geoffcauble

It is always easier to dress down if you are over dressed than dress up if you are under dressed. I always wore a tux to these events and found that they aren't that difficult to work in.

Well said Darren.

 

We are taking photos but the point isn't the photos, it is the life. Sometimes, moments in life are best un-photographed. As has been said, judgment is the key. It can be very painful watching a photographer who can't read a situation or understand that there is more to life than just getting the shot.

David's illustrations are great and usually the kind of thing I try to do. I've also found that, without direction, the group often stands really far away from the bride. Moving the bride or the group so they are closer together makes for a much nicer shot.

 

This is one of those shots that I never get excited about. Maybe if I was more creative I could find a great way to shoot it but thus far I haven't.

I pay using my checking account through PayPal. You confirm your bank account in PayPal, and select that account as the funding source when paying for your subscription.

You have to look at this from a business perspective, you are losing potential revenue with nothing of value in

return. Unless I receive a non-refundable deposit I don't hold the date for anyone. If I were you I would

definitely change my policy!

Nadine,

 

I use center weighted and spot metering (or as close to it as the camera has) most of the time. Not so much because I don't like evaluative or matrix but more because I've never taken the time to learn to appreicate those other modes. I'm used to metering and locking focus and exposure then re-composing, I like being able to decide which light the meter weights and I have no idea how evaluative and matrix modes make those exposure determinations.

 

I probably spoke when I shouldn't have above. My point was more that the type of metering Steve uses isn't the primary issue. If he understands how to use his flash the metering mode will be a secondary or tertiary concern.

Songtsen,

 

Center-weighted would give you a more restricted ambient light reading. The flash is going to illuminate the subject, the meter will help you expose for the background. I don't think center-weighted is going to help. If the object in the center is better illuminated a center weighting would help your flash to put out the right amount of light for the subject regardless of the background. I don't think that is what Steve is looking for. I think Steve is trying to figure out how to balance ambient and flash in the same photo.

Steve,

 

You are correct, once you've set the aperture and ISO you want the flash, using ETTL, will put out the right amount of light to expose the scene (as best the flash can). Your in camera meter will read underexposed because it is underexposed based on the ambient light. The meter doesn't take into account the light the flash will add.

 

Set desired ISO and desired aperture, set your shutter as slow as you can (without causing blurring, hand shake) to pick up the ambient light and take the shot. The main subject will be illuminated by the flash and the background will be illuminated by the ambient light.

 

Shutter speeds aren't relevant to the flash exposure as long as the shutter speed is below the camera's flash sync speed (the speed at which the first shutter curtain is fully open before the second curtain begins to close).

This really is a simple case of someone breaching an agreement. you shouldn't shoot the wedding, you shouldn't hold the photos hostage. You should do what the contract says. If your contract says that you are paid in full before you take photos then you should get payment in full before you shoot. Not adhering to the contract will create a lot of trouble for you.

 

Have an attorney look over the contract before the wedding to make sure the breach is clear and that the document fully supports your actions. Otherwise you could have a legal problem. If an attorney looks at the contract and says she is clearly in breach, case closed, send her a certified letter (or better, have the attorney do it) and be done with her. Not the sort of bride you want to deal with.

 

Again, I deal with this stuff everyday in another industry. It seems few people read or respect contracts but usually a letter from the attorney is all that is required to remind them of the document they signed.

The contract is the governing document in your relationship and I think you need to stick to it. It pays to be careful when handling a situation like this. If I were you I would have an attorney review the contract for "holes" just to make sure you have followed every step required and that you are justified in not shooting the wedding based on her non-payment. I might even have the attorney draft a letter explaining the breach of contract. You could, I would imagine, offer her one last opportunity to remedy the breach prior to the wedding. Otherwise, don't shoot the wedding.

 

I think protecting your 15+ year business and reputation is worth the attorney's fee.

 

My $0.02

It isn't practical to get releases from guests, I would even say it is insensitive and unprofessional to try. My contract deals with the release from the bride and groom, those are the images I most need for print/web advertising. I will use photos of guests but if I'm asked to remove them I certainly would. I'm in the wedding photography service business and I don't need to fight it out with a guest over something so small, not good PR. I could see carrying model releases and if you take a terrific capture of a guest that you know you want to use you could approach that guest, tell them how wonderfully photogenic and model like they are and ask them if they would mind signing a release so that you could use the incredible photo of them that you just took in future advertising. I'm sure most guests wouldn't hesitate to sign, particularly when they are being told they look like a model.

