anna_bravington

<p>I use a Sigma 18-50 2.8 a lot at weddings. I'm in the UK though and do a lot of small churches and boutique hotels so the 18mm can be very useful.</p>

<p>My first meeting I ever had I didn't have my sample album yet - I'd also ordered it but it was a Coffee Table Book and it was 4-6 weeks to print.<br>

I took:</p>

<ul>

<li>a laptop with a slideshow on it</li>

<li>some printed photos</li>

<li>I also sell packs of prints so I had a print in each size 7x5, 7.5x5, 10x8, 12x8 etc made up so they could see sizes</li>

<li>I took example pictures of the albums I would be offereing</li>

<li>a slideshow of album layouts I had created so they could see what the page designs would look like</li>

</ul>

<p>With that lot I looked professional and they could see everything apart from the actual album. The most important thing is that they see you are a good photographer, you are organised and you are eager. I got the job.</p>

<p>I love using the Photoshop templates from Album Cafe: <a href="http://www.thealbumcafe.com/">http://www.thealbumcafe.com/</a> - very beautiful.</p>

<p>The Yervant Page Gallery software is very easy to use and creates some great designs: <a href="http://www.yervant.com.au/pg.html">http://www.yervant.com.au/pg.html</a></p>

<p>Ah you're in the UK, that makes it easier as so am I and know UK suppliers better.</p>

<p>Would definately say that the Seldex range from Colourworld (As I mentioned above) is definately worth looking at (it's exactly the same as one from Finao)</p>

<p>Another company is GF Smith: <a href="http://www.gfsmithphotomount.co.uk/sigma.htm">http://www.gfsmithphotomount.co.uk/sigma.htm</a> - they do albums like this one that do flush prints and matted pages)</p>

<p>Also, I think that Nubu England might do what you want (definately have matted albums, can't remember if the do full page photos): <a href="http://www.nubuengland.com/home.html">http://www.nubuengland.com/home.html</a> - saw them at a wedding show and the albums were very nice. I think you have to buy them through: <a href="http://www.ultimatframes.co.uk/">http://www.ultimatframes.co.uk/</a> - so might be worth getting some info.</p>

<p>I think all those should be cheaper than the Queensberry.</p>

 

<p>I think that the Seldex range do what you want.</p>

<p>Are you in the US? Finao: <a href="http://www.finaoonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=15&Itemid=44">http://www.finaoonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=15&Itemid=44</a> do the Seldex range</p>

<p>or in the UK Colourworld: <a href="http://www.colorworldimaging.co.uk/SeldexArtisticAlbums/tabid/136/Default.aspx">http://www.colorworldimaging.co.uk/SeldexArtisticAlbums/tabid/136/Default.aspx</a></p>

<p>I've seen them at trade shows and they look very nice, lots of cover options, but I'm sure the prices are good and not too expensive.</p>

<p>From looking though it looks like you can have a mix of matted pages and digital prints.</p>

<p>I've never used any of my backup equipment, but there's always the chance I'll need it in the future.<br>

I am however on my 3rd stepladder (use them for big group shots) - have left the prvious two at venues :)</p>

<p>I often do bride/groom with both their parents and then one individually of the mum and dad - I have a big checklist of group shots that I let the couple go through and tick the ones they want. They often check ones with just mum or dad.<br>

Some of the photos with just one parent can be lovely, I find they are slightly less formal than both parents and you can see the bond between them.</p>

<p>I've seen so many posts (on other forums, perhaps some on here too) where the photographer has got in a bad situation without a contract. Every single time when asked what could have been done better everyone has said, use a contract :)</p>

<p>This included weddings that the photographers have done for free. There are certain things that need to be set out so that both parties know whats in the package/whats involved. Just because they're not paying doesn't mean they won't be trouble.</p>

<p>The most important thing is what they are getting in their package - so often this is misunderstood without a contract.</p>

<p>Wht not just modify your current contract, isn't it better to be cautious? </p>

