buns

Hey everyone,

 

I got hired to do a low budget wedding here in the Portland, Oregon area in October 2017. I'm looking for amatures, hobby photographers, or those who believe in photographing memories no matter what the budget. No one should have a wedding and not have photos to remember them by, because they cannot afford it.

 

I'm not great in low light, so I prefer someone who can pick up my slack if need be when it comes to that. It'll be a small backyard wedding towards Mount Hood.

 

I have $200 to give to the wonderful person who wants to do this with me. Possibly to build a portfolio or you just love weddings and photography.

 

Message me if you're interested, link to your site/portfolio.

 

Thank you all! I appreciate it greatly.

 

Krista

 

Moderator Note: Interested parties should message the OP as was requested also Krista's contact information is on her website, a link to which is at her Photo.net Bio Page.

<p>So I am a self taught photographer. I know, how many times have you heard this. I have the "eye", but the technical part I struggle with. I have a Canon 40D, and I like to think I'm pretty good with natural light. I am restricted though because of this. I am restricted to outside and during the day time. Inside with little windows and night time I do not do because I do not know how to use light or really my flash the way I need to. I bought a flash two years ago and still don't understand how to use it. If the wedding reception is to be inside or at night, I always hire a second photographer to help out with that in case I just cannot pull it off. I just don't understand how it works. Is there a site anywhere that anyone knows of that not only can walk me through it but has some way to teach it too so that I can retain the information. I love photography, but just having an eye for it doesn't get you very far in this digital era.</p>

<p>Thanks for your kind comments</p>

<p>I only give them 100 photos to choose from. It can become overwhelming for clients to see hundreds of photos. I can spend a few hours picking the best ones that I think they will want. I have a question sheet that asks them what shots they want the most, and those are the ones I give them with some extras to choose from.</p>

I'm on a tight budget and I still would love some photos. I'm a wedding photographer myself but don't have any connections in Oregon

since it's not my primary source of income. It'll be June 12, 2015 at 5:30pm atTimberline Lodge, Oregon. If you're interested please email

me at mumbuns@yahoo.com with pricing and a link to your portfolio. Thank you very much!

 

Krista

<p>Hello everyone!</p>

<p>I am looking for a second photographer for a wedding on 8/8/09 in Baltimore, MD. Please no Travelers... unless you want to pay your own way. This wedding is a friend of mine and I owe him a favor. I'm paying for a lot of this and I can only pay a certain amount for a second shooter. Please send me a link to your portfolio and what your fee will be. I will need a second shooter for the ceremony mainly and if you would like to add more to your portfolio, I am more than happy to have you there with me during the reception. Please email me at :krista at recapturememories dot com">

<p>Thank you<br>

Krista</p>

priorities? just curious.

Thanks again Jo. Very good advice. I will try to sell those lenses as soon as they get to me. my copy of PS7 is .... ummmm... just that.. a copy. It is missing some of the programming I think, I can still use it, just not all the features, but it has worked for me in the past. So I'm willing to let him get a real copy, but just need to have it for vista. I told him that I didn't want the newer or newest version.. I'd have to learn it all over again and don't really want to do that.

 

I'm excited but at the same time I'm dissapointed. I wished he had just went with one good lens at least. Maybe I'll try to convince him to get one. I really want the 10-22mm.

 

Can anyone tell me what is wrong with the flash in the kit? I'm not really sure what is wrong with it, since I've never used and external flash before. Would be good to know if I can deal with the bad parts or if I just have to get a new one.

 

thanks again!

Thank you Jo.. at least there's hope haha. I do like the idea of trading in the not so good lenses. I didn't even think about that. I did try to tell him that I need good lenses and those were not good, but he didn't really listen to me. So I just said ok since I can't or don't feel like I have the right to argue since its not my money. He's wanting to also get me a newer version of PS7.. but I'm not sure there are any that will work with Vista. I love PS7, but I see the CS3... I dunno. We'll see what he can come up with. I'd rather stay with PS7, I'm comfortable with it.

