 Amanda R. Milam |
Advice on Shooting a Wedding/Reception My sister-in-law has a friend who is going to renew her wedding vows. She wants to take pictures at her wedding/reception. I want to, but don't know where to start. I will be using my Canon EOS Rebel XT digital camera with 2 different lens (18-55 and 75-300mm), a Canon 420EX flash with a omni bounce attached and a flip bracket. 1) What do I charge? It is planned for 4 hours, from 4pm-8pm. It will take me about 30-35 minutes to get to the location. I'm only wanting to charge one flat fee for taking the pictures since I'm just getting started and I will give her a CD with all of the pictures on it. 2) What ISO should I use? It will be mainly indoors, maybe a few shots outside if it's nice weather. The event will be in a country club rather than a church. 3) What poses should I consider? The bride will be about 5-6 months pregnant! 4) How soon should I arrive before the event? Any tips, advice or suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thank you for all the advice in advance. Mandy
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Kerry L. Walker |
1. This is one of the most asked questions and hardest to answer. A lot of it depends on the area in which you live. Since you are not experienced, I would suggest about $50.00 per hour, including post-processing time, plus expenses (gas, etc.). 2. Use the lowest ISO you can, depending on the light, the aperture you wish to use, etc. This will obviously be different outside than inside. 3. Pose them however you wish. I have shot two brides in the last couple of months who were pregnant (at least as far as I know there have only been two). One wasn't very far along and I knew only because someone told me. The other was about 7 months along! 4. I always arrive at least an hour ahead of time, sometimes more than that. Discuss that with the client.
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Jerry Frazier |
Q: 1) What do I charge? It is planned for 4 hours, from 4pm-8pm. It will take me about 30-35 minutes to get to the location. I'm only wanting to charge one flat fee for taking the pictures since I'm just getting started and I will give her a CD with all of the pictures on it. A: $500 Q: 2) What ISO should I use? It will be mainly indoors, maybe a few shots outside if it's nice weather. The event will be in a country club rather than a church. A: There is no answer. I use whatever ISO I need to use. The Rebel doesn't take very nice pictures at the higher ISO levels, so work hard to keep them down. I would not be willing to go above 800 too easily. But, you do not have fast lenses, so it will be hard for you to do that. Q: 3) What poses should I consider? The bride will be about 5-6 months pregnant! A: I don't pose people, so I have no idea. If I had a pregnant bride, I'm not sure I would try to make her look not pregnant. I mean, she knows she is, along with everyone else. Kind of silly tto try and hide it. At least, to me. Others may not agree with that position. Q: 4) How soon should I arrive before the event? A: I calculate how long it takes me to get there using MapQuest. Then, I add one hour, in case of flat, accident, injury, etc. So, usually I am one hour early, but sometimes, I barely get there on time, because things sometimes happen.
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Slim Brady |
have her pay gas and printing, the rest for free because you have no experience. Your payment will be the learning experience
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Diane L. Thomas |
Hi Mandy, I get there early enough to scope out the building and the lighting. Is it Incandescent or fluorescent etc. Do I need to use tripod or can I hand hold. Where are the best places of those special shots of the bride and groom. Then I plan on several cute poses I don't over load my brain so I can remember them. I use Apature Piority and let the camera choose Shutter Speed if the room is well lite. Manual if I have to change a lot. I choose the place most photo's will be taken so I can cut down on a lot of changes. Candied shots are just that you may want to use auto for this. I bounce flash at 30 degrees to prevent red eye and glare. Pose the couple in a few fun ways and mostly you'll be catching them with family and friends. I make sure there are a few shots of generations grandparents, parents and couple etc. These sell to those people. As outside orders. Have fun and they will too. Referals will come and when the baby is born they usually call you. I have a birth to 12 years plan so if they choose can join. You may have time to set this plan up and offer it at the end of the reception in a pamplet. This will depend on your area for pricing. Check out the Internet for other photogrphers in you area who offer this plan. I love the 300mm to shot across the room and not bother the people. But remember you'll lose light so allow for that. Diane Thomas
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LightAnon.com - Steve Parrott Contact Steve Parrott Steve Parrott's Gallery |
You've been given great advice so far. You need to do one of two things. If it is possible to go to the venue BEFORE the wedding day and take practice shots, preferably shooting a person, it will help you immensely. I have found that many times if you contact the manager of the venue and tell them that you will be the photographer for so and so's wedding on such and such a date, they will accomadate you coming to take test shots. Be honest, tell them you are just starting and need the time for testing your equipment. If you can't go to the venue ahead of time, then DO get there early on the day of the wedding to be able to do some testing at that time. Even the pros will do this. Your one on camera flash is going to really limit your large zoom use. If you are far enough away to be using 300mm, then your flash will be useless. My ideal lens for weddings is the 70 - 200 2.8 with image stabilazation. I can set the lens wide open, set an ISO of about 800, and the IS helps with any camera movement. No flash needed. If you are needing to depend on your flash for your lighting, I suggest you leave the big lens alone, so you will be forced to be close enough for your flash to be effective. Wedding photography is a HUGE topic, and the advice can go on forever. Basically, just try to get in some pre-wedding practice at the venue, and you will be ok.
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Maria Melnyk |
Oh, boy. Dear Amanda, If you've never shot a wedding before, and if you even need to ask these questions, you should not photograph their wedding at all, or anybody's by yourself, unless an experienced professional takes you along and shows you the ropes. You have to be an expert at posing of both individuals, couples, and groups, lighting with flash (that means knowing how to adjust the auto-exposure when necessary, and it's almost always necessary), manual lighting, available light, outdoor light, exposure, composition, depth of field, timing, and about a dozen other things. Now, do all that under pressure of time, and the pressure of having to get every shot perfect. Do you really want to deprive this wonderful couple of the best-looking wedding pictures they can possibly get? Remember - this is their wedding, not some party where it doesn't matter what the pictures look like. OK, that said, let's answer your questions. How much to charge - NOTHING. This is part of your education. You cannot expect to charge money for your "services" if they are not yet considered "services". Please don't feel like I am putting you down. I'm not; I encourage you to pursue this route of wedding photography; it is one of the most rewarding jobs I have ever done. But I had to earn my expertise, and it started by being a non-paid assistant in the beginning. You may charge them your material costs: film, printing, batteries, album. ISO - I use 400 for churches, and higher for available light. Bride's house, outdoors, portraits - 160. Reception - 400. Available light photos - 800. Most of the studios I shoot for do not charge for gas, unless the wedding is more than 1-1/2 hours away.
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