Wedding Photography - dilemma

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dancook

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Dan
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I'm not a professional Wedding photographer, but it's a direction I'm interested in. I have shot a friends wedding, another friends wedding to shoot in October and I've shot second a couple of times..
I wasn't going to rush in as my day job pays well enough, but two people in the last couple of weeks have asked me if I would be interested in photographing their wedding.

These are people I grew up knowing, which (for me) means these weddings are going to be about 120 miles away, also one is on a Wednesday and one is on a Friday. I can't imagine either of them want to spend a considerable amount of money on the photography.

I have a full time job, so both of these will require me taking a day off work as holiday.

I feel like I might be looking a gift horse in the mouth here.. but then I could be looking for Saturday weddings instead.

Any thoughts?
 
How much do you think your portfolio would benefit from adding these 2 weddings in?
 
Broric said:
How much do you think your portfolio would benefit from adding these 2 weddings in?
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How should I evaluate that?

Should I consider the people and the venue?
Or the variety of images I already have versus what clients like to see?

Or maybe I should start by building a portfolio and evaluate that.. all I have at the moment are flickr albums :)
 
I was thinking venue and people and whether they added something you were currently missing.
 
Having seen the standard of your work, I'd be tempted to do them for two reasons - more snaps for your weddings portfolio if that's what you want to build up, and more experience of actually shooting weddings, in the sense of the dynamics of them, logistics, dealing with the many situations which will throw you the first time they crop up but soon become predictable.

BUT

Beware of taking on a couple of gigs for those very reasons and ending up with some cracking good shots of what is obviously a downmarket wedding at a budget venue - unless of course that's the market you'll be aiming for. If nothing else, where weddings are concerned, you tend to book what you show. If I was in your shoes, I'd be really picky about the gigs I shot at this stage. Frankly, if they weren't reasonably good-looking couples getting wed at decent premises, I'd pass and wait for the next opportunity to roll in. You want a bride rocking up to the church in a vintage Bentley or on tandem - not in a white Beauford ...
 
Serendipitous Sid said:
Having seen the standard of your work, I'd be tempted to do them for two reasons - more snaps for your weddings portfolio if that's what you want to build up, and more experience of actually shooting weddings, in the sense of the dynamics of them, logistics, dealing with the many situations which will throw you the first time they crop up but soon become predictable.

BUT

Beware of taking on a couple of gigs for those very reasons and ending up with some cracking good shots of what is obviously a downmarket wedding at a budget venue - unless of course that's the market you'll be aiming for. If nothing else, where weddings are concerned, you tend to book what you show. If I was in your shoes, I'd be really picky about the gigs I shot at this stage. Frankly, if they weren't reasonably good-looking couples getting wed at decent premises, I'd pass and wait for the next opportunity to roll in. You want a bride rocking up to the church in a vintage Bentley or on tandem - not in a white Beauford ...
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I like your style ;) thanks for your advice

I want to aim high enough in the market as not to reduce my income substantially, an increase would be nice :)

Besides if I do them for the reasons your suggest, experience of weddings - then they don't NEED to go in portfolio - I can be picky about that.
 
dancook said:
Besides if I do them for the reasons your suggest, experience of weddings - then they don't NEED to go in portfolio - I can be picky about that.
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Absolutely. I was forgetting that you won't feel compelled to put up a shedful of snaps from each gig on a blog, as is the fashion at present. But if you do as you suggest, it doesn't actually matter if the star of the show turns up in a pink Beauford with a chromed plastic horseshoe on the front :)
 
Could I look at this from a slightly different perspective?

Are these people good friends? Do you see them/keep in touch etc? Or are they just old mates from way back who are looking for a cheap deal from someone they happen to know who has decent gear and might be interested in doing a cut price job?

Personally, if they are good mates and you feel the experience will be useful (and don't mind a 240 mile round trip, times 2, presumably at your own expense) to do it, then go ahead. Otherwise, I'd say they're being a bit cheeky asking you. Especially the Wednesday event, where, if you take the day off, you'll have a long drive to get there, shoot for ages, then a long drive home for work the next day, plus all the pp work afterwards.

I think I'd politely decline, citing work commitments if you need an excuse, and look for other opportunities a bit nearer home.
 
Quicksnapper said:
Could I look at this from a slightly different perspective?
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Yes, I hadn't considered I'd have to be in work for the Thursday completely knackered!

I've asked them both for coverage and venues, so I can think about logistics.

I wouldn't go dirt cheap for either, I'm thinking no less than £400 for a start - though that still seems damn cheap, I wouldn't be surprised if it was too much :-o
 
If £400 for a round trip of 240 miles is too much then you have your answer

Do it for the experience if nothing else, anything above that and its a bonus :)

Crap venues still give images for portfolios - just that they are close-ups of the B&G if they are good looking enough

Great venues give wide and impressive images, especially of ugly couples as you can hide them in the wider shot :D

But I'd certainly use that £400 as a starting point, any grumbles and just say NO - unless - its a FAB venue and great couple, then just think portfolio portfolio portfolio (y)

Dave
 
DG Phototraining said:
Crap venues still give images for portfolios - just that they are close-ups of the B&G if they are good looking enough

Great venues give wide and impressive images, especially of ugly couples as you can hide them in the wider shot :D
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:agree:

And the first bit applies in particular to first dance shots, which otherwise show just how naff the room is, what a crap rig the "DJ" had, and how none of the guests were taking any notice ...
 
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