Wedding Photog Opportunity

Breaker

Breaker

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I've got a friend who is going to be getting married in Goa later this year, but is having a civil ceremony in Morden with an after party in Earls Court. Considering the costs involved for the Goa trip they're looking to save some cash for the UK arm.

I suggested offering it up as a free for all day for any aspiring wedding photographers wanting to earn a bit of cash and get a lot of experience. He knows he's not going to get 'professional' results, but thinks that if he has a few guys (or gals) covering the event, he's bound to get some decent results.

Anyone think this is a good idea? Apart from the professional photographers of course :), he knows you get what you pay for but is happy to have a few serious people with a reasonable idea of what they're doing and hopefully get a few decent pics.

He has said he'll pay an nominal hourly wage as well as a decent charge per picture....all subject to negotiation.

Just seemed like a good chance for available people to get some experience in a relaxed environment. I'd do it myself but I have no free time.
 
Breaker said:
He has said he'll pay an nominal hourly wage as well as a decent charge per picture....all subject to negotiation.
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That's the bit that makes me giggle. By the time he pays all those people an hourly wage (minimum wage laws of course) and then pays per picture as well..........they still have no album and they will fork out as much as hiring someone who knows what they are doing. :cuckoo:

Good luck with it :)
 
I think its a very good idea, but what if 20 people turn up and each want paying £100 for the day? ;)

I think its best if beginners/amateurs attend to build their portfolio, and the B+G get a selection of photos for the cost of the prints. Everyones a winner :)

Damn it AliB, beat me to it :D
 
I did point out the various cons, but the conclusion was...

1) Limit the number of photographers, and put the applicants through a basic 'interview' - work samples, experience, styles etc.

2) Limit the number of photographs. Since the big event is based in Goa, which is bound to offer a better photographic opportunity than Earls Court at this time of year, they're just looking for a selection of memory shots. The photographers would obviously have the opportunity to pitch their pics to friends & family, but I doubt they'd be selecting hundreds of pictures....

And as for the album, they'll pic one up from Poundstretcher and get their Nan to put it together....who knows....
 
Best of luck with it but....

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Seriously, if they haven't got much money it's a good idea, just make sure there aren't too many photographers otherwise it could turn into a bunfight with everyone vying to get the best images.
 
I agree with Hacker - three togs max but two would be better. Your friend needs to limit the numbers otherwise it will be a shambles
 
I can certainly see where the idea could germinate from. I think though that the idea of being vetted and interviewed by someone who I was saving a vast sum of money would generate a fairly simple two word response.

Not quite "I'm out" but essentially much the same thing. ;);)
 
Hacker ... Seriously? I thought you'd be jumping at the chance :D

Three was my advise too...any more than that and it'd be like a paparatzzi scrum from a Hello wedding :D

Dazzajl .... it's a fair point, but remember that I made the suggestion not just from a saving money point of view, but also from a 'give keen photographers a chance to gain valid experience' perspective. And the vetting would comprise of taking stock of a person over the phone to ensure you're not hiring a nutter, and a quick look at some sample photos to ensure there's at least some relevant experience/skill...
 
Dazzajl .... it's a fair point
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made mostly tongue in cheek too.

really, I can see where this would be a win/win situation but how many do we hear of here that somehow ended up with one or both parties unhappy. You're right though, there is more than enough aspiring talent here. :)
 
I think it could be a good way for a couple, or three, togs to gain invaluable experience with no shame if it all goes tits-up - I'd have jumped at the chance years ago too

Quite how it'll work when no-one's sure which tog they should be looking at though is an interesting problem

DD
 
DiddyDave said:
Quite how it'll work when no-one's sure which tog they should be looking at though is an interesting problem

DD
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If there are three togs, they can always alternate? One shoots the B+G posed, another shoots the wedding party, the other shoots bit of each?

Made that sound like a killing spree :lol:
 
Betty said:
If there are three togs, they can always alternate? One shoots the B+G posed, another shoots the wedding party, the other shoots bit of each?

