Anyone else keep getting told they should shoot weddings?

Amp34

Amp34

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In the last few weeks i've almost got into arguments with both my GF and another close friend about this. I've finished uni but don't have a job, so they suggested I try and do a wedding or two to get some money (as it's easy and you'll make loads (apparently...)) until I get a proper job... I then pointedly say no way, it's way too difficult/stressful and I'm not good enough. Cue semi argument about it...

Anyone else get this, non photographers thinking shooting a wedding is easy (having read the multiple threads on here I know it's not)? They seem to think it will only be half a days work (even though they both know how long I spend editing photos)...:shrug:
 
Yes, but I just pointed them in the direction of a few proper wedding photographers who are closeby and now i don't get bothered any more :D
 
I did my first one, non-paid, at the weekend.

It is far from easy, in fact I found it incredibly difficult :p

I plan to do 4-5 non paid before I even consider myself experienced and confident enough to do it for money. Those 4-5 non-paid ones will be as a second photographer.

In reality it is a full day shooting, then lots of preparation time and many hours of post processing and preparation of images for the bride and groom, this could include prints, albums, DVD slideshows, etc.

Luckily, my one at the weekend was simply helping out, so I am not going as far as sorting prints or anything, but it was still stressful none the less, shooting from 11am till 9pm, in reality I should have stayed until the ended, but I was too tired.
 
susie said:
Yes, but I just pointed them in the direction of a few proper wedding photographers who are closeby and now i don't get bothered any more :D
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Luckily I haven't been asked to do one yet, just told I should advertise for some...:lol:

ScarySquirrel said:
I did my first one, non-paid, at the weekend.

It is far from easy, in fact I found it incredibly difficult :p

I plan to do 4-5 non paid before I even consider myself experienced and confident enough to do it for money. Those 4-5 non-paid ones will be as a second photographer.

In reality it is a full day shooting, then lots of preparation time and many hours of post processing and preparation of images for the bride and groom, this could include prints, albums, DVD slideshows, etc.

Luckily, my one at the weekend was simply helping out, so I am not going as far as sorting prints or anything, but it was still stressful none the less, shooting from 11am till 9pm, in reality I should have stayed until the ended, but I was too tired.
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Exacty, unfortunately most people think it involves turning up around 1pm, leaving at around 8pm, then giving the photos to the B&G and recieving a nice cheque... (I wish!)
 
horse dead use beating no a

rearrange these words into a well known hackneyed saying

weddings must really be boring...but lucrative

give me the open air, a packed lunch and a few miles of land to tramp

;)
 
mrcrow said:
horse dead use beating no a

rearrange these words into a well known hackneyed saying

weddings must really be boring...but lucrative

give me the open air, a packed lunch and a few miles of land to tramp

;)
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Yep, far more interesting, unfortunately you can't make much money that way (unless you get right to the top). The occasional £30 here and there for a landscape isn't going to make you rich...:(
 
The wierd thing is that until I started trying to do more than just take snaps with my p&s I don't think I could have understood the difference between a £250 wedding tog, a £1000 one etc.
Now I spot a lot more - the framing of pictures, the positioning of people/objects, creative exposures, blown highlights, dust marks, the lighting, the processing, the finish - and can understand why there is such a range in price.
But your average person in the street doesn't 'see' these things so its hard for them to distinguish - and as a result I expect they do it on the basis of price charged/recommendations/professionalism of website or photographer. Hence the comments if they've seen you take good photos - they assume its easy to be a wedding tog!
 
Here we go again...................:bonk: ;)

Basically a good wedding photographer will supply the B&G with a selection of images to choose from. The actual image count will depend on what the couple have actually booked him to shoot. The image quality and range should be to a high enough standard to make it hard for the B&G to choose.

A poor wedding photographer (or in some cases inexperienced) will supply far too many images with a low number of acceptable images to choose from. This will be due to experience, attitudes (I only shoot what I like etc) and limitation of poses, groups etc.
 
