paula_rifaat

<p>I just done a wedding as a favor to a family member. I was fortunate enough to have a second "shooter", a second body (not needed), a good P&S (not needed), an extra battery (not needed), but only one flash. All that gave me peace of mind going in to the event. But If I hadnt any of those things I would still have done it had they needed my help. I think that is the point of a friend doing a favor.<br>

Also, a destination wedding can be done on the cheap, in many circumstances meaning that can cost the bride and groom much less doing it this way.</p>

<p>I do think that yes, one photo can capture both of their personalities and their love for each other. However, I don't think that one style of engagement portraits suits all couples, with some photos you get a real sense of who they are while others you only get it marginally as a result of what they are not expressing and the type of photographer they have chosen.<br>

Francie, as soon as i saw it I immediately thought of Paris (a place i know well) even though I knew it wasnt really. So really well done of achieving the look they wanted.</p>

<p>I really like the image that the client purchased.<br>

I kind of understand the concept the image for critique, and, while I like the pose and light, looks to me a bit artificial portrait - specially in the eyes - even the lightroom version, which makes me instinctively think that there has been a lot of work in postproduction. The danger of that, as i see it, is that the photographer can get the reputation of being a post production master rather than a photo master. But I guess the judge it all combined at competitions.</p>

 

<p>i was in an almost equal situation last year with my brother in law wedding. I was panicking after they asked me to be their photographer. But luckily, my brother in law and his fiance are smart, so they realized before I even said anything about my concerns that it would be better to have the resort photographer as the photographer for the main event and some formals. I just did bridal and candids. Worked out pretty good because it was well planed and everyone knew what they were getting. My in laws got professional wedding photos from the pro, artsy bridal photos from someone unexperienced but fresh, the pro got his money and i got experience shooting a beautiful bride. we did not have a contract, because it was clear from them that they wanted me to enjoy the wedding more that they wanted my photos, but they knew that by taking some photos I would be even more happy.<br>

My parents in law paid for our flights and hotel, but obviously that was unrelated to me taking the photos, only to do with the fact that my husband is their other son!<br>

All in all, I completely agree with the rest in suggesting you decline their offer. I would simply say "We just can afford it unless we get all of our expenses paid". Because it sounds like Jeff is saying. You are actually paying to photograph their wedding.</p>

<p>As I am planing my website, I am looking into a lot of photographers sites and I like yours very much. Stands out well. I got who you are quite clearly and that imho it is important in wedding and lifestyle photography.<br>

I realize it is not in the business tradition to reflect who you are as person rather who you are as a profession, but the proliferation of photographers and the mass use of the internet for this sort of things means that those lines are blurry. Further more, brides look for the emotional connection with the photographer as much as they want a professional who will take good photos. </p>

<p>I actually disagree with the "brides don't want to be educated" statement. Sure a big percentage don't but another large percentage do want to be educated even though they may not even know about it. That is why brides to be spend a lot of time and money in bridal magazines and websites looking for ideas, references, reviews... and what to ask the photographer. Now, the education from one single photographer may be seen as biased, so the bride might not listen! <br /> But I strongly believe that if every professional -not only photographer- did educate a bit their clients about what, why, how are they charging the bride would have a better understanding and would value more their work.<br /> From my personal experience, the most valued material thing on my wedding day was the flowers, not only because they were gorgeous, but because the florist took her time to make sure that I understood her vision, her style and her love of quality and hence her choice of top class materials.</p>

<p>I am no expert, I specially love the photos of the first wedding. I do like the 2nd too, but to me they look more generic and they don't appeal to me as much, but the photo that you have put in this thread is lovely.<br>

I do agree that the first wedding has scope for better technique (I do struggle with sharpness too), but your vision as a photographer is quite clear in those and I think that is very important to succeed in this industry. I am a newbie in photography, but I have been a creative professional for a while and come from a family where art has been the only income for over 40 years. I am firm believer that in any creative profession getting better technique wise is fundamental, not loosing your identity as an artist is even more essential if you want to be unique and stand out from the crowd. Find what sort of images you like to take, those that make you happy taking them, those that make you proud of taking, and get excellent at those technically. </p>