Made that sound like a killing spree :lol:
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While it is obvious someone needs to be 'main-tog' at all times, when it's not your turn you're missing a huge section of a Wedding for your portfolio - so I'm guessing they would argue or at least be annoyed with each other at some point

If they swapped at each 'pose' so to speak, the day would slow down and people would be confused by the 'Me Now' shouting

I still think it could work, just needs planning well :thumbs:

And yes Betty it is funny - when asked, I often say that I "Shoot people for a living" :D

DD
 
Going by my friend's tastes I'd say that he's more interested in candids than formals....most of the formal pics will take place in Goa...so who to focus on is probably less of an issue. Even so, if he's really interested in getting some group shots he can always collar one of the togs and request a few shots - which means that the responsibility is on him to get people organised, rather than on the photographer, which I'm sure the volunteers would prefer.
 
Breaker said:
Going by my friend's tastes I'd say that he's more interested in candids than formals....most of the formal pics will take place in Goa...so who to focus on is probably less of an issue. Even so, if he's really interested in getting some group shots he can always collar one of the togs and request a few shots - which means that the responsibility is on him to get people organised, rather than on the photographer, which I'm sure the volunteers would prefer.
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While that does make sense - I'd feel it also devalued the day if I wanted to help build my portfolio and pretty much all I was going to shoot would be candids

That'd make everyone looks more like a guest than a photographer IMO

I'm sure someone would find it useful though

Good luck

DD
 
Breaker said:
Even so, if he's really interested in getting some group shots he can always collar one of the togs and request a few shots - which means that the responsibility is on him to get people organised,.
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This parts pretty much unworkable as it would be inpossible to get only one tog taking the picture... more than one tog means eyes in differnt directions and picture spoilt..
 
Okay, so it'd take a little co-ordination.

Or we can tie all the photographers together so everyone is looking in roughly the same direction.

You do all realise that as long as the togs were standing shoulder to shoulder, from anything further than about 10ft away everyone is going to look as though they're staring right into the camera. Old interview trick for those with confidence issues :D

I've been told he's definately interested in structured group shots. He realises who ever came on board for this is helping him out and he's more than willing to compromise in terms of what they would be looking for....within limits.
 
I would probably be interested in this, if there was just one other photographer involved, just for all the reasons already stated, i'm not really interested in any profit but just to get the experience so probably just travelling expenses, the only other thing i would want is permission to use the photos on any future potential website i may have, as obviously the copyright would be mine :)
 
KIPAX said:
This parts pretty much unworkable as it would be inpossible to get only one tog taking the picture... more than one tog means eyes in differnt directions and picture spoilt..
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Yes i seen this done once before and what a **** up it was :(
 
I think if the B&G are to appoint more than 1 photographer then I would go for no more than 2 or 3 and even then it would be best if the togs knew eachother in advance and agreed a strategy for taking the photos. Unless there is only a single tog then they have to accept and be happy with the fact that they are going to have shots missing out of their portfolio.

Personally I'd offer the job out to a single tog who has some experience but is still willing to work for free or for very cheap.
 
Sounds like a recipe for a disaster, you will need one photographer in charge so all bits of the wedding are covered.
Just sending a load of photographers in with 8fps just won't work, but good luck.
 
IMHO Three shooters is overkill, I've shot several two-shooter weddings and even then the guests feel like they're being papped.

At each part of the wedding one of the photographers should be named primary and be clear about what shots they are tasked with, while the other floats around getting different angles. It's no good if both are going for the same shots.
 
I'd offer... But I'm not sure if I'm quite ready. Never having done anything that I've been paid for, let alone weddings this sounds like a lot of confusion for my first one. But hey, the offer's there if you're desperate :D

I'm sure I could offer some interesting results :p
 
Anyone else?

I've got three names so far, but I'd love to see more work before passing it back to my friend for his final decision.

Given the number of times I've seen people on TP lamenting over the fact they can't get the experience, never have the opportunity etc. etc. that'd I'd have people jumping at the chance.....low pressure, good looking couple, interesting situation....
 
I would be interested and would probably do it for nothing if they covered my expenses but unfortunately I'm based in the midlands, London is a bit too far for me.
 
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