| Author | Thread |
|
|
11/20/2003 01:23:08 AM · #1 |
How much should be charged for a wedding/reception?
I was thinking $300 + the cost of prints/albums. Any other suggestions/advice? Here's a little background on my situation.
I show my photos to whoever is willing to look. An exquisitely attractive young lady that I work with really liked my photos (mostly nature & landscape shots) and asked me to shoot her sister's vow renewing ceremony. Apparently the original "wedding" was just a quick justice of the peace deal, but they wanted to have a real wedding, hence they are renewing their vows. Far be it from me to say no to such an opportunity, so I accepted.
I explained that I had never done a wedding before. And that I mostly shoot landscapes, but that wedding portraits shouldn't be that hard of a transition (I hope!). She said that was fine because she was just looking for someone who does photography on the side so that she didn't have to pay $1000+ dollars. So, a wedding album is going to be her gift to her sister.
Wow. It's just starting to hit me that I've taken on a huge resbonsibility. This is a once in a lifetime photoshoot and there is no going back to the location if I don't like the way the photos turn out during the first shoot. I'm starting to get kind of nervous, the last thing I want to do is disappoint her. The ceremony isn't until the end of August 2004 so I have plently of time. I need to start practicing portrait shots now! |
|
|
|
11/20/2003 02:36:50 AM · #2 |
I was sort of in that position once. It's a very long story but the short version is that I wound up doing someone's wedding and I too had never shot any indoors shots (still don't like to) and mostly had done landscapes and still lifes. I was extremely nervous and I didn't even know what I was being nervous about. Like you I I knew that I had to get it right that day because I couldn't ask them all to come back the next week.
Well, you wouldn't believe how lucky I got. The church allowed no photos during the ceremony (including the hired photographer) and I was allowed to take photos of the wedding ceremony after it was over. It was so hot in that church (summer wedding, no air) that the wedding party took one picture and then wanted to get out of there.
In advance the bride had picked a great park to take pictures in and that saved the day because the place was gorgeous and had little bridges and things.
The reception was the worst. They had the head table with a floor to ceiling mirror behind it and there were little lights (like xmas tree lights) all over the walls and all the tables. It was gruesome.
All I can say is thank God it was me doing them a huge favor. The only pictures that actually came out good were the outside ones and the one and only wedding party photo.
Now let me give you some advice. If you think that you are going to do this successfully with just the camera you use for shooting landscapes forget it. You will definitely need some extra lights.
You will need balls of steel so that not everyone at the wedding is telling you what to take pictures of.
Try to find out who the "real" relatives are so that you aren't taking pictures of the guests who are accompanying some long lost cousin that they barely know.
The caterers are the worst.
Everyone will want to run the show and if you don't act like you are in control believe me you won't be.
Since you are also in essence doing your co-worker a favor you do have a bit of an edge and since it is summer time I would try to get some outdoor shots in a nice location on the agenda if it isn't already.
I would also do some studying of different poses that people are attracted to and think out a game plan before the event. These are not landscapes you are shooting where you can sit and look at it for a few hours before you decide what to shoot. Things happen fast (sometimes not fast enough LOL).
And the best thing to do is ask people who do wedding photography all the time.
And by the way --good luck. |
|
|
|
11/20/2003 04:23:10 AM · #3 |
A friend of mine is a professional photographer. I can't tell you much about price, but I do know that he has a WELL worked out list of who he will be taking shots of. He consults with the bride and groom extensively beforehand to establish which people should be in which group shots (and also so he doesn't start shouting for the grandfather of the groom, when he died the week before !).
He runs the whole operation with some authority, shouting for people to be in the right place (politely). If he didn't, it would take ages for people to congregate in the correct place and he'd never get all the shots in time. |
|
|
|
11/20/2003 04:56:30 AM · #4 |
I HIGHLY suggest checking out Zuga.net's Wedding and Event photography forums for a LOT of valuable information regarding wedding photography.
|
|
|
|
11/20/2003 06:58:31 AM · #5 |
Plan ahead what and where you are going to shoot. Write the plan down.
