Because she asked me to. Also because as I stated in the other thread, I was also using the wedding as an excuse to get a new lens. I love repeating things but that is apparently what you get here.


So don't ask a specific question here in the photography forum, just look it up on youtube.....right?

Aside from the few that actually made an attempt to help my newb ass choose some budget equipment, this clearly is the best advice I've read yet.

 

I think what I said you took in the wrong way. I'm saying if I was in the OP shoes and if someone I personally know is giving me the opportunity to shoot their wedding even if they knew my lack of knowledge/equipment then I would do so. Not some random individual I don't know. Personally, you can only learn by doing. Reading on the Internet on how to photograph a wedding won't necessarily make you any better. Yes, its true most photographers won't let you shadow because they are scared you will steal their clients but if its a novice what is such the big deal? I don't think one wedding would make someone better then someone who has shot so many and has had years of experience. Last thing I'm thinking of is stealing anyone's clients to be honest. I am the type that likes to learn and I do so mostly by doing. That is why I said, if I'm given an opportunity to expand my photography I would take it. Lastly my question to you is, how would someone get into the wedding photography business without even shooting weddings? Knowledge and experience is gain somehow so how is it gained? I read your post and understand preparation but there's things on your numbered list that one can only learn by just doing. I have no experience in shooting weddings so this is why I am asking questions.

 

Yawn...

CEMAYHALL, do you not update your site ? because from the looks of it , you've just done 1 wedding.

 

I visited his site as well, samething I noticed.

 

Look at it this way, you want them to re-use you in the future so do a good job. And by re-use, I mean they are going to get divorced in 2yrs and both will remarry. It's 2010 for crying out loud. You just booked two future weddings.

Simple math really. No need to thank me.

 

You can't say I obviously didn't read (or misread) your post. I was simply giving advice, whether or not you take that advice is your prerogative. If you had said "What sort of gun should I use to shoot a baby rabbit?" and I said "Don't shoot the rabbit" - have I misunderstood something? No.

This is an open forum. You're not guaranteed to get exactly what you ask for. If you want everyone to tell you what you want to hear, you're in the wrong place.

See above.

You can tell me I'm wrong all you want, but once you start name calling (or calling anyone daft) there are going to be repercussions. This is your only warning.

Post some of the pictures and I'll be happy to critique for you. Once the pictures are taken the damage is, or is not, done. Doing an event like this is certainly a good experience for you. My only concern was that you may not get the results that you (and the families) wanted. If you think there's no chance of that (as you keep saying) then more power to you. I'm not stopping you. I stand by my original comment that it's not a good idea, but what do you care? This is a forum. People say what they think. You're free to agree or disagree.

No hard feelings here.

 

It looks like you already knew your answer when you made this thread so why get mad when people give you advise

 

It is what it is. I tried, and I know Adrenalin and I tried our hardest.

Anyways, just to put case in point, my first wedding "I shot" (I say that because I was just a guest and wanted to play around, yes, I was that "Uncle Bob" haha) I had my old D50, Sb-24 that didn't quite work on the hot shoe, and a 50 1.8:

Actually these that I uploaded had no flash...It's all the rows except the last row.

Weddings & Engagements - a set on Flickr

So it's of course do-able with a very minimal investment.

 

Look a cheap starter lens would be a basic 50mm. You can find those for under 100.00 if she gives you any-more then that, buy a basic flash. If you don't want a flash because you rather get more glass then your doing it all for your self not to better her wedding so my best suggestion is get a 50, and grab a flash & call it a day.


I never said you could ask on here, I'm telling you your wasting your time trying to prove your self here. I'd rather use my time more productive then what you are doing. I just know that if I looked on youtube for 8hrs and watch videos on how to get quick an fast composition you'll actually learn something.

I believe on youtube, there is videos on how-to-shoot a wedding 101 type of deal. I'm not trying to be a jerk to you, I'm simply trying to help you out.

I honestly think the answer I gave you is the best you'll get since I highly doubt your friend will dish out any more then 500$ and if she would, she might as well paid some cheap photographer to shoot it.

 

I must have read it wrong As you can tell it was pretty late and my reading comprehension skills were gone! Sorry... To answer your question about shooting a wedding for someone: You can talk to a photographer and if you're serious about photography (and want to make a career out of it) ask them if you can be an apprentice with the possibility of hire? If you land it, I guarantee you will shoot a couple of weddings in a months time! Also if they do any sub-contracted work, you will get the opportunity to edit other photographers weddings! This will help with ideas and also tell you what photographers to stay away from in the future. (Going back to the statement someone said about having the best glass in the world but if you don't know how to use it, the pictures will still be off). I've edited weddings for photographers that charge double from what I charge with the submitted photo's being comparable to a camera phone if not worse...

Sorry again about the confusion! Good luck and don't give up...

You dont know me by screen name but Im the guy who used to bring you Papa Jon's pizza (off of Gunn Hwy.) all of the time... And to answer your question, I stole that wedding set off-line and used it for my personal collection.

Actually, I run my ship a little differently than most other photographers. As one would think, weddings are meant to be very special and a "private" moment in most couples life's (this is why people send out invitations to only the people they want there.) I give my clients complete privacy unless written in my contract other-wise... Some people like the fame of having their wedding splashed on the internet and others (most of my clients) like the idea that not everyone can peek into a window to view their personal moments that were only meant to be shared with family and friends. Sure it's easy to say "I took the picture's and I'll do whatever I want to do with them" but thats not how I choose run things.

The wedding that is spot-lighted on my site has probably been there for over a year and I continuously get positive feed-back (bookings from what they see) so I figure why change what's already working?

P.S. I'm not mad that you Yawned at me! Im actually going to call you bc I want to get some things printed by you...