Attending Wedding this Saturday

I am attending my brother inlaws wedding this Saturday and I will have my camera in tow...I am not the wedding photog but I know family members will ask for copies of pictures.
My question is, do you think its rude to direct them to my zenfolio account to get copies of these pictures? I am not charging for them nor do I want to, I just figure that if they wanted printed copies they could get them through my account. If they just want a digital copy, I would allow downloads for no charge as well. My instinct tells me to just hand them my business card and they can visit it later, but thinking about that, I dont want to come off like I am there just for business...
I have no issues with giving copies to the family, but on the other hand, I wont burn CDs and ship them at my expense either.
This would only be if someone asked me for copies, not going to advertise it.

Thoughts?

I think the hired pro is going to hate you! Just go and enjoy yourself. Is this self promotion? Giving out business cards? If family members ask you then fine but you are really stepping on the pro's toes by directing people to your site etc. Just my two pence, knock yourself out.

Robert16 wrote in post #4721604
I think the hired pro is going to hate you! Just go and enjoy yourself. Is this self promotion? Giving out business cards? If family members ask you then fine but you are really stepping on the pro's toes by directing people to your site etc. Just my two pence, knock yourself out.

I have no intention of stepping on anyones toes at all. The pro has his contract in place and is getting paid either way. I dont see why that person would be offended. This is not self promotion at all, I have no intention of trying to become a wedding photog. This will be my fourth wedding, including my own, with this family and from previous experience, everyone swaps copies of pictures after the date...the last time a wedding happened, I got the "Can you send me copies on a disk? " requests and I just cannot afford to do that this time so I thought this would be a good solution. One or two people asking for a disk is fine, but when you have 15-20, shipping adds up quick.. .Some bring laptops that I just download the card too. I could leave the business cards out of it, just afraid people would lose my contact info if that happened. Its a rather large extended family and most are really struggling financially including myself. I am going to take pictures regardless for myself and the bride and groom if they want them...I was just thinking zenfolio would be a great way to get prints at cost for those that did not have a home printer. IT would better quality than prints at walmart and cheaper as well. Am I over thinking this?

You are stepping on the toes of the pro - yes you want to swap shots - but why don't you get the web address of the pro and buy copies of his prints outside his contract.

If you wish to step on his toes - why don't you just e-mail zipped files to everyone? quick and easy!

I made my point because a lot of pros make their income from print sales after the event. That is a great situation you've got going there. Knock yourself out.

I just realised how sarcastic that " knock yourself out " sounds. That is not my intention. What I mean is 'go for it'.

Just looking for opinions, not sarcasm but thanks anyways... I will make sure to tell everyone that attends to leave their cameras at home...

Sorry I just dont understand that logic...I have been 9 weddings in my lifetime, not as many as some of you, but in those 9 times, I have never once heard any photog offer prints for sale from his company to any guest. This is including my own wedding photog when I got married. Either this wasnt an option for them, or they suck at advertising...
If the wedding photog cant get the shots I am getting, then I am not taking away from his business. He may be following around the bride and groom and I will probably be with the family somewhere else. So that is stepping on his toes if the people I am taking the pics of request a copy? Sorry, that just doesnt make sense to me.

cory1848 wrote in post #4721924
Just looking for opinions, not sarcasm but thanks anyways... I will make sure to tell everyone that attends to leave their cameras at home...

Sorry I just dont understand that logic...I have been 9 weddings in my lifetime, not as many as some of you, but in those 9 times, I have never once heard any photog offer prints for sale from his company to any guest. This is including my own wedding photog when I got married. Either this wasnt an option for them, or they suck at advertising...
If the wedding photog cant get the shots I am getting, then I am not taking away from his business. He may be following around the bride and groom and I will probably be with the family somewhere else. So that is stepping on his toes if the people I am taking the pics of request a copy? Sorry, that just doesnt make sense to me.

I offer prints to guests as well. In fact, they typically ask me if I offer prints. I say yes, hand them a business card, and to email me so I can send them information in regards to ordering.