Go to the place and determine the best places to shoot. Practice with the flash in different situations. I did a wedding and the Bride and Bride's Maids posed on a stairway. It was difficult to get light on all of them because I was close to them and had just got the new flash for my camera. Here's a thread that has some more advice including who to shoot.
Wedding Photography
|
|
|
|
11/20/2003 07:19:22 AM · #6 |
Mike good luck. I did a wedding a few months ago, where I told the bride I needed some photos for a portfolio and since she was low on cash I didn't charge for the wedding. I used it for experience, but I ended up booking 3 more weddings and making a nice amount from the prints she wanted. The 3 I have booked are at $300.00 each and include only a copyrighted cd as a bridal album. I told the bride for that price she would get between 250 and 300 photos that were marked and could not be printed anywhere due to a copyright.
I did send you the link you asked me about, and for anyone else who might want it here is a link that includes a photograph checklist, contract help and a schedule of wedding events //www.crousephotography.freehosting.net/custom2.html |
|
|
|
11/20/2003 07:44:51 AM · #7 |
For what it's worth, I was quite happy with the approach my own wedding photographer took in the package he sold me back when I got married...
I paid $300 up front as a 'retainer'. This $300 included the following:
Guarantee he would be at the wedding
Sitting and two b/w 5x7 prints for use as engagement announcement photos
The studio bridal shoot (time only)
We received $300 in credit toward prints after the wedding. He produced 175 photos (25 of which were bridal studio portraits). His theory is that he makes his real money from the sale of prints rather than the actual photography time. I can't remember the details of his pricing but I remember that he charged close to this:
5x7 - $9.00
8x10 - $21.00
10x13 - $75.00
11x14 - $90.00
16x20 - $130.00
We ended up buying several individual photos at the various prices, but he also offered us the entire 4x5 proof album with all the photos in it. Our parents bought us that for Christmas and paid about $1200 for it.
|
|
|
|
11/20/2003 09:58:28 AM · #8 |
Whne I used to shoot weddings with a photographer I worked for, he had packages that included an album of so many 8x10's. Proofs were $5 each or $1 each if you bought them all. Packages were about $1200 to $2500.
We included a studio portrait for the announcement in the paper. We also used 2 photographers, one for the bride and one for the groom.
All the group shots were arranged in a meeting with the couple. We went group by group and planned out each shot. (Bride, bride and groom, the whole wedding party, Bride with her parents, Groom with his parents, bride and groom with her parents, bride and groom with his parents, then shots with extended family etc.) We tried to shoot the formal portraits of the Bride & groom with their attendants and family members before the ceremony.
We basically met them at the church (or wherever they were getting married) and shot candids of them getting ready.(I highly recommend this as this was always a source of some great shots). One photographer for the bride, the other for the groom.
For the ceremony, we ALWAYS followed the rules for photography set by the location. Usually, we would have one person shooting from a balcony (usually with a zoom on a tripod) and one on the same level as the ceremony. Find out where and what you can shoot, many places don't allow flash during the ceremony itself, but may for certain parts (walking down the aisle etc.) If there is a restriction you feel will cause you to miss something critical, discuss it with the couple.
After the ceremony, we would shoot the formal portraits with the couple. We always used a 2 light setup with studio strobes and shot on medium format film. You may be able to do these shots outside and get good light, but typically, if you shoot them inside, you will need something other than ambient light and an on camera flash, well.....let's just say it has limitations that would preclude the best results.
We always shot the couple exiting the church.
Get a shot of them entering the reception hall.
Sometimes they will want informal group portraits taken at the reception, explain to the couple that if they want something like that to come find you, but you should be on top of this stuff.
Get shots of the standard events. Cake cutting, toasts, first dance, bouquet toss etc. Be on the lookout for opportunities, such as kids dancing (if any are there).
