First wedding shoot.

Okay, so I've been asked to shoot my first wedding in October, which I know is a long way away, but it'll come round sooner than I know it!

I'd love some input on what sort of prices people charge and what they provide for their client, in terms of time, materials (albums, discs etc...) and any other charges you might include. I've got a rough idea on what I want to charge and what I'll do for that but just wanted to make sure I'm not missing any tricks.

Also, do I need any form of insurance to shoot a wedding? Or do I need any form of paper work? It's going to be shot in a church, will I need to go to that church and see if there's anything they require me to provide, ID the likes?

As I'm sure you can tell, I've not got a clue where to start with this, but I really want to get this nailed down and start making an earning from it.

And, can anyone recommend any online/high street (UK based) shops that either make albums, photo frames etc or anywhere I can maybe go and purchase the materials I need to make them myself?

Thanks in advance for any and all information!

Can't help you with the UK based aspect, start looking through facebook and findout who the other photographers in the area are and look at their prices.

I'd say the following. Offer to shoot the wedding for free, or charge only the cost of materials you deliver (ie albums, CDs , or if you need to rent gear)

Under promise and over deliver.

jmikolich wrote in post #16600537
Can't help you with the UK based aspect, start looking through facebook and findout who the other photographers in the area are and look at their prices.

I'd say the following. Offer to shoot the wedding for free, or charge only the cost of materials you deliver (ie albums, CDs , or if you need to rent gear)

Under promise and over deliver.

I'll trawl through Facebook and local photographers tonight then, see what I can find!

I actually offered to shoot for free as it would be my first time, but they've insisted on paying me but have asked me to build up some packages basically. So that's something I'm going to work on.

Do you NEED insurance? Some venues will require it and some won't. So MAYBE.

SHOULD you have insurance? YES!

Ratjack wrote in post #16601209
Do you NEED insurance? Some venues will require it and some won't. So MAYBE.

SHOULD you have insurance? YES!

Good point.

I probably should have phrased my question in a different manner.

Is there any other insurance I need other than gear insurance? (Where is a good place to get this by the way?)

Brelly wrote in post #16601220
Good point.

I probably should have phrased my question in a different manner.

Is there any other insurance I need other than gear insurance? (Where is a good place to get this by the way?)

Liability insurance is what will help in case anyone gets hurt for whatever reason. You tell someone to pose somewhere and they trip and fall, or a lightstand hits someone upside the head. I am not sure about places over there, but I am sure any reputable insurance company where you are can help you with this. .

I was in the same boat as you a while back and this is what I learned here and through experience. I've only shot 5 weddings to date but here goes:

1 - As mentioned get insurance (I use PolicyBee in the UK). As mentioned some venues may ask for it so better to be prepared.
2 - Ask to speak to whoever is officiating i.e. priest, minister, registrar. Ask them if they have any rules regarding the use of flash in the venue, where you can stand etc.
3 - Get to both the wedding venue and reception venue days or weeks before the actually date. Try and be there at the time that both will be taking place, this will give you an indication of what the lighting may be like - Bring your camera and take some pictures.

There will be plenty more that I'm sure the more experienced wedding togs will provide

Brelly wrote in post #16601220
Good point.

I probably should have phrased my question in a different manner.

Is there any other insurance I need other than gear insurance? (Where is a good place to get this by the way?)

3 types of insurance you should seriously consider for weddings, events or general photography business...

1) Public Liability - this covers you if Aunty Doris trips over your camera bag, etc.., it also covers you if you break something at a venue (we had a really old chair collapse on us at one venue, fortunately the venue was more concerned whether we were hurt! - but it could have gone the other way). You need at least 2 million GBP cover, preferably 5, and some insurers will offer 10 million, which is what ours was. Don't leave the house to shoot a wedding without this cover.

2) Equipment insurance - obviously up to you whether you have this, but daft not to unless you can afford to replace your kit at a moment's notice. You may need to think about whether you need cover for some equipment being unattended in a vehicle late at night. We met our insurer's vehicle requirements, and had unattended cover any time of day/night.

3) Professional Indemnity - this covers you for delivery of your product or service. So if something goes wrong, and you deliver nothing, this insurance will cover the loss. We had one wedding client that turned into a total nightmare after the wedding, as far as they know they got a partial price refund from us to make them go away - in reality our indemnity insurance paid them out through us in return for a piece of paper from the client saying it was a full and final settlement. It was actually a problem the client caused, but our insurer felt it was better/cheaper/easier for us just to claim and move on.

The last year we shot weddings (2010), our annual insurance bill for all 3 above was about £600 in total. We had the whole package through Aaduki, and most of the cover was provided by Hiscox. Probably not the cheapest, but following our experience with the professional indemnity claim, I would have no hesitation in recommending them. Aaduki used to offer discounts for RPS membership and the like, probably still do - haven't checked.

