So we have all been to weddings where we shoot a setup and then the guest gives us their P&S because they want their own pics. So I was at a wedding yesterday as a guest and watched the hired pro do his work. Dude had a Rebel XSI, 17-55 and a 580 running on 4 AA's inside the flash only. OMG. Missed some critical moments when the flash did not go off.

So hired pro came around and did table shots, got the other two couples at the table but did not get us. So, I'm a bit...concerned....there was a Broadway actor at my table. Some time passes and I need to go to the little boys room. I see him on the way back and had a conversation that when like this:

me: hey, would you mind if I gave you my camera and you take pics of everyone at my table?
hired pro: Sure. Hey, I'll even use my camera to take one too.
me: Ok.

Some time passes and he comes over and asks for my camera to take a table shot. I think about reaching underneath the table for my Canon 1Dm3, 35L and 580m2 and I....I....could not do it. What's wrong with me!?!?! Am I turning....nice!?!?! I tell him to use his camera for a complete table shot. O God...I need to seek some help. Where's my DVD of Joan Rivers....

The partial Uncle Bob? Dude left at the end of contracted time. The couple could not afford more time, got the impression that they were really, really tight on money. I felt torn because they had one last "thing" to do and there was no pro tog there. So...I took their cake cutting and told them it was free. They did ask how much I would charge but I didn't have the heart....somebody PLEASE bitch slap me!!!!!!

Dave

If that's what you wanted to do - then it's for Karma. It'll come back at you.

Eli

P.S. - but you can't demand it......
P.S.2 - I meant it's a good thing and you were nice. This niceness should come back at you when you'll need it.

Troll.

Bring a camera to any wedding (regardless if you're the pro or not) and something similar will happen. That said, talking "business" on a whim like that had you suggested they pay you is never a good idea. Thankfully you were nice about it.

Give 'em the shots, make them happy.

dpun wrote:
\ Dude had a Rebel XSI, 17-55 and a 580 running on 4 AA's inside the flash only. OMG. Missed some critical moments when the flash did not go off.


Theres nothing wrong with AA's for reception usage - recycle times are fine indoors, it's outdoors in sun where you might have to wait a bit.

he might just be doing it for a "Living" no second job to buy flash gear to bring to weddings
And the couple booked him and got what they paid for, whatever that may be, could be a fantastic tog who knows.

Table shots yuck reminds me of Cruise ships

I when the wedding video guy shows up with his little prosumer camera. I'm tempted to run back to my office and grab my $25,000 HD camera, wireless mics and full lighting package so I can offer the B&G a real video.



Dude.....s'esly.

jforkner wrote:
Troll.

This.

Table shots! Eeek. Unless you are a "customer is always right" fanatic. Then you shoot what the boss asked for. Or hold out for artistic integrity. Maybe offer a refund.

What a goof. The OP actually offered to use the guests camera to shoot the guest, at his table, so the guest would have a free picture with the guest in it. How can he stay in business if he gives away sales like that?

I haven't shot a table in 10 years

PatFurey89 wrote:
Bring a camera to any wedding (regardless if you're the pro or not) and something similar will happen. That said, talking "business" on a whim like that had you suggested they pay you is never a good idea. Thankfully you were nice about it.

Give 'em the shots, make them happy.

I wasn't going to charge them but they asked how much I would charge them when I offered to take their cake shots. I said it was free right away. I felt bad that they could not afford the overtime for the other tog.

Just in case anyone was wondering, I have my gear with me because I'm traveling for the July 4th holidays and planning to take some fireworks pics tonight. Plans just changed and it turns out that I didn't need to lug around my gear as much but I wasn't sure if I was going to make it home or not. Ugh....turns out I've been lugging 15 pounds around and it wasn't necessary. O well....my arms keep on getting stronger.

Dave

> and then the guest gives us their P&S because they want their own pics

ok, when this happens ... what EXACTLY do you say?

last time I said, "my insurance doesn't cover me using your camera?"

another time was, "I don't know how to use those fancy cameras, only this one"

what do you say to these people?

I don't take my cameras to weddings when I attend as a guest. I'd rather have a good time with family and friends and let someone else take table shots.

Craig Gillette wrote:
Table shots! Eeek. Unless you are a "customer is always right" fanatic. Then you shoot what the boss asked for. Or hold out for artistic integrity. Maybe offer a refund.

What a goof. The OP actually offered to use the guests camera to shoot the guest, at his table, so the guest would have a free picture with the guest in it. How can he stay in business if he gives away sales like that?


It was a shoot and burn job, remember this was a budget wedding. I found out way beforehand because my better half is friends with the bride. I just wanted a table pic for myself using my own camera....just like most other guests.

Dave

Are you still on parole


tomKphoto wrote:
I haven't shot a table in 10 years

So, he actually did what you wanted, was willing to take a pic with your camera? Yet you spared his delicate feelings by not showing you had a better camera? Wow, another hero.

