now i see

[eNZee]

Now I see why lots of experienced photographers say to have backup for all equipment when shooting an event like a wedding.
I went to a wedding last night and like the dork that I am - I HAD to check out the photographer and equipment he was using and his tactics...well as the bridal party gets introduced and parents walk in - its obvious his FLASH goes kaput. lets just say he didnt look happy. he ended up using the popup flash. THroughout the night - still no flash. While observing him - he totally did not look prepared and was totally scattered. No assistant either. Wasnt even very interactive. So many opportunities for good shots and all gone to drain.....seriously, like seriously - how do guys like this get the job.

UGH!!!!! oh and let me not mention the engagement pics on display - just a complete distaster. oh and how about the picture he had up displayed of the bride and groom on the wall taken earlier in the day - the shine coming off the bride and grooms faces were horrible and was NOT flattering at all. lets just say if i was the bride id be telling him to take the photo DOWN.
BTW - is there any way to minimize that kind of appearance while taking photos of people?

at the same time - when i go to these weddings and i observe what the photographer is doing, i learn from it as well because one day when im doing weddings ill know what NOT to do. (i guess you can only learn so much from the sidelines though, but at least its something)

ok so mini rant over.
thanks for listening.........or reading i should say

[RexK_Cozumel]

They offer their services for next to nothing. People just need to realize that for the most part with photographers like pretty much everything else in the world you get what you pay for.

As for how to avoid shine. Careful positioning of the the lights/people will take care of that. Remember that a person's face will have some oil on it which will cause the face to give off direct reflection. This is what is causes the shine on a person's face. So to avoid this you can light the face like you would light a metal sphere. Or you can have the MUA take care of the oily faces.

[Samanax]

On another forum there was a thread about how some people will buy their very first DSLR and want to go into business as a photographer even though they know next to nothing about photography. They do events, like weddings, with the kit lens and no flash and have no backup equipment and the pictures look like a complete novice took them and they charge the poor people for their services. Of course the real professional photographers on the forum voiced a lot of opinions on this but what could they do...there are people who want quality and are willing to pay for it...and there are people looking for a bargain and want to spend as little as possible...even for wedding photographs.

[eNZee]

Originally Posted by RexK_Cozumel

So to avoid this you can light the face like you would light a metal sphere. Or you can have the MUA take care of the oily faces.

how would you light a metal sphere? and whats MUA? sorry i need an explanation to better visualize this

Originally Posted by Samanax

and there are people looking for a bargain and want to spend as little as possible...even for wedding photographs.

well like rex said above - you get what you pay for.

i have yet another wedding next week to go to - so we'll see what happens there.

[Gado]

MUA make up artist

[eNZee]

Originally Posted by Gado

MUA make up artist

OH - ooops. that should have been a no-brainer but it flew right past me. LOL
thanks !!

[SusanH1970]

Yikes....(shudders)

When I started my business doing family and kid portraits, I had a few friends ask me when (not "if") I was going to start doing weddings. I said definitely not now and most likely not ever. They thought I was crazy until I explained to them that:

1. I don't have the equipment
2. I don't have the experience
3. There's no chance for a reshoot if I screw up because of 1 and 2.

It's really too bad that that photographer wasn't prepared, and it's too bad the bridal couple hired him.

[eNZee]

Originally Posted by SusanH1970

I said definitely not now and most likely not ever. They thought I was crazy until I explained to them that:

1. I don't have the equipment
2. I don't have the experience
3. There's no chance for a reshoot if I screw up because of 1 and 2.

It's really too bad that that photographer wasn't prepared, and it's too bad the bridal couple hired him.

i dont think you should shut down the idea of doing it though. theres equipment rental and i've seen some of your work and i like it. theres one pic that always sticks in my mind. i dont have wedding experience either but if someone gave me a chance i'll be honest - i wouldnt pass it up. not by a long shot. id give them the heads up that ive never done a wedding before and if they still decided to go with me i wouldnt shut down the thought at all. id be nervous no doubt but if i dont start somewhere i'll never get to where i want to be. unfortunately i havent been give my break yet (and not like i've been looking for it yet either because ive been more focused on getting things organized to market myself) but eventually ill be where i want to be. in the meantime i just practice and practice. but i guess it all depends on individual people and where they want to go with things. its not in everyones comfort level whatever their reason may be. right?

... Suddenly the harshness and brashness of mine and Jim Bryan't advice doesn't seem so bad in the grand scheme of things, eh?




I worry about the client more than the photography... ESPECIALLY when it comes to weddings... you can't replicate that.

Well, I mean a girl only gets married 3 or 4 times in her life, so you get a few chances.

[SusanH1970]

Originally Posted by maxharvard

Well, I mean a girl only gets married 3 or 4 times in her life, so you get a few chances.

Now THAT's funny.