Selling yourself short

Anyone ever sold themselves short?

I had a friend ask me to shoot some pics of her daughter and fiance' - the wedding Photographers schedule didnt jive with theirs and they needed the shots soon.
I said "sure!" ..."Does she have a site in mind?"

One thing led to another and, with me being honest, I said "I'm not really experienced at this kind of thing but, if she likes what we get, she can just pay me whatever she thinks its worth" ... "I would just like to get the experience".

Originally, I didnt ask for any payments. She offered because she knows how much $ I've spent on gear.

She called back a day later and said that "they were able to work something out with the original wedding Photographer".

I'm not at odds with her at all. I'm glad they worked it out.

I was just wondering if any of the rest of you ever felt like you lost a job because of your own lack of confidence in being able to deliver?

i dont know if it was lack of confidence, but more of setting expectations low in a couple of cases. especially once around another photog. i didn't want to sound pitchy in front of him so i downplayed my skills a bit and upplayed his. the person called him.

I think those facebook "fan" pages are great. But I keep putting off making one for myself because I lack confidence (and therefore motivation). I know that technically I'm better then some of those noob photographers out there that are trying to start a business with their $500 camera kit, but I question my people skills and don't want any bad feedback (not that I've really had any yet).

So yes, I'm totally selling myself short, so much that I've barely started what I want to do.

I have never shot a wedding before but read enough to know that it is a lot of work. Also, wedding is a special occasion for 2 persons. You screw up the shot, you may lose a friend too. If you haven't shot any event similar to a wedding, I don't think you should even take up the job.

TooManyShots wrote in post #9864264
I have never shot a wedding before but read enough to know that it is a lot of work. Also, wedding is a special occasion for 2 persons. You screw up the shot, you may lose a friend too. If you haven't shot any event similar to a wedding, I don't think you should even take up the job.

I agree. I have shot 1 1/2 weddings and assisted a few. I am definitely "photo journalistic" style. Before anyone considers wedding photography they should DEFINITELY assist a few weddings to get an idea of what it's all about. Very fast paced!

DStanic wrote in post #9864239
I'm totally selling myself short, so much that I've barely started what I want to do.

That is what bothers me most about this issue.
I come up with all of the right reasons as to why I need this or that (and I do) when trying to justify it to my wife, and then I chicken out when it comes to stepping it up.
I know the only way to learn is to either just do it or fail trying.

I think the biggest thing is just not wanting an unhappy customer.

Maybe I'm just rushing it all. Anything worth having takes time .... I hear.

How long have you been shooting? I got my first DSLR in late 2007, but 2yrs doesn't seem like enough yet. I mean I understand the technical stuff pretty good, but I wish there was a portrait workshop or something that I could take lol. But it seems like many wedding photogs that I know started out digital, so it's not like they've really been shooting for very long either, a few years more then me I suppose.

TooManyShots wrote in post #9864264
I have never shot a wedding before but read enough to know that it is a lot of work. Also, wedding is a special occasion for 2 persons. You screw up the shot, you may lose a friend too. If you haven't shot any event similar to a wedding, I don't think you should even take up the job.

I was asked to shoot a couple of weddings before I thought I was ready. I politely turned them down. Like you said, I was NOT going to screw up the event of their lifetime (ok, maybe the first of 2 or 3). I spent the better part of 3-4 years studying wedding photographers work and reading magazines (Rangefinder, Professional Photographer, etc). Only when I KNEW I could deliver a quality product did I offer to do weddings. So far, every bride has been ecstatic about my work. One thing that made me feel good was my last bride saw one of the shots and said, "Ooh, I remember seeing that in the bridal magazine. I was hoping to have a shot like that." I was happy that 1) the bride liked my work and 2) I was able to capture an image of their wedding day that she had hoped she would have. Now, I won't be getting calls from the Trumps to take pictures of their wedding anytime soon, and I'm ok with that. I was, however, asked to do a wedding in Jacksonville, FL. Granted, it is family, but I was asked because of my work that they saw.

