Hi Guys,
The other day on campus i picked up a flyer that said "wedding photographer needed". I like taking pictures so I figured- why not see if I can be used. The couple is getting married over the summer and needs a photographer here in town that wasn't professional because they're charging an arm and a leg and have specifics as to what they will take pictures of, what they won't take pictures of, how much they'll be paid, who pays for film etc. I sent her to my website of pictures and she loved the flower pictures. She said that she'd pay for all of the film which I would turn over to her or her mom to get developed as well as an hourly fee. While I think that's great, I only have a digital camera. I asked her if she wanted to purchase a card and I would just give her the card (after downloading the pics on my computer so I can start a portfolio) after the wedding.
What I don't know is:
a) if that's a good setup
b) what the differences are in cards. I know that they hold different amounts of pictures but what if she wants to blow the pictures up- does the card size matter in that case?
c) am I within my bounds to keep some of the pictures that I take for a portfolio?
Usually you would own and keep the card and just burn them a CD or DVD. It is good for you to keep a backup incase something happens to theirs in the future, that is customer service when they can come to you 3 years later and you have their CD filed away. Then there are extras that you can do that are real easy, but worth a lot to some poeple. You can make a Slideshow that will play their pictures in their DVD player(depending on age and capability) with background music. Stuff like that that takes little time, but adds to the package.
Whether you can blow up a picture or not is not a function of the card, but rather a combination of the max resolution of the camera as well as the quality of the light sensor that records the image (and its size, I think); generally, no one needs a picture at 3200x2400 (or whatever), but if you want a full-sized picture made up of a small bit of that pic, this is where the high resolution comes into play, since if you blow up an image that is in low resolution, you will lose quality. The card is merely a storage device, whose only variable is size; since most of these cards are either standardized or proprietary, not to mention that even if you get a card that can read/write faster, sometimes it's the camera's bandwidth that is limited; regardless, you can see that my point is that none of those factors are limited by the card.
Thanks for the input guys! I never thought about slideshows and things like that. hmm... that's a good idea but I'm not sure how technical I can get as I have no idea how to do any of that- maybe that's what I'll work on over the summer . Hmm.. that's a great point (the couple needing/wanting pictures later that they might have lost) i'll see what she thinks about that.
thank you for the info. about the card paradigm! mine holds a couple hundred pictures- I don't know how many pictures a wedding needs. Plus I usually take more than necessary and then delete later. Maybe I should give the bride the amount it can hold and go from there.
Memory for cameras is pretty inexpensive these days. For a wedding I'd be wanting to use the max res the camera can handle, which will allow for blow-ups as paradgim said. But big pictures = big space.
Og.
__________________ 2009: No races, No times. Slow year. So, now you're 96 cals short. You're now in starvation mode. Doomed. - LostDog
Blog entry: November 1, 2009, Pancakes LiveSTRONG daily plate log
Java - I did some wedding photography back in the day (not digital). If you let me know what camera you have I can figure out settings you will need for best resolution. Also you will need to know your must have photos before the big day. Everyone else involved will be a basket case on wedding day and you will be nervous so talk it out before hand with the bride and groom and see exactly which shots they want. Who has to be in which shots and how many candids they want. (Remember to get introduced to key players (Best man, Maid of Honor, both sets of parents, etc.) to make sure you get candids that include everyone.
I would also suggest that at the reception they put a disposable at each table so guests can take pictures of each other. Let me know if I can help in any other way.
Joe
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Today's mighty oak was once just some nut who held his ground!
i don't know offhand any of the details about the camera or the card- but I'll let you know tonight. how do i know what the max res. of the camera is? (i honestly just point and shoot, i've just learned that there is a landscape feature and "flower" feature)
edit: ODB- I would love ANY help! I'm not sure of the camera etc. She said that she would make a list of pictures that she would want which I thought was very helpful cause I have no idea what I'm doing! The disposeables sound like a great idea! I will definitely PM you as I learn more about this - thank you so much
You can check all the specs of your camera online. If you simply loook up the camera you'll be able to find max resolution and any other details you may need to know about the card. For wedding pictures I'm assuming that they'd probably want some 8x11s and well for a wedding I wouldn't really want anything with less than 6-7 megapixels. But this also highly repends upon what they want.
For special events I like to use a film camera with a digital as a backup or more for random shots. I find that film, although inconvienant, takes nicer higher quality pictures.
I will echo, everyone on this, not only because I am bumping my post count but because it is VERY important! Shoot at the High resolution you have, at the highest quality (some cameras have two settings for this) If you do not have at least a 5 mega pix, you should borrow one. I would try and use a 7 mega pix myself. Perhaps you could talk to them about covering the rental fee. You should also shoot with two cameras (so you have a wide and standard lens (rent or borrow) and an extra camera in case one suddenly breaks.