 

Steve-I have a contract already, but you can go ahead and email me yours so I can compare and maybe add if I need to.

 

So I'm getting a feeling that under ideal situations, these lenses will not do, but in my situation it will have to do. Is this right? I mean I don't have a choice at the moment, but I don't have another wedding on my schedule. I am hoping to get one for Sept, which might give me enough time to get a better lens.

 

Thanks again

Nadine- yes you made the suggestion.. my step father went with this which was not what I had asked for. So, I won't take the blame lol.

 

it is however to late, he called me after he had already made the sale. Most of the people who got that package on ebay, according to the feedback are happy with at least the camera. So i figure that I will get a good camera out of it at least, but need to work on the lenses now.

Hey again Steve, long time no see heh.

 

I had requested those lenses, I even requested three batteries and a smart charger, I had everything down to the pack I wanted to carry it in. But I guess all my work to find out what I needed and stuff wasn't good enough, or to good for their pocket book heh. I'm not going to complain though, if it weren't for them, I'd have to just use a point and shoot camera and not start any photography anything until I won the lottery haha. I guess I just need to know that if this "kit" will work until I can get the real things. I'm a bit dissapointed, but oh well. Beggers can't be chosers right? lol. Thanks again.

Ok, so my mom and her husband wanted to invest in my photography. You can learn more on my other thread.

Anywho, I told them what I needed to start out. This is what they are sending me: You'll have to go to ebay and type

in the item number to check it out. Item number is 160259851923

Tell me the pros and cons of this package for wedding photography. I really wanted a 10-22mm and an actual wide

angle lens and what not. But they I guess are trying to save some money. So, let me know if this will work to start

out with, and later I can get what I really need.

 

Thank for the help!

Krista

Thank you everyone, I have the info I need and have started to set up a system. I think it will work for me pretty well and will go from there. Thanks again.

Never mind, answered my own question. It is not good. So I will just buy seperatly.

Ok, so I found this on ebay http://cgi.ebay.com/Canon-EOS-40D-Digital-SLR-Camera-Body-5-Lens-8GB-Kit_W0QQitemZ300239415500QQihZ020QQcategoryZ43454QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

However, I'm wondering if the lenses are good? I'm looking back and fourth between the advice on here and what is on ebay, and I haven't noticibly found the same. So is this a good deal?

I do like the idea of the business plan. My mom has asked for one, but mainly wanted to know the price of the equipment. This way it will help her and I. I appreciate you suggesting that.

 

I want to thank everyone for your help. I have posted a thread on the wedding forum before and never have had this much useful advice. Usually its just people yelling at me or putting me down. I really tuly appreciate it. I feel so much better and feel like I finally have a direction to go. I can't do anything about the wedding I have next week, just to do my best is all I can do. But I know where to go after that.

 

I will learn more about ISO, F stops, Apreature, flashes, and all that. It is my downfall and I know that. I know that the eye is more important than the camera, however without the right camera, I can't get the photo that I see. I have learned that the hard way.

 

I hope there will be more advice to fallow, but I'm not sure what else you all could say haha. Thanks again!

Bob- I just wanted to say thank you for the very useful information. That is EXACTLY what I needed to know. I even appreciate the price advice you have given. That is about where I am right now, the $100 range and am comfortable with it, well will be when I have better equipment. Sometimes its hard to get out exactly what you want to know from people and word it right. So I appreciate it greatly. I do want the 5D, but I think I will start with the 40D and work my way up. Again, thank you very much.

I understand what everyone is saying see where you all are coming from. I agree in most cases.

 

However, to tell me not to do anymore weddings for two years, well I don't know where I'll be in two years for one. I'm a military spouse, we are due to move in a few months, no orders yet, but its always a possibility. Now saying that, I know I'm going to take a huge hit for that. But that is like saying that because I'm a military spouse, I just need to stay away from photography besides of my kids. Or wait until we settle after my husband retires. That's 11 years from now. I am 28 right now and don't want to be 39 before I take the plunge.

