craigh_bennett

<p>When starting my business in wedding photography I researched what lenses photographers usually use on a wedding day and I saw that a lot of them use zooms and primes together... eg the canon 24-70mm and a 50mm 1.2. So this is the equiptment I started out with too. I get that the 50mm 1.2 is going to be good when the light is low but really I find myself using both at the same time even if the lighting is good? I'm not even sure why I use both to be honest lol<br>

Also why do photogrpahers sometimes use a zoom lens like the 24-70mm and then a few months down the line switch to using all primes instead of zooms at all?<br>

Sorry if i'm not making sense but its something i've always wondered :)<br /><br />It's like Jeff ascough... I read his blog and one minute he's talking about using the 24-70mm and an 85mm for eg... and then a month later hes saying that he uses a 24mm, 50mm and the 85mm.<br /><br />I just wondered why wedding photographers switch like this?</p>

<p>I am definately starting to lean towards to 135mm after what you have said William. Like you said the staple lenses in wedding photography seem to be the 35mm, 50mm, 85mm and 135mm and to be honest I may need that extrea reach sometimes for when im at the back of church.<br /><br />But I may consider buying the 70-200mm when I have all the lenses I need Mario but to use that all day long is gonna kill my back :) I used to have that lens and I did struggle with it a bit because of the size and weight.</p>

<p>Thanks for the replies guys.<br>

I can afford both but the reason I wanted the 85mm was to give me that bit of extra reach during speeches etc... and then I got the 100mm thinking maybe it would give me that bit more but really it only gives me a tiny bit more zoom. I don't do any close ups so I wouldn't really use the macro side. I'm now thinking whether I should get rid of the 100mm and get the Canon 135L instead and that would be far more noticable difference in focal length?<br /><br />I suppose when it comes down to it... I have to think to myself if the lenses are near enough the same focal length then why keep both as one will never be used.</p>

<p>Hey guys,<br>

I shoot reportage wedding photography and I have just purchased a Canon 85mm 1.8. But just after I bought this I found a really fantastic deal on the Canon 100mm 2.8L IS Macro and ended up buying this too.<br /><br />I currently have 2 5D mk2's.. a 24-70mm 2.8 mk1... a 50mm 1.2.<br /><br />The problem I have now is I don't know whether to keep both the new lenses I bought or get rid of one of them? The thing is they look similar quality... one is IS and the other has the 1.8... and to be honest I thought there would be a bigger difference in noticing the focal length but the 100mm is only a fraction closer in.<br /><br />I would appreciate any advice as I really don't know what to do.<br /><br />Cheers guys</p>

<p>Craigh</p>

<p>Well they replied to me and they told me that they do not advertise any other photographers at all. They dont even let photographers leave leaflets in the store too but they said they would allow me to leave my business cards and the album and I have arranged to meet with them to discuss how we will go about referalls. But I will definately try to build a a good relationship with them by dropping in from time to time just for a chat. I am also going to offer a voucher for the member of staff who refers me.<br>

And david I have read that much of the archives that all the words are now starting to blur into one and im rocking back and forth LOL ;-) But your right there are some fantastic ideas in there!</p>

<p>Some fantastic ideas there!<br>

Yea I was kinda worried about the album being "taken". I think what I will do is put on it somewhere for To Remain In Store or something along those lines and I plan to take with me an album stand with me too. I think I will go in there but maybe have a cuppa with them and try to get to know them all. The gift certificate idea is excellent so I may choose to do something like that!<br>

I'm quite excited about this actually. I really am going to try to make the most of it and i'm going to explain my reasons why aswell to the Manager so that she knows I don't just want the album to be sat in a back room somewhere. I've also asked if they do this for any other photographers too so i'm just waiting for a response back.<br>

Craigh :)</p>

<p>Yea I have offered my photography services to them for free and i'm also checking to see if I will be the only photographer with a sample album in the store.<br>

Hopefully the brides will come rolling in! :0)</p>

<p>I have decided approach a bridal shop around the area that I live in. It's in quite a nice area, its very popular and it appears in first place on a google search. The lovely lady told me they see up to 30 new brides per week in the season.<br>

