Not my forum at all, but I was asked to shoot a wedding and have NO idea what to ask for. 12-8pm. I'm flying into Cali for it. Friend of mine. What are the going rates? I was thinking about 1800 for the day. Does that sound about right?
Thank you so much!!
aF
Edited by aFeinbergPhoto on Jan 27, 2008 at 04:30 PM GMT
Friend of yours? No charge especially if you haven't done a wedding before. Looking at your site, I take it you haven't.
Save him and yourself the headache.
Defer him to someone else. Simplest advice.
On a side note, if it was your first wedding, you should be assisting someone else for several weddings before going out on your own.
you have some nice shots on your website....but you are obviously not a wedding or even a portrait tog and you dont realize what you are getting yourself into!! if you actually plan on doing it....do it as a gift and chalk it up to experience, but let him know you have never done one before.... but in reality, tell him no!!
btw, just an afterthought...if you were already of the mindset that you could charge 1800 because it's the "going rate," I must say...you've got some coconuts bro...do not do that to a friend.
Oh man. Thats funny (and true). Well, you are correct with wanting to differ but he knows my experience. So its not like I'm hiding anything from him. I have half shot a wedding before (was there for the getting ready and at the ceremony...), but I absolutely understand what you all are saying. It's in July so I was thinking of assisting in some weddings near me for cheap or free. His logic is he'd rather put the money in my pocket than someone else's. My 1800 fee was calculated on that my flying expenses and equipment that I need. So it would all be spent instantaneously. Thank you all for the hilarious, yet pertinent, advice.
(p.s. my site is not my site...it was just a place holder...www.flickr.com/photos/afeinbergphotographydotcom is where the fun is)
I can understand the advice given about not doing the wedding. It makes a lot of sense; experience shooting weddings or even portraits will help you immensely.
However, I was in the same boat, and I followed through with it. My very good friends (my best man, in fact) asked me to photograph their wedding. Having never done a wedding, or even any real portraits, we decided it would be best to do some engagement shots, and they turned out to everyone's liking. They were confident in me, and that gave me a confidence I didn't have until then.
The wedding went great, and I learned that the biggest and most important task is doing what they ask. In my case, they wanted spectacular creative shots, so while I tried to get great shots during the ceremony, I wasn't stressing. I pleased my customers, and I've already booked another wedding for guests of the first one (we displayed the engagement photos). I would suggest at least doing an engagement session and see how it goes. If you do do some assistant weddings, you'll be even better off. Never know until you try, right?
EDIT: I should mention I did it all for free, but they did cover my rentals which we decided together would be worth it.
I don't get the whole "don't do it". I've done all of my friends, but they were for free (because I wouldn't charge them anyway, they just pay any travel expenses) and they knew what they were getting. Any costs incurred, they would cover.
You have to start doing weddings somewhere, why not your friends? Sounds like the friend isn't terribly interested in a true wedding pro anyways.
Sure, headaches happen when:
-the b&g have vain expectations that a budding photographer will produce what a seasoned pro can
-the photographer alludes that their images will be like a pro
-the friends aren't clear on what they are receiving
-the photographer isn't up front about what he needs to get the job done, if costs or fees are involved
If you make it ackward, it will be ackward. If you act professional, you'll be treated like one.
Thanks Chal and sbo for chiming in too. He was the one offering me the money and asked what I wanted. You are right though about just covering expenses. So maybe I'll go with that. The 'rental' i was hoping to get as payment for doing the wedding so basically just get a 24-70 2.8 out of it since I just bought a 1ds 2 and dont have a mid range any more (let alone an flash). oops. annnnnnyway. the enagement shoot is a good idea, that or taking some prearranged shots a day or two before the wedding (since i wont be there til then).
sboerup wrote:
I don't get the whole "don't do it". I've done all of my friends, but they were for free (because I wouldn't charge them anyway, they just pay any travel expenses) and they knew what they were getting. Any costs incurred, they would cover.
You have to start doing weddings somewhere, why not your friends? Sounds like the friend isn't terribly interested in a true wedding pro anyways.
Sure, headaches happen when:
-the b&g have vain expectations that a budding photographer will produce what a seasoned pro can
-the photographer alludes that their images will be like a pro
-the friends aren't clear on what they are receiving
-the photographer isn't up front about what he needs to get the job done, if costs or fees are involved
If you make it ackward, it will be ackward. If you act professional, you'll be treated like one....Show more →
"Acting" like a professional doesn't make you one......if you fail to provide the "goods", in this case professional quality photos, then no one will care how professional you acted.........
He's cruising for a bruising...............
Why do non wedding photographers "think" they can just go out and shoot a wedding.....that is so disturbing............
Is OUR profession so looked down upon that anyone with a camera thinks they can be a professional wedding photographer simply because they have a camera and shoot photos, be it landscape, sports or commercial ?
Gee, if thats the case, i think I'll go shoot some commercial stills for Honda Car Company for $1200.00........is that the going rate ?
Ha. I love the discussion people get into on this site. Hassy, i would never look at any specific part of this industry as being easy. I am not picking up a point and shoot and going to a wedding. I am doing my research, hopefully assist a couple of weddings locally and have done reading and studying as much as i can online. in addition, i'd say go and shoot that honda shoot. and kill it. i'm sure if you're taking shots of people in motion catching fleeting moments you can catch a good shot of a car not moving ;-)
I wouldn't do it for any less that $1800. I would say let your friend know they can pick up an experienced photographer for that price but it seems that discussion has already happened.
