WANTED: student or very cheap wedding photographer

Status
Not open for further replies.
keirik said:
interesting thread, and I am probably one of those who is now branded a 'money grabbing so called professional', but can anyone tell me where it is wrong to suggest a poster look to get the best they can for what is supposedly one of the most important days of their lives?
Click to expand...

Okay, lets turn it on its head a bit, do you ever use your skills just on the odd occasion to help out others perhaps less fortunate than yourself, I don't mean bunging a fiver in the local charity box, I mean just using your skills to help someone out, not family either?

It is strangely satisfying to assist someone, and not necessarily with financial help, I am not a religious person but I do believe that I get as much out of helping others as they do from the help that I give.
 
keirik said:
I assume therefore that there mum is making the food and the dress is being knocked up by their sister?

I understand budgets and how they want to allocate them but reading through the thread most of the abuse has been by other togs saying the comments are unacceptable
Click to expand...

I think that pretty much nails it as far as the wedding costs are concerned, she did say £800 budget for the whole wedding. The thread has been cleaned up a lot by the mods over the course of the day so, if you have only just read the thread through, the really nasty posts have already been removed. Haven't seen any abusive posts amongst the ones that remain though. :shrug:
 
fabs said:
I think that pretty much nails it as far as the wedding costs are concerned, she did say £800 budget for the whole wedding. The thread has been cleaned up a lot by the mods over the course of the day so, if you have only just read the thread through, the really nasty posts have already been removed. Haven't seen any abusive posts amongst the ones that remain though. :shrug:
Click to expand...

Can sure change that quick,if you want............:lol:

Jest,trying to lighten thethread up a tad.
 
keirik said:
interesting thread, and I am probably one of those who is now branded a 'money grabbing so called professional', but can anyone tell me where it is wrong to suggest a poster look to get the best they can for what is supposedly one of the most important days of their lives?
Click to expand...

The most important day of my life too. I didn't hire a photographer at all. I just asked everyone who brought a camera along to let me pay for a second copy of the film :shrug:

The thing is, it's all well and good politely suggesting that they may regret such a decision later on, but to state they are wrong for *not* hiring a pro is just forcing an opinion onto someone else (not saying you inparticular did, just a general comment). Because at the end of the day, that's all it is..an opinion. Some people place alot of value on the photos, some people place it on other things.

Just like the wedding dress for example. Some brides insist it has to be perfect and cut from top class material. Others would get married in a binbag, but the cake has to be perfect.

No one can, nor should insist the value of importance someone else should place on a particular aspect of their wedding, because not everyone has the same ideals...if we did it would be a very boring world.



That aside, as a result of this thread there has been 2 temporary suspensions, god knows how many posts deleted/hidden, and 1 permanent (but overdue) ban, and what's left is still a healthy discussion.
It proves that we can all have a discussion in which we don't all agree, but still be polite about it....anyone who is rude and insulting is slung out on their egotistical arse.
 
fabs said:
I like a man who plays to his strengths! :lol:
Click to expand...

Good, *** ******* ****..................:lol:



:D

Oh noes, has Papa gone again?
 
Marcel said:
The most important day of my life too. I didn't hire a photographer at all. I just asked everyone who brought a camera along to let me pay for a second copy of the film :shrug:

The thing is, it's all well and good politely suggesting that they may regret such a decision later on, but to state they are wrong for *not* hiring a pro is just forcing an opinion onto someone else (not saying you inparticular did, just a general comment). Because at the end of the day, that's all it is..an opinion. Some people place alot of value on the photos, some people place it on other things.

Just like the wedding dress for example. Some brides insist it has to be perfect and cut from top class material. Others would get married in a binbag, but the cake has to be perfect.

No one can, nor should insist the value of importance someone else should place on a particular aspect of their wedding, because not everyone has the same ideals...if we did it would be a very boring world.



That aside, as a result of this thread there has been 2 temporary suspensions, god knows how many posts deleted/hidden, and 1 permanent (but overdue) ban, and what's left is still a healthy discussion.
It proves that we can all have a discussion in which we don't all agree, but still be polite about it....anyone who is rude and insulting is slung out on their egotistical arse.
Click to expand...

