jill_gately1

<p>Try YouSelectIt. I use it with my iMac. </p>

<p>I use Finao Online and love them. They also have a ton of cool covers. You design the spreads and then upload your hi-res jpegs to them for production. Simple way to order flushmount albums. It is SOOO easy to order covers, too. Check them out.</p>

<p>Simona- your edits are my favorite. I like the shot and I like your edits. </p>

<p>ISO 320. Nikkor 50 mm f/1.8 lens at 50mm f/5.6. 1/100 sec. No flash. Taken in the lobby of the hotel before the ceremony.</p><div></div>

<p>I would be curious to see how this would look in black and white. I bet it would bring out the texture in the grandmom and have us focus on the her and the moment. I think the colors might be distracting in the instance.</p>

<p>Lighting is everything,...would not have gotten the even light if the sun was blaring......this was at 6 p.m. on an overcast day...</p><div></div>

<p>I shot in Georgetown. Georgetown offers a lot of variety. There is a park, waterfront, great colors and lines of the stores, restaurants, overpasses. However, during the last 10 minutes of my shoot I had a security guard escort me off of the waterfront area because I was shooting on private property. But I got all the shots I wanted. Apparently I looked like more than a tourist because of my cameras. I think the area in front of the fountain is considered private. I would definitely check out the rules on permits in DC just to be prepared. Georgetown offers a really fun urban scene. I was with a young, trendier couple though so it worked.</p>

Thank you everyone for your nice comments and I appreciate the win and the constructive criticism. I am really flattered. Good luck everyone with your photography careers and future weddings.

I use and love photoshelter. It works seamlessly with my web site.

<p>Creative Motion Design. Very easy to manage! </p>

<p>First year of weddings. Had about 28 weddings in 2008. This was my maybe my 10th. Nikon D200 with a 50mm f/1.8 Nikkor lens. Shot at f/5.6 at 1/100. Natural light, converted to black and white in photoshop.</p><div></div>

<p>You Select It.</p>

<p>If you are looking at creative ways to set up inexpensive on-location lights check out strobist.com.</p>

<p>Sorry to hear that Betty. Like I said ... there is nothing wrong with straying from the strictly business aspect and putting a few personal things in it for your followers. I am due with my 2nd baby soon and when the big day finally comes, you bet that will be on my blog. :)</p>

<p>I suppose it's all relative on where you live. I shouldn't have thrown a dollar figure out there. In DC that would be a steal from a reputable graphic designer. </p>

<p>I agree, I wish people would stop scaring you, too. The whole "Don't become a photographer until you assist other photographers, go to school, etc" is a bit discouraging. I was never a second shooter and I never went to an art school. However, I did work at a photo lab in high school and college and was constantly around other photographers and equipment. And I read a lot and did a ton of research. Whether or not you take this wedding is perhaps a confidence issue. If you <strong>don't </strong> think you can pull it off with good results, perhaps you should pass. On the other hand, this is a great opportunity to get your feet wet. My first wedding was a wedding a shot for my friend's sister. So I understand where you are coming from. I didn't charge her a penny. Only because it was an investment for me. You have to get experience and have a few weddings under your belt before you can really confidently charge. However, in my case I knew the bride very well and she knew that this was my first wedding. She wasn't planning on getting a photographer at all, so any pictures she had she was happy with, so I couldn't really disappoint her. There was no liability involved..we had a contract stating that. Basically I had nothing to lose and nothing but expereince to gain. I almost felt like the bride was doing me a favor by helping me build a portfolio. So maybe if you provided a little more information about your scenario, the answers you are getting wouldn't be all over the map. But if you are clear about your experience and relay that to the bride and she still wants you on board, then do it. Just do yourself a favor and rent a backup camera if you didn't already think of that. I guess you have to ask yourself how important it is for you to get a few weddings under your belt. if wedding photography is something you seriously want to pursue, then you should consider doing it.</p>

