How much to charge for being an "unexpected" wedding photographer?

[cwascak]

So here's the story, sorry if it's long winded but it's at least somewhat entertaining, and I'll be including shots of my work as the story goes:

To preface, I'm not going to say that I'm a professional. To be honest, I've only been in photography for about two years, and I've worked at one of those big name portrait studios for a year and a half. I've got a huge following at that studio, as we actually had the #4 customer satisfaction rating in the nation last year (out of about 1,600 studios). I love having fun with my customers, and it leads to great portraits, and more repeat business and requests than anyone else in my district.

I was at a wedding a couple of weeks ago. My wife was the Matron of Honor, and although I barely know the bridge & groom, they were really excited to have me there, especially because I had to fight tooth and nail with my district manager to get a Saturday off. However, as I sat through the ceremony, I noticed that the photographer was less than perfect. She wasn't taking pictures of the bridesmaids and groomsmen as they walked down the aisle, wasn't getting good angles for shots, etc. etc....

After the ceremony, I went over to my wife and asked about the photographer. Apparently it was one of the bride's mom's friends who was doing it as the wedding gift (cue the "oh no!"). Apparently she had done weddings "years ago" and was willing to help out. But she was still using a film camera, and obviously looked out of practice. The use of film, I realized, was keeping her from "wasting" shots, or getting candids, and it showed. The bride was requesting certain shots (i.e. her with just her brother, her with one bridesmaid at a time, etc), and being DENIED!

I could see her face dropping, so I ran to my car and grabbed my Canon XS. Basic. Just the body and stock 18-55 lens. I hadn't even planned on bringing it, but as I ran out the door that morning I grabbed it, and now here I was trying to act nonchalant around this lady as it became more and more clear that I was stepping in.

Once she saw I had my camera, the bride came over to me near tears and started begging that I essentially replace this lady without "really" replacing her. I was panicked. I had never done anything like this before, and I had actually turned down a few of my studio customers who had requested that I do their weddings simply because I didn't want to "practice" on someone's most important day of their life. I had no clue what I was doing but I figured I could at least wing it, so I did. I quickly snapped about 15 poses of what she had been requesting while the photographer was busy changing film.
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Things were going well, but once I followed the group over to the location, the photographer realized I was stepping in. I tried my best to be as respectful as possible. I only posed people she wasn't currently using, and only got shots of the bride and groom when she was busy changing film. However, the lack of candids I knew were going to be an issue, so I quickly ran around snapping whatever I could.
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At the reception, I continued to snap whatever I could. There were even a few times that I was photographing key moments (i.e. Father/Daughter dance or the Dollar Dance) while the photographer was either eating or conversing with people. I still enjoyed myself at the wedding while getting the shots I wanted. I took a shot with the priest, dirty danced with the bride (and the groom, just for laughs) and was at the front of the train for the conga.
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This lead one guy to come up to me with this little exchange that I don't think I'll ever forget:

"Hey buddy! Come here!"
"Yes sir?"
"I've gotta apologize. All night I've been sitting here talking to my wife and the rest of the people at my table saying "Look at that jerk! He's running around drinking and dancing with girls while the bride is paying him good money to photograph the wedding! I oughta kick his #$%" But now I find out from Kara (the bride) that you're just her friend and you weren't expecting on doing this? You're okay in my book!"

By the end of the night, the Father of the Bride (who had initially wondered who the heck I was and what the heck I was doing) came over to me and told me he was extremely thankful for my wife and me. The bride had told him we had essentially saved her wedding, as my wife had made sure all day that every little crisis was averted before it happened. Her dad wanted to buy me a beer and "a lot of pictures".

I got home and spent my next day off editing the pictures for nearly 12 hours. I'm a perfectionist, and they needed a lot of work, especially since the catering hall had dimmed the lights for "mood lighting" (yayyyy). But in the end, I'm pleased with how they turned out.

Now here's where the issue comes up. How much do I charge? The bride and groom came over just to hang out last night and insisted that they pay me, but I couldn't come up with a figure. Just so you know, we already spent A LOT on them for their wedding gifts, so they won't let me just say it's a gift. They're saying at least a few hundred. I'm not sure what to tell them though. I'm just planning on giving them a DVD with the pictures on them, I don't want to price gouge with prints.

Thanks for sitting through all of this. Your help is much appreciated.

- Chris -

Oh, and PS - this experience, which I actually was surprised at how well it went, has me thinking about quitting my studio job to start working weddings full time. I'm thinking about either going freelance or joining a local private studio to see if I can go far with them.

[NicoleScraps]

What a fun story! I can't answer your questions, but just wanted to say good for you!

[zona5101]

Not the first wedding day heroic save i've heard about...sometimes i wonder if its not better to let people live with the choices they make.
As far as the fee, doesn't matter does it? The works done, you' re not going to hold out for a price, are you? If they insist, tell them "what ever they feel comfortable with". I'm sure it will be adaquate and you'll not corner them into an amount for something you did as a favor.

[Niresangwa]

Agree Zona.

Exciting story though, and they turned out well from what you posted and your limitations!

[prince]

Originally Posted by zona5101

If they insist, tell them "what ever they feel comfortable with". I'm sure it will be adaquate and you'll not corner them into an amount for something you did as a favor.

I second that. Leave it to them. BTW, awesome deed

[AndreaTheNinja]

Thanks for sharing that. lol. That was incredibly fun to read. I really don't have much insight on the whole charging them for it, so I'm sorry!

[mad editor]

I agree with Zona. And, btw, nice save!

[candleman]

Originally Posted by zona5101

"what ever they feel comfortable with"..

+1 ....exactly what i was thinking before i read it.


dont quit your studio job yet... do more weddings as the primary photographer first.
second shooting is fun and stress free... so take on the pressure of being the sole photog and see how it goes first. Planning and meetings take up a hellova lot more time than you may imagine.

[onlyforyou22]

on behalf of the bride and the groom and their family that you saved their day!

I think it be okay for them to pay you however much they decide. Since you werent planning on doing the job for them, You volunteered, may it be sympathy or what not. So technically you cant 'claim' a number.

But then you also put in several hours editing the pictures, and yes they look GREAT. I love the one with the kids sitting around the pillar. Its my fav't (well one of them).

But its fair to ask/charge them for the time you spend 'perfectionizing' it. If you were working, how much would you have made for that time frame, I would think about that number,

Awesome job BTW.

Jason

PS: I do have a friend who wants me to photograph her wedding as well since she appreciates my current pictures. But I openly told her that she should get a professional photographer and I am willing to take pictures on the side as well.

[CharlieJ]

Originally Posted by prince

I second that. Leave it to them. BTW, awesome deed

+1 - Let them pay you whatever they think is fair. If they insist on a figure, I would look around at what other wedding photographers in your area charge... and base your figure on a percentage of the average. After all, you weren't hired to shoot the wedding... the photos came out of a favor to the bride.

Make sure the father of the bride gets a link to the gallery online. He'll likely send some business your way and pay for some prints.

And KUDOs for the saving the day. You'll reap more benefits from your good deed than a check in your pocket.