Joined Oct 2005
L10: Grand Master
Forum Thread
Thrust into being the main wedding photographer.
February 13, 2016 at
05:56 AM
in
Tech & Electronics
(2)
Well, I was supposed to be an unpaid second shooter at a wedding today for experience, however the groom just called, informing me that the main photographer, a friend of the family who is a professional photographer, has not dhpwn up for the rehearsal and they can't get in touch with him.
Since I'm all that's left, it looks like I'm the main photographer.
Any tips, suggestions, snide remarks?
I'm quite nervous, I had not planned on this. I had a good idea in my head of what I wanted to capure as a second photographer, not the main, which is a position that holds much more responsibility.
Yikes!
Since I'm all that's left, it looks like I'm the main photographer.
Any tips, suggestions, snide remarks?
I'm quite nervous, I had not planned on this. I had a good idea in my head of what I wanted to capure as a second photographer, not the main, which is a position that holds much more responsibility.
Yikes!
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The other photographer provided his work as well for free. I kind of stayed out of the way most of the time as the other photographer was a bit arrogant.
I don't have the best equipment due to having a low income due to not being able to work properly due to health issues.
The first thing he stated was that I needed better lenses. Second, he bragged about he has five different Nikon cameras and bunches of lenses and how his father gifted him a $2,000 Canon DSLR camera that he'll never use as he's all Nikon.
That was another stresser there. Some people aren't in families where they get $2,000 gifts. My gift from my father last year for Christmas was a $15 belt and it was very much appreciated, as we're not focused on giving, Christmas is to focus on Christ and your family and friends that you have around you..
Sigh.
Anywho, I hope that you have a magnificent night!
I mean I totally get trying to have a family friend do the photography to save on costs, but even I agreed with my friend to pay him $500 for the photos and ended up paying a $1000 just because he did so well and we were grateful for his work and efforts. But if something hadn't turned out perfectly and I'd asked for them for free then I wouldn't have been annoyed at all because it was a free service.
The other photographer provided his work as well for free. I kind of stayed out of the way most of the time as the other photographer was a bit arrogant.
I don't have the best equipment due to having a low income due to not being able to work properly due to health issues.
The first thing he stated was that I needed better lenses. Second, he bragged about he has five different Nikon cameras and bunches of lenses and how his father gifted him a $2,000 Canon DSLR camera that he'll never use as he's all Nikon.
That was another stresser there. Some people aren't in families where they get $2,000 gifts. My gift from my father last year for Christmas was a $15 belt and it was very much appreciated, as we're not focused on giving, Christmas is to focus on Christ and your family and friends that you have around you..
Sigh.
Anywho, I hope that you have a magnificent night!
I do. I just don't know how it changed to s3. Generally, the format never changes. That's a bit overly critical of you.
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It's a Canon SL1.
Anyways I don't know your abilities as a photographer, but IMO once you reach a certain level where your work meets the demand of the client at a rate (price tag) that is acceptable to you, it really is the business aspect that will allow you to fail or succeed as a wedding photographer. I'm sure you heard people say that wedding photography is 80% business, 20% photography. I can list many wedding photographers that are mediocre, but make much more then others with 10x the talent because they work harder and understand how to run a business and do it well.
Anyways I don't know your abilities as a photographer, but IMO once you reach a certain level where your work meets the demand of the client at a rate (price tag) that is acceptable to you, it really is the business aspect that will allow you to fail or succeed as a wedding photographer. I'm sure you heard people say that wedding photography is 80% business, 20% photography. I can list many wedding photographers that are mediocre, but make much more then others with 10x the talent because they work harder and understand how to run a business and do it well.
It's not feasible for me to do photography on a professional level due to lack of resources.
I couldn't make a living on it, which is where many people distinguish amateur to professional.
I'll happily dab in it though.
I couldn't make a living on it, which is where many people distinguish amateur to professional.
I'll happily dab in it though.
Why just dab into this type of industry? Not something you just dab into IMO when you only have one take to do it right, unless you are rightfully confident in your abilities or just want to be a craigslist wedding photographer. This is not something you just say 'oops sorry I messed up' ...Maybe start with portraits. Shoot a few events. Assist/shadow primary and second shooters. Or find something you truly enjoy and become great at it.
Why just dab into this type of industry? Not something you just dab into IMO when you only have one take to do it right, unless you are rightfully confident in your abilities or just want to be a craigslist wedding photographer. This is not something you just say 'oops sorry I messed up' ...Maybe start with portraits. Shoot a few events. Assist/shadow primary and second shooters. Or find something you truly enjoy and become great at it.
this is why my wife who has a photography degree dislikes hobbyists posing as pro photographers. And no I'm not referencing the op
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I'm not going to be a Craigslist wedding photographer.
I've done plenty of portrait sessions that have turned out fantastic, people have loved the images I've produced.
I've shot several events that have turned out great, from local non-profits to yule log festivals.
I've taken classes on photography, I have the head knowledge necessary when it comes to various settings, how light works, composition and various other aspects.
No, I don't have the best gear imaginable. I did very well in the past with just a $200 bridge camera, before I upgraded. It's not really the equipment that makes the photographer (although it does help a lot!) it's the person behind the camera.
I don't know why this happened this time - I know I won't make this mistake again and I'll be checking the setting every few shots to make sure I don't somehow bump the image quality mode again.
I'm going to learn from this mistake and move on.
Why just dab into this type of industry? Not something you just dab into IMO when you only have one take to do it right, unless you are rightfully confident in your abilities or just want to be a craigslist wedding photographer. This is not something you just say 'oops sorry I messed up' ...Maybe start with portraits. Shoot a few events. Assist/shadow primary and second shooters. Or find something you truly enjoy and become great at it.