| Author | Thread |
|
|
12/01/2006 06:59:11 PM · #26 |
Originally posted by fotomann_forever:
Originally posted by nsoroma79:
sorry this is long!
|
Not to worry, the tutorial is already at 9 pages and that's without any graphics.
Great stuff by the way, everyone ... some stuff in here I woudn't have thought to add. |
If you need images, please feel free to use any that are in my portfolio or if you see any one my website you'd like to use...just ask! :)
|
|
|
|
12/01/2006 07:01:56 PM · #27 |
Originally posted by nsoroma79:
Originally posted by fotomann_forever:
Originally posted by nsoroma79:
sorry this is long!
|
Not to worry, the tutorial is already at 9 pages and that's without any graphics.
Great stuff by the way, everyone ... some stuff in here I woudn't have thought to add. |
If you need images, please feel free to use any that are in my portfolio or if you see any one my website you'd like to use...just ask! :) |
Thank you much. I like that. Didn't want it to be a see Leroy's wedding photos fest... :-)
|
|
|
|
12/01/2006 09:45:56 PM · #28 |
|
|
|
12/01/2006 10:16:30 PM · #29 |
Lorrie has a great list there of things to watch out for. I find now that with my assistant ( -bec-) now helping me out at weddings, during the ceremony I get her to grab some shots of the main moments (exchanging of rings, kiss etc) from a different angle than where I am. It's great to offer the same shot from 2 different views! And as Lorrie said, you can't go past having too much memory and batteries!! We normally take along about 8 gigs worth of cards to a wedding, and usually have a couple of smaller ones spare just in case. But batteries, stock up on them!!
And Leroy, you can use any of my wedding shots from my port if you want to as well! Fell free!
|
|
|
|
12/01/2006 11:01:24 PM · #30 |
Originally posted by Makka:
And Leroy, you can use any of my wedding shots from my port if you want to as well! Fell free! |
Thank you and I am totally impressed with some of your shots. Several are sure to be there.
|
|
|
|
12/01/2006 11:12:43 PM · #31 |
Here's my big tip of the night!
Be prepared for last minute changes!!!! |
|
|
|
12/01/2006 11:25:09 PM · #32 |
Originally posted by skylen:
Be mindful of the camera-print aspect ratio crop!
|
i've recorded actions in photoshop for making a canvas layer in the useful rations (8x10...) i've done this at the largest pixel size for shooting raw, and can batch process things. that way, i don't have to crop, and the clients have some leeway in framing.
|
|
|
|
12/01/2006 11:40:42 PM · #33 |
Tons of info on the business side of thing and other stuff as well at //www.opensourcephoto.net/
|
|
|
|
12/03/2006 10:40:06 PM · #34 |
Originally posted by fotomann_forever:
Not to worry, the tutorial is already at 9 pages and that's without any graphics.
|
May I suggest that you split the tutorial into several separate tutorials (Bus development, Equipment/preps, The big day, Post Processing/proofs/etc.) |
|
|
|
12/03/2006 10:41:06 PM · #35 |
Leroy, I promised help. I haven't forgoten, just got rushed this weekend and haven't gotten to it ... I will, be patient.
|
|
|
|
12/04/2006 01:52:59 AM · #36 |
OK, I have some tips. Some may have been mentioned before, others, maybe not.
*Have a contract.
*Have a lawyer review your contract. They will know things about state and local laws that the contract you downloaded from some guy 8 states away doesn't address or violates altogether. (any of which can leave you vulnerable shold things go sour).
*Your contract should have a cancellation policy. Usually if they cancel, they lose their deposit. Though, in some cases, you may decide to refund all or part of it anyway.
*Your cancellation policy will probably say something about you not being liable if you can't show up. That doesn't mean you should leave your clients hanging. Stuff can and does happen (auto accidents, death in the family, stranded in a snowstorm etc) that can physically prevent you from meeting your commitment. You need a "plan B", whether that is having an agreement with a couple of other photographers in the area, having your assistant shoot at a reduced rate or whatever. If you leavea client hanging in the lurch, they're going to tell everyone they know how you ruined their special day. Plus, it's just not right, so don't do it.
*Make sure you get fed. I always make sure the B&G know they need to feed us. It can be written into the contract if you want, but there shouldn't be a banzai run to McD's so the photog can eat. There's not much to shoot while people are eating since people usually don't look good shoveling chicken into their faces. Keep your camera handy tho.
