Wedding shoot

happygolucky

happygolucky

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Andrew
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Hi, I'v been asked how much I would charge to do a wedding for a friend, so I'v told them I'v never done one and they'd be better off hiring a pro. However they don't have the money to pay one so I'v said if I did do it I couldn't charge as I'm not a pro by a loooong shot. Now I don't know whether to give it a go or not as I have limited equipment like just the one body so if that goes pop on the first fire I'd feel terrible. What would you do?
Thanks, Andrew.
 
Bluntly, say no.

Irrespective of kit issues do you have any insurance if you damage something at the church or reception, or god forbid someone falls over your bag and breaks something and decides to sue you, as peolpe seem so keen to do these days.
 
PsiFox said:
Bluntly, say no.

Irrespective of kit issues do you have any insurance if you damage something at the church or reception, or god forbid someone falls over your bag and breaks something and decides to sue you, as peolpe seem so keen to do these days.
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Thank's for that, something I hadn't even considered :thumbs:

I shall explain it to them and decline.
 
Might be worth pointing them to gumtree, people on there doing ridiculously cheap weddings, and I did a bit of research, and some of them are A LOT better than I ever thought they would be.

You could offer to do a pre-wedding shoot or a trash the dress shoot for them as a wedding present instead?
 
PsiFox said:
Bluntly, say no.

Irrespective of kit issues do you have any insurance if you damage something at the church or reception, or god forbid someone falls over your bag and breaks something and decides to sue you, as peolpe seem so keen to do these days.
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If he is not shooting as a pro, just as a guest, why would his liability be any different to any other guest's?

First question I'd ask myself is, are my skills up to it? Then I'd check around my friends to find a back-up body to borrow. If you can't borrow something, buy another 20D on ebay and sell it again after the wedding.
 
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Just asked when it is and it's next August, so no immediate decision needed.
I'll see where I'm at regarding kit and what not in a few months. I might have up-graded my camera and have my old 20D as a back up by then. I still wouldn't charge, just for them to cover printing cost's etc. If I do do it.

Thank's for the replies.
 
Pointblank said:
Just asked when it is and it's next August, so no immediate decision needed.
I'll see where I'm at regarding kit and what not in a few months. I might have up-graded my camera and have my old 20D as a back up by then. I still wouldn't charge, just for them to cover printing cost's etc. If I do do it.

Thank's for the replies.
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You can always hire a camera body and some decent kit - you don't need to commit to buying anything.
 
gingerjon said:
You can always hire a camera body and some decent kit - you don't need to commit to buying anything.
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I'm thinking of an up-grade in the next 6 months anyway, something that's better in low light.
 
paulcamcas said:
If he is not shooting as a pro, just as a guest, why would his liability be any different to any other guest's?
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Church or reception venue won't care if he is pro or not. Any damage he or his kit might cause they will want repaying.
Insurance covers this.

Other guests won't know he's not a pro and similarly won't care and may sue for an injury might cause.Without insurance he may suffer financially for years.

Regrettably people in this country will use the courts as a way to make money at any opportunity these days.

Everyone moans about insurance until the occasion they actually need it.

Still as I said originally it's only another factor to be considered along with adequate equipment and competency.
 
It doesn't matter what people think, he is not a pro and won't have any greater liability than any other guest. My home insurance would cover me.
 
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paulcamcas said:
It doesn't matter what people think, he is not a pro and won't have any greater liability than any other guest. My home insurance would cover me.
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I have suggested they hire a pro so they know I'm not one.
I have a friend who's a solicitor, I'll see where I stand as to what I can and can not be sued for, if at all, being a guest with a camera.
 
Pointblank said:
I have suggested they hire a pro so they know I'm not one.
I have a friend who's a solicitor, I'll see where I stand as to what I can and can not be sued for, if at all, being a guest with a camera.
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Very good idea. I suspect that PsiFox may have it entirely right and I don't want you suing me :lol:
 
paulcamcas said:
Very good idea. I suspect that PsiFox may have it entirely right and I don't want you suing me :lol:
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Let me try to put it another way.

It doesn't matter whether you are a hobbyist or a pro anyone can sue you.

After all that would mean only professional race drivers needed car insurance.

