Newbie's looking for help doing weddings

You won't be very well received here if you have actually shot a wedding. This looks much worse in the eyes of someone who can potentially help you. Just don't say "I have done a few weddings". Why?

Because you have shown your "clients" images that are not even close to current standard 2009 quality that any photographer charging $2,000 can deliver. Your "clients" think your work is what we sell to others only you "being a real nice guy" did it for so much less.

"But they were happy with me" I was happy too when someone gave me a good deal on my first car. Till I found out later it was a piece of junk! Your happy customers are only so for a short time... till they come across images from a real wedding photographer.

Both you and them are going to feel different in a few short years. You have robbed them forever of having good pictures for that day. Congratulations on stealing the moment for both a paid photographer who feeds his family, and the Bride never getting to see how pretty her wedding really was.

Yes someone will take your place... but its only because the public does not realize what kind of people you are... but they will eventually.

I will be redoing wedding pictures for a newbie who charged $1,200 dollars to a sweet couple. He showed up with two Canon Rebel XTs. One had the kit lens and 580EX flash mounted, the other had some super zoom (18-250 sigma I think).

The pictures turned out monstrous... probably his first time ever to shoot in a dark church building... it is easy shooting outside okay? Wedding pros shoot everywhere.

Thanks to clowns like this here is what happened to me at my last wedding
----
The minister of the church comes up to me and starts talking about where I should stand and giving me general advise on how to conduct myself. I am thinking to myself "do I look that retarded?"

I am listening respectfully and then he starts to talk about flash... I interrupted him at that point and tell him that the couple likes the look I will use with flash and he is okay with flash right? He says yes and then I interrupt him again and tell him that he won't even see my flashes fire. I am very discreet with them and no I will not get up on the platform and shoot in your face. The last photographer that came through his church must have been a real newbie...

He took it well. After the wedding I asked "how did I do, did the flash bother you?" He said he never noticed it! I thank him and said "I am not like those other guys!"
----

Now here is an example of a newbie making me look bad before I even get a chance to prove myself to new people. I will accept the opinion of others that they are not taking business from me... but one thing they are doing is making it very embarrassing to say that you photograph weddings and I am making the point that this is worse than it has even been now that everything is digital.

Can you imagine what it feels like for someone to tell you how to photograph a wedding and you have spent $20,000 + just getting in the door of the building and thousands of dollars are boucing around your kneecap, and you'll drop a camera and pick up another if need be?

If your really serious about HELPING Brides have great pictures of THEIR day (not your day), if you truly want THEM to be happy 20 years from now, and your not just interested in feeding your ego and making a quick $500 then please have at least (to get you started) $10,000 ready to spend and go into the business. Then ask us what you need to buy okay?

Let me summarize:

• You want to shoot weddings!
  
• You've never done one yourself.
  
• You believe that customer service is paramount.
  
• You don't want to ruin the reputation of the industry.
  
• You have $10,000 to spend.

I didn't vote because neither option is fair. Sure, if you're no good and you charge too much, you're ripping people off. But some people can't afford better or don't appreciate difference. There is a legitimate place for newbies in the business. If nobody new started charging for their services there wouldn't be any wedding photographers in 20 years, they would all have retired. It's the same way it is with any profession, you pay more for experience. I'm shooting my first wedding on Oct 3rd for the cost of my expenses with absolutely no profit (in fact I have spent $1,000+ of my own money). I advised them to hire a pro. They didn't have the money. What am I supposed to say?

EDIT: That $1,000 was just since they asked me. Total for my whole kit is probably closer to $4k. I know it's not $10k, but this is just a hobby.

As long as you tell them "this is not my profession, I am just trying this out" then I am okay with it. It is those acting like they are a professional wedding pro that really hurts us all.

Very strange thread.

I don't mind newbies asking any questions, I was one myself a couple of years ago .... its the people that come over all holier than thou but share little or none of their own work, don't have links to their websites etc. that annoy me.

BTW, if you used flash at most of the places I shoot weddings at you would get kicked out mid ceremony, flash is a big no no during the ceremony and despite what you previously assured a minister I am pretty sure your flashes are not in fact invisible..... not seen any of those for sale yet.

I don't understand the question.

The OP seems to be half a rant, half a lecture, and neither half is structured very well.

I had to double check that the OP was in fact the first post in the thread.

Spend some more time looking around around the sharing threads - not everybody produces a disaster as their first attempt at a wedding...and few of them use $10k worth of gear.

I also don't think I understand the question.

