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10/08/2005 11:33:42 PM · #1 |
This is not a thread where I want to see Wedding Photos nor do I really care to see any in the future (they just don't move me); this is more of a I'm starting to gain a little respect for what you do.
Today, I shot second shooter at a wedding for the bride who is a friend of my wife. Being a second shooter is always so easy as there is no pressure while shooting, I'd go as far as saying they are fun to do in that capacity. I second shot my co-workers wedding a few months back.
Now I have been to a few over the past year and it seems to be the same thing. More and more big bodied cameras and equipment and they are not brought in by the hired guns.
I was talking to a guy today carrying a D70 today and it was the Groom that asked if he would come in and shoot.
Do couples really want this many pics (I shot 320 and judging for the RAW files more than half are keeps). There were three other dSLR shooters besides myself and the Hire Gun, not to mention about 30 pea shooters in the house. We stayed out of the way of the hired gun but sheesh it packed house.
I watched the Gal shooting the wedding and I tell ya the look on here face was that of frustration, I don't know if it was with us second guns, the day or what but she looked defeated.
Hats off to you guys and gals (wedding photogs) that put up with the Bride, us poparatzi like shooters, the pea shooters and the other hundred reasons I would not do this for a living Like:
Weather, wedding party always seems to stand in the sun, dark chapels, tiny spaces, wedding cakes placed next to the most unattractive objects, dance floors on the sunny side of the room and on and on...(are they all like this?)
It's a thankless job but somebody has to do it... |
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10/09/2005 03:52:08 PM · #2 |
Well ive just my first wedding and it was stressful. All went fine until the groups shots, god i could have slapped em. lol
They pay out on all sorts without a care and when it comes to the photographs which will be the only reminder the dont want to pay, dont want to pose for shots etc.....
Well it was raining cats and dogs, the church was more like a community hall, lighting was awful and my flash was really playing me up something stupid.....All the main shots had to be taken inside the hall which was awful, there was no room at front of the church and people get moving in the group hiding there faces. Bride and groom told me when will we be finished as everybodies getting bothered. By the way i spent around 25-30 minutes shooting thats all. I told them that these were the only thing from the day that would bring back such lovely weddings. Well i dont think i was ready for it but since they asked i thought id give it a go, they were only going to be having people snapshotting anyways. Well some are pretty good but some i could really do with some photoshop help if there are any experts out there.
Jodi |
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10/09/2005 04:00:03 PM · #3 |
Originally posted by Jelajo:
Well ive just my first wedding and it was stressful. |
Welcome to the club - it gets easier.
Originally posted by Jelajo:
All went fine until the groups shots, god i could have slapped em. |
LOL This sounds typical for a first wedding - you gotta REALLY take charge, show people that you know what you're doing, do it efficiently and have a system. People respect wedding photographers enough - they don't respect weekend shooters as much, at least this is what I'm learning.
Originally posted by Jelajo:
Well it was raining cats and dogs, the church was more like a community hall, lighting was awful and my flash was really playing me up something stupid.....All the main shots had to be taken inside the hall which was awful, there was no room at front of the church and people get moving in the group hiding there faces. Bride and groom told me when will we be finished as everybodies getting bothered. |
Once again - par for the course. Lighting is always terrible, some people don't like photos and you just have to use humor, threats of staying all day or some such to straighten them up! :)
Originally posted by Jelajo:
Well some are pretty good but some i could really do with some photoshop help if there are any experts out there.
Jodi |
Send me one pic you think is fairly typical full res to matt@pictureinfinity.com I'll send it back and explain my steps if I can fix it.
Matt
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10/09/2005 04:02:38 PM · #4 |
I agree that it sounds like a stressful job, but also one with a lot of rewards. Kind of like the real estate business I'm in. It can also be extremely stressful, but it's so wonderful to help a family meet a goal or realize dreams! :) Plus, I'm just not a person who stresses much at all. Most things folks stress out about are just not worth it!
My wedding photographer (25 years ago!) was excellent. Not terribly expensive, but very competent and likeable. I've recently taken out a lot of books at the library regarding wedding photography. Most of them are aimed at educating the bride and groom how to choose a photographer. They have been written by wedding photographers and make a lot of sense.
