My first wedding shoot ... Do I tell them?

[kurtwall]

If it was my wedding, I would want to know it was your first wedding. Honestly, if I knew it was your first, I probably wouldn't choose you. That said, when my wife and I selected a photographer for our wedding, we chose a man with 20+ years of experience and an impressive portfolio. Despite his experience and the quality of his portfolio shots, we were non-plussed with the results. It seemed that he had just gone through the motions, relied strictly on technique and stock poses. Very few of the shots captured the emotion, beauty, and power of the moment.

[JerBear]

A hammer does not make a carpenter, just like a camera does not make a wedding photographer.

With what I have seen above, it sounds like your going to experiment on them doing wedding photography. As long as they know that you have no experience and that you will be "learning as you go", then I don't see a problem. Well, I do, but that is another issue. As I see it, any "Professional" should not have to think twice about full disclosure.

If I were you, I would research as much as I could about weddings, timing, customs, and the typical shots taken. As a pro, you owe it to them to be as prepared as you can for this important event. You should know that wedding photography is considered one of the most stressful areas of photography. Put on some comfortable shoes, have a lot of patience, be prepared for the unexpected and be as nice as you can when shooting. Unlike the safety of shooting portraits were you have all the control, at a wedding you have to be prepared for none. If you screw up a portrait session, you can always re-shoot, and only have one client that is unhappy. With a wedding, you mess up and you have a whole group of folks that are NEVER going to forget. You can have great shots, but if your rude, take to long, forgetful, late or a lot of other things, they will always associate you with that, not the shots.

I hope everything goes well for the couple as well as you.

Good shooting

JM

[aribabybug]

When I shot my first wedding, I told them that it was my first, but I also didn't charge them anything.

Making the jump to wedding photography is huge. I didn't have a clue what I was doing the first few times, but I shot a few weddings for free, checked out a lot of books, looked at the work of other wedding photographers, and I think I have learned a ton. Granted, I'm not the best out there, but if people like what's in my portfolio and hire me, I consider myself to be up to the job.

I'd take on the wedding if they like your work, but I do wonder what you're charging them and if you'd be willing to refund their money if it goes badly. It's always a bit of a gamble. Good luck!

[Mavin]

Lisa,

Check out David Ziser's site. He has some great tips on wedding photography.

http://www.digitalprotalk.blogspot.com/

[Skubagirl]

Thanks so much for all the feedback guys (and gals) .. I spoke to the client and disclosed that this would be my first wedding. Even though it's a very small affair (only 5 people in attendance!) .. it's still a wedding. I'm honored that they even contacted me since my portfolio doesn't show any wedding photography .. they just liked my style I haven't heard from them so I'm guessing they went with somebody else which is totally fine by me. I figured they might have had a very small budget and that's why they contacted a newbie, etc. Anyway, I do know that wedding photography is a whole new ball game and I'm not ready for it at all .. I know this! I am going to work towards being a second shooter to even see if I can handle the stress or like the fast pace of working a wedding.

- Lise

PS .. to all those that replied ... there are all kinds of different wedding photographers, .. the expensive, seasoned professional and the budding photographer who is less costly. There are all kinds of different weddings too .. high end and low end (casual BBQ), etc. For those of you pros that went to school .. shot weddings as a second shooter first, did all the reading, etc ... when it was actually your time to shoot your first wedding as the main shooter, did you tell them??

[kurtwall]

Skubagirl,

Great news! Good luck. Sounds like client and photographer are a good match.

Kurt

[JerBear]

Quote:

PS .. to all those that replied ... there are all kinds of different wedding photographers, .. the expensive, seasoned professional and the budding photographer who is less costly. There are all kinds of different weddings too .. high end and low end (casual BBQ), etc. For those of you pros that went to school .. shot weddings as a second shooter first, did all the reading, etc ... when it was actually your time to shoot your first wedding as the main shooter, did you tell them??[/QUOTE]

That is a good question. I wonder what others have done. Myself, I worked as a apprentice, then was slowly given more responsibilities at each wedding until I was doing everything and my Mentor was overseeing my work. Then I was scheduled for small weddings at first on my own and so on..... When clients booked weddings at the studio I was with, the clients were given albums of the work done by the photographers that were going to cover their wedding. When they selected the photographer they wanted to go with and it was me, then I would be scheduled for a interview with them prior to them booking. So, yes the clients would be aware of my experience and all prior to booking.

Now I have over 1500 thru the lens and enjoy the work. When I trained new talent, I used the same system and it has worked without fail.

Good luck to your new challenge. If you go in with a good attitude and all, you can make a very good living.....

JM

[snowboardgirl11]

The first wedding that I did was completely spur the moment. A family friend was getting married and had approximately 100 guests present; I had contacted the photographer to ask if I could be a second shooter, to which he heartily agreed. As I was on my way to the wedding, I got a phone call saying that the photographer was unable to make it to the wedding and that I was now the only one there to do photos. I was in a bit of a panic!! I would have had a few more items with me (flashes, lenses, etc) if I had of known that I was going to be the only one there! But, the bride and her family told me that they were EXTREMELY grateful that I was there, and not to worry about anything. (I personally don't know how the bride did not have a complete meltdown!) I did the best that I could, and given all the different circumstances, I think the pictures came out beautifully. The hardest part for me was the lack of organization by the bride in knowing what she wanted for formal poses after the ceremony. She didn't have a clue, and I was trying to organize everyone as best as I could! Normally, I would have had the bride make up a list of poses that she wanted...but of course I didn't have that to go by. Thankfully, the maid of honor had a creative flare and she helped me with some cute poses. The bride and her family were thrilled with the final product....and I ended up with a wedding in my portfolio! Lots of people kept coming up to me at the reception and were all shocked to find out that I wasn't the "hired" photographer! They were all completely in awe...I guess I pulled off the professional act. Just kidding!! I wouldn't have chosen to do my first wedding that way; however, I'm happy that my friend's wedding wasn't completely ruined and that I was able to provide her with some beautiful images of her day.

[OK_to_Point]

So when is the wedding? Did you shoot it yet?

[Big Clive]

I had a phone call from someone enquiring about me taking her wedding photo's, and had i done it before.I replied that i had taken photo's of a wedding for a friend and that it would'nt be a problem she then asked what the cost would be and I replied we would have to discuss this as to what she wanted.She then asked to see some of my work so it was arranged that she would ring me again.Never heard from her since,so that's what can happen good luck hope you get it
Big Clive