lee_morley

<p>I've never shot tables in the way described either<br>

I also don't stay until the bitter end - but I always ask the B&G first if they need anything else<br>

Finally, I don't want to be harsh, but it was your wedding so you needed to be clear with your supplier that you both understood expectations and it doesn't sound like you did.</p>

<p>Looking at your description he doesn't seem to have done anything inappropriate - just had different expectations from yourselves</p>

<p>photoguard, hiscox, aaduki<br>

I think they all cover just equipment on a worldwide basis if required<br>

I'm with photoguard, but then again I have pro cover so more than you will require</p>

<p>given the choice between IT - which I have done for 25 years, and wedding photography which I've been doing for 5 years, I'd pick wedding photography anyday.</p>

<p>There is no more stress involved in weddings than there is in dealing with corporate fools<br>

You are in charge of what you deliver - no one else can blame you for their mistakes and vice versa<br>

You don't have to sit in an office for 8 hours dealing with fools<br>

You are trying to provide something to a client that they want - unlike in an office where you are dealing with corporate fools<br>

did i mention corporate fools?<br>

seriously, your clients are (usually) on the happiest day of their lives, the difficulties can be worked out if you know what you are doing, and if you are any good at business you can be successful and don't have to rely on anyone else</p>

<p>Now - why would you NOT want to be a photographer? Maybe brides in US are generally less nice than the ones we get in dear old Blighty (thats the UK if you didn't know)</p>

It wasn't meant to be a crushing comment - that must be my Yorkshire bluntness coming out - sorry if my comment was taken in such a way - you Yanks need to be a bit less sensitive.

What I was trying to say was you should know what YOU need to know to make the day a success, everyone has their own ideas - hence why I did suggest subjects I would cover - but it is what YOU need to know, rather than what I might need to know. Good luck whatever happens anyway, and regardless of whether you think I'm a git or not :-)

Best bet is to contact wedding photographers directly. If you respond via a website you'll be one against hundreds (believe me - I got over 500 replies to a tentative advert looking for an assistant).

Also, look out for a new exciting way to get into wedding photography coming soon - can't say much more yet but keep an eye out on the forums towards end of this year and into 2009

if you don't know what to ask are you sure you are ready to be primary shooter and also to run your own business? Sorry to sound harsh, but if you have been second shooting you should already know what you need to know about the day.

Having said that the first meeting is to sell yourself personally and artistically, not necessarily to get a booking. I rarely get a booking when I meet up, because my cleints like to see my work and meet me, and then have a talk between themselves.

If you really need to know what to ask, ask about timings, locations, special requests, special guests (I have one next year where the special guest is the bride's horse!), specific shots, schedule for the day.

Lee

Sorry but I have to agree with the other responses - I hate that website - I didn't even find the hidden menus! and after waiting 40 seconds to get anything other than a slide show I gave up. where are the services you offer, where are you located, what can you do for me? The website seems to be just a set of photos with nothing commercial behind it.

make it simple, have easily visible menus, be clear what you offer and where you are

being successful in photography is about being a great business man or woman, not about having a cool website

Lee

I don't understand this holding on to images as they are 'yours' idea. I know it stems from the days of holding

negatives, but nowadays there is no justification beyond ego and a desire to make more money. The concept of

saying its yours after its been paid for by the client is like picasso charging for a work of art then only providing a

print and not the original.

Charge a decent amount for a sitting in the first place and let them do what they want. If they print it on a cheap

inkjet and stick it on the fridge that means they like it and will probably recommend you to their friends - who would

probably have as much idea about WB and colour correction as my mum! Get over yourselves and get into the 21st

century!

I suspect travelling from Carmel to Hampshire in the UK might make it a bit financially non-viable though :-)

Lee

Hi Fred

In wedding photography, Thursdays in June aren't really classed as mid-week, more the beginning of a long busy

weekend!

You can get some discount for Thursdays - we for example, would give between 10-15%, but if anyone was willing to

drop by more than that I'd walk away - it's a fine line between getting a good deal and getting a disaster. If a

photographer is that desperate for work that they will drop that amount, you need to ask why they are so desparate

in the middle of the season!

Anyway, good luck searching, and check out our website a - even if we don't suit you it

will give you an idea of what we can offer to compare against others

HTH

Lee

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