Now this is a can of worms, Lee. Both Nikon and Canon make absolutely fantastic photo gear. I can say that at the time I "got into" photography (long time ago) the trade mags were saying that >70% of professional photographers who made a living from 35mm were using Nikon. Canon made a big push to change that and I saw a number of Pro long-time Nikon users switch to canon (Dewitt Jones, George Lepp, etc). Some of my friends did, too. Then, when Canon "switched over to" the EOS system, making their former lenses incompatible with their EOS cameras, I know a few guys who got pissed and dumped Canon for Nikon since Nikon maintained backward compatibility into the AF era and on into Digital. I see a lot of both brands when I am out shooting but I am seeing more and more "low end" Nikons now and I think the gap may be closing, with Canon still the leader in sales.

Again, it's not the camera, it's the photographer and his/her vision. How many times do we have a "spiffy" comeback about a good cook must have good pots and pans, but then we get all wrapped up in branding.

I started out as a die hard Canon user, because that's what I had. When my mentor passed away, he left me a lot of Nikon gear (lenses, digital and film bodies... partially as a joke) I switched because I now had more Nikon quality stuff than Canon stuff.

I've known about the Nikon gray lenses for a long time. To me, it was about as big a deal as when they started offering DSLR's in red/yellow, etc. Don't care, and surely wouldn't pay more for something that's just a tool. There are those out there that will only buy a "Stanley" brand hammer, when any hammer will do.

Good luck with your quest to "prove to whoever???" that Canon users are smarter than Nikon users. The main thing is, that people who pray at the alter of any brand of any tool, are the ones that are not too smart. You just need the camera body/lens combination that will capture your vision, regardless of brand.

Hi. First time posting!

I'm a 'sometimes' Pro Photographer with 4 successful Weddings under my belt over the last 9 years and 1 as a second shooter. I have a 2:1 degree in Fine Art Photography too.

I say 'sometimes' as I've been a stay at home Mum for 4 years and haven't been taking on any Wedding work. I don't see how anyone does! I'm honestly baffled by the concept of (out of the house) working when you have a small child... if and when I get a moment's chance to string a thought together to do so, before being interrupted by my toddler!

Anyway this weekend my old college friend messaged me to invite me to her wedding and to ask if she could afford me to shoot it. She had a plan B of a hobbiest friend of her other half if not.

It was strange to be back in the nerve-wracking position of revisiting my pricing 4 years on but I got back into it and am currently insured for public liability only, with my main Nikon D700 body broken since last August, which needs either a new mirror or shutter and I'm estimating if it can be fixed that I'll be looking at £500 for that. Otherwise I have my Nikon D300 and little Olympus XZ1 with off camera flash for candid shooting.

So the last wedding I did, I charged £800 for a digital on personalised USB stick package. And 4 years on I figured £900 was reasonable, considering I need to travel to another city and stay the night, plus fuel and a reckie trip before, hire of a couple of lenses, possibly a body too.

Anyway, I put the figure to my friend but she said she'd have to decline as the budget is too tight and she's prioritizing the clothes and a party feel plus a short honeymoon after. (She has two kids 8 and 1). She said she'll just get her hobbiest friend to try their best and if she just gets one great shot of the four of them she'll be happy. [Eyeroll]

On Facebook I've already seen she's ordered a fairly expensive dress from a lovely bridal shop.

I tried to advise her of the priority I felt photography should take in her budget and that I'd seen many mediocre albums of friends before.

I even suggested my favourite female photographer in my area, who shot a friend's Wedding but who is also 'in essence' my dream local competitor. (She's an active pro with a hundred Weddings under her belt, so out of my league professionally.) She charges £1100 for a digital package locally.

I let her know of the problems a November Wedding could encompass re: poor light and blurry indoor photos but none of this is swaying her.

I just feel awful because I feel it's a disaster waiting to happen and that shell regret it in future years and almost just want to do the gig to make sure she gets some great shots, even if just for a shorter time frame (main shots) but feel this is selling myself short, as I'll still put the same amount of stress and effort into it and get the insurance, plus hire lenses etc.

For another set of friends locally before my £800 gig, I charged £550 but I don't even think she'd pay that and I'd find it hard to make it worth my while at all with all my costs. I've no other Wedding booked till a possible friend's next December, so insurance alone every month will be £20 to maintain professional indemnity cover.

So, just looking for opinions.

In case it isn't obvious, should I just keep out of it now and stick with being a guest, or take it on for much less?

I am a bit pissed that the other vendors are getting paid but she's looking for the photography to be the bit that can be done on the cheap!