Average price to shoot a wedding...

Pentax DA 16-45mm f/4.0 ED AL AF

11/07/2011 05:33:04 PM · #1

Hello!

I will try to make a long story short. I got talked into shooting my cash strapped Nephews spring wedding in California. They have now changed the date to New Years Eve in Pennsylvania! This is a terrible time period for me to leave my business and getting to Pittsburgh from Seattle in the middle of winter can be tricky. Plus I just learned the wedding will be in a big dark church and I only have a couple of speedlights!

This has become much more than I signed up for, and at this point I am wondering if I should just "gift" them the services of a local photographer in the Pittsburgh area rather than put myself through all the stress of trying to get the job done myself.

Thing is I have no idea what that is likely to cost me. I am set to shoot their wedding and reception and planned to process all images and have them print through my printer at no markup. So another photographer would need to do all the same shooting and process the images (so they have incentive to get the shoot right). I would prefer to just get all images on disk at that point rather than the newlyweds paying a markup to have the printing done through the photographer.

Anyone want to take a stab at what the above would cost with an average photographer? I say average, because given my limited experience that is probably the best quality I could hope for doing the shoot myself. And this is on New years Eve, I wonder if it will make getting someone available hard and if the price will be higher for that reason? The wedding party will be relatively small because many people don't want to travel this time of year to be there- don't blame them!

Any advise offered would be greatly appreciated!

-Brent

alohadave

Pentax K-5

11/07/2011 05:53:46 PM · #2

I'd tell them that you are sorry, and they'll need to find someone else to shoot it. They changed the date on you, and you were doing them a favor. IMO, you don't need to go through a lot of gymnastics to find someone else to shoot. It's not like they are asking any other vendors to find their replacements in Pennsylvania.

Skip

Canon EOS-1D X

Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM

11/07/2011 06:01:19 PM · #3

what a wicked situation, brent. i don't envy you.

i think it's apples and oranges, though, to compare what you were talked into with what you are thinking about doing. you seem to have a handle on what we be done if you were going to do it. however, you really put yourself at risk if you want to take on hiring a photographer on their behalf.

prices and skills are all over the map, no matter where you go. there are many that get away with charging way too much and then delivering way too little. sometimes you get lucky and find someone really good that seriously undervalues their work and charges very little. some of the best values will come from people who don't do it full time, but do have enough experience to be able to deliver.

one of your best bets would be to contact some local newspaper photographers in the area and see if they freelance on the side or if they can recommend a freelancer. decent pj shooters can handle just about any type of lighting situation and their portfolios tend to be a bit more real-world.

money-wise, you're probably looking $750-2000, depending on just how much coverage is needed. you might be able to get by with a little less, but then you might start running into reliability issues (a cut-rate wedding photographer is cut-rate for a reason...they can't afford all the overhead that goes along with running a full-time service, complete with high-end deliverables).

good luck!

Art Roflmao

Canon EOS-6D Mark II

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

11/07/2011 06:16:01 PM · #4

I'm with Dave. Tell them you just can't do it. At most, I might tell them you could (very generously) gift them $500 for them to hire a photog, but it would be crazy for you to take responsibility for that.

Best of luck - these situations can really suck.

11/07/2011 06:43:12 PM · #5

Thanks for the responses guys :)

It helps to know at least a ballpark figure as I assess the situation Skip- really appreciate the help there!

As much as I want out of this I expect I am going to have to just gut this one out and do it. I could probably hire someone for what it will cost me to fly out there to the wedding and pay for my lodging. But if whoever I get doesn't deliver, Uncle Brent ends up looking like the bad guy...
Even if I say "I can't do it, here's some money now go hire someone". They are going to complain that I have left them scrambling at the last minute since I knew the wedding date had been moved for a few weeks now. Ugh!

I have a local friend who is a wedding photographer. I can offer to back her up at a wedding if she has one scheduled soon and that will at least help me gain some confidence regarding being able to pull it off. I expect I am going to need to buy some more equipment, which I could probably use some day anyway.

Thanks again- Brent

Giles

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

11/07/2011 07:00:39 PM · #6

to be fair you are going out of your way, sacrificing your time & money and your nye so what ever the results they'd have to be pretty ungrateful to complain!!

BrennanOB

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

11/07/2011 07:01:28 PM · #7

Originally posted by Brent_S:

They are going to complain that I have left them scrambling at the last minute since I knew the wedding date had been moved for a few weeks now. Ugh!

You are a kinder uncle than I am. It is short notice because they moved the date. You offered to do one thing, and a long distance trip with lousy light on New Years Eve is a very, very different thing. It is a bind because you feel a familial obligation, but if this were a professional agreement, it would no longer be in effect. Further more there are few places I have ever been that I would less like to wake up on New Year's Day, than Pittsburgh.