Nicely put Marcel. Didn't realise anyone had got a permanent ban though. :thinking:
 
:lol: I have an idea, a TP meet at Gems wedding. 6-8 togs all turn up and provide her with more pics than you can shake a sh***y stick at and have a great time to boot!!

Gem, been there, have a great one girl, from your description,you deserve it and I HOPE the lucky man is appreciative of your efforts too ;)
 
Yv said:
:lol: I have an idea, a TP meet at Gems wedding. 6-8 togs all turn up and provide her with more pics than you can shake a sh***y stick at and have a great time to boot!!

Gem, been there, have a great one girl, from your description,you deserve it and I HOPE the lucky man is appreciative of your efforts too ;)
Click to expand...

I was thinking along similar lines, i have been trying to think of any DNBs that I might know in the area that I could arrange to stay with for a couple of days but I couldn't think of any.
 
Yv said:
:lol: I have an idea, a TP meet at Gems wedding. 6-8 togs all turn up and provide her with more pics than you can shake a sh***y stick at and have a great time to boot!!

Gem, been there, have a great one girl, from your description,you deserve it and I HOPE the lucky man is appreciative of your efforts too ;)
Click to expand...

You know I could be up for that, its only an hour for me, diary is in the car but, yeah why not, GemC, you may well do alright out of this !
 
Yv said:
:lol: I have an idea, a TP meet at Gems wedding. 6-8 togs all turn up and provide her with more pics than you can shake a sh***y stick at and have a great time to boot!!

Gem, been there, have a great one girl, from your description,you deserve it and I HOPE the lucky man is appreciative of your efforts too ;)
Click to expand...

Yv I like the idea. :thumbs:

Well if i haven't got any other jobs or commitments I would like to 'turn up' and do you some shots, Please don't take this as a definite as of yet but closer to the time I can say for definite.
 
I've not read through the whole thread but just from reading the first page and Marcel's post I'm pretty sure I know what has been said.

If this was someone local to me asking for pictures of their special day because they couldn't hire a pro, I would be more than happy to help. I'm not a professional photographer, but I know which end of the camera to look through, I enjoy taking pictures and I like helping others.

Why everything has to be about making money is beyond me, I'd rather be a happy poor photographer than a rich unhappy photographer.
 
Having read right through this earlier ( warts and all) its amazing the way "wedding threads" bring out the worse in some people
and thankfully as has been the case the "best" in some as well :thumbs:

I got married some years ago ( Had I killed someone I would have been out years ago :D)
£500 was given to us, we did the lot for that, and the "change" bought a washing machine. ( enough of my problems :D)

Do wedding togs really charge and get £1000-1500 per time now? hells bell I really am in the wrong profession. And certainly not getting re-married
( even if the present Mrs Cobra agrees :D:)

There will always be someone that is "under cutting your price" you just have to live with it and move on.
Wasps nest £45 but there is always someone charging £30 .
OK so that "only" £15 but its still 33.3%
And at the end of the day the wasps die
and the customer is satisfied

I know that (mostly) we can all spot a good image or a bad image, but mostly the client
Is happy with an in focus ( ie not blurry ) image.

Case in point, I did a few candids for my brother a year or so back they were "OK"
all of a similar "ok" standard but the happy couple raved about 2 in particular they were OK shots
but after pushing them to being very analytical
( just out of curiosity) it seems that it was the "location" that attracted them to it ( one that the pro tog had missed)

As an after thought I do remember the "case" of the missing camera and all the
freebies that were offered, I think that Frac was one that got "caught" so I do sympathise with his stance.

Enough rambles just to wish the happy couple, well happiness,
And well done all those that have offered help



 
I didnae Chris, but others did.

PS....found the water rats...............:thumbs:
 
am i the only one reading this thread thinking "£150 for 1 days work is pretty good" i earn less than half that a day in a full time job, if i was after doing some photos and was still localish to rochdale (im not in the NW anymore) id have bitten her arm off, especially when i was a student (i did a few mates weddings mainly for the experience and secondly for being part of their big day) £150 would have been a hell of a lot of money in the back burner!


well done for dangermouse for stepping across the threshhold with his offer, i doubt it can be bettered!
 