One of the things I require from my brides two weeks before the wedding (along with their final payment) is contact info for the minister. I will call him a few days before, introduce myself, and ask if there are any restrictions on photography or for my movements during the ceremony that might be out of the ordinary. That simple act confirms for him that he's dealing with a professional who is thoughtful and respectful. Not only that, they are genuinely appreciative of my reaching out. A few times this summer, I've had a few go out of their way opening up places for me to shoot or giving me a heads up on some element that might make a great shot if I'm in a certain spot and ready. I don't doubt that those opportunities came out of his/her's appreciation.

Hacks and newbies will always be out there (as they should be). It's up to us to distinguish ourselves from them, not just in the quality of our images but how we conduct ourselves and manage our personal interactions.

Your post is too long and rambling, I have no idea what you're on about.

I was just about to write the exact same thing Tim just wrote. I tried your summary and felt even more lost...

It takes $10,000 just to get started? I knew I was doing something wrong..I guess I should be building up my credit instead of practicing photography. Thanks for the tip!

joshr03 wrote in post #8662970
It takes $10,000 just to get started? I knew I was doing something wrong..I guess I should be building up my credit instead of practicing photography. Thanks for the tip!

That's be cheap. Two bodies, at least a few good lenses, a couple of flashes, memory, etc, $10K's gone easily even if you buy prosumer equipment.

Gentleman, my post is an in-depth thought directed toward those desiring to photograph weddings. It is not written for seasoned photographers. Try reading it again a little slower...

Reread. I think you need to rewrite it to be more clear and concise, and outline from the start what you're trying to say.

pcunite wrote in post #8660583
Gentleman, my post is an in-depth thought directed toward those desiring to photograph weddings. It is not written for seasoned photographers. Try reading it again a little slower...

I'm an enthusiastic hobbyist, but hardly a 'seasoned photographer', so by this logic I should understand your post?

Regardless of my status as a photographer, I'm quite accomplished at reading (I've been doing it most of my life), and no matter how slowly I read this, it does not make sense;

pcunite wrote in post #8660583
You won't be very well received here if you have actually shot a wedding. This looks much worse in the eyes of someone who can potentially help you. Just don't say "I have done a few weddings". Why?

Neither does your 'summary'...

pcunite wrote in post #8660583
Let me summarize:

• You want to shoot weddings!
  
• You've never done one yourself.
  
• You believe that customer service is paramount.
  
• You don't want to ruin the reputation of the industry.
  
• You have $10,000 to spend.

Great, how can I help?

7 out of 7 respondents don't get what you're on about. Maybe the problem isn't related to reading speed....?

8 out of 8... and I think I'm one of your targets.

I read your summary several times because since I made it through your rant, I figured I should keep going and try to learn something. I REALLY don't get it. Let's see if I'm close. I'll summarize what I learned:
- I should not rob a couple from forever having good photos of their day.
- I should not steal money from a photographer (and his family).
- I should not get on a platform and flash in someone's face.
- Most of all, I should not make you look bad.
- I should spend $10,000 on equipment then ask you for help.

What is the help you will give me if I can do all that? Just curious.


(The only part I really understood is the part where you were extremely disrespectful as a guest to the minister of the church. Being respectful means not interrupting. And even I know as a newbie, with good equipment and basic setting knowledge, it is easy to get great photos during a ceremony without a flash.)

For those claiming to not understanding my writing style... perhaps you are being disingenuous because of the emotional nature of calling out incompetence. Indeed most posts thus far are from forum member not new to POTN and therefore I can only gather that you have seen most writing styles and are not confused at what I am trying to say. Perhaps you just don't want me to say it? I am not certain as to why because it is not directed towards you.

What gives me reason to post is because in the last two months I have become aware of several brides heart broken over their wedding pictures. All weddings were shot from persons charging much more than $500. I think that POTN is one of the most helpful and friendly boards around. However, I also think that we can be a little too helpful in the wrong way. If my five year old daughter wants to know how to start the family's sedan I don't just answer her question. The very nature of her question reveals that she has no business driving!

There are numerous posts on this board that are from those heading out to do a wedding. We school most of them on the fact that they need to charge $1,500 or more, that they need a 24-70, that they need this and that. Well I can tell you they are listening but it is not helping brides...

Given the above information perhaps you understand my frustrations and embarrassment of the wedding photography industry. I predict this problem will reach epidemic proportions before anything helpful emergences.

To be clear... everyone can learn. My statement to pros and those who want to be... let's learn it the right way. I would rather go out of business because everyone in town is very good than to hit a two year dry spell because 50 newbies try it three times and now that I have no work I go out of business.