 

There is a severe lack of affordable wedding photographers in this area that I currently reside. I know what it is like to just find a job in the area, and that is to say there isn't any. A 'good' job here is Walmart, making $6.75 an hour. I can't even pay for one of my kids day care with that. I'd end up losing money, and yet people here are trying to make ends meet. Then they want to get married. If they are like me, photos in some cases are my only memories. I KNOW how important photos are. I have thousands of my own that I have taken. So what are these people going to do? They are just trying to make rent and put food on the table, and now here is a wedding that they most likely won't have any photos at all of. Well that is where I have came in. I offer either free service or a very low fee to cover costs. I do not and have not gaurenteed my work as of yet and it is stated in my contract. Just like them, I am trying to make ends meet and they fully understand that I am not a pro yet. I have had many compliments on my photos that I have taken from families and others and have had brides with tears in their eyes because not only am I taking photos for them when they were afraid no one would, I also want to help them. I provide any service that I can. I have taken in a bride the night before so she has a place to go, I have drove them to the hair appointment and to the ceremony, I have given suggestions, and many more.

 

I am not suggesting I am anywhere near the point of an actual pro, such as you guys. I am not at that level and consider myself to be an advanced amateur. I feel that most of the wedding pros on this site have forgotten where they started. Forgotten that sometimes you start from the very bottom with nothing.

 

I want to do this so bad, and I feel like I am literally holding myself back, and for good reasons. I am still learning. I can not even begin to breach the line between amateur and pro with out the right equipment. With out that, I can not learn how to see things in different ways and how to use the equipment to do what I want. I am at the bottom and want to do it right so that one day, who knows when, I can come on here and be giving advice instead of asking for it.

 

I am not sorry for taking on these two weddings. I know that they could not call one of you up and have you shoot their weddings. You are just way to expensive. As well you deserve to be. This is a hard business and takes a lot of energy, time, money, and creativeness to achieve anything remotely good. So please stop looking down on me for taking them on, and just embrace the fact that I want to do it right and that I understand that I can not just jump in and charge three thousand for a wedding from the get go. I KNOW THIS.

 

So, now because of some of the awsome advice on here, I am looking at the Canon 20d. I see there is a 30d and a 40d, but no one has suggested these. I have read up on these, but don't really see a difference in them. Is there a reason? Is this a camera I should go with? I will then go with a wide angle lens, tele lens, and a standard. The #s are still a bit confusing, but I know I will learn that as I go.

 

So don't burst the bubble of the little guy. I am not a competition for you... apparently. I just want to do what I love, and that is the American dream right?

 

Thank you guys. You are great at what you do.

Krista

I mentioned the not getting answers for me to the 'read other forums' response. I specifically asked about equipment because that is what I need help with. For my style which is mainly documentary/photojournalism (hence the snap shot look), I love the more natural look. So I am looking for a camera that will suit my needs, but I also want to reach into traditional photography for wedding as well and kind of blend it all with my own touch. I will not mimic another photographer, but gain information. I also don't want to be so far out of it that no one will want to hire me. So again, I do know I have lots of learning to do. How else do you learn? I understand some if not most of you have actually gone to school for it, which is great. But for the others who just can't afford it, the best way to learn is just to jump in there and see what happens. I'm trying to take it a step further and pick your brains as well and do this as smartly as I can. After I have the equipment, I'm not going to start advertising on tv or anything. I will do what I'm doing, but increase in my effort. I have pretty much come to a hault, just because I do not have anything that will support what I want. My s7000 is dead. I also would love to be a second shooter on several wedding just to gain even more experience. After that, then I will officially start.

 

Besides lighting, the equipment is the hardest for me to grasp. I think I just need to find a brand I like, and learn it from there. I get confused with all the numbers of the lenses and different brands, and all sorts. It is overwhelming.