Amp34 said:
Yep, far more interesting, unfortunately you can't make much money that way (unless you get right to the top). The occasional £30 here and there for a landscape isn't going to make you rich...:(
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money its all about??
 
IBTL :D

But yes, I took my DSLR to my sisters wedding, rattled off a few shots (which came out quite nicely) and now her friends have been telling her that I was better than the official tog and that I need to start advertising and doing it professionally.

I have no intention of doing so! (Yet ;)) I don't think they understand the responsibility and pressure - I certainly wouldn't want other people critiquing me against a family member with an entry level DSLR!
 
Amp34 said:
In the last few weeks i've almost got into arguments with both my GF and another close friend about this. I've finished uni but don't have a job, so they suggested I try and do a wedding or two to get some money (as it's easy and you'll make loads) until I get a proper job... I then pointedly say no way, it's way too difficult/stressful and I'm not good enough. Cue semi argument about it...

Anyone else get this, non photographers thinking shooting a wedding is easy (having read the multiple threads on here I know it's not)? They seem to think it will only be half a days work (even though they both know how long I spend editing photos)...:shrug:
Click to expand...

It gets far worse unfortunately. I was having a chat with a neighbour, who knows that I would like to start shooting weddings more seriously. He said - "Well, with digital, more people like to see the pictures at the reception" - ???????
I am glad that I have started taking this forum more seriously, because I can learn a lot more. Unfortunately there will still be people whose expectations are unrealistic. I have just spent half a day editing my holiday snaps, and have deleted 50% of them without a second thought.
Wedding photography is special, a once only chance, which demands care, skill and tact. It isn't down to how many 4GB cards you can fill in six hours.
 
mrcrow said:
money its all about??
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Not in the slightest (although don't get me wrong I ouldn't say no to making some from landscape shoots:lol:) but as I don't have a job I need some way of making some.:lol:
 
Any other person: So what do you do.

Me. I'm a freelance photographer.

Any other person: You shoot weddings then.

Me: No!

I've done weddings in the past but I much prefer not to.
 
I've done 2 weddings, both for friends, didn't charge for either although I gave them the photos as my wedding present to them.

Both couples were delighted with the photos but at this stage there is no way I would take on paid jobs. Nope.
 
Amp34 said:
Not in the slightest (although don't get me wrong I ouldn't say no to making some from landscape shoots:lol:) but as I don't have a job I need some way of making some.:lol:
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you should age a bit mate...i am nearly 67 and work for the government and two insurance companies
i get paid for doing nothing except watch the grass grow
:lol:
 
HCK said:
I haven't been told to shoot weddings, I often get told to not shoot anything and sell the camera! Not sure what they're getting at though :suspect:
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:lol: My GF also says something similar!:(

I guess this all comes down to the public perception of photography again, that all photographers on the street are terrorists, and any "pro" photographer either shoots weddings or portraits, and it's all easy (after all it's just the equipment...):bonk:

mrcrow said:
you should age a bit mate...i am nearly 67 and work for the government and two insurance companies
i get paid for doing nothing except watch the grass grow
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I wish, unfortunately another 45 years to go before I (hopefully it seems:lol:) get to your stage! Until then i'm going to have to work for my money.:p
 
I was asked by an online friend to take photos at her wedding on the strength of 2 wildlife photos i'd sent her. I found it pretty hilarious :lol::cuckoo:

Amp34 said:
In the last few weeks i've almost got into arguments with both my GF and another close friend about this. I've finished uni but don't have a job, so they suggested I try and do a wedding or two to get some money (as it's easy and you'll make loads (apparently...)) until I get a proper job... I then pointedly say no way, it's way too difficult/stressful and I'm not good enough. Cue semi argument about it...

Anyone else get this, non photographers thinking shooting a wedding is easy (having read the multiple threads on here I know it's not)? They seem to think it will only be half a days work (even though they both know how long I spend editing photos)...:shrug:
Click to expand...
 
Werecow, I love that handle, conjures all sorts of images.......
Meanwhile, back on topic...
 
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