Shot My First Wedding
Jul 28, 2014 14:13:50 #
I shot weddings while I was in college. Provided some decent money doing something I liked.
I learned:
How to run a wedding
How to organize chaos
How to convince people to get together and stay there
How to sneak around and get candid shots
How to avoid cutting off body parts
and how to stay sane.
All that started because my lifelong next door neighbor was getting married and didn't have a photographer and I volunteered to take her pictures as a wedding gift. Word of mouth took over and I was booking weekends and making lots of money.
I stopped when I decided that weddings weren't fun any more. I was lucky. I never had a camera fail Nikon FTN (film was pretty reliable). Never had a battery die. Never fell down or bashed into a guest because I was not paying attention. Decided to stop tempting fate and keep photography as a hobby.
Looking back, I learned a lot, lucked out and have a greater appreciation for professional wedding photographers.
Glad you survived Pappy.
I learned:
How to run a wedding
How to organize chaos
How to convince people to get together and stay there
How to sneak around and get candid shots
How to avoid cutting off body parts
and how to stay sane.
All that started because my lifelong next door neighbor was getting married and didn't have a photographer and I volunteered to take her pictures as a wedding gift. Word of mouth took over and I was booking weekends and making lots of money.
I stopped when I decided that weddings weren't fun any more. I was lucky. I never had a camera fail Nikon FTN (film was pretty reliable). Never had a battery die. Never fell down or bashed into a guest because I was not paying attention. Decided to stop tempting fate and keep photography as a hobby.
Looking back, I learned a lot, lucked out and have a greater appreciation for professional wedding photographers.
Glad you survived Pappy.
Jul 28, 2014 14:38:02 #
I did 3 weddings and i knew the brides and grooms......but priests, ministers, brides mothers and sisters turn into creatures from hell...and i knew them all. no thanks. I have all the respect in the world for wedding photographers.
i think the definition of an "idiot" is one who buys a nice camera and thinks they are ready for weddings.
too many things going on. a wedding photographer has first to be a good leader, psychiatrist, manipulator, charmer, problem solver, have eyes in the front and back of their heads, dictator, negotiator...need i go on?
the 3 weddings i did were very successful but it was like a warzone throughout the entire weddings.
no thanks....not for me!!! think i'll stick with what i'm doing.
God Bless the wedding photographers!!!
I won't even take on as a second shooter for the local photographers.
i think the definition of an "idiot" is one who buys a nice camera and thinks they are ready for weddings.
too many things going on. a wedding photographer has first to be a good leader, psychiatrist, manipulator, charmer, problem solver, have eyes in the front and back of their heads, dictator, negotiator...need i go on?
the 3 weddings i did were very successful but it was like a warzone throughout the entire weddings.
no thanks....not for me!!! think i'll stick with what i'm doing.
God Bless the wedding photographers!!!
I won't even take on as a second shooter for the local photographers.
Jul 28, 2014 14:51:11 #
I HEAR YA!! I have done several weddings in my past 40+ years, but I refuse to do another. It's a young mans game. Thanks, Boone.
Jul 28, 2014 14:55:14 #
I don't know, seems like most here dislike challenges. For as long as I know that has been the standard of living I have to stand up to. Very high pressure job. So dealing with one more difficult situation OR PERSON is nothing new. Hell have you ever got into these discussions with people on this forum. Now there's a stressful, unpleasant, unrewarding experience. Sort of prepares you to shoot weddings.
Jul 28, 2014 15:09:19 #
hahahahaha...well put..Bobbee
I love challenges...but I quickly found out that wedding photography was not in my interest. but you will never know unless you try it. you definitely have to try it to see if it's your cup of tea.
the money was great....but i have always felt that if the money was the only reason i would be doing something...then it's not going to be in my best interest...but just a job. i already got one of those!!!
some people are cut out to be wedding photographers. i am not. i didn't give up after the first one....i did 3 of them before i figured out it wasn't for me.
