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DPChallenge Forums >> Individual Photograph Discussion >> First wedding (sort of)
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Showing posts 1 - 14 of 14, (reverse)
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 04/22/2004 10:48:32 AM · #1
I booked my first wedding since trying to actually turn a profit with photography. I've shot a few before for friends at cost of supplies or even for free as a gift to the couple. Now that I'm "investing" and trying to get a little business on the side I finally booked my first wedding gig.

Kev
 04/22/2004 10:55:52 AM · #2
Kevin,

I am in the same boat! Just did my first a few weeks ago and it went really well. The key, plan plan plan! I read three books and everything I could find on the internet.

I have 2 more booked, one in July and one in August! This is by word of mouth only!

I don't want to do more than 3 or 4 a year, but you can't beat the profit (to buy more camera stuff!), and there is a great joy in creating beautiful memories for a couple on a big day in their life!

Bill
 04/22/2004 11:40:10 AM · #3
Hi kevin,

I'm not telling for my own experience, but i've heard of similar situations.

I'll tell you to bring two cameras, or at least different memory cards. If by any chance (I hope you don't) you loose the pictures you'll run into big problems.

Should you have different memory cards you risk only loosing a few shoots and can do your report from the remaining ones, having different cameras you can recover from a (unlikely:) camera failure, besides the conveniency of having diferrent lenses mounted so you don't loose time swapping them.

Those things never happen, but you know murphy's law.

Good luck,
Carlos.

Message edited by author 2004-04-22 11:44:23.
 04/22/2004 01:05:29 PM · #4
So far its outdoors and I'll be shooting with my 10D and a Rebel film camera as well as my AE-1 for black & whites. My backup will be shooting with his 300D (and he could use either of the film cameras. We both will have at least 3 CF cards.

I do need to rehearse the shooting arrangement for which family/friend shots she wants so we can work through those quickly.

I'm pretty excited.

Kev
 04/22/2004 02:24:39 PM · #5
Hey Kev,

Some pretty good articles in the April edition of Popular Photography on wedding photography.
 04/22/2004 10:16:17 PM · #6
Originally posted by Kneeforu:
Kevin,

I am in the same boat! Just did my first a few weeks ago and it went really well. The key, plan plan plan! I read three books and everything I could find on the internet.

I have 2 more booked, one in July and one in August! This is by word of mouth only!

I don't want to do more than 3 or 4 a year, but you can't beat the profit (to buy more camera stuff!), and there is a great joy in creating beautiful memories for a couple on a big day in their life!

Bill


I'm a fly by the seat of my pants kind of gal, have shot 5 weddings and have 12 more before september...the site comes out soon will let you know when. There are some great wedding photographers online, just search "wedding photography" on yahoo! ... I also found great photographers [and what I'd call bad ones] by searching "calgary photographers".
 04/22/2004 10:30:05 PM · #7
I've played with the idea but I don't know were to start. What equipment to use. I have my Canon Digital Rebel and about 7 lenses but Im sure Im missing something. Any Ideas?
 04/22/2004 10:31:32 PM · #8
Originally posted by Mako:
I have my Canon Digital Rebel and about 7 lenses but Im sure Im missing something. Any Ideas?


If you don't already have one, you need an external flash
 04/22/2004 10:58:46 PM · #9
I added a set of SP System umbrella lights for large set-ups, diffuser for my external flash, external power supply for my flash, plenty of flash cards, and always have an assintant who has compatible cameras. I have the luxury of having relatives and friends who shot Nikon DSLR so I am always covered with back-up equip!

You can check out my wedding photos at my site.

Message edited by author 2004-04-22 22:59:52.
 04/22/2004 11:23:20 PM · #10
I'm taking a course in Wedding Portraiture Photography at a local college, and 2 things that are recommended in addition to your cameras (yes - more than one camera is recommended in case of equipment failure), lenses, and tripod are: a hand-held light meter, and a remote flash. When shooting portrait shots indoors, keep the flash really high so that the shadows behind the subject are kept really low.

Linda
 04/27/2004 08:58:02 AM · #11
Are there any books in this subject or in general about how to get started as a freelance photographer?
 04/27/2004 10:11:28 AM · #12
flash bracket is also a good idea.
I am also headed that way, right now choosing to shoot mostly as a second shooter to decrease the stress(but also the income).
My business will focus mainly on childrens portraits, but a few weddings definitely bring in the extra income. Actually, I will photograph anything...practically.

Good luck

curious..would you mind telling what your price for a wedding shoot is and what it includes?
you could PM me if you'd rather not discuss it here. I like to see what others starting out charge and what they offer.

Message edited by author 2004-04-27 10:13:43.
 05/23/2004 02:27:43 PM · #13
Originally posted by Mako:
Are there any books in this subject or in general about how to get started as a freelance photographer?


For weddings and any shoot you're being paid for, you need an external flash [for the 300D use either the Canon 550EX or the 540EZ] and an external battery pack..no less than the Quantum QB1+... you can't run an external flash on AA's for very long [a few shots and you risk over heating and blowing out your flash]. A bracket is an awesome thing, too. In my experience you don't need a tripod, I've shot about a dozen weddings, including one outdoors in teh rain yesterday, and have never used one. I brought my monopod yesterday but never used it....
I use the 300D as a backup, takes great photos, you can't really tell the difference between it and the D60 I use most of the time.
 05/23/2004 02:29:54 PM · #14
Originally posted by KevinRiggs:
So far its outdoors and I'll be shooting with my 10D and a Rebel film camera as well as my AE-1 for black & whites. My backup will be shooting with his 300D (and he could use either of the film cameras. We both will have at least 3 CF cards.

I do need to rehearse the shooting arrangement for which family/friend shots she wants so we can work through those quickly.

I'm pretty excited.

Kev


P.S. I carry 6 CF cards for weddings, 3-516 and 3-256.
And to reduce the task of carrying all your crap the entire day, I suggest not bothering with the film camera, but if you love it, go for it..from experience the least amount of stuff you have to drag around on sweltering summer days, the better. How did it go anywways????
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