Anyways, you're right - the photog is getting paid either way - however it's disrespectful. If you don't think the photog can't do the job he's paid to, then they should be using another photographer, plain and simple.

i dont think the pro will hate you. as long as you aren't taking the engagement shots and family/wedding party shots, etc. i mean, there's definitely a difference if you're not the main photog shooting up and down the aisles, etc. Seriously, the pro should know that you aren't getting the same angles and what not.

I don't know why that's any different than someone taking pics with their point and shoot and then uploading it online so they can share with their family. I mean, don't hand out business cards, but if you just slip them a note with your website on it, i dont see what's wrong with that at all.

Mario. wrote in post #4722014
Anyways, you're right - the photog is getting paid either way - however it's disrespectful. If you don't think the photog can't do the job he's paid to, then they should be using another photographer, plain and simple.

I think you misunderstood my intention. I dont doubt the photogs job qualifications. I am sure that person will be great.

Like Flareak says, I am not taking the party shots, I wont be in the aisle or at the alter, I wont be getting in the way of the hired photographer. I am just another guest with a camera offering to share my photos with the family in a cost effective way, that is all.

The 3 most important things a pro wedding photog in a situation like this are:

1)People have cameras (some have SLRs). They post pictures online .

2)Just because someone has an SLR does not guarantee great pictures (no disrespect intended, good pictures come with practice).

3)The Pro should have already built the fact that guests take pics.

I would not worry about the Pro hating you and such. On the same hand I'd try to stay out of the way (you get incredible nice candid shots by stepping back from the action anyways).

As far as you slipping cars with your info in it I'd say it is just savvy business. While there is a Pro there if he is not passing cards then I'd question his/her business promotion skills.

I have the same 2 lenses you have (50 1.8) and the 28-135IS and have used them at a wedding as a guest last year. The 50 1.8 is fine and on the 30D you can open that up to ISO3200 if needed (watch the exposure). The 28-135IS is a fantastic lens but you may need a flash to get the best results. I used the 28-135IS with my 580EXII + XTi and it was fantastic.

In my opinion if they wanted you to take photos and distribute them to their guests they would of hired you or asked you.

stathunter wrote in post #4722451
In my opinion if they wanted you to take photos and distribute them to their guests they would of hired you or asked you.

Again, I am not advertising this...I am not trying to make a business opportunity out of this...just going off of experience WHEN people will ask for copies, and they will. I know the family very well.

Put yourself in my shoes, your a guest at a wedding, you take pics like everyone else, if someone ask you for a copy, do you say no?

Alexajlex wrote in post #4722379
The 3 most important things a pro wedding photog in a situation like this are:

1)People have cameras (some have SLRs). They post pictures online .

2)Just because someone has an SLR does not guarantee great pictures (no disrespect intended, good pictures come with practice).

3)The Pro should have already built the fact that guests take pics.

I would not worry about the Pro hating you and such. On the same hand I'd try to stay out of the way (you get incredible nice candid shots by stepping back from the action anyways).

As far as you slipping cars with your info in it I'd say it is just savvy business. While there is a Pro there if he is not passing cards then I'd question his/her business promotion skills.

I have the same 2 lenses you have (50 1.8) and the 28-135IS and have used them at a wedding as a guest last year. The 50 1.8 is fine and on the 30D you can open that up to ISO3200 if needed (watch the exposure). The 28-135IS is a fantastic lens but you may need a flash to get the best results. I used the 28-135IS with my 580EXII + XTi and it was fantastic.

1. Is a given.
2. I would hope the wedding photog has better quality images than mine, because I have never shot a wedding before.
3. This is why I cant imagine the photog being offended. I would assume, most expect it.

I intend to stay out of the way...I let the grooms mother get in the way, she is good at that...

I will probably leave the business cards at home...

cory1848 wrote in post #4722669
I will probably leave the business cards at home...

This was the main issue. No pro is going to care how many people are walking around with slrs - the more the merrier - heck, if he/she lost their memory cards afterwards and nobody else had a decent photograph? Disaster.