How NOT to do wedding photography

Being a wedding photographer for several years, I was really stunned last night when I had to go to a wedding of a relative and they hired a 'photographer' to do their wedding. The woman really had no idea what she was doing, photographing the party and indoor stuff with a budget slr with kitlens and using the onboard head-on flash for almost all the shots. I can't imagine how bad they must look. If I would've had my material in the car, I would have gotten it and explained her this is NOT the way do these kind of events. No backup either, no primes..frankly no idea what she was doing. And when I heard the amount of money she's being paid...wow.

be curious to see some of the finished pics when your relative gets them.

Hmmm, it certainly wouldn't be my choice for a wedding. I would say that a budget SLR and a kit lens don't have to ruin a shot. The onboard flash, IMO, would. However, I do think it will be difficult do get very good shots out of a kit lens in challenging circumstances. The photographer would earn my respect if the shots do turn out to be gorgeous.

I'd personally not even think about doing a commercial shoot without a backup, and I appreciate the value of a wide aperture lens for indoor use.

I guess it all amounts to a start-up photographer that is facing a very steep learning curve or face unhappy customers.

Wow you gotta admire the gall to do that. And gotta admit it's a heck of a lot easier to just go around shooting with on board flash lol.

"you think hiring a professional is expensive? wait till you hire an amateur"

Ouch! Before I shot a wedding for a family member I made it clear that I was an amateur hack and then I bought flashes, soft boxes, my L lens, and then I practiced and studied like I was about to shoot a wedding for the first time.

It turned out well. Definitely not $5k pro level, but it was satisfactory.

lapino wrote in post #17192891
... If I would've had my material in the car, I would have gotten it and explained her this is NOT the way do these kind of events. .....

You'd have merely come across as a smart-ass know it all. As a guest at an event it's not your place to educate either the bride & groom or the people working the event.

The hardest thing to do in such circumstances is to just sit back and say nothing.

20droger wrote in post #17193154
The hardest thing to do in such circumstances is to just sit back and say nothing.

Amen.

Huh.
I would've just assumed that the bride and groom had seen previous work by this photographer and liked it and that this previous work was produced by the same methods being used here. Then I would've minded my own business, enjoyed the evening and carried on with my life. But maybe that's just me.

MichiTimm wrote in post #17193179
Huh.
I would've just assumed that the bride and groom had seen previous work by this photographer and liked it and that this previous work was produced by the same methods being used here. Then I would've minded my own business, enjoyed the evening and carried on with my life. But maybe that's just me.

While I agree with your end solution, my experience has been a bit different. I've been to two weddings similar to the one descibed above. In one, the bride and groom selected the photographer based on a few outdoor images they liked. The second was the result of the photographer being a coworker of the bride who " bought some new stuff" so she could do the wedding, her first, but her price was good.

MichiTimm wrote in post #17193179
Huh.
I would've just assumed that the bride and groom had seen previous work by this photographer and liked it and that this previous work was produced by the same methods being used here. Then I would've minded my own business, enjoyed the evening and carried on with my life. But maybe that's just me.

Me too.

lapino wrote in post #17192891
Being a wedding photographer for several years, I was really stunned last night when I had to go to a wedding of a relative and they hired a 'photographer' to do their wedding. The woman really had no idea what she was doing, photographing the party and indoor stuff with a budget slr with kitlens and using the onboard head-on flash for almost all the shots. I can't imagine how bad they must look. If I would've had my material in the car, I would have gotten it and explained her this is NOT the way do these kind of events. No backup either, no primes..frankly no idea what she was doing. And when I heard the amount of money she's being paid...wow.

Curious why they didn't ask you for a referral?

I am a close relative, as a rule I do NOT accept gigs for family. Only trouble ahead...

She must have had a very nice portfolio or your relatives didn't care enough to hire a competent pro. Why didn't they ask you?