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08/19/2007 12:24:13 PM · #1 |
I apologize in advance for the longish post. There are plenty of experienced photogs on this site who could say "I told you so" but I'm hoping maybe someone else will read this and avoid the same fate:
I was supposed to shoot a wedding on August 3. This was for friends, and I was doing it gratis in exchange for experience and consent to use their photos on my website, etc. They are well aware of my skill level, and I had done many of the right things in advance - discussed in detail what they wanted at the wedding, done test shots, tested my new speedlight so I was familiar with how to properly bounce it in the location, done multiple tests with my reflector, etc. In short, I felt well prepared to do the best I could given my limited skill. The one thing I did not do was arrange a backup photographer, as I couldn't imagine anything would keep me from doing the shoot, and it was free, after all. Big, big mistake.
One week before the wedding, we were asked by the Department of Social Services to provide an emergency foster home for one of the neighborhood children who was evidently locked out of her own home, verbally abused, beaten, etc. It was either our house or a group home, so we agreed, and were happy to provide her a safe place. She is allowed unlimited access and time with her biological father - it is her mother who is under investigation by the DSS.
The day of the wedding arrives, and our foster daughter is spending the day with her father. I am on the way to the wedding when I get a frantic call from her - her father has just had a seizure, is bleeding from the mouth, and they are on the way to the hospital via ambulance! She is naturally hysterical and desperately needs me to be with her.
I call my husband, who is at work, and he rushes to the hospital to be with her, but she hasn't bonded well with my husband and really, really needs me to be there. One of the wedding guests, also a friend, knows a professional photographer and calls him. He has had a cancellation and can do the wedding! Best, he's got a degree in photography, has shot multiple weddings, has 20+ years of experience, and has even shot a couple of weddings at the location where the couple is getting married! I'm thinking deep down that they are actually going to get a lot better photos from this guy anyway, and the bride agrees to accept the new photographer. I agree to pay his fees, which I think is fair given the circumstances.
One week later, I meet up the photographer to exchange the files and money. Our foster daughter's biological father has completely recovered - the most important thing, and I am excited to get the photos and hopefully learn a few things. I think the photographer is being extremely generous - he has agreed to do no editing in exchange for reducing his fee - he'll just give me the originals.
The first red flag is that he has shot all medium quality jpeg. No RAW. Not even high quality. The second is that he looks at my portfolio on my laptop and sincerely pronounces me "an amazing photographer." This is quite alarming, as I have only been taking photos since last October, and am quite well aware that though I have a few good pieces, I have a lot to learn and should not be considered an "amazing photographer" by someone with 20+ years experience who has a degree in photography. The third red flag is when he shows me his most recent batch of photos - of a famous politician - and they look worse than if someone took them with a cellphone camera. Nonetheless, I give him $600 and download the wedding files.
Long story short - the wedding photos are some of the worst photos I've ever seen. Direct flash with no diffuser so there are enormous shadows. Red eye galore. Shots of the bride handheld at 1/10 so there is no hope in hell of getting them in focus. A few of them are pitch black. Terrible color balance (oops, looks like someone used a 81c warming filter under sodium vapor lights! Everything is bright orange!). Underexposed photos with high ISO so the grain is unimaginable - coupled with the low quality JPEG in which he chose to shoot.
Long story short. I am now out $600 and have to spend hours and hours to edit these photos so they are even halfway decent. And there is little chance that the bride won't burst into tears when she sees them no matter what I do. Even if you are doing it for free, never sign on for a wedding without a backup photographer whose work you have seen.
The only upside is that I got very decent photos at the BBQ the night before their wedding, the test shots at the beach are beautiful, and I was able to do shots at the hairdresser with all the bridesmaids before the crisis unfolded. I have offered to do a re-shoot at the beach, which the bride and groom would like - but it is more time, effort and expense.
