joe_morris2

Here we go again. No we won't go away. I have never advertised on Graigslist but have charged in the past $500 when I was starting and I did a got job. I could have charged $3000 but that would not have made me a better photographer. Weddings should cost whatever the couple can afford and a lot can not afford $3000. A lot of photographers seem to think they have a god given right to be paid the mega bucks which is why they moan about the Craigslist Specials, That's what business is about and times they are a changing. Getting back to your original question, let it go, put it down to experience and move on.

<p>I we shoot couple of thousand photos and I end up with 1000 edited photos then I give them to the B&G. Why not, it's there wedding.</p>

<p>You are best listening to the advice from only those who actually take wedding photos. Starting up and getting in the game is worth $180 for the experience.</p>

<p>With ettl. 90% of the time camera and speedlight, on or off camera, are on ettl at weddings. A lot of technology has gone into the manufacture of cameras so why not use it. There is still a place for manual but knowing how to use ettl does just fine with me. Manual is not the holy grail do what you find best </p>

<p>Whenever someone posts a question you always get someone quote ( or similar )<br> '$180 /7.5 hours = $24.00 per hour, but that simple equation doesn't take into acount:<br> -time spent traveling back and forth -transportation costs (fuel, etc.) - time spent downloading, processing, editing and delivery. -time spent dealing with the second shooter.' etc etc.<br> Some people don't count these things for lots of various reasons including the love of taking photos.<br> So don't be so pedantic and just answer her question.</p>

<p>As previous comments have stated, always get payment before wedding. Just let it go and put it down to experience. I am a bit perplexed in you stating 30 edits would take 5 to ten hours and only 150 photos delivered. What do you do to the photos to take that long. If properly exposed etc should not take that long. Similar scenario to yours we would have delivered 600 + edited photos. </p>

<p>The comment from Marc Williams is so true.<br> 'A clear difference from the myriad guests with cameras and cell phones who post stuff on social media before the wedding is even over.'<br> This is why 'off camera speedlights' has become the talked about subject just now. Differentiates your photos from the Uncle Toms of the world who very often have the latest state of the art camera.</p>

<p>I don't ever send 'sneak peeks', they are invariably some of your best ones so it can sometimes increase expectations for when you deliver the rest.<br> Fortunately never had your problems, yet, but if you are confident in your images then don't do any more for them.</p> <p> </p>

<p>Is this question a joke.</p>

<p>I produce the album page using various programs to the exact size of the album, single or double page spread, save as jpeg and then add it to the page like a photo that takes up the whole page with whatever company you are using for the album. This way you can make up your own templates and not tied down with Graphistudio etc. I am currently using Lumapix and a little bit of Photoshop. Produced close to 100 albums using this method and you use what ever company has good offers on to produce the album </p>

<p>Does not have the money because of the high monthly payments on the BMW.</p>

<p>'I booked this photographer after extensive research in my area'. I think your research was not deep enough. The fact she had a large number of bookings would have been a red flag because she probably was not doing them all herself and would not have had the time to devote to each one to do the job properly.<br> I, as well as most wedding photographers, do my own editing and I deliver up to 600+ edited photos with 10 days so I think you got a bum deal. </p>

<p>Why a 70-200, a 24-70 would have been much better.</p>

<p>I stick by what I said in my previous article, any decent digital photographer can reproduce the look of film, end of story.<br> That's why so many photographers are going out of business because they are doing what they want, i.e. shot film and other gimmicks, and not want the brides want. The number of couples who ask for film you can probably count on one hand.<br> Times are changing and too many people are not.<br> I did not state 'that a photographer's style and working methods are always dictated by their customers'. They pick a photographer for his style and methods but he still has to produce what the bride wants.<br> Why would I shoot film and digital together, I don't ride a horse and buggy and then compere it to my car. I have a beautiful digital camera that has fantastic abilities why would I be hog tied and shoot film. </p>

<p> I smiled when I read 'Part of my "gimmick is I shoot film' from Daniel Stewart. Any decent photographer can reproduce the look of film from a digital file.<br> As a previous poster stated you produce what the bride wants not want you like doing. I can imagine what a bride will say when she gets only a handful of photos from a film shooter when her friend got 500. That's the world we live in now.<br> Sure shoot film for yourself but not for a wedding. Be interesting to hear from Daniel in a couple of years as to what his gimmick has achieved. Best of luck with that.</p>

<p>Take the photos inside.</p>

<p>Hi,<br> You seem to be doing quite well part time, best advice is stay as you are.</p>

<p>Hi, Forget the Gary Fong thing waste of time. Normally can't use flash during the ceremony but in your case I would have set up an off camera flash and shoot through umbrella, very quick to set up.<br> If you have any nice churches near you then pop in when convenient and experiment with your lighting, taking some friends if possible. Even better if you can do this in a church where you have an up and coming wedding.<br> If you have any popular wedding locations near you go along and just watch the wedding photographer in action. You will learn a lot and you will soon learn the difference between the good and the bad. </p>

<p>Hi, Don't bother spending money on any courses, there are enough videos available on You Tube and the like that can teach you all you want. Watch a few of these and your question will be answered for you. Canon 5d Mk 11 is a good starter camera and can be picked up quite cheaply.</p>

Why shot film this day and age. In the circumstances you describe I would have gone straight into Lightroom/Photoshop to lift the photos up a bit. I know people are going to say only film can give you a certain look but that may have been true at one time but the software these days is so powerful you can do anything with it. Would you use a horse and cart instead of a car....no so why still use film for a wedding. I am not trying to be mean but you would not have this problem if you shot digital. Good luck.

Hi, Just use a bare flash on a stand. With the lighting conditions you describe you can get away without modifiers. That's all I use when windy.

Hi, Don't think anyone properly answered your question. Keep it simple. I give jpegs , no watermark and full resolution edited. I just have the one package. People want to know what it is going to cost without having to carry a computer with them to work out what the total cost is. I get so many complaints from clients that when they approach a photographer and ask the cost they never get a straight answer, just get a load of confusing packages thrown at them. You will always get someone in response to a question regarding starting out in wedding photography going on about what you need your pricing to be etc. Ignore all the negative comments. Remember keep it simple.

<p>Hi Amber,<br> I always refer any requests to the bride and groom who can then supply copies if they wish.<br> Joe</p>

<p>Hi,<br> Some of the replies to your enquiry make out as if it's 'Rocket Science' to produce a wedding album.<br> I use a company in Europe called Albelli, I am sure you have similar companies in the States.<br> I produce the albums off line and upload when finished and they take a couple of weeks to print. <br> I offer an album as part of my wedding package and to date have had no complaints about quality.<br> They cost about $100 to produce and that is for about 100 glossy pages. I belong to Amazon Local, similar to Groupon, and they often have Albelli vouchers on offer for 100 page albums for $30. <br> An example of one of my albums can be seen at http://www.albelli.co.uk/view-online-photo-book/18f41ce7-d282-445c-a2a0-5f655365d1a6<br> One tip for producing albums is to not use the album software but to produce each page or double page spread in Photoshop or Lumapix, which is what I use. Save the page as a jpeg or similar to the size of your album page and import as a photo. This gives you a lot more flexibility and not restricted to the album software. If you want to see any more examples of albums then just email me.<br> Joe</p>

<p>Hi,<br> Echo what has been said, get an ETTL flash. You can get one of the Yougnuo 600 ex flashes for just over a $100, Don't bother with a Gary Fong, they reduce the power of the flash and outdoors in bright sun you need all the power you can get. You will be Ok just don't over think it.<br> Joe.</p>