jelecroy Loc: Huntsville, AL

Yesterday I received a call from my dear sister, with the good news that my niece is planning to get married in May. My sister asked if she could count on me to be the wedding photographer.
I suggested to my sister that she'd be much better off hiring a photographer who does weddings for a living to do the job. My theory is that a pro will have a checklist of all the "must-have" shots, will shoot with redundant cameras, have an assistant to help with lighting and posing, etc. The pro will also be more efficient at putting together an album and proofs.
Am I just being lazy? I could certainly take some pictures at the wedding, though I typically avoid carrying camera gear to family gatherings. I'm not enthusiastic at all at being THE wedding photographer, though.

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

As a professional who did many weddings, you are being very practical and not lazy. It is a BIG responsibility to capture a wedding ceremony and do the formal images. You can take images that will suppliment what the pro does.

davefales Loc: Virginia

:thumbup:

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Is this a 25 guest wedding in Las Vegas or a 500 guest wedding in a cathedral?!?!
Lazy is NOT the same thing as afraid!!! :lol:
SS

Rongnongno Loc: FL

'Free wedding shooter' call from friends, family or business associates...

In the end it is not about anything but realizing that even a seasoned professional will not do it.

oldtigger Loc: Roanoke Virginia-USA

AVOID IT!
Notice the use of upper case letters.

Laura72568 Loc: Anderson TX

Weddings are a totally different animal than any other kind of photography. Pressure to get the right shots and not miss any. I would NOT do it...unless they are eloping with a JOP! Just my opinion. Offer to do their engagement, maternity, baby photos in the future??? But you should enjoy yourself at the wedding. :-)

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

You're being sensible, not lazy.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

How many weddings do we go to where it seems the photographer/videographer is in charge?

Wedding photographers know how to assume enough power to direct the photography and videography. In some cases they have to create scenes that are disruptive to the wedding process to get the shots agreed to in the contract.

Don't do it.

Photocraig

I've done a few peripheral wedding photographs. But to be THE OFFICIAL Wedding Photographer is a job for a pro who specifically shoots weddings. Especially if it is a traditional "bride in white" big first wedding. A seasoned pro once told me that it's harder than doing a major sports event. There will be another game next week and another touchdown catch, etc. Everybody HOPES that there will be only ONE wedding. So you must get the shot--all of them.

I suggest for the sake of your relationships with your family, unless you ARE a Wedding Pro, you offer instead to either engage the Photographer as a gift or offer to pay part of a Pro's fee as your gift. Even if it is double what you were planning to spend. Offer to take some candidness, cooperating with he pro to give it an insider family flavor. The results will be better, you will enjoy your niece's wedding. Remember, you have to eat Thanksgiving dinner with these people (in a manner of speaking) for a LONG time.
C

steve_stoneblossom Loc: Rhode Island, USA

If you've never shot a wedding before, I would think hard about letting them coax you into this. It's only fun if you enjoy doing it, and not everyone does. If you're not going to enjoy yourself doing this (which sounds true), you might ask them to let you enjoy the day and not work.

SS brings up a good point. Assess the magnitude of the job. If in the end you determine you're up to the task, study up and prepare.

Back-up equipment- camera, lenses, flash, cards, batteries. Are you sufficiently equipped?

Consider your usual style. Is it compatible with what will be required of you in this setting? Candids. Posed shots. Close-ups. Action. And be ready to switch from one mode to another totally different in an instant. Know your equipment.

You can study up on what to shoot, and ask your relative/client what is important to them (have your list ready first, they won't know everything to consider), and make a list for yourself afterwards.

And then there's all the post-shoot work which you've touched on- editing, proofs, albums. I think as a novice you might opt just to 'burn a CD' for them, but that still requires editing.

Is it safe to assume that this request is cost-driven? If so, you might consider a contribution towards the fee as a wedding present.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

Let a pro do it...unless you've shot as a second shooter several times...and if you have, you probably wouldn't be asking for help.

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

By not bowing to the pressure of you sister's request; you did her, your niece, and yourself a great service in many ways. You are to be commended for using good judgement.

bdk Loc: Sanibel Fl.

Next time you pass a church and see a wedding. Stop take come really crummy pics, then show them to the relatives.
They will change their mind.

its easy to say no to friends its hard to say no to relatives

Get some photog buddies to come help you....

lev29 Loc: Born and living in MA.

NO, you aren't being lazy! Does your "dear" sister want her daughter's aunt to enjoy the wedding? If yes, thank her and tell her you wouldn't be able to come close to truly enjoying it because you'd be too busy keeping up with all the prep work for each group of shots!

If you've never really been a true wedding photographer before, you'd be under WAAAYYY too much pressure to enjoy anything (that happened to me 3 months ago.) I suggest that you offer, at most, to take candid shots at the Rehearsal Dinner and Wedding Reception with just one lens on your camera and no external flash, period.