Let me try to be clear, there isn't a smiley for disgust and disdain.

liza wrote:
I don't take my cameras to weddings when I attend as a guest. I'd rather have a good time with family and friends and let someone else take table shots.

But you are missing a great opportunity to show up the poor sap who is actually working the gig, and then mock him in an online forum!
How come there are no threads where the guest 'photographer' is one-upped by the hired photographer, only the other way around?

Craig Gillette wrote:
So, he actually did what you wanted, was willing to take a pic with your camera? Yet you spared his delicate feelings by not showing you had a better camera? Wow, another hero.

Let me try to be clear, there isn't a smiley for disgust and disdain.

As wedding photographers we are always handed a P&S after our shot and this was a reverse case....and I did not do it. I could have handed him my GF's P&S but didn't even bother because he was there and ready. If you knew my sense of humor then you would have picked up on the irony inflection....the internet does not convey that well.

If you have any doubts about my character, l will not upstage another photographer.

"Some time passes and he comes over and asks for my camera to take a table shot. I think about reaching underneath the table for my Canon 1Dm3, 35L and 580m2 and I....I....could not do it. What's wrong with me!?!?! Am I turning....nice!?!?! I tell him to use his camera for a complete table shot. O God...I need to seek some help. Where's my DVD of Joan Rivers....

The partial Uncle Bob? Dude left at the end of contracted time. The couple could not afford more time, got the impression that they were really, really tight on money. I felt torn because they had one last "thing" to do and there was no pro tog there. So...I took their cake cutting and told them it was free. They did ask how much I would charge but I didn't have the heart....somebody PLEASE bitch slap me!!!!!!"

Oh, that's right. You won't upstage him, you'll just come on here and tell us how nice you are not to have.

If it makes you feel better, I think your character has been clearly displayed. Thanks for sharing.

"tog" a word that needs to be retired..

dpun wrote:
Craig Gillette wrote:
So, he actually did what you wanted, was willing to take a pic with your camera? Yet you spared his delicate feelings by not showing you had a better camera? Wow, another hero.

Let me try to be clear, there isn't a smiley for disgust and disdain.

As wedding photographers we are always handed a P&S after our shot and this was a reverse case....and I did not do it. I could have handed him my GF's P&S but didn't even bother because he was there and ready. If you knew my sense of humor then you would have picked up on the irony inflection....the internet does not convey that well.




I agree, the internet does NOT do that well.

Craig Gillette wrote:
"Some time passes and he comes over and asks for my camera to take a table shot. I think about reaching underneath the table for my Canon 1Dm3, 35L and 580m2 and I....I....could not do it. What's wrong with me!?!?! Am I turning....nice!?!?! I tell him to use his camera for a complete table shot. O God...I need to seek some help. Where's my DVD of Joan Rivers....

The partial Uncle Bob? Dude left at the end of contracted time. The couple could not afford more time, got the impression that they were really, really tight on money. I felt torn because they had one last "thing" to do and there was no pro tog there. So...I took their cake cutting and told them it was free. They did ask how much I would charge but I didn't have the heart....somebody PLEASE bitch slap me!!!!!!"

Oh, that's right. You won't upstage him, you'll just come on here and tell us how nice you are not to have.

If it makes you feel better, I think your character has been clearly displayed. Thanks for sharing.

Of course if you were much better you might have sent that in a PM, right? Oh no... that's right ... attempting to publicly humiliate someone is in fact a great show of character.

And yeah I see the irony in my posting this rather than PMing it to you... it's just that there seem to be so many moral high horses on this forum to sit on that I often wonder if I accidentally clicked on www.kentuckyderby.com instead of fredmiranda.

Odd use of smilies. I guess that means you didn't mean either of your posts. Naw. I think you did. Look. No smilie.

The second was in reference to the "I often wonder if I accidentally clicked on www.kentuckyderby.com instead of fredmiranda" ... it was not meant to indicate I didn't mean what I wrote.

In the previous post the was indeed meant to imply that I wasn't being entirely serious.

Look, a smilie -->

dpun wrote:
So...I took their cake cutting and told them it was free. They did ask how much I would charge but I didn't have the heart....somebody PLEASE bitch slap me!!!!!!


Experienced, working/wedding photographer isn't contracted to capture the event but takes the tools of his trade and uses them. WHY?

Have to be a gift - using your skills for the couples memories. I don't understand for personal use in these circumstances unless you're a relative or friend.

Would a chef go into the kitchen and started cooking the buffet if they're an invited guest, would a carpet cleaner pull out his vacuum cleaner and give the venue a spruce up?? Would a drycleaner give the gown a quick iron, would a painter slap on a couple of coats 'cause the walls are a bit tardy???. NO.
Granted photography is a different trade than my examples but when I read the context of your post.

Instead of sounding like a hero, a good friend, a guest, you do come across as someone that needs a spearo, a bit of a fiend, someone in need of a jest.

Maybe the obvious, nick = dpun, so you are taking the piss.....

Cheers Gaz