First wedding done

[CyberPet]

Maureen, I'm shooting my first wedding this weekend (saturday). Might want to share some of those "important" images are? So I don't go about and shoot 2,000 images and find I will only need 10%. I don't know if I'll get it all done in the camera yet (have to try before I know, but mostly I do little post processing when I photograph now, just some cropping, etc).

But since I'm a newbie at weddings, I really want to know what type of photo's are "must haves", those that will always bring down applause (ok, a bit too much there, but you get my point), while the rest of the shots can be more "in my own head/style" where I can experiment and find my style and develop that in the future.

I know it's almost as asking if the hen or the egg came first, but I'm sure you have some great tips to share with me/us.

TIA!

[Feihung08]

Originally Posted by tim

I wrote up my "lessons learned" tonight, things I have to do next time. I can post them if there's any interest. Near the top of the list is "get the image right in the camera".

I'd love to do another wedding, the question is how to find someone who wants me to do it.

Please Please Please!
You know we all love that sorta stuff here!

And don't worry man, after you get all the prints to the couple and they start showing them off, and they mention how 'cheap' you were (guessing here), their friends will tell two friends, and their friends will tell two friends etc etc etc! I'm sure of it!

[Feihung08]

Originally Posted by Maureen Souza

Too bad you live on the other side of the globe... I sure could use an extra hand at my next gig...it's gonna be a big one, yikes!!!

Where in "Central California" are you Maureen?? Or I should say, as it's called now "Cuwlifournia" by the Govenator!

[Merle]

Hello Tim,
Unless you have a good sized advertising budget, use this present wedding to promote future weddings for you. You will find that 50 -60 percent of the weddings you book will be from referrals. Make sure you get this present wedding you are working on finished as quickly as possible. I don't know what arrangements you made with your wedding couple but deliver to them a finished wedding album. For the first year the bride from the wedding you just shot will be showing off her wedding pictures to her friends (bridesmaids) and relatives. Supply your bride with a large stack of business cards and offer her a fee (I offer $50.00) for every wedding you book from her referral. You will find that a referral system will be the least expensive and most productive form of advertising you can use. (per wedding booked) You will also need to make up a Sample Album for yourself to show potential brides. Remember this industry is visual so don't skimp on your samples get a nice album you want the brides to get excited about what you can do for them and their wedding. Keep up the good work, with planning and organization it will get easier and better and who knows you may find you can make a good living at it.

Good Shooting to ya !!
Merle

[tim]

Advertising budget? I just did my first wedding, and photography's a sideline thing for me, so advertising isn't really an option right now. I just want to get experience doing wedding photography to get to a place where I feel it's reasonable to charge people for my effort. Referrals are a great idea, i'll make sure to get some business cards made up and offer a referral fee.

Now I have to work out how to make nice wedding albums... i've never seen a nice one so I guess I have more reading to do.

Thanks Merle, your advice is appreciated

Originally Posted by jfrancho

I'm a process geek, and I'd love to see this. I think it would apply to more than just wedding photography.

Here you go: http://photography-on-the.net/forum/...d.php?p=568782

[Feihung08]

Originally Posted by tim

Now I have to work out how to make nice wedding albums... i've never seen a nice one so I guess I have more reading to do.

Tim, Gardenstate posted some good links to some software that helps put together collages for wedding albums on this thread.......
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/...597#post568597

Some of the nicer albums I've seen are quite simply amazing where the images are printed out on a thick black paper with very elegant style. Looks like the albums probably cost about $1000 to put together by themselves! But these are $4000 per wedding pros that produce these. I'm gonna look into 'scrap booking' for just this reason!

[Maureen Souza]

Originally Posted by CyberPet

Maureen, I'm shooting my first wedding this weekend (saturday). Might want to share some of those "important" images are? So I don't go about and shoot 2,000 images and find I will only need 10%. I don't know if I'll get it all done in the camera yet (have to try before I know, but mostly I do little post processing when I photograph now, just some cropping, etc).

But since I'm a newbie at weddings, I really want to know what type of photo's are "must haves", those that will always bring down applause (ok, a bit too much there, but you get my point), while the rest of the shots can be more "in my own head/style" where I can experiment and find my style and develop that in the future.

I know it's almost as asking if the hen or the egg came first, but I'm sure you have some great tips to share with me/us.

TIA!

PM sent.

[tim]

Feihung08, that looks like a great program! Are most pages on a wedding album this type of thing, I though you'd put a either one or a few images per page, not all collages?

I think i'll do it in photoshop for now, it'll take longer but it's cheaper. I'll keep it in mind for when i'm doing many weddings and I can justify buying a piece of software for such a specific task.

[CyberPet]

Marueen, thank you!! Much appreciated.

[tim]

I've started a new thread to share the photos.