The Single Greatest Guide..... - DPChallenge Forums

10/02/2009 06:50:44 PM · #1

...To Wedding Photography Pricing That Ever Was and Ever Will Be.

So its a long title, but constructive reading for anyone in the photography business, weddings or not.

//www.stacyreeves.com/greatestpricingguideever.pdf

10/02/2009 07:03:43 PM · #2

Whwn you do weddings do you vist the site before hand with the bride and groom and take some sample shots or do you just turn up on the day i gather if you have been doing weddings for sometime you get the feel for it

10/02/2009 07:22:14 PM · #3

Originally posted by toddster45:

I have a wedding next weekend at a venue that I have not been to before and the bride asked for something very specific... and strange. So I will drive out there sometime this week (alone) and have a look around. But most of the time I check out the venue online so I have a good idea what to expect and show up day of.... most are so similar. But, I always arrive early so I can look around for a bit without pressure.

BTW...the odd request for this upcoming wedding: Bride wants a shot of herself, the groom, and bride's mother in front of a crypt where Groom's mother was laid to rest. ;/

Message edited by author 2009-10-02 19:22:41.

zxaar

10/02/2009 07:27:19 PM · #4

Originally posted by idnic:

BTW...the odd request for this upcoming wedding: Bride wants a shot of herself, the groom, and bride's mother in front of a crypt where Groom's mother was laid to rest. ;/

why it is odd request. It seems they want to take photo with both of their mothers. And if someone is dead, what are the options.
Just sentimental thing i guess, not odd.

10/02/2009 07:28:39 PM · #5

Originally posted by idnic:

Originally posted by toddster45:
Whwn you do weddings do you vist the site before hand with the bride and groom and take some sample shots or do you just turn up on the day i gather if you have been doing weddings for sometime you get the feel for it

I have a wedding next weekend at a venue that I have not been to before and the bride asked for something very specific... and strange. So I will drive out there sometime this week (alone) and have a look around. But most of the time I check out the venue online so I have a good idea what to expect and show up day of.... most are so similar. But, I always arrive early so I can look around for a bit without pressure.

BTW...the odd request for this upcoming wedding: Bride wants a shot of herself, the groom, and bride's mother in front of a crypt where Groom's mother was laid to rest. ;/

Do you have an assist with you seems alot of work for one person i know judi&brat work together what was it like doing your first wedding?..not that i,m going to do any its pressure work for a photographer people pay alot of money for the once in a lifetime occassion (so it use to seem)..lol

10/02/2009 07:41:30 PM · #6

Originally posted by toddster45:

Done some with assistant, and some without. When I don't have someone with me, I just have to work a little harder. My first wedding, about 6 years ago was for friends, who drank a lot, so there was no pressure. lol But it came off well. After that I worked as 2nd shooter for several weddings 'till I got the flow and pace down. Now they're not so hard.

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

10/02/2009 07:46:55 PM · #7

Originally posted by idnic:

Originally posted by toddster45:

Do you have an assist with you seems alot of work for one person i know judi&brat work together what was it like doing your first wedding?..not that i,m going to do any its pressure work for a photographer people pay alot of money for the once in a lifetime occassion (so it use to seem)..lol

Done some with assistant, and some without. When I don't have someone with me, I just have to work a little harder. My first wedding, about 6 years ago was for friends, who drank a lot, so there was no pressure. lol But it came off well. After that I worked as 2nd shooter for several weddings 'till I got the flow and pace down. Now they're not so hard.

Well that was a good read thanks for posting this cindi(sorry for the mispelling) and the info on how you do some of ya weddings hope it goes well this weekend

Message edited by author 2009-10-02 19:48:18.

see

Canon PowerShot S95

10/02/2009 08:57:02 PM · #8

Great info. Thank you for the link

AJSullivan

10/02/2009 09:16:09 PM · #9

Wow, great read. Definitely gonna take this one to heart.

EBJones

Nikon D200

10/02/2009 10:26:29 PM · #10

Thanks, Cindi. Great read! With only about 6 months left in my current position, this is a business I've actually thought about going into. (BTW, if you need a second shooter for any of your weddings, let me know! I'm only about 30 min north of Jax these days. :)

kandykarml

Nikon D80

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ED

10/02/2009 10:35:54 PM · #11

Originally posted by zxaar:

Originally posted by idnic:

BTW...the odd request for this upcoming wedding: Bride wants a shot of herself, the groom, and bride's mother in front of a crypt where Groom's mother was laid to rest. ;/

why it is odd request. It seems they want to take photo with both of their mothers. And if someone is dead, what are the options.
Just sentimental thing i guess, not odd.

partial definition of odd;

â��adjective 1. differing in nature from what is ordinary, usual, or expected: an odd choice.

Seems uber odd to me considering the above definition of odd.... Do you ask them to smile cheerfully when standing next to a crypt or should they look as though they are actually standing next to a crypt.. But, it's their wedding day so shouldn't they be smiling??? hmmmmmm, wow... Yeah, odd is a generous description of this request.. How on earth do you ask them to pose or position themselves & what expressions will be on their faces..

I know you'll do an awesome job, and maybe you can share the ending results... Would this be the perfect example of juxtiposition in photography.. lol..

10/02/2009 11:25:33 PM · #12

Originally posted by kandykarml:

When the bride requested it (over the phone) I was trying not to sound surprised so I asked something like "do you know if there is good daylight there?" lol I'll do what I can. I'm thinking of a sweet but serious image with B&G hugging, her mom with arms around them both and his mom uhmmm in the background. That's why I need to go see the location. And yeah, I'll share when I get them sorted. PS, its not THIS weekend (as in tomorrow), its next weekend on Saturday.

Eric, thanks for the offer. I forgot you'd moved closer till I read that. I will certainly let you know if there are some chances to get you in the thick of things. I still have several more weddings to shoot this season and one more on the hook that might (I hope) sign this week for mid November.

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro for Nikon

10/03/2009 12:01:37 PM · #13

Weekend bump

Lutchenko

Nikon D700

10/03/2009 05:07:56 PM · #14

Great article thanks for posting

10/03/2009 07:03:38 PM · #15

Cindi just curious how much equipment do you have and take with you on a session and when you finish whats the average time you spend on making the portfolio for the couple ( i gather it differs from contract to contract what they ask for )

10/03/2009 08:07:53 PM · #16

Originally posted by toddster45:

Hey Todd. Yeah, it differs, but...

For most weddings I take 2 camera bodies. I keep my 17-55 f2.8 on one of them and the other usually has the 70-200, but sometimes 85mm prime gets put on for particular shots. I also bring along a 50mm 1.8 just in case something fails. 4 sets of camera batteries. 2 flash units with several extra sets of batteries. Flash unit diffusers (gary fong). A tripod. A monopod. Assortment of flash gels (that I always mean to use, but rarely do). And some other stuff that just hangs out in the bag, but is sometimes needed - bug spray, rain gear, hand sanitizer, etc...

I sort the wedding shots the day after shooting and pare down the blinks, blurs, duplicates, etc. Then start editing. By the time I upload a proofing gallery I have about 8 hours in besides the wedding day itself. Once images are chosen for the album I start designing that...another 8-ish hours including their video if I do one. I'd say total time spent (including wedding day) 24-30 hours per wedding.