Norseman said:
For a thread started at 13.45 today, this has been incredible! I'm only sorry that I have a real life and as a result have missed some of the (presumably) deleted comments.
Click to expand...

I like how people dismiss the internet as not being real. That wagon got left behind about 7 or 8 years ago.
 
there were ALOT of deleted comments. If someone has no money, what is wrong with someone helping out?? I am fully qualified in my profession, but I often give free advice and spend a few hours a week doing free stuff for people who are not in a position to pay the normal going rate. there is nothing wrong in that, it makes me feel good, it gives a positive sheen to my company, and it generates work from other people. Call it advertising...
 
matty, you make a good point. I love giving web advice and even tinkering here and there with peoples websites. I've even started releasing code into the open source community. There is definitely a feel good factor involved.
 
I would love to do this for the feel good factor, the experience and the potential value to my portfolio (wanting to do events not weddings but its still variety). The distances involved are too far for me though. I hope you get someone good that's close and very well done DM if it all come to pass. Good luck

(I'm an engineering student and very involved with student radio and loads of people give their time for no real gain, and it would be nice to see happen outside of a university)
 
If everything else falls through, I'll do it if I can make the date, I'm not too far away.
 
Just read through this ..... if I was closer I would have helped out for the experience. The TP meet sounds a great idea ..... but I just can't get the image out of my head of Gem's wedding party being swamped with a (not sure of the proper term for a group of toggers) mass of TP'ers all saying "cheese" ...... :lol:

Good Luck Gem :thumbs:
 
so that's what a flash-mob is!
 
dseered said:
You know I could be up for that, its only an hour for me, diary is in the car but, yeah why not, GemC, you may well do alright out of this !
Click to expand...

I'd be in, I must be only 20 mins away or summat!! :D
 
Thought I'd wait until all the sniping had died down before saying I hope you have a fabulous day - whoever ends up taking the photos!

My thoughts on the subject - not everyone can afford massive amounts of money for their wedding and as long as you are upfront about what you can afford and expect then it's up to the potential photographer to decide if the job is for them. No need for all this rattle throwing and bad attitude. Simple really.

I'm damn sure I wouldn't want certain "pro's" who seem to need a swifty attitude adjustment at my wedding, regardless of their level of photographic skill :nono:

I'm too far away to help but I think the idea of a mini-meet is great - that way the pressure isn't all on one lone photographer and you will probably end up with a shed load of great pics!
 
is this a disaster waiting to happen
 
Congratulations on the wedding! While I can kind of see the point that some of the 'pros' are making, the way it's been put forward does NOT show them up in a particularly good light.

As for the meet at the wedding, perhaps it should be approved by the bride/groom/family before an army of 'togs turn it into a red-carpet style media circus! If that's what they want on the other hand, then it's a shame I'm too far away as I'd love to come! :D

Really hope everything works out for you, and your day is just what you're after!

Chris
 
Well blimey what a strange reaction to a perfectly reasonable request. I am not at all surprised about the offers of freebies etc because most of the people on here are like that!

When I got married I could not afford a meal for the guests or a photographer. I told people this and told them that instead of buying presents which everyone normally does that I wanted them all to be there and asked everyone to buy their own meal. We had a 6 or 7 course chinese banquet taking over the entire restaurant who charged us a flat rate of £20 per head. They were SERIOUSLY CHUFFED to get £1800 for a wednesday afternoon especially as they knew what they were cooking, we all got a wonderful meal and everyone was pleased. Did I think it was cheaky asking the restaurant to do it cheaper? - NO. Did they? - NO they were REALLY HAPPY.

Also a friend's husband had taken a photography course and was starting up as a pro shortly. She offered his services and we accepted happily. He did the wedding as his LAST free job (but we bought him the new tripod head he wanted at about £160, as a gift). He had a medium format camera plus a decent 35mm setup. We paid the cost of professional developing too. So basically we paid the said as the OP as she would not have had the developing cost. Was I happy with the results - TO RIGHT. He is now a professional photographer earning £800+ a day for his services. Our photographs are simply stunning and put side by side with ANY pro and I doubt that a group of people would agree on who's were best.