*No alchohol. You're there to work and even though you may enjoy that work a great deal and everyone else may get sloppy drunk, you are still at work and need to be at 100%.
*Get a shot list Sit down with the B&G and get the list of "must-have" shots and VIP guests. Everything is is great, but if you don't get those shots, you will not be forgiven.
*Know the schedule. You have to know when and where stuff is happening so you can be there. Get it right and it will seem like you were in three places at once. Get it wrong and well, the clients will wonder where you were.
*Don't be afraid to turn away bad clients. If you don't feel at least a little bit of chemistry with a couple, or get a bad feelign about the deal, then it's probably best to not take the job. When they tell you the date, just say you're booked. You may be booked for giving the dog a bath and taking a nap in the backyard, but you don't have to tell them. It won't get better as it goes.
*Don't discount your work. If you want to give the B&G a deal, don't reduce your price, you can throw in an extra print or two or some other thing that won't really cost you a lot out of pocket, but will ensure you get what you're worth.
*Don't let clients bully you into giving them extras. Exactly what they are getting should be spelled out in the contract. If they want extra stuff, pull out your pricelist and show them what the extra cost will be. I've seen and heard of clients getting whole albums for free because they were afraid to tell a client "That's not included in the package we agreed to." (These are usually among the clients you should have said "no" to in the first place.)
*Relax, go with the flow. Sure, there's a plan for the whole day and inevitably that plan will get off track somewhere. So be ready. |
|
|
|
12/04/2006 06:08:01 PM · #37 |
Well, I've been shooting weddings for about 2 1/2 years know, so let me give you some things I found important in my experience.
Preparation:
Double or triple check everything you need - the day you don't, something will be missing.
Extra gear is a must! Once I was shooting a wedding for a friend and I had only one camera (the other was with my assistant). I was shooting inside the bride home with natural light with Nikkor 50mm f1.8 and the apperture ring was not closed in position so I got an error on my D70. I took about 2 minutes to figure out what was happening - but it was like the world was centering the attention on me. Never did it again withougt a backup. Know I'm so used to go with two cameras that I normally use the two at the same time. It saves me time instead of using only one and changing lenses.
Another thing: I wouldn't accept to photograph a wedding with more than 60 persons alone. You can't be everywhere every time! As simple as that! You will miss some shoots some time. Because you where on the wrong angle, because someone is in your way... It doesen't matter. Beeing two you're covered!
From the business point of view, another thing that is usefull to have an assistant: if you're doing proofs for the gests to choose prints, take a lot of candids, This way if there's 2 persons shooting, one can be doing candids almoust all the time. The photos that I sell to the gests more than 80% is candids. I love to ear people looking at proofs and say "LooK! there I am. I didn't realise I was been shoot. And I look so natural!". If you ear this, is for shure a sold print.
Look for details! People just love small details enlarged in the prints. The flowers in the bride head, her nails with stars or flowers (for example), the wedding rings, etc. This is a must.
Don't be boring! It's their day, let them enjoy it! You have to know when to stop if you're doing formal shoots and poses.
Learn how to use your flash well! I've read in this post some very poor explanations of the usefullness and utilization of flash. It's your best friend all the time! Slow sicronization with rear curtain is a must for low light (I can post some examples if needed). Play with it so you know the limits of it. And don't put the flash off when shootng outside portraits. It can make a big difference in the photos, for better! Learn where to mesure your exposure acording to the resilt that you want. ÃŽ know take two light stands with translucid humbrellas to take the shoots inside home. I put one or two sb800 in them and I'm ready to go. Soft diffuse light with almout studiuo quality.
If you need some examples please visit my gallery of wedding shoot at //www.nuno.smugmug.com and let me know which ones you want.
|
|
|
|
12/04/2006 06:12:44 PM · #38 |
I almost forgot one thing:
Dont be affraid of pumping the iso. If the light is low, you will need it.
And go for a big apperture lens. The 50mm f1.8 is an inexpensive and very usefull lens. If you can afford the 1.4 go for it. remember that VR only stops motion blurr, knot movement. So if your subject is not perfect still and say, for example that you're shooting at f2.8 at 1/120 sec to have a sharp photo, is not by shooting with a VR lens at 1/50sec at f4 that will save the photo. keep this in mind when buying lenses.
|
|
|
|
12/05/2006 01:25:03 PM · #39 |
There hasn't been a whole lot on the marketing aspect yet...so here goes.
