Wedding Photography Startup

[psykon99]

Originally Posted by ragu0012

2. Short answer, no of course not. But to explain my point of view... I saw this forum as a way to get great, free information from experienced photographers. So when the first response is in essence: "you're not good enough to have this information"... well it pisses me off. Because who does that guy, who doesn't know a single thing about me, think he is? So i'm just thinking, man... a simple cold shoulder would suffice.

Ragu0012, I have to be honest, when you come here and post your initial question, but burden is on you to disclose all the details you didn't include until a later post. Like a few others here, the first thing I thought of when I read your post, was "whoa this guy better slow down." If YOU would have included all the details instead of just posting that you're starting a business with no disclosure of any training you'll be doing beforehand than you might have gotten a better response.

I was with maxharvard on the initial response. I don't think it was said to insult you, but to help not only future customers of yours but you as well. You're bound to get yourself into a load of trouble if you try to start shooting weddings with no experience or training.

Now, as we've come to learn, that won't be the case, but you didn't tell anyone that until your second post. I mean this with all due respect: Part of communication is clarity and accuracy. If you are not clear and accurate, people will misunderstand you and will respond accordingly. Instead of responding with profanity and anger, you should examine yourself first to see if you could've communicated better. Don't blame someone else for your lack of proper communication.

When you do get into wedding photography, accuracy and clarity of communication with your customers will be paramount. I certainly hope your profane responses here are not indicative of how you will handle responses from your mentor and future customers. Sometimes we all just need to have a little humility and check ourselves first.

Maxharvard was more than right to say what he said based on your original post. He was not being pompous or arrogant or a photo snop. He was trying to help YOU and future customers of yours with the only information you had given. I was thinking it too - and that's coming from someone who ALSO is trying to get into wedding photography.

[phatpanduh]

Originally Posted by ragu0012

Wow jackass, post another question i asked to show how stupid i am.

Don't answer the new guy's questions, he's a dumbass.

You are the stereotypical photo snob. Thanks for saving the world from me! Get a f***ing life.

Your inability to take advice leaves me worried with the way you are going to be able to deal with the stresses of wedding photography without snapping and telling everyone to how you put it "F off". You your on a public forum and you asked for advice and if some people are answering questions you didn't initially ask its because there is more to be said then just listing stuff you need. If people didn't care they would just tell you to get this and that and await an epic fail. People actually took the time to share their concerns, not to prevent you from doing what you wanted but making sure you were fully prepared.


You keep on mentioning this is place as a school, well when you ask a question in school you LISTEN. And if you can't take it here, then simply put you are not close to being ready to shoot a wedding.


I eagerly await your response.

[Saralonde]

Ok, everyone's points have been made. Back to the questions of the original poster please.

[ragu0012]

Thanks for your advice. Despite the spats, I received more useful information on this forum than I ever could have asked for.

I appreciate it!

Originally Posted by phatpanduh

Your inability to take advice leaves me worried with the way you are going to be able to deal with the stresses of wedding photography without snapping and telling everyone to how you put it "F off". You your on a public forum and you asked for advice and if some people are answering questions you didn't initially ask its because there is more to be said then just listing stuff you need. If people didn't care they would just tell you to get this and that and await an epic fail. People actually took the time to share their concerns, not to prevent you from doing what you wanted but making sure you were fully prepared.


You keep on mentioning this is place as a school, well when you ask a question in school you LISTEN. And if you can't take it here, then simply put you are not close to being ready to shoot a wedding.


I eagerly await your response.

[ragu0012]

You're right. I should have posted everything right off the bat.

I miscalculated the best way to get a response on this forum. I thought if i just got to the point in my question, i'd have a better chance of getting a response than boring people with my personal stories and situations.

But it appears the people who post on this board prefer to get to know who they're talking to, which is cool. Just not what i assumed. But we know what assume makes out of me and u...

Originally Posted by psykon99

Ragu0012, I have to be honest, when you come here and post your initial question, but burden is on you to disclose all the details you didn't include until a later post. Like a few others here, the first thing I thought of when I read your post, was "whoa this guy better slow down." If YOU would have included all the details instead of just posting that you're starting a business with no disclosure of any training you'll be doing beforehand than you might have gotten a better response.

I was with maxharvard on the initial response. I don't think it was said to insult you, but to help not only future customers of yours but you as well. You're bound to get yourself into a load of trouble if you try to start shooting weddings with no experience or training.

Now, as we've come to learn, that won't be the case, but you didn't tell anyone that until your second post. I mean this with all due respect: Part of communication is clarity and accuracy. If you are not clear and accurate, people will misunderstand you and will respond accordingly. Instead of responding with profanity and anger, you should examine yourself first to see if you could've communicated better. Don't blame someone else for your lack of proper communication.