 

Beyond that, I only use photos for select advertisements and images are listed in galleries on my website only (as stated in my contract). I would never post photos to Flickr, Facebook or any other social site. I have experienced having photos of parties/events I attended posted by friends on these sites and don't like how invasive it feels.

Luke,

 

I allow downloads from my SmugMug page. By contract I provide a DVD and online gallery. I like to encourage the use of the online gallery because it drives traffic to my site and offering image downloads is another way to do that. Even with the option I do have some family members who order prints and that is nice as well. For many people the convenience and speed of downloading from the gallery is a nice benefit, particularly for those family members who might not get a DVD but would like a nice photo of the event (siblings, aunts and uncles etc...).

 

That being said, I don't see the gallery being a viable option as a replacement for the DVD, I think most people will want the security of the images on DVD, safely stored. A photographer can go out of business and the gallery be taken down and unless the customer has downloaded all of photos (pain in the butt) you have a problem. End of the day, let the market/customer dictate the need and listen to the market (not to what you want or would be most convenient). If you think your customers are a younger, tech savvy bride who doesn't mind downloading and filing her own images away then maybe it could work.

I didn't mention it but I often use my laptop and have an assistant download the cards or when I'm alone I try to find a quiet 2-3 minutes where I can start a card downloading and let it run as I shoot. By the time I get to the reception the formals and ceremony are already on my computer as a backup. I never format a card and use it again until I have the images on the computer and backup burned to DVD.

 

Someone else mentioned brand name CF cards. I don't know what failure rates are for cheaper off-brand cards but I don't think CF cards are the place to try and cut corners. Buy the best you can.

I shoot with a number of smaller cards it used to be 512MB-1GB but now with larger files and moving to raw I find 1-2GB is about right. The weddings I shoot are rarely so action packed that I can't change cards every 75-150 images. I keep track of how many images I have remaining on a card and make sure I don't get stuck with a full card at a critical point. I remember shooting MF before digital and having to deal with swapping 120 and 220 backs with dark slides and sticky release mechanisms. Changing CF cards is no big deal in comparison.

 

Related, just like with film, you number and track you CF cards and you make sure you don't lose them. I've never lost a roll of film or a card. Lastly, you write a contract that covers loss of CF card and CF card failure.

I would highly recommend Professional Photo Resources (PPR) in Atlanta for equipment rentals. I've rented from

them a couple times for different events and they always go above and beyond. I know they ship things around the

country but I don't know how cost effective it is. Pricing can be found at the link below.

<p>

<a href'="http://www.ppratlanta.com/cameras.php">http://www.ppratlanta.com/cameras.php</a>

You should find someone whose style you are comfortable with and someone you believe to be reliable and then you should work out an agreement with them prior that details how much they will be paid for their services. They can cost more than you charge but if you pay them that you will be shooting the wedding at a loss (if you are using a backup it is likely an emergency and for me that wouldn't be the biggest concern).

You've been asked for sentimental reasons... Shooting a wedding for a friend/relative can be a difficult thing and is something that even experienced wedding photographers often want to avoid. However, I will assume you understand the risks to relationships and the particular dynamic of your family and can make your own decision in regards to whether or not you do this.

The biggest major mistake that first time wedding photographers make (particularly when shooting for family/friends) is they don't have a contract. It might seem like overkill but it provides clarity between the two parties about what you will and won't do and that is the most critical part of shooting a wedding for a family member. Even if you don't think you need the legal protection I would suggest that you do need to communicate very clearly with the bride and groom and the contract takes out all of the ambiguity that is inherent in verbal communications (it also helps everyone remember exactly what was communicated).

 

The second biggest mistake I've seen others make (one I've made myself), is beginners try to change everything, shooting style, equipment, lighting all at once. If you shoot landscapes I would suggest scoping the wedding site for outdoor places to shoot your groups and as many portrait/romance photos as possible. You will be far more comfortable outdoors that trying to learn how to light a group in dark Church with your flash (do remember fill flash outside). Try to keep your camera setup simple and comfortable. I agree that you probably need a short telephoto but you can get away with what you have.