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08/19/2007 01:02:17 PM · #2 |
What a bummer, Catherine! But first and foremost I want to say what a wonderful thing you did taking in that child in the first place. I think if the bride knows you, and knows what you've done for that little girl, she'll more than understand. And I know you've probably already spent a ton of time editing, but I think a reshoot with the bride and groom for formal shots would be the way to go - do your best with the rest of the wedding from what you ended up with from the "pro".
I think another lesson to be learned here is that you're WAY better than you think - apparently this "pro" does this all the time and keeps doing it, despite the poor quality of his work, which should tell you something about how your work will be received! |
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08/19/2007 01:17:17 PM · #3 |
That's an incredible story and sage advice.
You are a star for even offering what you did in the first place, and a double star for your work with foster children. There is a reason this happened and it will all work out OK. If I were any good at editing, I'd pitch in and help you fix those photos.
Have you seen any shots that the guests took? Perhaps there are some others you could work with.
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08/19/2007 01:23:49 PM · #4 |
 Melethia has said it better than I could. Thanks for sharing the story and I hope that it will save someone from the same situation someday.
I shoot only one wedding per year, for friends or family, and do that for free. I hope that something like that never happens to me. I will keep it in mind.
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08/19/2007 01:29:01 PM · #5 |
I don't think you should have been stuck with paying for someone elses recommendation. Even with paid wedding photographers emergencies happen... and believe me, even the "pro's" don't have backup photographers arrange or always available.
Although you feel bad about it, I think you got the bad end of the stick on this one. At most, if the couple agreed to this photographer, they should pay for at least half of his cost and you shouldn't have to deal with his lack of photo skills. They were willing to take the chance by going with a free and inexperienced photographer (you) and knew the risks that went with this. Unless these are really really good friends. We all (at least most of us) do things for really good friends that we wouldn't do for others. In that case, chaulk it up as experience.
Mike
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08/19/2007 02:24:06 PM · #6 |
| Thanks everyone for the words of support. These are really, really good friends, so I just went ahead and paid the fee because I'd rather do that then ruin this friendship. Mainly I just feel bad for them because the pictures really are so very awful. Someone with a low-end point and shoot would probably have done better - and I'm not being sarcastic. Rox_rox that is excellent advice about trying to get some of the guests' photos. My guess is they are much better and with a little editing maybe some of those will help fill in the many gaps. |
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08/19/2007 02:33:18 PM · #7 |
I feel for you. The same thing happened to my sister last year at her wedding....except...she sent the photographer home to avoid paying the overtime charge (for which I told her I was paying). I was informed I was taking the photos. I took med jpegs because I didn't have enough room for RAW, and...I used the on camera flash because I didn't buy the external yet (didn't think I needed it). Many...many hours of editing!
I'm sure your hard work will be appreciated. Since they are friends of yours, see if you can get some photos from other people. Sometimes, its that one capture, that one angle that can turn a portfolio around. |
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08/19/2007 03:13:04 PM · #8 |
That really bites, sorry about the events that unfolded. But on the bright side, the little girl is very lucky to have foster family like you.
My guess is this guest at the wedding was trying to be a hero and called somebody they knew with a camera, and probably padded the truths about him quite a bit, or he is a pathelogical liar to them about what he does. No professional who's been doing weddings for 20 years would do a last minute job for only $600, unless he felt bad about the situation and was a VERY kind soul. But the quality of the photos speak for themelf. Did he have any kind of contract or anything? You might be able to get your money back. Best of luck!
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08/19/2007 04:52:47 PM · #9 |
Hey. It sounds to me that you not only did everything right but went above and beyond to help out a friend. You had an emergency and you choose to the right thing. You paid money out of your pocket, which is extreme kindness, and they agreed to the fotog. It's not your fault the guys was an asshole and a fake. At best, the friend that mentioned the fotog has something to feel a bit bad about.
You did a wonderful thing and seem to be continuing your acts of kindness.
