I have a digital camera...therefore I am a wedding photographer.

OhLook wrote in post #18481552
Maybe they don't know. It's time to mention the Dunning-Kruger effect: people who lack competence at something also lack competence at evaluating how poorly they're doing at it.

Little knowledge is a dangerous thing....

“The problem with the world is that the intelligent people are full of doubts, while the stupid ones are full of confidence.”

― Charles Bukowski

Not sure of the use of the word 'stupid', but you get the gist....

If it is family doing this, I would definitely say something as you did. However if they are not open to suggestions either due to their pride or your delivery, then the next thing to do is back off and let them fail. At some point life will intervene and cause her grief, at which point she may come back to ask for advice.

There is no faster way to teach my kids to put on their knee pads as they are out riding bikes at an early age than to say it a few times, and when they ignore me, and invariably wreck their bikes skinning up their knees, it becomes a re-enforcement opportunity. Helmets are non-negotiable, but skinned knees heal and they learn.

This feels like one of those events.

welshwizard1971 wrote in post #18481665
“The problem with the world is that the intelligent people are full of doubts, while the stupid ones are full of confidence.”

― Charles Bukowski

Not sure of the use of the word 'stupid', but you get the gist....

Nice!!! A Bukowski quote.

Being a professional slacker, I can do both at the same time! I want to be excellent at slacking off.

My first wedding was for a friends daughter and unpaid. Another novice offered to shoot it for free, and I took several shots of people arriving. Then vicar banned church photography apart from other guy. Afterwards I was asked why I wasn't shooting. I took loads of images. I had to start somewhere, so did your rellie.

Who was it that said "Advice for those getting into wedding photography: If you own a handgun, get rid of it."??

In this case you aren't going to win so just shut up and let the person fail on their own. At some point there will be an angry bride and she will have to step up and take the heat. After that point some other family member will say something to your wife about why you aren't volunteering to teach her and it is at that time you hope that your wife tells them you attempted and she wanted zero help.

Also, I'm with those before who said that anyone willing to hire her is not someone you want to be associated with as a client anyway.

Colin Glover wrote in post #18482702
My first wedding was for a friends daughter and unpaid. Another novice offered to shoot it for free, and I took several shots of people arriving. Then vicar banned church photography apart from other guy. Afterwards I was asked why I wasn't shooting. I took loads of images. I had to start somewhere, so did your rellie.

Hosted photo: posted by Colin Glover in
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forum: Weddings & Other Family Events

Hosted photo: posted by Colin Glover in
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forum: Weddings & Other Family Events

My wife wasn't keen on my photography. She's come round now she's seen my subsequent weddings, all 15. My last wedding was my first bride's sister. My wife pulled me over to one side and told me the couple didn't want ceremony shots. (I'd been darting around a lot) so I sat down. In truth my darting around embarrassed her, I think. Then the celebrant asked everyone not to take photos - except me! So I went and got a front row seat. Took loads of great shots. After ceremony I told bride what my wife had said, and she was horrified. She asked if I hadn't took any, and was relieved to find out that I had. It was my best wedding ever.

The point is, that sometimes wives are wrong, or have another reason for what they say. Yes, she's right about family arguments, but you are also right. If you cop flak and look bad for saying something, she looks bad too.

What I'd've done was to offer PP advice, so next time she does a better job. Tell her to get a backup body asao too. Her images would look a lot better and you'd have a great friend. Help her design a website, and then you never know. She might get really good. Like me, she obviously got the bug, so don't put her off

In this instance you were apparently hired to do a job and unless you are specifically told by the bride herself then you follow through as you normally would. if your wife isn't the one cutting the check I would have politely told her the bride was paying you for x and unless you heard it from her you were going to do your job as contracted for. (I assume that your wife was merely a guest with you at the wedding)

No one else to blame but the bride and groom for "hiring" a non-pro. You get what you pay for ...

If you took photos, give them to the couple. THEY will see the difference in quality and style and maybe THEY can be the one to let the other person know she is not ready. I recently had the same experience, but not with a wedding, but a church celebratory event.

Point-n-shoot-n wrote in post #18480276
Am I wrong to try to explain to her that she needs more knowledge than just how to turn the camera on to be a wedding photographer? My wife seems to think so........Please chime in with your comments and/or experiences.

You are 100% correct and, at the same time 100% wrong. Everything you think is correct. Trying to tell someone who doesn't want to listen is a mistake - doubly so if it is family. You tried to help, it wasn't wanted. Continuing will just cause bad feeling and, when it's family, that can hang around for years. Let it go.

you are correct however I dont think there is much you can do, I shot quite a lot of weddings, never a complaint but always had two photographers and 4 cameras there. I have given it up because I find it way too tiring and the workload afterwards is huge. That said if it was my wedding Id expect the photographer to work just as hard as I did and have editing skills. I know of one very good photographer with great editing skills who at this moment is in the process of re editing a heap of photos from a wedding, apparently the photographer was absolute crap, they did not even bother to go back to him/her and get them redone they just wanted the photos fixed so have gone elsewhere to get sorted . from what Ive been told they were dreadful and will take a lot of work to fix. Lesson for future brides and grooms, ask to see a good sized portfolio

If the family member is not willing to learn photography, it will begin to show. I have been to weddings in which aunt June was taking photos or shooting video for the couple. If it's a family member, it tends to be a positive experience in that she's getting candids of the couple. I was at one wedding where the aunt looked at her pocket camera afterwards, and there was a short gasp as to whether she had recorded anything. She had forgotten to put a memory card in the camera, but luckily it had an internal memory (she wasn't even familiar with that feature of her camera). If the family member is hoping to make a career out of wedding photography, then they'll need to learn both the technical and business practices of wedding photography. Potential clients that aren't family or friends are going to want to see a professional portfolio and concrete wedding package pricing plans.