Remember, you aren't a guest, you are there to get your job done. See, but don't be seen. No alcohol! Make sure they feed you though, and that you get a piece of cake!
Good Luck!!Have Fun!
|
|
|
|
11/20/2003 10:57:12 AM · #9 |
Originally posted by jmsetzler:
For what it's worth, I was quite happy ... back when I got married.... |
I don't remember seeing any announcement about that ... congratulations! |
|
|
|
11/20/2003 10:58:26 AM · #10 |
Originally posted by GeneralE:
Originally posted by jmsetzler:
For what it's worth, I was quite happy ... back when I got married.... |
I don't remember seeing any announcement about that ... congratulations! |
I was married and divorced before I found DPC :)
|
|
|
|
11/20/2003 10:59:01 AM · #11 |
| Not to sound like a jerk, but if you don't know how much to charge you probably should NOT be doing it. Weddings are a notorious pain in the ass, and perfection is expected. No one is as critical as a bride (or even worse, mother of the bride). Be absolutley sure that they know your experience and background, what equipment you have and the limitations of that equipment. Extensive communication between all parties involved is esential, and getting a shot list from the couple really helps. When I started doing weddings I charged something like $500 and looking back I shouldn't have been doing them at that time. Since then I have done several hundred and now I charge $500 just to show up, everything else is extra (and I'm cheap). |
|
|
|
11/20/2003 11:02:02 AM · #12 |
Originally posted by seanc:
Not to sound like a jerk, but if you don't know how much to charge you probably should NOT be doing it. Weddings are a notorious pain in the ass, and perfection is expected. No one is as critical as a bride (or even worse, mother of the bride). Be absolutley sure that they know your experience and background, what equipment you have and the limitations of that equipment. Extensive communication between all parties involved is esential, and getting a shot list from the couple really helps. When I started doing weddings I charged something like $500 and looking back I shouldn't have been doing them at that time. Since then I have done several hundred and now I charge $500 just to show up, everything else is extra (and I'm cheap). |
This is the primary reason I have turned down this opportunity in the past. The expectations are high and with no experience in that area, I would not want to let them down.
|
|
|
|
11/20/2003 11:17:08 AM · #13 |
Originally posted by seanc:
Not to sound like a jerk, but if you don't know how much to charge you probably should NOT be doing it. Weddings are a notorious pain in the ass, and perfection is expected. No one is as critical as a bride (or even worse, mother of the bride). Be absolutley sure that they know your experience and background, what equipment you have and the limitations of that equipment. Extensive communication between all parties involved is esential, and getting a shot list from the couple really helps. When I started doing weddings I charged something like $500 and looking back I shouldn't have been doing them at that time. Since then I have done several hundred and now I charge $500 just to show up, everything else is extra (and I'm cheap). |
As long as you make it crystal clear up front that this is your first wedding and make sure their expectations don't exceed your abilities, I think it's OK.
I never thought that weddings were a pain in the ass, I actually thought they were fun, but success does require that you be prepared for anything. Plan your work and work your plan. You need to have a backup for everything. Oh yeah, it's a VERY good idea to be on the MOB's (Mother Of the Bride) good side.
For a typical wedding and reception (usually 9-12 hours of work) we would shoot as many as 1200 frames of 35mm and usually about 100 or so of 120. So, make sure you have lots of memory cards. Now, this was 2 or 3 photographers back in the days of film, but you likely won't have much time to review your shots or you'll be missing out on something.
Also, so much of shooting a wedding is not photographic skill, but dealing with people. Since you indicate that you mostly shoot landscapes, I would start shooting portraits and other people photography so you get used to posing and shooting people. Maybe you can find a photographer who does shoot weddings and watch them work, or better, shoot a wedding with them.