PL insurance is not compulsory for photographers.
However if you are shooting on other peoples property consider the following:

You drag your equipment bag out of the car at the reception, it swings around and dents the door of the car next to you.

Now the owner is going to want you to pay but his lamborghini has to go to a specialist for repairs.
Do you want to pay the resulting bill personally or claim from your PL cover?

Now when you get inside with your bag on your back you swing around and accidentally knock off the million pound ming vase on display in reception.

Again, do you have the bank balance to cover it as the venues insurers will come after you? Phew I'm insured.

Jst to make matters worse whilst you are shooting some candids with a 70-200 you swing round and clout the Brides Aunts 2nd cousin on the head cutting her forehead open.


Who do you think is going to pay for the plastic surgery at the end of the day? Her, you or your insurer?

Humorous examples but that is the point, we are not able to see what might happen so we insure against potential risk.


To note it only costs about £50 p.a. for £2,000,000 cover so not expensive.
 
Anything you mention could happen at any time to any amateur photographer. Or mother with pushchair. Or amateur musician with cello. Why is being an amateur photographer at a wedding a special case?
 
Any member of the public has potential to be sued for causing damage or injury to another member of the public. We may, or may not, be covered by home insurance but less likely if you are are acting for business purposes.

your home insurer will squirm to get out of paying should it be covered by saying "you were the "official photographer".

weddings is just one scenario. It could happen in a park photographing flowers.

It is upto you to do a RA and decide if £50 to protect yourself is a worthwhile investment.

N.B some venues will not let you in without seeing a PL certificate.
 
paulcamcas said:
Anything you mention could happen at any time to any amateur photographer. Or mother with pushchair. Or amateur musician with cello. Why is being an amateur photographer at a wedding a special case?
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It isn't. Pro photographers tend to be ask risk averse as my other employer.

If you are a member of the public ( you are) and any of those situations occur, someone's insurance will pick up the bottom line. However, if you're insured, it's your insurance company that'll pick up the tab.

Any of those other insurance companies aren't going to go after a private individual for a 6 figure sum, because they know they're not likely to get it.
 
I wouldn't get out of bed if I started to worry about being sued for everything I do.

edit to add: but I do appreciate any comments relevant.
 
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PsiFox said:
Let me try to put it another way.

It doesn't matter whether you are a hobbyist or a pro anyone can sue you.

After all that would mean only professional race drivers needed car insurance.

PL insurance is not compulsory for photographers.
However if you are shooting on other peoples property consider the following:

You drag your equipment bag out of the car at the reception, it swings around and dents the door of the car next to you.

Now the owner is going to want you to pay but his lamborghini has to go to a specialist for repairs.
Do you want to pay the resulting bill personally or claim from your PL cover?

Now when you get inside with your bag on your back you swing around and accidentally knock off the million pound ming vase on display in reception.

Again, do you have the bank balance to cover it as the venues insurers will come after you? Phew I'm insured.

Jst to make matters worse whilst you are shooting some candids with a 70-200 you swing round and clout the Brides Aunts 2nd cousin on the head cutting her forehead open.


Who do you think is going to pay for the plastic surgery at the end of the day? Her, you or your insurer?

Humorous examples but that is the point, we are not able to see what might happen so we insure against potential risk.


To note it only costs about £50 p.a. for £2,000,000 cover so not expensive.
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You sound like you'd make a good salesman :D

OP, I'd tell the couple that if the wedding is not until next summer, Why not start saving £20/week to hire a mid end pro? It's their special day. While it's up to them to spend as much or little as they like, they have the opportunity and most likely the means to get the funds they need (on the assumption they both work). While say £1k isn't peanuts, over a year, it's really not all that difficult to save. If they choose not to, then they probably don't care enough, and they don't need a pro, and only require guest snaps, so don't even bother hassling their friends for favours. That would be the fast track to making ex friends. In your position, as others have suggested, tell them to ask someone else, as you aren't in the position to take on the responsibilities.
 
hairboy said:
You sound like you'd make a good salesman :D

OP, I'd tell the couple that if the wedding is not until next summer, Why not start saving £20/week to hire a mid end pro? It's their special day. While it's up to them to spend as much or little as they like, they have the opportunity and most likely the means to get the funds they need (on the assumption they both work). While say £1k isn't peanuts, over a year, it's really not all that difficult to save. If they choose not to, then they probably don't care enough, and they don't need a pro, and only require guest snaps, so don't even bother hassling their friends for favours. That would be the fast track to making ex friends. In your position, as others have suggested, tell them to ask someone else, as you aren't in the position to take on the responsibilities.
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:thumbs: I think that's the answer.
 