Cheers to you and your good will. Hope it comes back to you a hundred fold!
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08/19/2007 05:04:30 PM · #10 |
Catherine, I am sorry you couldn't fulfill your wedding photos as arranged, however, you used common sense and sensitivity to go to the aid of the foster child. Okay, so the Pro photog didn't work out, and perhaps you can redress this with a re-shoot. As you say, you have a selection of photos from previous shoots.
Do a reshoot with the bride and groom. Edit the best of the Pro's stuff. And take a pat on the back for putting a child before a wedding. I know you feel bad how things worked out, but that child needed your support and help, you acted in a very proper way, this is why you are involved with foster children!
Call the so-called Pro, and suggest that perhaps he refund you half of his 'fee', as the quality was so naff and the circumstances were beyond your control. I bet he/she feels as guilty as hell.
Good for you that you can put a child before a photo!! :) |
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08/19/2007 05:07:07 PM · #11 |
Hey thanks for the heads up.
I have been asked on a couple of occasions to do wedding shots and I quickly run and hide.
I think shooting wedding as the "Photog" would have to be one of the hardest things to do. Some parts can be repeated if something goes wrong but its just not the same.
Good on you for doing everything you could for your friend and the foster child.
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08/19/2007 05:36:06 PM · #12 |
| It's really refreshing to hear about someone doing what is right no matter what the cost, by this I mean being willing to go to this little child's aide, then paying a financial cost on top of that. Loving each other should be number one above all else and you really showed a lot of love for everyone involved (even the idiot photog). |
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08/19/2007 06:55:15 PM · #13 |
| Now just think if they had paid you $3000 up front. |
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08/19/2007 07:39:01 PM · #14 |
| I was a wedding photographer for 15 years and I've seen a lot.If you plan to stay in the business,get everyting in writing and always have a backup plan.Handle all weddings in the same businesslike manner and don't let friends expect extra special treatment.The photographer has really one chance to do the job right. |
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08/19/2007 08:26:02 PM · #15 |
Originally posted by formerlee:
Do a reshoot with the bride and groom. Edit the best of the Pro's stuff. |
Exactly what I was about to suggest.
Originally posted by formerlee:
And take a pat on the back for putting a child before a wedding. I know you feel bad how things worked out, but that child needed your support and help, you acted in a very proper way.
...
Good for you that you can put a child before a photo!! :) |
For sure! |
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08/19/2007 08:27:18 PM · #16 |
Originally posted by ozerad:
I was a wedding photographer for 15 years and I've seen a lot.If you plan to stay in the business,get everyting in writing and always have a backup plan.Handle all weddings in the same businesslike manner and don't let friends expect extra special treatment.The photographer has really one chance to do the job right. |
The OP has gone above and beyond. I don't see how a "business plan" would have helped in this situation. She's doing all this extra work to help out friends, not recover from a disaster with a client. |
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08/19/2007 09:11:05 PM · #17 |
I learned recently that a lot of the time the ceremony shots are not all that remarkable. You'd be surprised how much you can get away with by adding creative borders and foregrounds etc. There's still plenty to get while you are there if you do it right, but if it's totally messed up, you might find that there is a solution available with the wiggle room afforded by a re-shoot.
On the other hand, try your best to get a small handful from the ceremony, and take your friends to the park.
From a wedding, many shots that end up in the album, and a few shots that end up on the wall. You shouldn't have too much trouble getting some wall-worthy shots. A few years down the road, that album will be on a shelf collecting dust and people will still be admiring the stuff on the wall.
I recently shot a wedding as a second shooter and wasn't all that excited by what the other shooter took. Of course at the end of the day, talking with the B&G, the only realllly important shots for the long run are the ones that sit on the mantle, the bookshelf and the wall. We are pulling 4 shots from the ceremony for larger prints and I will attempt to deliver 10-12 shots from the park that they will probably email and maybe print a few in 5x7 for others. Aside from that, everything goes in 4x6 and that's a pretty forgiving print size to be honest.
