My 1st Wedding!!

[geminip]

A friend (aquaintance) has just emailed me to ask how much I charge for weddings? She is getting married next June (2010).

I replied saying I am currently putting my pricing together for weddings and suggested we meet to discuss any ideas she may have for shots and also to show her some of my images in my portfolio.

The ceremony is going to be outside (Location unknown at min) but she said its going to be a bit 'hippy'(?). Reception at local Social Club. 100 people in day and more in evening. I am going to offer her evening shots as well.

I have not done a wedding before except as a guest and took hundreds at my brothers wedding in france last year. He actually prefered a lot of mine to the actual wedding photographer which was a compliment.

Any advice on prices, packages, ideas would be appreciated

 

[fletch5]

do you have an album supplier?

personally iwould start with working out my costs involved in a wedding(inc album etc if required), then look at wedding tog prices in the surrounding area and see if i can make a profit around the same figures(possibly slightly lower, which is mentioned as a discount)

if this a line of business your looking into, perhaps consider your kit and make sure it doesnt need a bit spending on it to cope with every eventuality.

 

[maz]

hi i did my first wedding a few weeks ago its hard work and make sure you take plenty of pictures of the one shot because i found out when i got back that i could have done with more shots in different places
and have a good flash as if you do go inside it needs to be bright as my room was very dark alot of editing work involved after !!
well hope you do well and most of all my best advice is to have fun and always smile
maz

 

[akr]

I believe the general advise if you have not done a wedding before as a lead, is not to charge, and to try and get as much experience in as possible as a second shooter beforehand.

The pressure of being the 1st shooter I'd imagine would be exponentially higher than taking some pictures as a guest.

Personally I'd try and get some more experience before charging, however if you go ahead I believe there is plenty of advise on here re the things you need inc insurance etc. Do a search and you should fine most of your answers.

Good luck but think very hard, if you don't get the pictures right that friendship might end up in trouble.