I'm no where near a pro, however have done 4 (very informal weddings - 2 for relatives, 2 for friends). At all would have been a guest anyhow.

For the start, I said would gladly photograph, but they have to remember i'm not a pro, so my pics will not be that quality.

Have really enjoyed them all & got some great experience. I'll still never do it for a living, but they are great fun.
 
It is also worth mentioning that some of us offer to spread the cost a bit, just booking/paying for the coverage initially and buying/paying for presentation products afterwards when the bank balance has had chance to breathe and bit. Happy to chat to them if needs be... and if they book you can assist for the experience if you fancy it ;)
 
Yv said:
It is also worth mentioning that some of us offer to spread the cost a bit, just booking/paying for the coverage initially and buying/paying for presentation products afterwards when the bank balance has had chance to breathe and bit. Happy to chat to them if needs be... and if they book you can assist for the experience if you fancy it ;)
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Thank you Yvonne, will be in touch once I'v had a face to face chat with them, maybe :thumbs:

Edit: love your work.
 
PsiFox said:
You drag your equipment bag out of the car at the reception, it swings around and dents the door of the car next to you.

Now the owner is going to want you to pay but his lamborghini has to go to a specialist for repairs.
Do you want to pay the resulting bill personally or claim from your PL cover?
Click to expand...
A few months ago, I was parked in a registery office car park waiting someone. The car park was adjacent to a scenic garden where a wedding party had appeared whilst I waited and were having their photos taken by a group of 4 photographers (who all appeared to be taking exactly the same shots, all standing or crouching within a foot of each other :thinking:). Now one of these photographers thought it would be a good idea to keep stepping back into the car park and bumping into my car and use it as a back rest to steady himself. I'm very protective over my car and it's black metallic paintwork. Claiming on his insurance would have been the last thing on my mind had he caused any damage, throttling him and running over his camera gear was a close possibility however. As it would have probably ruined someones wedding, I decided against such action, but the bloke did nearly fall over when I moved the car, perhaps I should have pulled away abit quicker.
 
Really? That's quite rude and at the first side of someone learning on my car I would have been straight over to have a word, but then I'm quite protective over my car.
We bought our first new car for my wife and within a week a mum at the local school ran her handbag along it causing a 14" deep scratch about half a fingers width. She didn't seem to think it was her responsibility and that's what we had car insurance for. She paid out in the end when we explained the situation to her ( which was when she got the small claims court summons). I don't see why we should have our insurance loaded for 5 years plus for her careless actions.
 
PsiFox said:
Let me try to put it another way.

It doesn't matter whether you are a hobbyist or a pro anyone can sue you.

After all that would mean only professional race drivers needed car insurance.

PL insurance is not compulsory for photographers.
However if you are shooting on other peoples property consider the following:

You drag your equipment bag out of the car at the reception, it swings around and dents the door of the car next to you.

Now the owner is going to want you to pay but his lamborghini has to go to a specialist for repairs.
Do you want to pay the resulting bill personally or claim from your PL cover?

Now when you get inside with your bag on your back you swing around and accidentally knock off the million pound ming vase on display in reception.

Again, do you have the bank balance to cover it as the venues insurers will come after you? Phew I'm insured.

Jst to make matters worse whilst you are shooting some candids with a 70-200 you swing round and clout the Brides Aunts 2nd cousin on the head cutting her forehead open.


Who do you think is going to pay for the plastic surgery at the end of the day? Her, you or your insurer?

Humorous examples but that is the point, we are not able to see what might happen so we insure against potential risk.


To note it only costs about £50 p.a. for £2,000,000 cover so not expensive.
Click to expand...

This is easy to avoid........stop swinging around.
 
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