When you do get into wedding photography, accuracy and clarity of communication with your customers will be paramount. I certainly hope your profane responses here are not indicative of how you will handle responses from your mentor and future customers. Sometimes we all just need to have a little humility and check ourselves first.

Maxharvard was more than right to say what he said based on your original post. He was not being pompous or arrogant or a photo snop. He was trying to help YOU and future customers of yours with the only information you had given. I was thinking it too - and that's coming from someone who ALSO is trying to get into wedding photography.

[Photogrover]

D300 2 bodies
85m f1.4
80m-200m as fast as you can afford
20m-80m as fast as you can afford
sb800 at least 2
remote release
tripod
strobe light, stand and beauty dish
light meter
20-30 GBs of CF cards
5 in 1 reflector
extra batteries
lense cleaners
lightroom
Photoshop
monitor calabrator
good camera bag
throw in a couple filters and you got enough to start. at least this is my minimum kit Oh yea you need to be able set up your equipment to get quality results and be able to fix and repair in post production the shots that that you messed up. You will also need a quality Lab and a lot of luck!
If your girl friend is going to shoot you will need more equipment.
Best of Luck!!

[pedromorgan]

with the utmost respect i think the 2 biggest things you need are knowlage and experience.

You talk about getting bodies of craigslist, there are serious drawbacks to this. unlike film cameras where the shutters lasted far longer than we ever needed them to, we shoot far more pictures on our digital cameras and the shutters do wear out. a second hand camera may well be a false economy.

i personally dont have a problem with someone shooting a wedding on a D40. its not great but with a decent lens on the front i think its adequate.

I always recommend people actually go into a shop and try various cameras from different makes before deciding on a favorate. then i went into the shop to buy mine i had read evrything i could find on the cannon rebel. but i hadnt anticipated how much nicer the nikon would feel in my hands. it just felt 'right'. i found the controls so intuative, evrything was so easy to use.

but the lens is a very important factor. i would look for someone who was comfortable working in manual mode. some newer lenses are capable of being used manually but are not really suitable for this. (the D40 kit lens being one)

you said in an earlier post that you thought another poster had said "you're not good enough to have this information". he actually didnt say this at all. what he basically said was that you dont have enough experience. and here i have to agree. having the skills and the knowlage is really not enough. i would recommend that once you have done your classes or courses you need to spend at least another 5 years taking REALLY good pictures before you even concider becomming a wedding photographer. photographing a wedding is a massive responsibility.

lastly you need to know your kit. you need to know exactly what to do when something goes wrong. you need to know how to act and react to situations. this is not something that can be tought in a classroom, it comes with experiance.

Please take this post in the constructive manor in which its intended.

Peter

[candleman]

Originally Posted by ragu0012

And did I forget to mention that despite my current lack of knowledge with said equipment, I have a natural eye and had several friends happier with my point and shoot photography at their weddings than the prints they received from the "pro" they hired?
"

thats pretty common, a p&s does all the thinking for you, plus there is no pressure on you to nail every shot.
a "Pro" will have the skills to nail every shot no matter what, and do it with consistency.

theres only one kiss, only one walk down the isle, only one hand over of the bride..
wedding photography is the hardest thing i've ever done..


anyway.. as for gear my ideal setup would be
1 x D300
1X D700
1x 28-70 f/2.8
1x 70-200 f/2.8
2x SB800

D40 doesnt have the ISO capabilities required. and you need it because some venues dont allow the use of flash, so you need to be able to nail the shot without flash in a gloomy room.

good luck i look forward to seeing some of your pics

[Heavy Surf Advisory]

Originally Posted by ragu0012

My girlfriend and I are starting a wedding photography business. I was wondering if you kind helpful folks could offer suggestions for startup equipment, and give me an idea how much I should be paying for new or used equipment.

For example, i don't want to buy a $200 tripod when i could buy a gently used $50 one on craigslist.

Also, please let me know what equipment I SHOULD buy new... i don't know the life of flashes and other things like that.

What is everything i need to get started, and what should my total equipment budget be?

Thanks!

as an amateur/hobbyist photographer myself entering the realms of professional photography, i too have contemplated necessary gear and equipment i'd like to own.
some questions for you to eval:
what type of clients are you targeting? celeb/high end, avg, or low income couples?
what are you willing to invest and how long are you willing to wait to recoup your investment?
will you be solely shooting weddings or will other events be in your schedules?
is quality gear a concern, or will $50 used tripods fit the bill?
i know how to drive. VERY well, but my toyota pickup won't compete, not in dreams chance, with a McLaren F1.
what other products/services will you be offering?
what supplementary equipment do you have or are willing to acquire?
you are inquiring in the right place in my opinion, as there are many talented and intelligent folks from all over with oodles of info to share. some are better than others in delivery of said advice, and should be taken with a grain of salt, and shouldn't necessarily be taken personally.
-aaron