I have been asked to photograph a wedding...
Discussion
By my own brother, for his wedding!
He hasn't asked me to be best man, which is fine, I don't particularly want the stress of doing speeches and organising stuff. I'll be quite happy to be an usher or some such. But he's asked me to do the bloody photos because he doesn't want to spend "£1000 on a photographer". I haven't replied yet but as it stands; 1) I can't without hiring kit, my kit-bag extends to a Sony RX100 M4 and this just will not suffice for such an occasion. 2) I've done two in the past for friends (though they had a proper pro in for the key shots anyway) and to be honest it makes an already not very enjoyable day even worse.
So really, what I am saying is I can't do it and don't particularly want to do it.
But rather than just tell him no.... I need to give him an alternative. Perhaps he can get a photographer who will be willing to turn up for a short period, get the bread and butter shots and go again? Perhaps that isn't worth their time and its full day or nothing? What are his options? I'd hate for him to have no photographs, but equally I don't think I should be the one doing them!
He hasn't asked me to be best man, which is fine, I don't particularly want the stress of doing speeches and organising stuff. I'll be quite happy to be an usher or some such. But he's asked me to do the bloody photos because he doesn't want to spend "£1000 on a photographer". I haven't replied yet but as it stands; 1) I can't without hiring kit, my kit-bag extends to a Sony RX100 M4 and this just will not suffice for such an occasion. 2) I've done two in the past for friends (though they had a proper pro in for the key shots anyway) and to be honest it makes an already not very enjoyable day even worse.
So really, what I am saying is I can't do it and don't particularly want to do it.
But rather than just tell him no.... I need to give him an alternative. Perhaps he can get a photographer who will be willing to turn up for a short period, get the bread and butter shots and go again? Perhaps that isn't worth their time and its full day or nothing? What are his options? I'd hate for him to have no photographs, but equally I don't think I should be the one doing them!
Berz said:
Simpo Two said:
Suggest he puts the word out on bark.com. Judging by the leads I get it seems to be the photographic version of Gumtree 
£10 just to quote someone? Ouch! Can you sign up and see how many barks come your way then buy credits if it seems worthwhile?It's a funny thing. I used to pay Hitched about £400 a year and got maybe 15 weddings as a result. That's £26.67 per wedding, but they were good leads and good weddings.
Bark is only £10 to reply to each lead; the question is whether the leads are good quality. After a while of not replying due to not wanting to gamble £10, Bark gave me two free credits. So I spent them, and got one serious enquiry, and one that didn't reply. Total return £0. However my decision not to invest with Bark is twofold. Firstly, the enquiries seem generally of lower quality and of small budget (for example an hour's work photographing a baby, no thanks). Secondly, they give enquirers a 'guide price', eg 'Expect to spend £600-800'. So if I roll in with a quote for £1100, there's no point; the ground has been soiled.
RobDickinson said:
You can't be a guest and shoot. Does he want you to attend his wedding or does he want a photographer?
I wouldn't shoot any wedding if I was going to be a guest.
Indeed I have done it twice and I don't want to do it again. The first I was meant to be grabbing candids and shots of people setting up in the morning. There was a proper photographer coming and he was supposed to be there when I was (Again this guy was doing it as a favour, he wasn't a wedding photographer, but a wildlife one and has had stuff in NatGeo). Only his train was late, very late which meant I had to double up!I wouldn't shoot any wedding if I was going to be a guest.
The second was a Vegas wedding. Again they had a pro to do the good stuff and it was a small event and we were on holiday too so I had my kit and I offered to do shots of the bride and bridesmaids getting ready which as my OH was one and I was going to be in the same hotel room anyway, wasn't much of a chore.
But both times, there was (eventually) someone there with a clue to get the crucial moments.
Have spoken to him and he's gonna re-assess.
Thing is he blatantly hasn't thought about it. He just wants one or two photos to prove the day... but come on, realistically he's gonna have the brides mother (and his own for that matter) wanting a set of the traditional shots just for starters. I know its their day and I know I'd be of the same mindset initially (i.e. stuff what everyone else wants, I'll do what I want), but for the sake of having a bit easier life I think you have to let the mothers and fathers have some kind of say or at least make them feel like they're getting what they want out of the day also.
I've said I am happy to get casual shots of him and his mates and things.... I mean stuff thats nowt special and could be done with an iPhone. Of course my RX100 allows me to be a little more creative, but I'd be reluctant with any serious wedding shots. He really needs to get a pro in.
Thing is he blatantly hasn't thought about it. He just wants one or two photos to prove the day... but come on, realistically he's gonna have the brides mother (and his own for that matter) wanting a set of the traditional shots just for starters. I know its their day and I know I'd be of the same mindset initially (i.e. stuff what everyone else wants, I'll do what I want), but for the sake of having a bit easier life I think you have to let the mothers and fathers have some kind of say or at least make them feel like they're getting what they want out of the day also.
I've said I am happy to get casual shots of him and his mates and things.... I mean stuff thats nowt special and could be done with an iPhone. Of course my RX100 allows me to be a little more creative, but I'd be reluctant with any serious wedding shots. He really needs to get a pro in.
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