This is a no win situation. If they know the lovely images you make, then when you put your life on hold and haul all you gear and lights across the country, they will be disappointed with the images you can get out of a big dark church in flat grey midwinter eastern Pennsylvania light. Of course if you don't do the shoot and hire the most expensive shooter you can find, any flaws will because you wouldn't bother to do the shoot yourself. You have my sympathy.

dcomiskey

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

11/08/2011 04:04:00 PM · #8

I wouldn't do it. It's stressful enough to do a wedding if it's not your day job, much less a relative's, and during a time that places additional stress on you and your business.

Not to mention, I really hate it when people book weddings during holidays. It makes it more expensive for guests to travel, more inconvenient to get wherever due to increased traffic and/or airports, etc. My buddy held his right after New year's Day back in '98 on the opposite coast and it was a giant pain in the ass for all of us to attend. But I digress...

Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS

11/29/2011 05:33:55 PM · #9

So here is an update on my "situation" ;)

I have basically bought my way out of the problem by sending my Nephew and his Bride some money so they can hire a local photographer instead of me to do the wedding (with Skips advice on how to find someone).

It still doesn't get easy for me :P Now the bride has found a local photographer that will give them nine hours (with an assistant) and the "processed" images on a disk for $900. She sent me a link to the photographer's site and I'm a bit underwhelmed to be honest. The images at least look like they came from an SLR (blurred backgrounds), but they look pretty much straight from camera to me. She seems to have a way with people in getting them to pose nicely, but I didn't see even one image on her site that has catchlights. Furthermore, the white balance is way off on many shots and highlights are blown.

Since her processing is pretty much non-existent I thought I could maybe process some of the more important ones for the couple myself and asked the bride to see if the photographer could provide them with the RAW images. The photographer's response was that she normally shoots jpegs, and if the couple really wants some RAW images she could provide up to 100. Say what? I'm I bit surprised that a so called pro with no need to get images quickly to press would shoot in anything but RAW, but why limit the RAWS to 100 when they could all be copied to just a few disks (charge an extra $20 if you need to)?

I'm kind of wishing I had just sent them a check and told them to not consult with me about who they hired. And I don't want my "intervention" to create a bad vibe between the couple and who they hire if mediocre is the best they can afford. Should I tell them to expect more for that kind of money or just wash my hands of the whole thing because I'm pickier than most people would be about images? Just want this all to go away, lol!

vawendy

Sony Alpha 1

11/29/2011 06:12:07 PM · #10

You probably wont get more for that money... if they get the processed files, the photographer doesn't make anything off selling prints to parents, grandparents, etc. $900 complete for a wedding sounds cheap, imo.

11/29/2011 06:58:11 PM · #11

Originally posted by vawendy:

Yes, I realize most photographers would want to keep the files themselves and part of their profit would be from selling prints- I told the couple to factor this into their budget.

This is the situation the bride selected though. Looking at the photographer's site, it appears to be just a blog with no galleries- so I expect images on disk is her normal protocol.
I know $900 is cheap for a wedding (I didn't tell them how much they should spend). Many things about this photographer seem unprofessional, I am just thinking the fact she normally shoots jpegs is really bad (and not the norm???). Especially when her blog shows huge problems with white balance...

MinsoPhoto

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

11/29/2011 07:02:02 PM · #12

They may only offer 100 jraw files by request because they only have a couple cheap memory cards. I wonder what equipment they use and what they have as far as lights go. Sucks to be in your position. For $900 they will likely not be happy with the images if they have the problems you mention.

JulietNN

Tamron 16-300mm Di II VC PZD MACRO w/Canon Nikon mount

11/29/2011 07:58:45 PM · #13

I am amazed you sent them $900 bucks, you friggin rock as an Uncle!!!!! Wanna be mine???? =)

HawkinsT

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Olympus G-Zuiko Auto-S 55mm f/1.2

11/29/2011 08:15:04 PM · #14

I think it's definitely something to be concerned about. For one there are only four reasons (brainstorming) I can think of for not shooting raw at a (potentially poorly lit) wedding - inexperience, their cheapo-camera has a small buffer so raw locks it up, they can't be bothered spending time processing the files properly, or they decided to save $5 when buying memory cards.

It seems to me though you're taking the success of their wedding photos very personally - however they turn out is really nothing to do with you, you've already done far more than most would to try to ensure they get good photos which isn't even your responsibility after they put you out as they did. I would say perhaps help advise them as best you can when it comes to the photographer but any choices that are set in stone (e.g. if they've paid or signed a contract with this new photographer) I'd just try to roll with, a lot of photography, especially if you've not had much exposure to 'good' photography, in my opinion, comes down to perception, and telling the couple they've made bad choices that they no longer have control over can only lead to disappointment.