<p>Good luck with the wedding!</p>

<p>I, like others have mentioned, always arrive early for weddings but this is only for my own benefit as I know I'm there in plenty of time and it puts me at ease. For weddings that are quite far away I always leave home extra early.</p>

<p>Now, if I get to a venue early most of the time I choose to start shooting or setting up.<br>

I guess that if you arrived an hour early and the wedding couple told you that you had to start shooting there and then that might be cause for an extra charge as the couple are asking you to do extra time, but it doesn't sound like this happened.</p>

<p>If a couple ask me to stay longer I have little forms that the couple sign that authorise me to stay for 1 hour, 2 hours etc, then they pay me after they get back from honeymoon. That way there is no confusion. I don't think that even on a wedding day you should create a verbal contract as all parties will probaly not remember what they agreed and things will get confused.</p>

<p>From what you've told us, I don't think she should be charging you the extra and you shouldn't have to pay it.</p>

<p>For wedding customers to pick out pictures for prints, albums or discs it normally takes between 1 - 3 months, sometimes a bit longer.<br>

For portraits it tends to be between 3 days and 2 months.<br>

I just send reminders via email, or give the odd call. I do have a clause in my contract for weddings that over a year may incur an admin charge, but I've not had to use it.</p>

<p>I'm with Aaduki - not had a claim with them so can't tell you about that, but on the other uk based photography forum I'm on most photographers seem to recommend them and I think some of them have had claims etc sorted out with no probs.</p>

<p>Lightscribe for me too - with the coloured discs (come in 5 colours in a pack). I have my logo and web address on the disk with a nice, pretty pattern then the couples name and date of wedding.</p>

<p>I then put them in a fab presentation case, it has a space for the CD and for a photo inside, it then closes and there is a magnetic wrap around to keep it all together. Theres a hole for a small photo on the front too. Its thick and sturdy and very attractive. They come boxed too.</p>

<p>I charge a reasonable amount for discs so I think I should make an effort in presentation. Couples really like that it looks a bit special.</p>

 

<p>Mixture of both for me. I like to have several with just one wedding each in, so the couple know you can consistantly shoot a wedding and produce a good album. I also like to have a couple with a mix of weddings to show how varied our poses and style are.</p>

<p>I've been a guest and a photographer and it's not that fun. Our friends were getting married and I offered to photograph the wedding as they had no budget and it was a tiny affair. It was really hard to get the balance and I reallly didn't feel like I was a guest or a photographer, just somewhere in between.<br>

If I were you I'd just take a small camera, 1 lens and enjoy the party - who wants to do work on their day off!</p>

<p>We hardly ever have proper wedding co-ordinators where I live in the UK, normally someone at the reception venue sets out rough times, but I find a lot of the time people look to me to help work out the timings. I always meet the couple a month or so before the wedding to go through their timings and make suggestions. It normally works out ok in the end as I've had evperience with wedding so can make suggestions to help them out.</p>

<p>I do £150 deposit then balance 1 month before the wedding.</p>

<p>Why 1 month before? Because I like to allow for:</p>

<ul>

<li>Couples forgetting the payment deadline, I can often be paid late by a week or so</li>

<li>If there is something wrong with the cheque there is time for another to be sent</li>

<li>If payment gets lost in the post theres time to send another</li>

<li>If a cheque bounces, I know before the wedding and we can sort it out</li>

<li>Couples seem to get busier the closer to the wedding, so it's good to get it out the way in advance (don't want them having to think about paying me on the wedding day)</li>

<li>Gives cheque time to clear, even if they pay it a bit late</li>

</ul>

<p>Most of the photographers I know here in the UK do 28 days / 1 month before the wedding, I think it's just something we've picked up off each other and I like getting the balance then. But there are others that choose various lengths of times.</p>

<p>Similar to how long photos take to edit after the wedding, this can be anything from 1 week to 1 month from the people I know - different things work for different people.</p>

<p>I love my Sigma 18-55 2.8 - it pretty much lives on my camera at a wedding.</p>