I did my first and only wedding for my girlfriend's sister in March, and I couldn't believe how easy it seemed to get into the business. I took some engagement photos for them, just some fun portrait shots that kind of showed their personalities and how they are together. These shots were printed, framed and displayed on the way into the chapel and at the reception. I couldn't believe how much response I got from people just based on these portraits. People are always looking for wedding photographers, and doing it this way gives people a chance to see your work right there while they can talk to you.
The church's wedding coordinator and the manager at the reception venue were both asking for my information so they could recommend me to other couples and countless others were asking for me to do portraits of their families, friends, etc.
By the way, I am in no way an experienced or highly talented portrait photographer. I think people just like to know a photographer that's reliable and can do decent work.
So I guess my advice would be to offer to do some portrait work that can be displayed at the wedding or the reception and be sure to have cards available. The wedding coordinators are definitely the way in, so be friendly with them and leave your info with them as well. |
|
|
|
12/05/2006 04:38:24 PM · #40 |
Originally posted by idnic:
Leroy, I promised help. I haven't forgoten, just got rushed this weekend and haven't gotten to it ... I will, be patient. |
Thanks Cindi, and thanks to everyone else who have added advice.
I may split the tutorial up a bit, but really, it is intended only as an introduction, but it (thanks to all of you) has become fairly indept.
I may hold off on the marketting aspect for another tutorial (hopefully someone else will write).
1) I'm not the best marketer in the world (far from it). I mostly depend on word of mouth, although I dod have some other marketing efforts going.
2) A marketing tutorial could be used for more than just wedding photogs and could become quite indepth in itself.
|
|
|
|
12/05/2006 06:31:09 PM · #41 |
|
|
|
12/05/2006 07:07:12 PM · #42 |
Thank you very much... :-)
|
|
|
|
12/05/2006 07:38:52 PM · #43 |
2 points that haven't been touched on that I could see.
1. While you want a backup of everthing, close at hand if possible, if you bring more gear than you will carry with you at all times, you need to have a place to store it that only you or people you are sure you can trust can access. It can be a closet , a trunk, an unused room, anything with a door that locks. Leaving a bag of gear out will result in theft or a drink getting spilled in/on it, if not this time then eventually.
2, While you need to dress so you can move freely, let's say jumping to your belly at the back of the aisle, you should not dress as if you are on safari. You need to blend in to the extent you can with invited guests. The last wedding I went to the shooter was wearing a hawaian shirt and a beige storage vest, way tacky. Black pants and shoes , maybe a bow tie? Whatever just try to not stick out by dressing much worse than the caterers. |
|
|
|
12/05/2006 08:00:57 PM · #44 |
Originally posted by BrennanOB:
2, While you need to dress so you can move freely, let's say jumping to your belly at the back of the aisle, you should not dress as if you are on safari. You need to blend in to the extent you can with invited guests. The last wedding I went to the shooter was wearing a hawaian shirt and a beige storage vest, way tacky. Black pants and shoes , maybe a bow tie? Whatever just try to not stick out by dressing much worse than the caterers. |
Definitely want to touch on that one. I've seen some pretty tacky photogs myself. My general attire is black pants and shoes, white shirt and I try to have a tie with a color from the wedding.
Message edited by author 2006-12-05 20:10:51.
|
|
|
|
12/05/2006 08:25:19 PM · #45 |
Wow! these are great tips, i'm printing out this whole forum topic just for the reference notes. thanks everybody.
|
|
|
|
12/05/2006 09:04:20 PM · #46 |
Originally posted by BrennanOB:
2, While you need to dress so you can move freely, let's say jumping to your belly at the back of the aisle, you should not dress as if you are on safari. You need to blend in to the extent you can with invited guests. The last wedding I went to the shooter was wearing a hawaian shirt and a beige storage vest, way tacky. Black pants and shoes , maybe a bow tie? Whatever just try to not stick out by dressing much worse than the caterers. |
I'll second that. You do not want to be better dressed than the wedding party, but you definitely do not want to be "the slob with the camera". When you select your working wardrobe, think "I want to blend."
|
|
Home -
Challenges -
Community -
League -
Photos -
Cameras -
Lenses -
Learn -
Help -
Terms of Use -
Privacy -
Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2025 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 08/15/2025 05:20:26 AM EDT.
