Ouch!!!

It happened today... Have read many stories here, as you all tried to prepare me...but nope, it still stung...

Just got off the phone with a client I just sent the contract off too and she said..."Oh I am so sorry but my niece wants to shoot the wedding with her new professional camera....but thanks for all the information on what to make sure we remember."

Thats a big ouch. One that the bride may regret having done. I'm sorry that happened to you.

Not to worry, a newbie with the best camera in the world still takes newbie images most likely in green box. The wedding couple will regret it but won't scream up and down at them as they are family.
You might offer to do a post wedding series for them so they have some acceptable images of their day

The old advertising arguement comes to mind. Potential clients would proclaim I can write, photograph and produce the ad myself. Me: Gee I wonder aren't you too close to the company-product to be pbjective. That's what I bring to the party. Ad and art experience from other assignments that have taken me years to gain . That's worth something that you never had the time to go after. My favorite was "Can I use my wife as the model? No I pick them from agencies I Like
Sam

Joe Ravenstein wrote in post #11777793
Not to worry, a newbie with the best camera in the world still takes newbie images most likely in green box. The wedding couple will regret it but won't scream up and down at them as they are family.
You might offer to do a post wedding series for them so they have some acceptable images of their day

I'd argue the Mark IV is the best camera in the world right now, or at least one of them, and it does not have a green box I've done it before where someone wants to try it out quick, you know because it's the CAMERA that does the work, they want to see what the CAMERA can do. I'll throw my settings out of whack (M) and turn it off. You'd be amazed how many can't even turn the thing on let alone know what's wrong with the settings, they look for full auto mode and it doesn't exist.

I'd have to be overly honest with them and say the camera is not what does it, the skill & talent does. If they still say they're using them, oh well - not a client, unless they come back for some post wedding shots to have something worthwhile.

karobinson wrote in post #11776858
but thanks for all the information on what to make sure we remember."

You must have forgotten the bit where she needed to remember to hire you .

Does she have a FB page that you could look at and see how the niece works out?

Yeah, that's crazy.

Look, I've been taking pictures for two years (every day) and I still stink. The only way I would ever shoot a wedding is if I was a pro's sidekick, doing it for free for the learning experience (knowing that he or she was the fall guy, so-to-speak).

Wedding photography is like plumbing: if you want professional results, hire a professional. Otherwise you're going to have a mess that stinks.

Realize that those people are not the clients you want and move on.

Problem is there are fewer and fewer of the type of clients you do want around.

But, what are you going to do?

You get what you pay for....or don't pay for!

I agree she just wasn't your client, so as sad as it is - forget and move on...

I had this happen to me a few times where a newbie shot a wedding for free where I was supposed to shoot it and get paid (actually thank goodness that newbie did a decent job), and a portrait client who hired a cheap photog and was very disappointed with the photos...I don't stress over it, honestly. But I do work on my marketing and pricing, etc...so clients like that don't even contact me in the first place.

Just had this happen to me today. It's part of the business.

I just bought a new frying pan, so can I cater your wedding?

PhotosGuy wrote in post #11815081
I just bought a new frying pan, so can I cater your wedding?

[GIFS ARE NOT RENDERED IN QUOTES]

This is what it comes down to.

It's strange; I can't think of another field in which people think that simply owning the equipment used by professionals will yield professional results. I mean, I play tennis (I'm an NTRP 4.5-5 level player) and I use a Wilson K.Six-One Tour racquet, but I don't have any illusions that simply playing with the same racquet as Roger Federer will allow me to win Wimbledon 6 times.

^^That was great PhotosGuy BAHAHAHAHA

MikeFairbanks wrote in post #11810689
Yeah, that's crazy.

Look, I've been taking pictures for two years (every day) and I still stink. The only way I would ever shoot a wedding is if I was a pro's sidekick, doing it for free for the learning experience (knowing that he or she was the fall guy, so-to-speak).

Wedding photography is like plumbing: if you want professional results, hire a professional. Otherwise you're going to have a mess that stinks.

Big deal, Mike. I been taking pictures for 25 years, and I still stink. And many can attest to that. But I'm damn proud of my stinkiness.