Message edited by author 2003-11-20 11:28:47.
|
|
|
|
11/20/2003 11:25:20 AM · #14 |
Originally posted by seanc:
Not to sound like a jerk, but if you don't know how much to charge you probably should NOT be doing it. Weddings are a notorious pain in the ass, and perfection is expected. No one is as critical as a bride (or even worse, mother of the bride). Be absolutley sure that they know your experience and background, what equipment you have and the limitations of that equipment. Extensive communication between all parties involved is esential, and getting a shot list from the couple really helps. When I started doing weddings I charged something like $500 and looking back I shouldn't have been doing them at that time. Since then I have done several hundred and now I charge $500 just to show up, everything else is extra (and I'm cheap). |
Playing Devil's Advocate here, and maybe being a little naive, everyone has to have a start somewhere. Seems to me a colleague or friend's wedding is the perfect place to get that. No disrespect to you, but I'm sure when you first starting shooting weddings you didn't walk in as an expert with the kind of experience you have now under your belt. Granted, you mention you shouldn't have been shooting weddings when you were, but how else would you gotten your start? |
|
|
|
11/20/2003 11:44:02 AM · #15 |
Originally posted by tfaust:
Originally posted by seanc:
Not to sound like a jerk, but if you don't know how much to charge you probably should NOT be doing it. Weddings are a notorious pain in the ass, and perfection is expected. No one is as critical as a bride (or even worse, mother of the bride). Be absolutley sure that they know your experience and background, what equipment you have and the limitations of that equipment. Extensive communication between all parties involved is esential, and getting a shot list from the couple really helps. When I started doing weddings I charged something like $500 and looking back I shouldn't have been doing them at that time. Since then I have done several hundred and now I charge $500 just to show up, everything else is extra (and I'm cheap). |
Playing Devil's Advocate here, and maybe being a little naive, everyone has to have a start somewhere. Seems to me a colleague or friend's wedding is the perfect place to get that. No disrespect to you, but I'm sure when you first starting shooting weddings you didn't walk in as an expert with the kind of experience you have now under your belt. Granted, you mention you shouldn't have been shooting weddings when you were, but how else would you gotten your start? |
Correct, I was by no means an expert. I did have a college degree in photography so I wouldn't consider myself totally naive either. And I agree that everyone has to start somewhere. Under ideal circumstances I would suggest that starting as an assistant to a well seasoned photographer (for at least a few weddings) to get a feel for how they are done would be the ideal way to do this. Like I said, I didn't want to sound like a jerk, I have just seen far too many people get sucked into this way too early. "Will you do my wedding...." is probably the one thing you will get asked most by friends and family as an amateur photographer. I would suggest that even as a pro, you don't do friends and family, the pressure and expectations are too great. Besides you should be attending the wedding and having fun, and you can't do this if you are working the wedding (one of the 2 will suffer). |
|
|
|
11/20/2003 11:51:33 AM · #16 |
As an alternative to the Nazi Wedding Photographer, I'd suggest Dennis Reggie's approach. He has a site, but there isn't really much there to give a feel for the kind of wedding photography he does. You might be better off looking here -- they seem to have adopted much of his philosophy.
I recently attended a lecture he gave -- without going into details, he only shoots 5 posed shots. 1) the wedding couple 2) couple with both sets of parents 3) couple with his immediate family 4) couple with her immediate family 5) the entire wedding party. All the rest of what he shoots (and he shoots 5,000 images over the course of a weekend -- and is paid $40,000 to do so...) is comprised of natural photojournalism, document the event shots (and scene setters -- close-ups of flowers, lace on the wedding dress, etc).
Just an alternative -- one I'm personally a lot more interested in after having shot my sisters wedding as a "traditional wedding photographer" and feeling like I was in control of what should have been her day.
Message edited by author 2003-11-20 11:52:31. |
|
|
|
11/20/2003 12:16:05 PM · #17 |
If you decide to do this here are some suggestions that I can think of off the top of my head.
1. Find out how they would like the wedding photographed (style). Photojournalism, Traditional, Mixed. Also B&W Color or Mixed. Also when the formals should be taken (traditionally it's after the ceremony, but it's a whole lot easier to get this out of the way an hour or so before so that everyones not waiting on you before they go to the reception.)