Wow, that was a long-winded paragraph. Sorry about that. However, you can see people on Craigslist who think they are wedding photographers simply because they have a camera. They don't care about putting out quality product and it shows. All they want to do is collect the $300 and run. Ten weddings at $300 is $3000. They have a much better shot at booking 10 $300 weddings than 1 $3000 wedding. That's how they justify their existence. They're happy w/ $300 because they can pay for their gear in 1-2 weddings. They don't carry insurance and don't care if their second-hand, thrift shot flash catches fire and burns the church down. It's not their fault the B&G hired them.

DStanic wrote in post #9867113
How long have you been shooting? I got my first DSLR in late 2007, but 2yrs doesn't seem like enough yet. I mean I understand the technical stuff pretty good, but I wish there was a portrait workshop or something that I could take lol. But it seems like many wedding photogs that I know started out digital, so it's not like they've really been shooting for very long either, a few years more then me I suppose.

I feel the same way - I think in the back of my mind that I might actually be good at this but my self confidence doesnt allow me to acknowledge it.

If I was able to get past the self confidence thing, I might try to make a few bucks out of this.

BTW I have been shooting about the same length of time as you.

DStanic wrote in post #9867113
How long have you been shooting? I got my first DSLR in late 2007, but 2yrs doesn't seem like enough yet. I mean I understand the technical stuff pretty good, but I wish there was a portrait workshop or something that I could take lol. But it seems like many wedding photogs that I know started out digital, so it's not like they've really been shooting for very long either, a few years more then me I suppose.

I've been seriously shooting, off and on, for about 4 yrs now. Not until the last year & 1/2 or so have I been "studying" and reading what others are doing.

I have no problem saying "yes" when it comes to sports. I feel confident as long as my gear is capable. The real issue I have when it comes to booking gigs is dealing with people. I'm kinda introverted. Not good if you want to capture people at their best during a wedding reception.
I guess I have more than just camera skills to work on .

Mark II wrote in post #9862923
She called back a day later and said that "they were able to work something out with the original wedding Photographer".

"Working something out" may have been her paying the official photographer a little more, and he then decided to do her wedding and give his/her other appointment for that day to another photographer or subcontract it out.

I don't sell myself short but really honestly tell people my skill and that I'm always learning. A close friend asked for my help taking photos for her engagement, I am always looking to take photos different from my usual norm, so I agreed but told her in advance my skills. She was ok with it and since she had a budget, was ok with the trade off.

In the end, she was really impressed with the photos which I was so happy, but I enjoyed the experience more than anything so I'm willing to do it again. I'm also helping out another friend for a family wedding which I already told them that I'm not a pro, just someone with a nice camera taking photos.

mark ll you are talking about me....i am so tired of giving my wedding photos away just to get the experience. did one wedding for a Friend in April of last year. "how much do you charge" don't worry just buy the prints. i gave them a proof disc i think the s.o.b . printed them. well in Feb he bought 12 photos .the wife wanted all the photos on a disc with copyrights so i gave her the price of 1600. it was a 12 hour shoot 500 and some "good' photos haven't seen a dime. and the last wedding my son's friend a marine in his unit and broke, i was enlisted once i know the deal "nothing". hell fire i know i don't suck that bad. so 2010 no more freebies, got a buddy wanting a wedding shoot at the end of the year. I'll knock off 200 bucks. PAY ME... if you want me pay me it sounds mean but i got skills!!! don't be afraid to charge if they want a freebie buy a point and shoot and let "lil Jr". shoot there wedding. sorry i got a lot of pent up rage lol

rob you just sold yourself short right now "so I agreed but told her in advance my skills. She was ok with it. " my friend if you charge them 10 dollars an hour and they buy prints your in the plus. don't be afraid to charge. charging is more for YOU it builds up your confidence. "comprende"

Haha, I totally do that. You think you are just being honest and BLAM you sound like you have no confidence and then they have no confidence then they go "welllllll maybe not".

I really need to work on that.