Remember all those aspiring wedding photographers ??? (Page 2): This idea that you need a Canon 5Dmk3 and an 85 f/1.2 in order to be successful is not always. True. I have done many...

tturner Loc: Savannah Ga

This idea that you need a Canon 5Dmk3 and an 85 f/1.2 in order to be successful is not always. True. I have done many weddings with a "kit" lens and had excellent results, you have to know your equipments limitations and work within them.

photoman022 Loc: Manchester CT USA

I did my sister-in-law's wedding a number of years ago and her (new) family raved about the photos. My only complaint was that the priest didn't stay around to re-stage the ring exchange and the blessing (I didn't shoot during the worship service), by the bride and groom didn't mind. I did a web search for "must have wedding shots" and combined a few lists so I knew what I was going to do.

When my daughter got married my wife and I gave her the money (her wedding gift from us) to hire a professional photographer. He was much better than me!

advocate1982

BHC wrote:

I did too, but never kept the pictures. I just handed the unprocessed rolls to a relative and left. I wish
I could have a couple prints of the shotgun wedding, particularly one of the the fathers (dressed like Jed Clampet) poking the groom with his shotgun while the six to seven month pregnant bride stood by crying!

You mean like this: That's a double barrel shotgun tucked into the Dad's arm. The bride didn't notice the shotgun until after the end of the ceremony.

RRS Loc: Not sure

billnikon wrote:

I strongly disagree. I shot weddings for over 35 y... (show quote)

Thanks, now I don't have to say the same thing. I only did weddings for a little over 25 years. That statement only shows how little that individual knows about the business of wedding photography and I'd like to know how many weddings he/she has done. A lot easier said then done.

DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX

When asked, I say that my fee is $30,000 minimum and I will hire two still photographers. If a video is required the fee will be $50,000. I've never shot a wedding and I won't even show up with a camera when attending a wedding or a party.

tturner Loc: Savannah Ga

Sounds like good advice, I resorted to the kit lens method when my clients wanted champagne quality on a beer budget. Many of the peoples weddings I have done in the past divorced within 2 years anyway. So much for the once in a lifetime event. Many brides should roll their gowns in the dirt before the wedding.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

PGHphoto wrote:

After all the pages and pages of UHH responses generated by the folks asking for advice in shooting their friends/grandkids/nieces/nephews wedding, I am wondering if anybody has done the shoot they told us about and have some pictures to share. I seem to recall 2 being scheduled for a May date so, maybe there are some stories to be told and congratulations to be delivered ??

Hopefully everyone was not scared off by the responses ! I think its time for show-and-tell ...

They're probably still busy Photoshopping their images from the blessed event, tryin' to "fix things".

Jer Loc: Mesa, Arizona

Post wedding pictures can be a problem since you don't technically own those photos in most cases. If you are going to use the photos from self-promotion, then it should be in the contract. If you are going to use them for anything you want, it should be in the contract. But, then again, just because you can do it....should you?

advocate1982

Jer wrote:

Post wedding pictures can be a problem since you don't technically own those photos in most cases. If you are going to use the photos from self-promotion, then it should be in the contract. If you are going to use them for anything you want, it should be in the contract. But, then again, just because you can do it....should you?

Actually, yes you do own the photos in all cases, unless you specifically give away the copyright to the photos. If you do that then you should probably take some lessons on photographer's rights.

shelty Loc: Medford, OR

tturner wrote:

This idea that you need a Canon 5Dmk3 and an 85 f/1.2 in order to be successful is not always. True. I have done many weddings with a "kit" lens and had excellent results, you have to know your equipments limitations and work within them.

What's wrong with a 'kit lens'? Most of them are reasonably sharp. I've found that generally the smaller the f number, the softer the lens is. As far as cameras go, I had a Hasselblad and a cheap Rolleicord, and when I enlarged the negatives, I found that the Rolleicord lens produced sharper pictures than the Hasselblad.
If I were to take pictures at a wedding again, I would still use my Nikon D7100 and my 18-200 lens because I've found the combination produces sharp 16x20's. sharper than any film camera that I've ever seen, except 4x5. I would like a D7200 but I'm just too old to buy any more photo equipment.

sirlensalot Loc: Arizona

Ditto billnikon, sounds like you have it dialed in - I have shot less than ten of them, but none could be labeled as cookie-cutter weddings or weddings taking "normal" shots. Even with a shot list, there is always something new to learn, add, or modify. Each has had a share of both joy and frustration. You adapt and create and do it with out looking like it is not any effort at all. I think that is the mark of a pro.

Kissel vonKeister Loc: Georgia

PGHphoto wrote:

or booking their next one because everything went really well ...

Or booking an extensive ocean cruise

BebuLamar

Jer wrote:

Post wedding pictures can be a problem since you don't technically own those photos in most cases. If you are going to use the photos from self-promotion, then it should be in the contract. If you are going to use them for anything you want, it should be in the contract. But, then again, just because you can do it....should you?

The wedding pictures that I took are rightly mine as I didn't get paid and no contract but I am not sure it's OK to post them on the internet as the people in the pictures may not agree.

asiafish Loc: Bakersfield, CA

PGHphoto wrote:

After all the pages and pages of UHH responses generated by the folks asking for advice in shooting their friends/grandkids/nieces/nephews wedding, I am wondering if anybody has done the shoot they told us about and have some pictures to share. I seem to recall 2 being scheduled for a May date so, maybe there are some stories to be told and congratulations to be delivered ??

Hopefully everyone was not scared off by the responses ! I think its time for show-and-tell ...

I've done a few, but always as a "rover" and left the standard shots to a hired pro.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

One of my favorite wedding party photos...baseball themed.