I am absolutely sure that DM or whoever does the shoot will take a fantastic set of pictures and I am sure the OP will be happy. I am embarrassed by the reactions of some people who have clearly not read the original post OR have chosen to read part of it out of context. It is clear that this is all she can afford and that it is this or nothing so what is the problem?

Incidentally a couple of our friends (who were actually my best man and my wife's bride of honor) got married for £100 and it ended up in the paper's. They were a motorcycle riding instructor and a keen motorcyclist. They found a wedding dress for £50 which she wore (over her motorcycle boots!) on her motorcycle, which she turned up to the registry office on, as did he. They got married and then had their reception at the road side burger van (really!) where they originally met! (she even decorated it for them and laid out a special table etc).

Their day was special, as was ours, it is all about memories and I appreciate that the photos are part of the memories but that does not mean that someone cannot do them for £150 if that is all that is available for it.

I have just been to my brother's wedding and whilst there took a load of shots. There are some really good ones which I am very happy with. I feel that I am not far off being able to do something like this as a favour but clearly I have no experience to justify charging someone £800! Most people on here are probably better than me so I would think that this was a perfectly good place to come and ask.

Anyway, I have rambled on for far too long and most people will have skipped to the next post by now so I will just say good luck with the wedding and make sure you post some pictures of the day. Hope it all goes well for you.
 
This thread has really provoked some reaction, and a very interesting read.

i am not going to enter into the politics of pro v amateur opinions, but the one thing that strike me from the original post, that it would have been an ideal oppurtunity for a student at college to gain valuable experience whilst earning a few quid

gemc said:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I was wondering if there was anyone out there who would offer us a fantastic deal or even a student who needs more experience to come & take pictures for us?
Click to expand...

i hope the day goes well for you gemc all the best from my heart, and i dont think you are going to get a better offer than dangermouse has made to whom i tip my hat :clap::clap:
 
scraggs said:
Why ?
Would you like to elaborate on that ?
Click to expand...

i too am not a pro and i too am getting wed next year and having done the wedding pics on the cheap before and now with nothing to look back on i.e. people who were at my wedding who are no longer with us i find it a very risky situation to be disapointed with after the event you can only do these things once and there is no going back for a re run... i wish only for success on the post peeps plans but just rings of poss disaster to me
 
bi9johnny said:
i too am not a pro and i too am getting wed next year and having done the wedding pics on the cheap before and now with nothing to look back on i.e. people who were at my wedding who are no longer with us i find it a very risky situation to be disapointed with after the event you can only do these things once and there is no going back for a re run... i wish only for success on the post peeps plans but just rings of poss disaster to me
Click to expand...


some people see the glass half full some see it half empty.

johnny i guess sees it half empty.

i wish the op well and hope the wedding is all you ever wanted and the 'meet' sounds great, i am only sad am too far away.

GOOD LUCK:woot:
 
bi9johnny said:
i too am not a pro and i too am getting wed next year and having done the wedding pics on the cheap before and now with nothing to look back on i.e. people who were at my wedding who are no longer with us i find it a very risky situation to be disapointed with after the event you can only do these things once and there is no going back for a re run... i wish only for success on the post peeps plans but just rings of poss disaster to me
Click to expand...

?? I am confused.

Imagine you are walking home from the shops with a bag heavy bag of shopping then it starts raining and a friend pulls up and offers you a lift. Do you take it? YES - because it is better than walking. If his car breaks down 20 yards down the road and you have to get out and carry on walking you are no worse off BUT if the car gets to your house you have had a free taxi ride.

The OP has only got £150 NO OPTIONS so that is like walking home in the rain with her shopping. If DM pulls up and offers her a lift and she gets home she is very happy, if he breaks down after a few yards she is no worse off!