You can do it! |
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08/19/2007 10:26:44 PM · #18 |
Originally posted by eschelar:
From a wedding, many shots that end up in the album, and a few shots that end up on the wall. You shouldn't have too much trouble getting some wall-worthy shots. A few years down the road, that album will be on a shelf collecting dust and people will still be admiring the stuff on the wall.
You can do it! |
You are absolutely right about this. My worry is that there are maybe one or two wall-worthy shots if that from the wedding. For some reason, this seasoned photographer decided that handheld f/10 while people were moving was a good idea. In other words, almost nothing is in focus. And that's the one thing I can't fix no matter what PS tricks I have up my sleeve. The thing that's truly amazing is that this guy evidently has unlimited access to the best of the best pro equipment. He has a digital back for a medium-format Mamiya, for crying out loud. Those things are thousands of dollars. And yet, and yet. But, live and learn. Hopefully I'll be able to get some beautiful shots in a re-shoot at the beach that will satisfy. |
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08/19/2007 10:53:32 PM · #19 |
What a sinking feeling, I'm sure! How awful for you to be pulled between two important situations...but I agree you chose correctly.
Since the color is so far off, you might do better converting most of them to B/W edits.
This is also exactly why I pack ALL my photo stuff whenever I go to a wedding as a guest. I usually leave it all in the car, but one of these days something like this is going to happen and I'll be able to help someone out. :) I'm not a pro, but in a pinch I think I could do a respectable job. |
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08/22/2007 07:57:51 AM · #20 |
Considered putting some of the almost passable shots into a triptych or montage of sorts?
You might be able to get something out of experimenting with image size...
I notice that a lot of shots with low sharpness in large size look a lot better when resized to DPC. If you can get something almost passable at that size, you might be able to squeeze a bunch of shots together into a 6x9 or something?
Also, look in the forums for some threads on "Sharpness is such a bourgeois concept" and related for ideas on what to do with low sharpness images....
A friend is also supplementing some sharp home studio shots of roses and jewelry for use as backgrounds and foregrounds for his photo slideshow portion of the video he did. Makes a big difference. Soft bordered edges are cool. Strong oversharpening doesn't look so bad if you are careful with it and use a soft focus effect overtop of it....
Sorry, no more ideas. |
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08/22/2007 09:08:03 AM · #21 |
Sounds like an unfortunate story. But you got your priorities right, of course, in being with your foster daughter.
Personally... I would have drawn the line at making my apologies to the bride for not being able to do the wedding and leave it at that. Not taken on the responsibility of paying for another photographer (who was recommended by someone else), and then get drawn into the process of mopping up his mess afterwards. |
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08/23/2007 01:30:48 AM · #22 |
The 4th flag that should have went off in your head was:
Why would this photographer let someone else edit his work for lowering his price?
And the 5th flag would be:
Why would someone only charge $600 for a day of emergency?
In the end, thankfully the man is ok. And your friends are happy to be married. Call it a $600 lesson!
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08/23/2007 04:30:27 AM · #23 |
| unless if that emergency photographer friend has done those poor photos on purpose (to ruin your reputation?), i dont think you should blame him for the shabby job - without him, there might not even be any photos of a wedding that you were responsible for. |
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08/23/2007 04:46:56 AM · #24 |
Well, you definitely got your priorities right. You were there for your foster daughter AND her Dad survived.
Good luck in saving what you can of the pics. |
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08/23/2007 09:42:54 AM · #25 |
If you really want to make a Wall sized mantlepiece shot of the OOF Wedding photo. Well backgrounds are good to be OOF.
So just reshoot each person on a solid Green or Blue background with the same angled lights, then cut them out and make a composite, by resizing, and then putting them into the original backgrounds.
It's a lot of work, can be done for one photo perhaps. Unless they might ask for more, which may involve more time. |
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