 

I have got some good advice on here and am now looking for into a half frame rather than a full frame. I thank you for that. I will take it from there and do my best.

Steve C.- Thank you very much for you response. I have read previous posts and just felt like I needed a more 'personal' answer to make me feel like it is pertaining to me. I don't know, call me crazy.

 

I believe you answered my main question though. I needed to know what I need at this point. So from what you said, I get from it that a half frame will suit me just fine? Is there a brand or certrain half frame you would suggest in particular?

 

What I understand from PN that I have read, is that a wide angle lense, a standard tele lens, and a 50/1.4 is the way to go? Am I wrong or right? Is there anything else? I know I need a flash.

 

I think that what I have found the hardest in deciding to purchase a DSLR system is just desifering (sp) through all the ideas and levels of cameras and such. I simple list of one or two and comparisons would do wonders lol. The one thing that the 5D has had me with is the low light qualities. I love natural light and I have a fear of flash lol. However, I am willing to dive in to a half frame if I can achieve the same.

 

Thank you again very much! Sorry for being a broken record.

In response to some questions:

 

No, I have never had a DSLR before. in fact, my s7000 is the most advanced camera I have ever had and the first digital I have ever owned.

 

I seriously agree with the learning time. I don't plan to just jump right into this. I have only offered free or very low priced wedding photography options to those who don't have a choice. I had the same problem when I got married, not enough for photos, but needed them. I hired just a 35mm ameteur for $75 to take my wedding photos. I explain everything to the B&G and tell them to make the right choice for what they want.

 

I do want to do this, but like I said before, I want to do it right. I want to have the right equipment for the budget with out sacrificing quality. I want to learn everything, I am constantly am on this site and others just trying to learn and get new ideas. It has taken me almost 6 years to get to this point.

 

Bryan Tan- I think you are just about spot on. My portfolio shows my 'growth' in photography, or at least I hope it does heh. I do believe that my s7000 has kept me back a little, but didn't know any better. I do not have any formal training, so I am having to learn this as I go. I know what I would like to see, and what I see through the view finder of my s7000 is not what I want it to come out as. So I go into PS and try to make it as close as possible. So I have learned PS pretty well and love it. Believe it or not, my favorite is my photo that I did in PS as well of Stone Henge. However I am learning and won't jump into wedding photography full time until I get the hang of it.

 

So if I went with a smaller sensor or smaller frame, wouldn't I be risking quality? What if somoene wants a 10x13 or something? I want to make sure I have the right camera for the job, but still have room to grow. So if I actually am good at this, then later on down the road I can purchase a better camera. Like I said before, I just don't want to be risking quality for price, but price is an issue.

 

I do very well in natural light. I have a hard time in extreme low light. Lighting is my default I believe. With out experience with an external flash, I have not had a chance to experiment with it. I do hate the harsh on board flash and never use it. I would rather mess with the ISO and what not to get the right image than deal with a flash. I do know it is a key role in wedding photography though and have looked on PN for the 5D. So light is something that I am constantly learning, and if I didn't have two small kids, I would sign up for a light class in a heart beat. Just can't afford the cost of tuition though. I'm good at self learning, so that is what I'm trying to do.

 

Christopher Hartt- You are 100% correct, it is like being a kid in a candy store. I'm sure everyone on here can relate to that. I want it all, but my mommy has only a certain amount of money so I can't get it all... lol. Its sad.. I know. I have PS 7 and am looking for an upgrade. My hardware, I just bought a new computer and a 160GB external HD. I have a lab in Morganton, NC to process the prints for me and they I believe have a really good price and quality. I have a contract already set up and ready to go. I have a website that is ok with photoreflect, it is free, one day I wish to have my very own. I do need a more professional email address then my usual one haha.

