not* help you any at being a more successful photographer.

If your primary target is to go to business school later, an internship in a market research company, a consulting company or something along these lines might be more appropriate.
That way, you'll hopefully make big buck$ soon and be able to afford all those great L lenses ... for your HOBBY.

[S230]

I agree with many people that posted their thoughts here that Wedding is a big challenge. Not everyone is as unfortunate as Bloo Dog. But fortunately he survived and be able to share his experience with us.

I personally started in a similar situation as you did except with a point and shoot. I did as someone here pointed out is to be honest and tell the B&G (Since they know you) that you will try your best. Once you're done, let the B&G decide if they should "TIP" you for your work. I consider friendship more important than a few hundred dollars. If you don't plan on any money in return, you will feel much better and also treat the money as a bonus. For starters, I suggest working alongside a pro that they would hire. This way you can learn a lot and decide if that is what you want to pursue. Because I was using a P&S camera, same as yours (S230), I was no threat to the photographer and was able to work along side with him.

[KevC]

Thanks for all the posts Wow, that's a lot of reading I have to do.

Anyway, I do believe you guys got the wrong impression of me. *sigh* It's ok. I don't plan on doing this as my full time career. Nope, not at all. And I'm not saying that I'm good enough to be a professional either. It's just I'm doing a wedding for a friend and I believe it's better to do it "officially" than unofficially. As S230 said, friendship is more important at this stage, and I would absolutely make sure that my friend knows I will try my best to produce the best pictures I can. Money's tight, and they can't afford a pro-pro

I really want to improve aswell. I need practise, of course, and I've got a few months to do so. It's just school is so busy right now. Hey, at least I've got a break next week. Yay reading week. I'm definitely gonna be out and about shooting everything I can

Thanks for all your advice, I really appreciate it.