2. Get a shot list from the couple and mother of the bride. Take the # of shots and multiply by 3. Take that # and multiply by 3 for the reception (assuming they want quite a few candids). Take that # and figure out how many rolls that equals. Then double it to be on the safe side (film is cheap).
3. Go to the church/location at aproximately the same time of day and figure out any lighting problems you're going to have. Talk to the minister and find out if you can use flash (alot don't allow it). This will also give you the layout of the church so you can "plan your attack".
4. Take extra everything; extra bodies, extra batteries, extra film, extra cards, EXTRA EVERYTHING and plan for the unexpected.
5. Figure out who keeps the negs/proofs. Alot of people automatically assume that because they are paying you they should get everything. I wouldn't recomend it, this is where most of your money comes from.
I don't mean to say that you shouldn't do it, just that there are a lot of considerations to think about before you do that can be overwhelming to someone just starting out. |
|
|
|
11/20/2003 12:23:13 PM · #18 |
A lot of candid shots at the reception is a good idea. It is great documentation of who attended to go along with a registry at the entrance to the church.
|
|
|
|
11/20/2003 12:29:59 PM · #19 |
How responsive is a Sony 717 ? Will it be quick enough to capture good candids ? Probably best to use a film camera if you have one available to you with good lenses and flash equipment.
Some of the advice above is extremely good - planning is the key - find out who you need to get photographs of and stick to the plan.
Certainly you can get a lot of the family/ group shots done before the ceremony - particularly the bride + family. Some couples don't want to see each other before hand, but you can get a resonable set of bride+ people shots done without the groom and then finish those off later.
Visit the place, with the couple, beforehand if you can - discuss the shots you want to take and locations. Scout out good places for more formal shots (outside, with solid backgrounds, indoor alternatives for bad weather) Depending on their planning, they might be having a dry run that you could attend to get an idea of what is going on.
Try and get the help of a friend of the couple to be a runner for you - if they have ushers use them to help you find people and get them in place before you need to shoot them - this worked well at my wedding to keep the wait time down and stop the photographer taking over the whole event or shouting at people.
and as mentioned, work out up front who owns what - if you will keep all the negatives and original digital files, or if they expect proofs of everything you shoot, or if they want a CD of the images. You can potentially give them the negatives and digital files, but you have to expect them to then make cheap and poor quality copies, e.g., from photo printers and walmart. It depends on if you wish to keep creative control over the prints that will get attributed to be 'your work' no matter how much someone else screws up making the prints (and they will)
|
|
|
|
11/20/2003 01:05:22 PM · #20 |
6. Last but not least --- remember that once you do this and accepts money (unless you make the contract ironclad), you CAN be sued :)
(i.e. if the pictures doesn't turn out the way the bride wants it, and she said "well give me my money back" or sues you for damamges....)
So in your contract there should be a clause for this.
7. BACKUP everything. Use two hard drive or something and two compact flash cards, have an assistant save the images immediately after a card has been filled onto two hard disks. That way, if one crashes you havea nother copy. Weddings are like the most important thing in especially the bride's eye, so you'd expect to also think it's the important thing in YOUR life that day.
And see seanc's #5. You should basically put everything in writing and have the BRIDE and GROOM sign it (or whoever you're working for).
Originally posted by seanc:
If you decide to do this here are some suggestions that I can think of off the top of my head.
1. Find out how they would like the wedding photographed (style). Photojournalism, Traditional, Mixed. Also B&W Color or Mixed. Also when the formals should be taken (traditionally it's after the ceremony, but it's a whole lot easier to get this out of the way an hour or so before so that everyones not waiting on you before they go to the reception.)
2. Get a shot list from the couple and mother of the bride. Take the # of shots and multiply by 3. Take that # and multiply by 3 for the reception (assuming they want quite a few candids). Take that # and figure out how many rolls that equals. Then double it to be on the safe side (film is cheap).