 

Third big mistake is not carrying a backup for everything you need. My first equipment failure wasn't a camera but a flash to battery pack connector. Make sure you have two (or three) of every essential piece of equipment.

 

Your lenses will be limiting indoors, so you need to be familiar with flash photography if the wedding will be indoors. Can you post more details about the time of day and what type of venue the wedding will be in?

Job, I meant to add that I have had a camera shutter fail but it wasn't during a wedding. I also have had a flash hot shoe cord/connector fail during a wedding and that was a near disaster. You do need a backup for each piece of equipment. Nadine is right, the best backup is a second camera you use routinely (or even have over your shoulder) but at the very least you need a backup ready to go in your bag close by.

With the price of film cameras there is no excuse not to have a backup body. When money was tight in college I shot weddings that didn't have a lot of margin to them. I shot digital but I carried a film Canon camera that would work with all of my lenses and accessories and I always had it charged and ready to go with enough fresh film to shoot the whole wedding. My investment was minimal and I had written into my contract that if I had a camera failure the wedding would be delivered on film with a proof book at my cost. Not one bride had a problem with this and eventually I could afford a second digital body. I can imagine that not all markets would tolerate this as well but I would still suggest it.

 

I don't know Nikon but I do know that I can buy reliable Canon film bodies for $75-$150 each. There is no excuse not to carry some kind of backup for bodies, flash and any other necessary equipment.

Good thinking Steven. The sooner you move on the sooner you can turn your energy to building your business. I

have no doubt you will do very well. Good luck to you!

If you understand how to use it.

Flash exposure is not affected by shutter speed as long as your shutter is under your camera's sync speed. I would assume the Nikon with SB600 has TTL metering so all you need to do is set a manual exposure at the aperture you would like and then set your shutter as slow as allowable without causing blurring from handholding or the subject moving. For example if you meter the light in the Church and it is 5.6 at 1/15 you could set your camera to f/5.6 and your shutter to 1/30 and the flash would illuminate the subject and the rest of the photo would be underexposed by a stop.

 

I'm sure others can explain it better but the most important thing to remember is that aperture is for the flash, shutter is for the ambient light. That keeps it simple.

Thank you all for your responses, always appreciated.

 

William - A practical way to carry this out, thank you. I always appreciate your considered and detailed answers on the photo.net boards.

 

David - I'll post process (digital) like norm and then post them to my SmugMug gallery site for reprints. In addition the couple will receive high quality JPEGs on DVD with reproduction rights. I don't think it will create a hassle post wedding, I'm already kind of "self-serve" on that side. I've shot a couple of other weddings where I knew the people pretty well. It can be weird and after one experience I've really changed my practices. You are absolutely correct that communication and expectations have to be excellent and I think they are in this case.

I agree with Gary that business owners don't just walk around giving out things but I don't think you conducted yourself as a business owner in any other aspect of this (unless a contract exists and then that would govern). Sounds like you handled this as a friend and friends do give things away to satisfy disappointments and help all parties move on.

 

I appreciate the comments concerning cash and money orders, while I think it is something of an insult to require those payment terms in this situation maybe it is justified.

 

The lessons to learn are always use a contract (especially with friends/acquaintances) and require payment up front (calculate expenses ahead of time, charge that and then go with your budget).

It sounds like you have put yourself in a bad situation by not having a contract that spells out the terms of your agreement (start and end times for coverage, costs that the B&G will pay, etc...) and not communicating well with the bride and groom during the event. From your recounting of the story, it sounds like you left the wedding without speaking to the B&G first... I would suggest that if you have taken all of the photos you are contracted to take and you are ready to leave you always check with the B&G and make sure they are happy before you pack up. Also, leaving the rehearsal dinner because your girlfriend is sick sounds like you were treating the event more as a friend who does photography than as a pro.

 

Assuming no contract I would negotiate an agreement with the groom (since he sounds willing) and call the loss tuition. Forget the one night at the hotel, cut the fuel costs to something you can all agree to meet and give them the photos in exchange for the check. You have stressed that it is a very small amount you are looking for so even if you split it 50:50 I would assume your loss would be very reasonable.