I love challenges...but I quickly found out that wedding photography was not in my interest. but you will never know unless you try it. you definitely have to try it to see if it's your cup of tea.
the money was great....but i have always felt that if the money was the only reason i would be doing something...then it's not going to be in my best interest...but just a job. i already got one of those!!!
some people are cut out to be wedding photographers. i am not. i didn't give up after the first one....i did 3 of them before i figured out it wasn't for me.
Jul 28, 2014 15:32:38 #
romanticf16
Loc: Commerce Twp, MI
Kuma wrote:
As a police crime scene photographer, friends thought I could shoot a wedding with the pros. My protests fell on deaf ears and against my better judgement I did it...twice. UGH!!
Unless the Bride and Groom want to lie down and have chalk drawn around them, I DO NOT DO WEDDINGS, or reunions, or any such event. If you die, call me and I will give you my best. Otherwise, call a pro!
Unless the Bride and Groom want to lie down and have chalk drawn around them, I DO NOT DO WEDDINGS, or reunions, or any such event. If you die, call me and I will give you my best. Otherwise, call a pro!
It is wise to stay within your specialty, especially when once in a lifetime events are concerned.
Jul 28, 2014 15:36:50 #
[quote=jimberton]hahahahaha...well put..Bobbee
I love challenges...but I quickly found out that wedding photography was not in my interest. but you will never know unless you try it. you definitely have to try it to see if it's your cup of tea.
the money was great....but i have always felt that if the money was the only reason i would be doing something...then it's not going to be in my best interest...but just a job. i already got one of those!!!
Guess I qualify as one of those "strange" ones. After over 20 years of weddings, I STILL love it. Same thing every weekend...but each one is totally different. STILL learning every wedding, trying new things. You haven't lived until you've had a flower girl throw up on your pants and shoes....or had a guest knock over one of your lights, have a guest tell you that you should be ashamed of yourself because you are down on the floor in the church getting a shot of the alter. "You should be ashamed of yourself. The Bride and Groom have paid a professional photographer to take pictures"
I love challenges...but I quickly found out that wedding photography was not in my interest. but you will never know unless you try it. you definitely have to try it to see if it's your cup of tea.
the money was great....but i have always felt that if the money was the only reason i would be doing something...then it's not going to be in my best interest...but just a job. i already got one of those!!!
Guess I qualify as one of those "strange" ones. After over 20 years of weddings, I STILL love it. Same thing every weekend...but each one is totally different. STILL learning every wedding, trying new things. You haven't lived until you've had a flower girl throw up on your pants and shoes....or had a guest knock over one of your lights, have a guest tell you that you should be ashamed of yourself because you are down on the floor in the church getting a shot of the alter. "You should be ashamed of yourself. The Bride and Groom have paid a professional photographer to take pictures"
Jul 28, 2014 15:46:14 #
[quote=josephpaul]
So here's one. I was in the house and there was this 9-10 year ole boy and he was remarking on something to which I said something fitting to the conversation. "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer'. Lter on I am on the back lawn and shooting and then feel something, someone literally laying up against me. I turn an look to my side and it's this kid. I start freaking out thinking someone is going to think I am a pervert. I look down at the kid and he sez "keep your enemies closer". Made a mental note to kill that kid later. Thought I was going to get beat up by some overprotective father!!!
HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
jimberton wrote:
hahahahaha...well put..Bobbee br br I love challe... (show quote)
So here's one. I was in the house and there was this 9-10 year ole boy and he was remarking on something to which I said something fitting to the conversation. "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer'. Lter on I am on the back lawn and shooting and then feel something, someone literally laying up against me. I turn an look to my side and it's this kid. I start freaking out thinking someone is going to think I am a pervert. I look down at the kid and he sez "keep your enemies closer". Made a mental note to kill that kid later. Thought I was going to get beat up by some overprotective father!!!
HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jul 28, 2014 16:06:09 #
Bobbee wrote:
So here's one. I was in the house and there was th... (show quote)
If you are in it long enough, there ends up being a never ending supply of stories. Drunk groomsmen, brides that never make it to the reception (actually happened at one of my weddings) Fathers that end up on the dance floor in a fight (been there done that). Should I go on? lol
Jul 28, 2014 16:34:57 #
josephpaul wrote:
If you are in it long enough, there ends up being a never ending supply of stories. Drunk groomsmen, brides that never make it to the reception (actually happened at one of my weddings) Fathers that end up on the dance floor in a fight (been there done that). Should I go on? lol
Maybe we should start collecting all stories and put it out in book format for bathroom reads.
Jul 28, 2014 17:06:14 #
Bobbee wrote:
Maybe we should start collecting all stories and put it out in book format for bathroom reads.
That would be a very funny book..
Jul 28, 2014 17:22:43 #
Bobbee wrote:
Maybe we should start collecting all stories and put it out in book format for bathroom reads.
I'll start: First Chapter: She is 19, he is at least 65. In love forever!!
OK, she is about 5'9...he is just over three feet tall. Now THOSE are formals you want to see!!
Bride leaves the church before formals because it was her new mother in law that gave her the lip gloss when she wanted the lip gloss from her maid of honor. She left the church with the limo driver and that's the last we saw of her for the rest of the night!
Bride and one of the groomsmen were in the back room....well, I don't have to tell you what they were doing. Maid of honor found them and no one told the groom. Happy trails!
Bride beats the living snot out of the groom because she told him not to smash the cake in her face....and he promised not to...and then he did. Never seen a man beat like she beat him.
Jul 28, 2014 19:30:29 #
Brides divorced, wicked witch of the west look alike mom shows up with her sleazy DRUNK boyfriend. He proceeds to dance with every girl at the party trying to check their dental work with his tongue. Uncle, who is a mafia body guard I affectionately named Luke Aabrazzi, not to his face, carries the guy out under his arm, off the floor, kicking and screaming like he was carrying a loaf of bread home from the store for mom. Throws him out into the parking lots and JUST points a finger at him, sez nothing, and returns. Boyfriend is never heard from again.
Jul 28, 2014 19:36:01 #
Kuma wrote:
As a police crime scene photographer, friends thought I could shoot a wedding with the pros. My protests fell on deaf ears and against my better judgement I did it...twice. UGH!!
Unless the Bride and Groom want to lie down and have chalk drawn around them, I DO NOT DO WEDDINGS, or reunions, or any such event. If you die, call me and I will give you my best. Otherwise, call a pro!
Unless the Bride and Groom want to lie down and have chalk drawn around them, I DO NOT DO WEDDINGS, or reunions, or any such event. If you die, call me and I will give you my best. Otherwise, call a pro!
Your comment has me laughing so hard. I did my first wedding reception yesterday. My husband asked how it was going, and I said, "I don't care to take photos of people." So, here is one person who understands your comment all to well. Unfortunately, he compared me with Hitler, who did not like drawing faces. Besides, dead people are easier to please. (not to be making fun of crime)
Jul 28, 2014 19:39:30 #
[quote=josephpaul]
i wouldn't say strange...i would say special. thank goodness there's people out there like you that can handle this profession. if you are shooting lots of weddings and still love it, then you are one of the lucky ones whose passion is making you a living.
we are all not made alike. that's a good thing!!!
i hope you keep enjoying what you're doing.
jimberton wrote:
hahahahaha...well put..Bobbee br br I love challe... (show quote)
i wouldn't say strange...i would say special. thank goodness there's people out there like you that can handle this profession. if you are shooting lots of weddings and still love it, then you are one of the lucky ones whose passion is making you a living.
we are all not made alike. that's a good thing!!!
i hope you keep enjoying what you're doing.
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