I do know from experience that friends have fallen out over such a thing even though the photographer made his/her experience, or lack of it, known prior to the event.
That may not happen to you. If it did i'm sure you will be happier having made some money than non.
Good luck picking up some work with other wedding photographers. I hope that works out for you.
My thoughts on your work is that you do a lot of shots too far away, too much space around the subject as an observation though not always.
I expect your friend to be dissapointed, i hope i'm wrong.
I am in the same boat, kind of. my assistant is getting married in April. I am supposed
to shoot video for her, but damn, given what i charge, that is one hell of a free gift. I need
to get out of it, or at least tell her I will give her 50% off, and she can work it out
in trade for the first few jobs of the year.
I have to say agree with going for it. I shot my first wedding last June for the daughter of one of my best friends. They were well aware of my experience and decided to give me a chance. I did LOTS of preparation for it - read alot on this site and others, purchased books and went to the library, talked with other wedding and portrait photographers, purchased the right lenses, took lots of test shots in different lighting conditions, worked on processing techniques, etc. It was a lot of hard work, but the efforts paid off. (And, yes, they paid me - $1375.00 to be exact).
I find it very frustrating when others are so negative about shooting weddings. With all that negativity it's a wonder there's *anyone* who would aspire to be a wedding photographer! Everyone has to start somewhere. If the bride and groom are willing to take the risk and are perfectly aware of all that your experience encompasses, then what's the problem
I do think that acting like a "professional photographer" and acting "professionally" are two different things. Being a "professional photographer" these days seems to be much harder to define with the onslaught of people buying DSLRs. Does the fact that I do freelance work for real estate companies and get paid for it make me a "professional photographer" Does that mean that I am unable to do weddings, portraits, landscapes, etc. I think not...
AFeinberg.........if you feel confident that you will be able to pull it off, and do alot of research between now and the wedding, GO FOR IT, and GOOD LUCK TO YOU!
To all of your FREE people: Sure do all of these for free. When you find yourself in the position and desire to become a full-time photographer and actually charge for your time and product, don't be surprised when you lose weddings to others offering their "well intentioned" free services. If you are providing value, and you want the B&G to value you, then simply give them a discount. They will respect you, and you will keep some respect for yourself.
Get your experience assisting someone with professional experience. Don't risk screwing up someone's wedding and hide behind your advance warnings of "inexperience". Would you trust your friend to fix your car because he has tools in his garage? He has worked on building model cars, and he has used the same tools to fix three broken lights in his house. C'mon, he'll fix the your car for free.
Amanda - Professional means that you are performing occupationally for gain. So, if you are not gaining financially, then call it what it is -- a hobby.
I agree with most of this. There will *always* be someone who will provide photos for free for whatever reason. It's something we, as photographers,need to realize. As I said, I was paid by the bride and groom for the first wedding I shot. They were familiar with my work, the fact that I had previously been paid for shooting portraits and events, and liked what I produced. And, yes, I offered them a discount (which they declined).
Depending on geographical location, it's not always easy or possible to shoot with a "professional" photographer. Somehow I think building model cars and fixing lights are a far cry from being a professional mechanic......shame on me as the consumer if I hired this person to work on my car and it was screwed up......but I understand what you're trying to say here.
Some people really don't care if they hire a "professional" to shoot a wedding or event for them. They are more concerned about the cost and doing things as cheaply as possible than the quality and end result. These are the people who will search for the *free* or *cheap* photographers. In my opinion, each photographer needs to determine what market or niche he or she wants to be in and make efforts through education, experience, etc. to get there.
Yes, "performing occupationally for a gain" is one way of looking at it. BUT.....just because I am paid to shoot portraits, weddings, events, and real estate for monetary gain, does not mean that I feel qualified to shoot and be paid for other types of photography such as product shots, sports, etc. If I were asked to do those types of thngs for compensation I would most likely decline and indicate my reasons or offer to try it for free with no guarantee of the outcome to gain experience. I do think that this is where honesty and integrity come in when defining oneself as a "professional" and acting in "a professional manner."
Just my 2 cents...
sjames19 wrote:
Going out on a limb here...
To all of your FREE people: Sure do all of these for free. When you find yourself in the position and desire to become a full-time photographer and actually charge for your time and product, don't be surprised when you lose weddings to others offering their "well intentioned" free services. If you are providing value, and you want the B&G to value you, then simply give them a discount. They will respect you, and you will keep some respect for yourself.
Get your experience assisting someone with professional experience. Don't risk screwing up someone's wedding and hide behind your advance warnings of "inexperience". Would you trust your friend to fix your car because he has tools in his garage? He has worked on building model cars, and he has used the same tools to fix three broken lights in his house. C'mon, he'll fix the your car for free.
Amanda - Professional means that you are performing occupationally for gain. So, if you are not gaining financially, then call it what it is -- a hobby.
'm going to hop on the " do it for free", I shot my first solo wedding a while back and I charged $500, that was after assisting on 3 weddings, and doing loads of portrait work....Now, as for this whole "Pro or not" sub-plot happening on this fourm..I have a full-time 9-5, but nights/weekends I do onsite event photography, weddings, portraits and music shots, I'm not a member or CPS or NPS, I do not make $50K a year doing photos, however I do make enough to pay some bills, and I don't do anything for free..I would call myself a professional photographer, am I wrong?
