ianhargraves1066 Loc: NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Florida

Good reply. I did weddings for 40 years always on film and lost very few rolls of film to the British Royal Mai System. Howver the liabilty insurance mentioned is a must. One claim can lose you everything you ever owned. Operate uder a LTD or Corporation so that if the worse comes about you're home and personal property does not disapear up the Suwannee!

Secondly, Charge enough money to cover all anticpated costs that you incur and lastly make sure you charge for a bunch of reprints that you will NEVER get because the first set of prints will be copied and distributed over the internet within minutes of the bride and groom get their "Previews" most photographers get no or small reprint orders thanks to scanners!
And as stated DONT QUIT your day job.

For all you experimenters, someone needs to invent a spray on coating that floresesses when scanned and prevents copying. You used to able to purchase a copywrite stamp that glowed when copied but seems to have disapeared from sale.

Ian

CaptainC Loc: Colorado, south of Denver

OK - one more thing. Don't even THINK about selling your images online. It will kill your sales. You absolutely must sit down with the bride and groom and anyone else who is buying, and present the images in person.

Online selling is easy...and lazy.

New Vision

Wow! Very nice sites, that's where I want to be. One of the best! The ecomony will turn around and things will get better and you're right about wanting it now, but it takes time, I didn't get to where I am now (I'm known as the "go to guy") in Atlanta over night, it took years. I want to be the go to guy in Atlanta for photography one day. Thank you for all of your help and I will be checking out the songs tonight
Gary

Bob Curtis Loc: Bay City, TX

Gary, I under your problem as most of us who have been pros have gone through similar problems. Keep up your practice, check equipment regularly, even the spare parts, and if you find any extras I'm sure they aren't mine. Good luck to you and your endeavors for the future. It is a wonderful experience doing weddings, but is is very stressful at time. Have a good plan and you can alieviate most of this before it happens.

Bob Curtis

Bob Curtis Loc: Bay City, TX

Gary, I can certainly sympathize with you. My wife and I have been married for about 60 years. During that time neither of us has been seriously ill, until just recently. It seems that we both had accidents, I had a fall and hit my head against a cabinet but seem to have recovered fairly well with stitches in my head (I am a diabetic) and she fell and hit her head against a cabinet in our bed room. So far I am doing well, but she is having a hard time recovering. Personally, I feel that it is a combination of medicines that is causing her major problems. We both have an appointment with our family doctor this after noon and we, along with some of our close friends, are going to ask our doctor to check to see if this might be possible, as she is still having problems staying awake, she really doesn't like to eat very much, and is just not herself at all. I have told people that when she is sick, all my attention goes to her. Any way, I wish you success in your new found business. I know that my wife and I really enjoyed ourselves, but it was hard work. Most people think that you just go home afterwards, but that is only the beginning. You have to get all the film together by rolls. and send them off to be processed. When the proofs come back you have to number them, place them in the booklet, throw away all the rejects, get them ready for the couple, and the take their order and get the 8x10's back and fix the large wedding album, arrange for any special prints to be either ordered or printed, etc, It just seems to go on and on - - - until the next one, and it starts all over again. I can't remember us having any vacations like we used to while we were teaching, but that is part of the game. Best of luck to you! Seriously, if I can help in any way by offering suggestions or advice let me know, and I will do what I can.

Bob Curtis

New Vision

Thanks Bob
Congratulations on your marriage, that's a long time. Sorry to hear about things not going so well right now, hope your wife gets feeling better. I thought when I did the one wedding that I've done the hard part was dealing with and organizing people as best you can and worrying about getting the good shots, boy was I wrong. You're right, got home and started the next day and it seemed to never end. That's where the work began, did get better at editing towards the end of 2,600 pics, yes that's how many I gave them. I know that's not normal but being friends and the first one I wanted to do a lot.
I don't know you or your wife but I will say a little prayer for you two at church this Sunday. You and your bride have a good night and I'll post some pics and keep in touch once in awhile
Gary