<p>Saying that some of the primes are pretty lovely too - I shot a friends wedding (just as a guest) soley on a 50mm (was arond 75mm on my camera) 1.7 - just for the fun of it.</p>

<p>Only you can answer the question whether you'll need that lens, we all shoot differently. My assistant uses a longer lens to me and get lots of close crops as that's what he likes to do. Just get what works for you. You could always rent one and try it out - if you like it then buy it?</p>

<p>I photographed a wedding for a reality TV show last year, it was good. There weren't loads of extra lights at the one I photographed, they just filmed the day a bit like a videographer. But it may be different for your one, I'm in the UK, so I don't know if it'll be different in the US.</p>

<p>I just photographed the day as I would usually do - with consideration to the camera crew, so that I didn't always get in their way.</p>

<p>I wouldn't accept the lowering of the price thing either. You're booked for a job and for an amount, so they should stick with it. Do you think you'd get much work from the blurb bit at the end they are offering?</p>

<p>It was weird seeing myself on TV, never been on it before! But I thought I looked prfessional and like I knew what I was doing! Although the cameras weren't flattering and being a larger lady I looked huge! Shame I wasn't doing it this year, I've lost 4 stone!</p>

<p>Good luck for the day! It'll be great watching it afterwards!</p>

<p>Oh, I forgot another one that I'm just looking in to - 'Nubu England', look quite interesting.</p>

<p>I'm UK based. Some of the most popular album suppliers here would be:<br>

Sim2000 (similar to Graphi Studio)<br />Loxley (as mentioned above)<br />The Seldex Range (sold by Colourworld Imaging)<br />GF Smith</p>

<p>There are lots of other smaller companies making lovely albums too.</p>

<p>A lot of photographers use overseas manufacturers, I know a few who use Jorgensen & Queensberry - I prefer something a bit more contemporary and funky and use Finao in the US. There is also Coture Book that certainly offer a different take on a wedding album.</p>

<p>The best thing to do is to go to one of the trade fairs early next year, either 'Focus on Imaging' or the 'SWPP Convention' - don't worry what everyone else buys, have a look round and see what albums suit you and your style.</p>

 

<p>When I shoot a wedding, I have ideas that some of the images might work in b&w and others might work in color, but I don't decide until the editing stage.</p>

<p>When I choose my final selection I just look through the images and just get a feeling which ones would look good in b&w and which in colour. I would say that the couples final gallery is about 70-80 % colour, the rest b&w. Everyone has been happy with this so far.</p>

<p>I leave some cards with the guests with the online gallery username and password. All couples get the option whether they want this service and 99.9% take it. They like the idea that they don't have to pass the gallery details around, that people can just go on there and see the photos.<br>

The cards are very simple, my logo, text about the galley (eg. pics take 2 weeks to go online), website address for the gallery, username & password, plus my phone number incase anyone has any problems.</p>

<p>can I agree with the above, I give 2 copies of the disc, but I also give them an info sheet mentioning that they can and should make backup copies/back it up on their PC etc as all media degrades over time, I make sure I buy good quality discs, but I like customers to remember that nothing lasts forever.<br>

I do also keep an exact copy of their discs too, on site and off site in case of emergency.</p>

<p>I use DVD's every time, due to the amount of images supplied and the presentation cases I use.<br>

You may find people say they supply a CD/disc and it's actually a DVD. I tend to call mine a 'disc' as when I used to describe it as a DVD people got the impression it was a dvd you could put in your dvd player - perhaps playing a slideshow. As a lot of people, when they think of DVD's they think of movies.<br>

Must admit I've never had anyone call who couldn't get the dvd to work on their computers or at a lab.</p>

<p>I offer a discount on second albums as long as they are the same as the first. I take off an amount that I think covers the design as I'm not going to have to do that again.<br>

I have a few couples buy second albums for parents instead of getting the smaller parent albums. I don't have any cover text like 'our wedding' or 'my daughters wedding' so, I just get the same design printed twice.</p>