holly mikel

"One place I meet at is a little small that serves smoothies, I sit at the same table everytime (right next to the blender) can be a bit noisy at times."

 

If it's noisy in that spot, why do you always sit there?

If you put prices and galleries on your website, then 90% of the time when they want to meet with you they have already decided to use you. (in my experience). I travel to Houston (about 45 mins - 1 hour) to meet with clients all the time at a local Panera Bread (coffee shop) or Starbucks. These locations have wireless internet capabilities, along with comfy couches and coffee tables to spread out your albums. I don't like to meet at their homes due to distractions. Kids, pets, whatever. :) It just seems more professional, if you don't have a studio, to meet in a neutral environment, buy them a cup of coffee and relax. Not to mention it's a lot easier to find than a house in some obscure subdivision. Basically, if you want the business in the nearby cities, you have to be willing to travel to meet with the clients. You win some, you lose some, but hopefully gas money for the meetings is also included in your general expenses, and you charge enough for the weddings to cover it.

I would have called the one you had the meeting with, before booking with the other. Yes, it is "first come, first serve", and the first bride was in fact, there first. Even if you didn't have a deposit yet, it would have been nice to call her and let her know someone else was interested in the date and was willing to put a deposit down right then. I wouldn't have chosen someone that came in at the last minute because the venue was nicer. Who knows what type of pkg the first bride wanted? Her wedding may not have been as nice, but you could have gotten a lot of good word of mouth from her by handling it differently. Bad word of mouth spreads a lot faster than good....

On the family shot, the dad's glasses need some repairing. Or rather, the background between his right eye and the ear piece. On this one, the lamp also looks extremely artificial. On the balloon image, there is something very odd coming out from behind the balloons on the left. Not sure what that is. I'm not insane about this type of thing at all - I'm lucky if I spot color something every few months....but I'm sure there is a market for it. Did the clients request this from you?

Thanks guys! I'm bringing a second shooter and an assistant. Mainly to help lug gear since I won't be able to stash it like I normally would. Have also been doing research on rain covers for the gear. The bride said I could dress up, but I just don't see how I could work that way......she said no big deal, most of the guests wouldn't be either.

I have a wedding booked in November at the Texas Renaissance

Festival in Plantersville. I'm pretty excited about it - it will

definitely be something different, but I was wondering if anyone

here has ever shot a wedding there and if so, are there any

tips/hints? Thank you!

I agree - it does work quite well and you do need to make sure they "see" each other. I assist a team of photographers who use this setup for all of their formals. Two 580s w/Stofen Diffusers on each side, 580 w/Stofen on camera. Works very well from what I have seen. Sorry I don't have any to show you.....I'm usually holding one of the lights when I assist them... and I haven't tried it out on my own weddings...plan on doing that next week.

Wow - you would never guess that was shot at 3200. I have a 20D that I have just discovered the joys of high ISO's with. :) So I'm right there with you in the fun. I was always scared to use film higher than 800 (T-Max) at receptions, now I don't even think twice about pushing the 20D that high.

sorry - try again...<div></div>

I personally like the angles and have quite a few in my gallery. http://www.hollywilsonphotography.com/Gallery.html

 

the point is to shoot both, and let the b/g decide which one they want. Mom or grandma will like the traditional, and a lot of the younger brides like the angle - to them it's something "different" although we as wedding photographers are seeing a LOT of it. Either way, it's about pleasing the customer and having fun. During the pre-wedding meetings, if you find they don't like the tilts, you don't do them...simple as that. But I personally like them!!<div></div>

I don't currently own one (saving as we speak) but have used one at the last 4 weddings I have shot and am in LOVE LOVE LOVE with this lens!! An absolute beauty in low light situations.....yeah she's heavy but after the first few weddings you'll get used to it. :)

And after shooting part of the last one with the 70-200/2.8, the 24-70 is a lightweight!! :)

You did a great job!! (I've only done 2 myself, so maybe I'm not experienced enough to say - but I think you did wonderfully.)

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If you are giving them your negs for reprint purposes, why write your name and copyright info at the top?

taken with Canon 50/1.8 - sorry - I don't remember the setting but am positive is was not at 1.8.<div></div>

sorry about the size - i need to re-scan.

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I second Nadine on the candid shots - showing true personality rather than a zombie stare or cheshire cat grin that mimics their school drive-through mass photography session. Children are precious just being themselves. (coming from a mother, of course) :) Good luck with the posed shots - with that many kids it sounds next to impossible!!

Hi Anne - I like the higher contrast in Kodak T Max 100 and 400 film. It's easier to find someone to develop the C-41, but I personally do not like the look of it. My local lab develops - but enlargements over 8 x 10 I am having to find someone else. (locals use enlarger for any black/white over 8 x 10) I would love to develop my own again, but I just don't have the time.

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Thank you everyone. Ben: I present prints to B/G - I only scanned these to get opinions here. The class I am currently taking includes a copy of Adobe Photoshop - so paired w/a better scanner I hope to utilize that in the future. Paul - I agree about the lack of originality. The 1st wedding WAS more original, but the standard shots absolutely sucked (ceremony,cake,bouquet,group shots). On the 2nd I tried to get the necessary images down first - and since I was doing for really low price I didn't shoot as much black and white (my favorite to use) Hopefully my 3rd I will be confident enough to get the standards as well as the artistic ones. I didn't realize how much everyone liked those until I didn't include them in the 2nd. Kari - I agree about the cropping (a very bad habit of mine). If they want an enlargement and an 8 x 10 will crop - I'll pay for it to go to 8 x 12 and matte to an 11 x 14 so they won't have trouble finding a frame (expensive lesson there). Thank you everyone.

Steven, I used an HP Scanjet ADF scanner. It's a little old, I know - but all I had access to. Color issues aside - how is the composition?