Rob

casp3r wrote in post #16601269
I was in the same boat as you a while back and this is what I learned here and through experience. I've only shot 5 weddings to date but here goes:

1 - As mentioned get insurance (I use PolicyBee in the UK). As mentioned some venues may ask for it so better to be prepared.
2 - Ask to speak to whoever is officiating i.e. priest, minister, registrar. Ask them if they have any rules regarding the use of flash in the venue, where you can stand etc.
3 - Get to both the wedding venue and reception venue days or weeks before the actually date. Try and be there at the time that both will be taking place, this will give you an indication of what the lighting may be like - Bring your camera and take some pictures.

There will be plenty more that I'm sure the more experienced wedding togs will provide

Yeah insurance is probably a must then, don't want to be getting sued for something silly!
I'm looking at speaking to the church, as it were, nearer the time to see what sort of policies they have and to make sure theres nothing hidden that will get me in trouble. Good tip, I'll try and do that much nearer to the time!

RobKirkwood wrote in post #16601299
3 types of insurance you should seriously consider for weddings, events or general photography business...

1) Public Liability - this covers you if Aunty Doris trips over your camera bag, etc.., it also covers you if you break something at a venue (we had a really old chair collapse on us at one venue, fortunately the venue was more concerned whether we were hurt! - but it could have gone the other way). You need at least 2 million GBP cover, preferably 5, and some insurers will offer 10 million, which is what ours was. Don't leave the house to shoot a wedding without this cover.

2) Equipment insurance - obviously up to you whether you have this, but daft not to unless you can afford to replace your kit at a moment's notice. You may need to think about whether you need cover for some equipment being unattended in a vehicle late at night. We met our insurer's vehicle requirements, and had unattended cover any time of day/night.

3) Professional Indemnity - this covers you for delivery of your product or service. So if something goes wrong, and you deliver nothing, this insurance will cover the loss. We had one wedding client that turned into a total nightmare after the wedding, as far as they know they got a partial price refund from us to make them go away - in reality our indemnity insurance paid them out through us in return for a piece of paper from the client saying it was a full and final settlement. It was actually a problem the client caused, but our insurer felt it was better/cheaper/easier for us just to claim and move on.

The last year we shot weddings (2010), our annual insurance bill for all 3 above was about £600 in total. We had the whole package through Aaduki, and most of the cover was provided by Hiscox. Probably not the cheapest, but following our experience with the professional indemnity claim, I would have no hesitation in recommending them. Aaduki used to offer discounts for RPS membership and the like, probably still do - haven't checked.

Rob

That's really really helpful, some things in there to definitely think about! Thanks for such a detailed response! Fingers crossed this won't cause too much hassle as it is an old school friend who got in touch recently, so I'd like to think they won't try and make my life too hard!

It's hard to give advice without knowing your experience. Are you a solid portrait photographer ? Do you feel comfortable working with a subject, helping pose them, and interacting with them to bring out the best possible expressions ? Are you quick about finding locations, zones to shoot in and making the most of a location that ostensibly isn't very attractive ? Are you sufficiently confident in the basics of photography (ISO,aperture,Shutter speed) such that you can focus more on moment and composition etc. ? Are you well-versed in using flash so that if the circumstances require it you can make your own light ? Do you have a contract written up ? Have you agreed to shoot a wedding without a contract in place ? Do you have backup equipment in the event that any of your gear has an aneurysm on the day ?

Christopher Steven b wrote in post #16602201
It's hard to give advice without knowing your experience. Are you a solid portrait photographer ? Do you feel comfortable working with a subject, helping pose them, and interacting with them to bring out the best possible expressions ? Are you quick about finding locations, zones to shoot in and making the most of a location that ostensibly isn't very attractive ? Are you sufficiently confident in the basics of photography (ISO,aperture,Shutter speed) such that you can focus more on moment and composition etc. ? Are you well-versed in using flash so that if the circumstances require it you can make your own light ? Do you have a contract written up ? Have you agreed to shoot a wedding without a contract in place ? Do you have backup equipment in the event that any of your gear has an aneurysm on the day ?

I'm not really asking for advice on how to shoot it. I'm asking what sort of things I need to consider for actually shooting a wedding.

But in short, a lot of that was quite help for other things I can consider!

My only recommendation is that if you have never assisted shooting a wedding, I would decline. It does not matter if you charge nothing for the work...if you are not confident you can deliver, assist another photog until you are confident.

Never mind weddings, how much experience do you have shooting people?

So many people are flattered when a mate asks (then insists) they shoot their wedding. Here's the truth, it's an insult. They're not asking because they believe you're the most amazing photographer they've ever met. They're asking because they believe you'll do it for next to nothing. The problems arise because they have no idea that shooting people isn't the same as shooting wildlife or landscapes. They just know they've got a mate with a professional camera.

As a photographer, you have to calmly think whether you have the skills, gear, or knowledge to pull off this gig.

If anything can go wrong equipment wise, it does at a wedding. I had 3 580's bite the dust on one wedding last year. The oddest things happen and I test all of my equipment before the wedding.