<p>FYI I found this thread announcing $25 Pocket Wizard rebates.<br>

http://www.photo.net/photography-lighting-equipment-techniques-forum/00S7I4</p>

<p>Not sure what uyour budget is....but maybe buy 3 pocket wizards ($189 a piece) and 2 SB-800 flashes (about $300 a piece). Put one pocket wizard on your hot shoe on the camera, put the other two pocket wizards on the SB-800's. Everytime you take a picture, your other 2 flashes will go off. The pocket wizards make your flashes wireless. Nikon's flashes are supposed to work wirelessly without the pocketwizards, it is called the Creative Lighting System (CLS). But I have found the CLS to be unreliable and inconsistent (you have to be withink 30 feet). Pocket Wizards hooked to these flashes are very consistent and have a very long range. You can even put the pocket Wizards in different rooms and the flash will go off. That isn't the case withteh CLS. And if you ever decide you want a more advanced bulkier strobe, you can make those wireless with the Pocket Wizards as well. Hope this helps.</p>

<p>I would not use those pictures on the card. Unless you have an award-winning image, just use your logo and entice ppl to visit your web site. That way you can show them more of your images rather than limiting yourself to the two that you have. And, what if you find that later down the road you have images that you like better for your card? You are stuck with the images you have until you deplete your 1,000 business card supply. An image on a business card is way too limiting. Just pay a graphic designer $300 to make you a nice card. </p>

<p>I absolutely think one should Blog. Just keep it business-related and do not to add make it a blog about your personal opinions and views. it's a great way to show clients your latest and greatest. You can announce your latest weddings, you can announce that you have been published, add some fun photography tips, promote your favorite vendors, etc etc. Business-related. I have about 3 postings out of 40 that are personal. Perhaps it was a few photos from one vacation or a shot of my son here or there. But it is still photography....and if you have people that visit your blog regularly it is away to give them a sense that you are actually human. But limit that stuff and concentrate on the business. </p>

<p>My absolute love of people and photography. If you have the passion--the images will follow. Money was my last motivation.</p>

<p>I have WHCC ship the prints to me for free. Then I repackage the prints to make a nicer presentation. So I put any prints from the wedding in an archival box and then include my business cards and a note. Then I go to the post office and ship them myself. </p>

WHCC hands down. Customer service is impeccable and print quality is great.

Yes. move them away from the wall. I have about 4 SB-800s. I do love the SB-800s don't get me wrong. i was all set to use the CLS system at one point too. I realized after one event awhile back that CLS was just not effective on any level....at least not for me. I don't speak for the masses. I went into photography with the mind-set to keep it simple and not lug a bunch of lights around. But that changed. Life became easier when I slapped some pocket wizards onto those SB-800s to actually get them to fire when I wanted without having to line up the sensors. I don't have to keep them within 30 feet of each other either. So the pocket wizards made life A LOT easier. Then I found that I was using my off-camera SB800 flashes so much in the cave-like wedding reception venues I was getting that the batteries were practically melting inside of them. I also wasn't getting the recycling time I needed with the SB-800s even with turbo packs. I also wasn't getting the consistent power and light. So then I just caved and bought white lightnings and now use those with my pocket wizards at reception and even in the church if I am allowed. Now I get the recycling time I need, consistent light output, and cooling fans to keep them from overheating.

 

Sure, now my equipment is a little heavier, not much heavier....but the setup takes as long as it did with the SB800s. And I save more time not changing batteries throughout the reception. I also have quicker post-processing times now that I have nice consistent light. I am pregnant and on my 16th weekend in a row wedding streak and don't find my equipment to be all that demanding. Once the lights are set up it is smooth sailing.

 

Perhaps you might get as frustrated as I did and opt for another solution.

Day Planner. I use actual pen to paper. And I use electronic reminders. I like having backup. The second I get a contract I put the payment dates in both the planner and my electronic reminders. I check the planner daily and I usually don't miss a beat.