She is in a position where this is her only choice so DM's pictures will be "better than the alternative" ie none. So no matter what they are like they will be better than that BUT I am sure they will be really good.
 
lawrie29 said:
I have seen plenty of people on here asking for wedding experience, so this would be the ideal opportunity for someone to get some. For a student, or someone looking to learn this could be ideal. There are plenty of Tp'ers who will spend a day taking street photos for nothing, and then hours processing them for their own pleasure. Think if this as a similar kind of thing, but your helping someone out. It would take the pressure off if there were, say, 3 togs prepared to take £50 each for a couple of hours experience, 3 times as likely to get the shots wanted by the B+G and also by the togs. A hobby with a cash benefit........

Then the rest of us Tp'ers can vote on the best shot of the day, just like a street trip.....
Click to expand...
To repeat what I said, or how about £150 to "Charidy Mate"
 
Gemc - have you got someone yet? Looking at the number of people on here who have PMed you I really hope you've got a choice of togs :D.

I do have a slight problem when people have a guest list of 100s in a posh hotel for a sit down meal, have horse drawn carriages and then want a photographer for £300 to for the entire day. But this is different, you are prepared to spend a significant proportion of your tiny budget on a photographer and :clap: for that. I really hope you have found some and you get some fantastic photos :thumbs:

Unfortunately, as someone has already pointed out, this is the weekend of our first big weekend meet in York so a lot of us will be going to that :(. I am, otherwise I would have offered my services (but if you are still stuck in 2 months PM me, I'm sure we can work something out).
 
bi9johnny said:
i too am not a pro and i too am getting wed next year and having done the wedding pics on the cheap before and now with nothing to look back on i.e. people who were at my wedding who are no longer with us i find it a very risky situation to be disapointed with after the event you can only do these things once and there is no going back for a re run... i wish only for success on the post peeps plans but just rings of poss disaster to me
Click to expand...

I can see where you are coming from but, there are a large proportion of very talented amateur photographers in this forum, I have seen many shots from so called pro photographers who's standard of work leaves quite a bit to be desired, if I were to be getting married there are members in here I would rather have do the job than a pro, just because you are paying good money don't necesarily mean you are going to get a better job.
Edit: Gemc I hope you have a great day, and all the best for the future.
 
If i remember rightly the TP meet is now being held at Gemc's wedding :lol:

Nahh i think its sorted now someone called Dangermouse is doing it i believe. An update by Gemc would be nice though to confirm whats happening.
 
Hi Guys & Gals,

Sorry for lack of response since yesterday, slightly put off by the grumpy ol' men on here but mainly due to my little boy needing to be entertained!!!

Just to clear a few if not a lot of things up:-.....

I'm getting married on 3rd October at Rochdale reg office with our close families there, followed by a cheap n cheerfull (i hope) hot buffet (prob meat n tayta pie) then an evening reception. This will be held at a local "phoenix nights" style consetvative club.

Not exactly our dream wedding, but hey ho beggers can't choose. I don't want no tiny violins because this is our choice to do things this way. We could have saved for years n splashed out on all the lovely things that weddings involve....why waste all that time & money when we hope we can do things this way with the same result of a marriage certificate???

I'm sorry yet at the same time offended at the stink I caused by my request. I was only looking for someone who can take pics for us.
My Dad has a decent camera & offered to take them for us...but he's my dad & part of our day as much as my hubby to be, & I wouldn't expect him to be taking our pictures.

After getting a good few pm's (easier for me to reply to those who want to help rather than sift through the insults n handbags) I'm over whelmed at the help & kindness most of you have shown me...esp those who have offered their help. I have & will mail all the pm's back.

I don't expect any of those who are willing to help out, free of charge or at a cost to travel miles for us. That in my view would be asking way too much & I really am very touched by these offers so so much more than you would know.

I will give any other offers or those wanting a bit of extra cash a few more days to come forward (I work first half of the week as a vet nurse which are very long hours, so doing that & being a mum keeps me busy until about Thursday!!!) I will then sift through things & sort it out.

I must say, DM & a few others have really re-stored both mine & my fellas faith in human kind....if anything I am more shocked at the genorousity offered to us esp after the mud that was being thrown.

Once again thank you all for being so helpfull & kind....& i'm glad this thread might just have entertained some of you in more ways than one!
 
I've only just read this thread. What the hell is going on with all the insults?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top