3. Go to the church/location at aproximately the same time of day and figure out any lighting problems you're going to have. Talk to the minister and find out if you can use flash (alot don't allow it). This will also give you the layout of the church so you can "plan your attack".
4. Take extra everything; extra bodies, extra batteries, extra film, extra cards, EXTRA EVERYTHING and plan for the unexpected.
5. Figure out who keeps the negs/proofs. Alot of people automatically assume that because they are paying you they should get everything. I wouldn't recomend it, this is where most of your money comes from.
I don't mean to say that you shouldn't do it, just that there are a lot of considerations to think about before you do that can be overwhelming to someone just starting out. |
|
|
|
|
11/20/2003 01:45:39 PM · #21 |
I went to a wedding this weekend, brought my cameras and took these...never shot at a wedding before and am thinking about getting into the business.
I took a wedding photography class which I highly reccomend. I have a copy of the contract the guy used and the shots he made sure he got on a checklist so e-mail me if you are interested
wedding shots |
|
|
|
11/20/2003 02:07:59 PM · #22 |
Originally posted by rll07:
I went to a wedding this weekend, brought my cameras and took these...never shot at a wedding before and am thinking about getting into the business.
I took a wedding photography class which I highly reccomend. I have a copy of the contract the guy used and the shots he made sure he got on a checklist so e-mail me if you are interested
wedding shots |
Those are really good!
Other good approach is to look at other wedding photos for ideas on what worked and didn't work.
If it helps, here are mine:
Wedding pics |
|
|
|
11/20/2003 04:50:16 PM · #23 |
Great pictures Gordon and Randy!
Our wedding photographer liked doing candid shots as much or more than the posed shots... and I felt the same way. Here's a few of the ones he took - and they are my favorites over the posed pictures.
3 candid wedding shots |
|
|
|
11/20/2003 06:30:54 PM · #24 |
Thanks for all the replies, they were very helpful! I never expected there to be that many. There are more things to consider than I thought of, but you have to start somewhere, no? I already made it explicitly clear that I was an amateur photographer and am by no means a professional. She said that was fine, and all she wants is decent printable photos at a cheap cost.
That print pricing is helpul for future reference, but I don't really care about making money off of prints this time around. I just want to get some experience and cover the cost of an external flash unit / extra memory sticks. I was just planning on giving her a CD with all the originals. I was also going to help her select photos and make an album for free (just the actual cost of printing & binding) just as a favor.
I just found out that I got the hook-up from my Aunt. I was telling her about the wedding, and one of her friends just happens to be a wedding photographer on the side (usually about 10-15 a summer). And here's the real kicker: her friend used to use an SLR but recently went digital and got a F717 and has shot all of this past summer's weddings with that!!! I haven't seen any of her work, but if she's booking 10-15 a summer just as a part time job, then she can't be that bad, right? I'm hopefully going to get in touch with her sometime this weekend and find out what other equipment she's using and then go on a few shoots with her next summer before I go solo at the end of August. |
|
|
|
02/12/2005 04:35:22 PM · #25 |
HI i'm the wedding photographer who's site was posted close to the top of this board.
//www.crousephotography.freehosting.net/custom2.html
oddly I am getting more than triple the hits from this referal than from any other site I'm listed on and just wanted to say thanks. I specialize in wedding photography and If any beginners have any questions I'd love to answer them. photogooroo@yahoo.com I think the best way to get experiance if you are a beginner is to work as an assistant to someone who has been doing weddings for a long while. It is dangerous to shoot your 1st wedding alone with no real knowledge. This is one of the most important days of a couples life and they may say it's ok if your new, but don't trust that. If you mess up you can find yourself in a world of trouble. If you are thinking of becoming a wedding photographer call the other photographers around you and ask if you can be their student or assistant. You will learn more in one day at a wedding with professional than you'll ever learn at college. |
|