 

As for the offers I turned down, I turned them down because what they want is not what I can offer them at the moment. for a wedding of 150-200 and a budget of $3000, I just don't feel right showing up with a point and shoot. I can not produce the quality that that price would require. I would feel like a fool and stupid. So I refered them to others or just simply said that at the moment I am not able to fulfill their need. I hope to God that they will be there when I am ready. But what am I to do? I just am honest with them and they appreciate that. this current couple will not go with anyone else because they liked my honesty. Its like a booger on your finger that you can't get it off lol. So I just decided to go ahead with it.

 

Thank you for the advice on the roller bag and keeping the cards on your person!

 

I guess I just need to know what camera would you all suggest for the lowest price but still good quality for the business? Also lenses for that body and a flash.

 

Thank you all!

Krista

 

 

Ok, so I have accepted my second wedding and have hired on a second shooter. If you remember me, my first

wedding was last minute for the B&G and I did it for free. I had a point and shoot that I had to barrow because mine

died. I was able to pull out several good photos, but it was hectic. Lots of PS. I thought I learned my lesson.

 

So this is my second one. I am a little wiser this time since I hired a second shooter. However, my camera is still

shot. I thought by now I would have a new one.. and nope. The B&G is like the first, not much time left for them to

find a photographer and I really really wanted to do it. However, I have explained my situation with info they needed to

know and they still wanted to hire me. So I barrowed yet another camera, this one is better, but still a point and

shoot. My mom sent me her point and shoot, so now I have two point and shoots. yes, bad situation, I know. So

keep those comments to yourself. This is a VERY casual wedding and with LOTS of natural light potential. So I'm

confident that with the price I gave them.... very very low, they will get better than what they expect. I have found that

just because you have a less than perfect camera, doesn't mean you will have bad photos, I just don't want to make

a habit

of this. So, I'm curious if anyone has any ideas on how to make these cameras work for me. One is an Olympus

Cyber Shot, and the other is an Olympus..... something, I dunno. I've just been taking photos of everything in every

situation I can think of to get the hang of them.

 

As for the second shooter, he will get paid for his photos that he takes. I'm not in it to mess around with it. So no

worries there. If you want to see some of what I have done with a point and shoot, just check out my website at www

dot serendipity dot photoreflect dot com.

 

Second, I have finally have an investor (my mom). She wants to invest in my photography and get me the equipment

I need to really do this right. So I have been looking into DSLRs and am really interested in the Nikon D300 and the

Canon EOS 5D. Canon lenses are Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM Standard Zoom Lens, Canon EF 100mm f/2

USM Telephoto Lens, Canon EF 17-35mm f/2.8L USM Wide-Angle Zoom, Canon EF 50mm f1.4 USM Standard &

Medium Telephoto Lens.

 

I haven't found any or really looked for lenses for the Nikon yet.

 

I don't want to barrow a huge amount of money, so if anyone has any other system that is less expensive but works

just as well, I'd love to hear it. Also a second body that will have to be less expensive but still a decent camera.. that

would be great to know as well.

 

I really want to do this right. I'm turning down weddings left and right because I just don't have the equipment to do it.

I truly enjoy it and love it really. Any help in starting out would be great. Please no sarcasim or rudeness.

 

One more question (sorry for the book), how and where do you put all the batteries, lenses, extra body, and extra

mem cards on you? I really don't want to do the vest thing, but really don't want to be running back and fourth to my

bag.

 

Thanks!

Krista

WNC is Western North Carolina

are these just the lenses or the camera with the lense.. because that's what I really need.

I need to rent a camera by July 19th in WNC. Does anyone know of a good company to rent a camera from? Do you

even know of one? I haven't been able to find one.

 

Many thanks!

Krista

I am in need for a second shoot in Brevard, NC on July 19th. The final contract has

not yet been signed, but it seems like they will hire. This is a budget wedding, not

just for the couple, but for me as well. So if you are wanting some more

experience or just need something to do, then please email or msg me with your

interest. I appreciate it greatly!

 

Krista

mumbuns at yahoo dot com