I asked them if I could leave a sample album in their shop so that brides could look at it or their friends and family while the bride is trying on her dress. They have agreed to do this and they used to charge a commission to photographers in the past but found it hard to police so they have said to me they would have to charge me £240 inc VAT for me to advertise in their shop for the year. Reason being is that they spend over £12000pa to entice brides into their store and they said it wouldn't be fair for me to profit on the back of that without contributing the £240.<br>

My question is does that sound a fair deal?</p>

<p>Yea i think i am going to start from the basics as you said and read up about running a business. Talk to me about photography and I could talk all day but talk to me about business and I feel totally out of my depth. I've never been a business minded person but as i'm reading all of your posts i'm actually starting to build a picture in my mind about where i want to go from here...<br>

In fact I have now contacted a bridal gown shop and asked them if they would put a sample album of mine in their shop. They have agreed but I do have a slight dilemma and I will post a new topic about it to get your views. But feel free to keep this thread going if you wish. I find it very interesting</p>

<p>Blimey, you lot are a feisty bunch when you get going! ;-) hehe<br>

What your all saying is really starting to sink in now and i'm starting to see things alot more clearly. It's not as simple as I first thought but the reason that I had so much confusion over the costing issue is that i'd never actually thought about it in the whole time of setting up my business and doing all those weddings for free.<br /><br />That leads me on to what someone else asked about why I want to be a wedding photographer. Well the simple reason is I love to please other people and go out of my way to do so. Even when just being asked to produce a dvd slideshow of a friends photographs for free for example. I would sit for hours trying to make it perfect even tho I wasn't being paid for it. I also have always loved photography and i've taken photos all of my life just for my own pleasure. So combining the two just makes so much sense to me. I get to do something I love and be paid for it.<br />Thats why I never thought about how much i'm going to charge. I just kept thinking too much about how much I want couples to enjoy their photos and i'd give them away for free if I could just to see their faces but i've learned business doesn't work like that!</p>

<p>Yea i felt it was alot but i wanted to make sure that before i started charging people that I was happy myself with my photography. I started off using on camera flash using one of them Gary Thong ;) light modifier things... but was not satisfied with how it looked... my last few weddings I did completely with natural light and am confident to start charging.<br>

There is just one more thing that I would like to get advice on... and that is about vendors and venues etc....<br />How am I going to be able to contact them and ask them if they would refer me to potential clients without being well established?<br>

How would I approach this?<br>

And by the way Simon thanks so much for that advice... and to everyone who has contributed to this post. Its good to get others perspective on things rather than just feeling I am the only one who is going through this! :)</p>

<p>Thats a good way to work it out and that really helps actually. I have been finding it so hard to settle on a price because I am so new to this business. someone said in an earlier post believe in my work and just get out there and sell myself basically but I still feel I need to know that i'm pricing myself sensibly and not over doing it to the point that people think, "you have only shot 15-20 weddings and your charging that!!".<br>

The thing is i could live off even £20k per year so I don't know whether to charge say maybe even £750 until im established and people start to recommend me or should I go straight in at £1050 for my basic package?<br>

Any suggestions? Did any of you guys start of extremely low or did you go into the market charging full on prices?</p>

<p>I can see my website just needs tweeking but i think the real way to get started is to just get out there speaking to vendors etc as William said... I think the thing that has held me back from doing that is i've called a few and I just get told they already deal with a photographer.<br>

I will keep on at it! :)<br>

Thanks<br>

Craigh</p>

<p>Hi there,<br>

I am posting this message to get some feedback from you guys about starting up my wedding photography business.<br>

Keeping it brief... I did 10 weddings for free to build up my portfolio... I then built up my website and researched the industry and took as much as i could in. My prices start at £1050 including all images on a DVD.<br>

What I am worried about though is am I charging too much considering I am starting up in business or does this seem a fair starting point? Because I keep reading in many places I should charge what I feel my work is worth?<br>

I would also like any feedback on how easy you find it to navigate around my site and also feedback on the images on it.<br>

<a href="http://www.cbweddings.co.uk">http://www.cbweddings.co.uk</a><br>

I would really appreciate it.<br>

Regards<br />Craigh</p>