<p>When I got married, the photographer was an old friend of my father, a professional. He not only got us one of the most generous gifts, but he didn't make us pay for the photos he just gave us the negatives and just recommended which labs to go to and where to get a pro album. It was too much. I felt a bit overwhelmed. Mind you, his gifts are among the ones I use the most after 8 years. I certainly did not expect a gift, but it was welcomed nonetheless.<br>

If that were to happen to me now as a bride or as photographer, I would make sure that if:<br>

- If I was paying him, he was there to do a job, not a guest and therefore a gift was NOT required.<br>

- If I was taking the photos, I would make sure that the bride knew apart from the discount the only gift would be a nice large print of my choice.</p>

<p>I agree with the general idea that the heavy post processing will look dated and that so will the bride's dress, hairstyle and more. But is that so bad? After all, the wedding did take place in one time and place and everything from the wedding will be resonant of that time.<br /> I personally prefer timeless photos and unobtrusive editing (B&W mostly) for weddings. However, for portraits (even engagement) classic sometimes does not necessarily reflect the personality and style of that person and some post processing can help to highlight the fashionista in the girl, the hip aspects in the cool guy. Yes, that fashionista/hip phase can change, but the post processed photo will still be true to who they were in the particular time the photo was taken. <br /> The question would be for me, is post process editing help to reflect who the subject of the photo feels/looks/wants to look in that moment or not? If it is reflective of who they are, then I think it is valid, but if it's just because they or the photographer have seen it done by everyone, then it is just a fad that will mean nothing years later but a lapse in judgement.<br>

By the way, partial coloring looks extremely dated to me, as do certain portable backdrops. But I am sure that many disagree with me and like it right now.</p>

<p>From my experience people (friends and family) get very used to having free photos and once that you give them for free it is very hard to move to make them pay.<br>

So I would suggest you said it's X dollars but I will donate it all to the charity you support in your behalf, as mentioned before. That way she will give you some money so next time when she asks a similar photo favour she will expect to depart from some money, hence everyone knows it is a professional transaction. </p>

<p><em>First of all please note that I am not a professional photographer yet, I am training to become one hopefully soon. That is why I love so much reading this website as I am learning a lot from you guys. Second, this is the first time I post because until now I didn't think I had anything interesting or different to offer to the discussions. Finally, please excuse any spelling or grammar mistakes! I am Spanish and English is not my first language. </em><br>

Now, I am approaching this photo as I would if it were my own wedding and I were the bride. The original photo with the tweaks of Neil or Rab would be definitely the only type of photos that I would order in a very large size to display in my house as has got a Fine Art Photography look.<br>

That may be because I come from a family where all the income came through art -painting and music- and therefore I have been exposed more to Fine Art photography than traditional portraiture or wedding photography. Although I think a balance between both aspects is best, I appreciate more art perfect photos than technique perfect photos. I know that this type of photo is what I personally like and would spent my money on. When I got married in Mallorca almost ten years ago, the only photographer that did this type of photography was way out of our budget. As we could not afford him, we chose a middle of the pack professional photographer. We ended up with totally fine professional photos but without the artistic display of pictures like this one. If I could go back in time and switch money spent on other stuff towards the better photographer, trust me, I totally would!<br>

Also, I am pretty sure that my mum would love to have this type on her wall too as not only shows a beautiful bride but I actually think that the fact that she is being embraced in the shadows by the father(?) it makes it even more emotionally charged for the parents. Specially so if the hand is darkened so it does not appear at first glance. If the hand is of the groom, then it is equally emotional as shows his affections towards the bride in a subtle but significant way, which would be an important reassurance for the mother of the bride. Although, as I have pointed out, my parents are very immerse in the art world so they may be a minority.<br>

Regarding Simon C's photo, well I adore that photo but I would not order larger print of it, it would go into the album as it is more photojournalistic in nature.<br>

So, if I were the bride, I would pay the big bucks for this one large print (the original Rab L with minor tweaks). I am aware that I am a pretty specific customer, but I am absolutely sure that I am not the only one in the world that responds to this type of photos. I am guessing that if the bride and groom booked Rab -or Neil for that matter- then they are more likely respond to this type of photography than the traditional wedding photography. </p>