Again, somewhat like real estate, I would say that laying out full expectations and communicating well with the client is the groundwork for a good working relationship. I'm not a wedding photographer, but that would seem to be a critical point. The best way to deal with the stress points of the wedding day would be taking time to try and avoid them at all!
I wouldn't mind doing maybe half dozen weddings a year, but I sure wouldn't want it to be my full time job. Definitely kudos to those who have the gift of working well with the bride, groom, family and guests. |
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10/09/2005 04:04:32 PM · #5 |
Actually that was another part I failed to mention below that would suck to be a wedding photog was how the paid shooter was pulling her hair out trying to pose the people (she did do a great job) for the wedding party, and when she would finally get them set, all the snap shooters would jump in there and start snapping away.
With bad lighting you have to be creative...I only had a few that I had to noise reduce and one that the back lighting was so blown out that I had to go b/w. Another thing I found is that I am hating 4x6 crops.
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10/09/2005 04:56:18 PM · #6 |
The most annoying thing to me, is the people who want their pictures as well. I take the time, set up a shot and then I am tripping over people who want to get their shots in. I actually had one aunt ask ME to move out the way so she could take a picture! I said when I am finished with my pictures, then you may take your pictures! It becomes a pain in the butt.... here I am setting them up, and then I have to wait in between shots for other family members to take theirs. I also have ones who try to take the pictures while I am taking mine. Then you get pictures of the bridal party looking in another direction. I make sure to tell the party that I am the photographer and they should be looking at me!
It gets really annoying. And the bad thing is, since I am just starting... I am still not "take charge" enough... I am getting better, but people still don't always listen to me.
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10/09/2005 05:26:37 PM · #7 |
I had the benefit of doing two smaller weddings. As soon as we started the "formal" shots, we had a group around with cameras. As I had already discussed with the bride and groom, I stood front and center and said something to the effect of:
"So that the bride and groom can relax a bit and join their guests at the reception as quickly as possible, we would appreciate your cooperation in the taking of photos of their special occassion. You are welcome to take some shots from where you are standing. Please wait at least several seconds AFTER I have taken my shots. I generally will take more than one of each set up and I will let you know when I am finished. Any special request for poses or groups must wait until after we have completed those that the bride and groom have requested, and may have to wait until later so that they can relax and join their guests. Thank you for your gift of patience and understanding to the new husband and wife!"
I had two young women come up to me afterwards and tell me they wished they had arranged something similar with their photographer. I'm not sure this would work as well with a larger wedding. |
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10/09/2005 05:33:28 PM · #8 |
Originally posted by awpollard:
There were three other dSLR shooters besides myself and the Hire Gun, not to mention about 30 pea shooters in the house. We stayed out of the way of the hired gun but sheesh it packed house. |
Was that many guests taking photos, was there anyone left to take photos of? |
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10/09/2005 05:57:43 PM · #9 |
| When I setup formals with strobes, I just let other people's flash fire them. White screen a few times and they stop. |
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10/09/2005 06:15:05 PM · #10 |
My husband and I were second shooters at a wedding two weeks ago, and I ran into something that I've not had experience with before - A WEDDING PLANNER. This is GREAT!
She took charge of everything, told everyone where to go, and when, and deftly managed the staging for the photogs, so that no one was there but the wedding party and the photogs, and just generally manhandled the whole situation. It was WONDERFUL!
The one thing about weddings that bothers me is this: they don't mind spending beaucoup bucks on the caterer, the decorations and the wedding cake, but want the photography on the cheap. The PHOTOGRAPHS are the ONLY thing that will last past THAT DAY!! Why can't they "get" that???
OK, I'm over it for a minute.
Linda |
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10/09/2005 06:26:06 PM · #11 |
Originally posted by lhall:
The one thing about weddings that bothers me is this: they don't mind spending beaucoup bucks on the caterer, the decorations and the wedding cake, but want the photography on the cheap. The PHOTOGRAPHS are the ONLY thing that will last past THAT DAY!! Why can't they "get" that???
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I agree with you 110%!
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