11/29/2011 08:53:58 PM · #15

Originally posted by JulietNN:

I am amazed you sent them $900 bucks, you friggin rock as an Uncle!!!!! Wanna be mine???? =)

Ha! You would be a terrible Niece Juliet. I have seen what you do to yourself trying to get the perfect shot (falling on rocks and cutting yourself up), you would be nothing but worry to family members... ;)
Actually maybe I don't rock that much as an Uncle. Seeing how I had already spent money on equipment specifically to shoot their wedding and was out $750 in non-refundable airfare to get there, I only sent them $500 to chip in for a photographer. I'm out of pocket for what just hiring a decent photographer in the first place would have cost though :P

I expect the photographer probably is shooting jpegs because she doesn't have the memory cards to handle shooting RAW. I'm going to call the bride and see if she really exhausted all other options for getting a better photographer. If this is really the best she can do at this late notice I guess I will kick in another $100 so the photographer can buy more memory cards- jeez! :D

Silent-Shooter

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM II

11/30/2011 08:10:32 AM · #16

Not to put a spanner in the works at this already late stage... but have you asked the bride and groom if they like the new photog's style?
I applaud you for trying to help them out in every way. Wedding photos are one of the few things that last beyond the last dance on the night. I often look at my wedding photos and I love the style our photog shoots. Other people that have viewed them were not as happy and said half of them are skew - referring to shots taken at an angle on purpose.

Every person has their own preferences. If the bride and groom are happy with that look and would love their lasting memories on paper to look that way then I wouldn�t want you to sour your relationship with them by saying the pics are bad and you would do it differently. Hope you know what I mean.

JulietNN

Tamron 16-300mm Di II VC PZD MACRO w/Canon Nikon mount

11/30/2011 08:29:17 AM · #17

LOL Brent, aye I do get myself into a mess for the perfect shot.

I personally think you have done a lot for this couple. Air flights, hotels, money for pressie etc. Like

Silent-shooter said, are they happy with the tog? If you are worried, then take your own camera and just shoot a few shots of the big moments, kiss, cake etc. Then you can process them and give them to them as an added wedding pressie. It also gives you a prop in case you get bored with your relatives.

vawendy

Sony Alpha 1

Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS

11/30/2011 08:47:00 AM · #18

I wouldn't say anything more about the photographer, at this point. It's possible that they don't like the quality either, but that they couldn't find anyone cheaper. Or perhaps they don't care about the quality, they just want snapshots, and they just wanted to do it cheaply. If it's all about the money as opposed to the quality, they'll just get irritated if you say more.

11/30/2011 11:10:00 AM · #19

Thanks everyone very much for your thoughts on this matter :)

I suppose at this late stage there isn't much else that can be done and I just hope the photographer pulls it off well enough. I was hoping the bride would show me any photographer's portfolio before making a selection as requested. That didn't happen and I'm not surprised- for her it seems a text message is all that is needed for communication in life. She doesn't answer the phone and her emails look like text messages ;)
I already left her a voicemail telling her not to worry because I am just overly picky when it comes to photography.

I can't be there at the wedding to get a few decent shots myself. This young couple lost half of their potential guests when they switched the wedding from March to New Years Eve. I have year end responsibilities with my business, and they could not have picked a worse time for me to leave town. I will suggest they take the photographers offer to give them 100 RAW images (so ridiculous!) and make them during the most important part of the ceremony. I am second guessing even that for fear they will end up selecting tiny jpegs instead of RAW images, lol!

The situation is what it is, I think I've done all I can :)

Techo

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

11/30/2011 11:47:23 AM · #20

First of all. Congrats to your family.

If the couple likes the photog's style and not just picking him/her based on the budget. Wouldn't worry too much about the RAW vs JPG aspect. Does this particular photog's portfolio display some work done in a similar dark church situation? Been reading that more than few wedding photogs shoot in jpg. More so if they're not the most expensive ones around. And it might not be an issue of not having enough cards but of their shooting style. Some switch between RAW and JPG depending on what they're shooting, formals, party, etc. Just make sure the photog has more than one body to shoot with at the wedding ;)

alanfreed

Nikon D6

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

11/30/2011 02:18:22 PM · #21

Bummer I wasn't able to help you out with this one... I live in Pittsburgh and shoot weddings. Alas, on New Year's Eve, I'll be on a cruise ship in the Caribbean :)

PS -- There are few places I have ever been that I would less like to wake up on New Year's Day, than Walnut Creek, California. :P

Message edited by author 2011-11-30 19:01:59.

12/01/2011 01:25:52 AM · #22

Too bad you couldn't help us out with this wedding indeed Alan, enjoy your cruise!

Thanks much Techo, I guess jpegs are more commonplace among working photographers than I thought. The photographer does have a second camera body as of two months ago I saw on her blog. A D700 and her D70 she had been using goes to her husband/assistant. Apparently she also got a 55mm Nikon lens at that time because she was told it would be good for low light situations like weddings. Ya' think? Her blog shows mostly engagement images done outdoors, I really don't know if she is prepared for a big dark church. At this point, I just finished working a 16 hour shift and after hopefully 5 hours sleep get to do the same tomorrow. And there is plenty more of that in store for me through the end of the year. I just need to get this all behind me and concentrate on my business. I did what I could :)

Thanks everyone for your responses!
-Brent