You will need a tripod, and a big bag ( the bag is so the other guets know you are the official photographer and won't get pissed when you step in front of them: you need to be aggressive at weddings LOL) also with the digital camera, battery life is a problem (and the delay between pushing the button and the pick being taken) My self, I would suggest having a 135 on had (rent). extra batteries.
PORTFOILO
make that one of the conditions of the job. CD and DVDs be aware that cd and dvd s can only be expected to last 5 years and MANY fail before then.
Hope this helps
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Peter
After all, diamonds are a girl's best friend…
My camera is a Nikon CoolPix 5700. It has 5.0 Megapixels 8x zoom ED (i'm just copying the stuff off the camera). The other side of it reads: Zoom Nikkor ED 8.9-71.2mm 1:2.8-4.2 .
I have a lexar media 4x compactflash 256 MB card
The only issue I have with film is that I can't delete the pictures if I don't like them - nor can I see them on the screen after I've taken them. the two camera idea sounds like a good one- I'll have to see what the bride thinks. Thank you guys SO much you've given me lots to think about
Gina, Go to www.jasonfrizzell.com
He is the guy who is doing my photos. Works out of home
*He set rules up on his work
* Flat rate fee nothing more or less $500.00 (i keep him for the whole day sunrise to sunset)
* I do not get any PRINTED pics Everything is on a CD and i get ALL of my PICS (he gave me a list of places that do develop nice prints not walmart or target or walgreens but bedford and so on)
* He told me on how big I can blow up my pics before they get distorted.
(something you have to find out about your camera)
* His portfolio is on the web
* I met with him and saw some pictures that he had blown up. Size of paper and size of a poster
If you need a better camera you can go out get one and do what i told ya on the phone
Or you can buy one and keep it use it and reuse it and make more money off of it.
REQUEST HALF DOWN to reserve the date
Make sure you note to them that you do have the technology to touch up and pretty up pics to.
Dont delete any photos even the ones you mess up... they may want them who knows... just keep everything im sure you will end up with 20 photos of just her face. But the one you like may not be the one they like. so dont delete them. takes to much time and effort to choose when the couple will choose anyway
We had an issue with the initial stick we got from them, but they had a replacement to us in about a week and they paid shipping both ways.
Og.
__________________ 2009: No races, No times. Slow year. So, now you're 96 cals short. You're now in starvation mode. Doomed. - LostDog
Blog entry: November 1, 2009, Pancakes LiveSTRONG daily plate log
Update: I just spoke with the bride and we're going to do a test-shoot with her dress and all for the newspaper- that way if she's not happy she can get someone else or tell me exactly what she wants etc.
I recently bought a Coolpix L1. (I love Nikon cameras, have an FG for film).
The only issue I can see you having is getting used to film exposures. It is very different from digital. Film with a lower ASA rating will have better colors, but require better lighting. Since your shots will be mostly of people I would use a lower rated film. Prints from this will be less grainy and brighter in color.
Have you found out what camera you will be using? I would also get my hands on the camera to learn how to use it. Where digitals handle most of the work for you (light balance, auto-focus, red eye) the camera you will use may not. You're going to have to learn how to use it. Remember, you only have one shot when doing the wedding. You can't restage it if the pics don't come out good. I would also practice on people more with it as that will be the main subject of the job.
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"A government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take from you everything you have."
Yep that's my camera, 'cept my screen has various little-people finger prints on it cause they like to see themselves .
I'm not sure that I want to go with film, as it's been a WHILE since I've taken film pictures.
I think I'm going to use mine- a friend suggested buying a better camera at walmart, using it for the wedding and taking it back - I'm afraid of getting in trouble with that. I would love a camera with better megapixels, but I don't have the funds for it right now- plus I'm just getting used to mine . The one-shot thing is what scares the crap out of me. This is her WEDDING- it's not just a basic party. I was really happy when she asked to do a test-run with her in the dress at the site so I can learn what works and what doesn't work etc. I'm also trying to get a photography class into my schedule for summer school.
I think your camera will be fine. You could blow up to 16x20 with it. Of course that would take more memory to do that. I would get a bigger memory card (or 2). I bought a 1GB card for my camera for around $50.
And equally important - make sure you have plenty of fresh batteries.
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"A government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take from you everything you have."
the only thing I worry about with batteries is that the camera came with a rechargeable- if i could buy another one I would but I'm not sure if they sell the ones that come with the camera. i'll have to look into that
I used to do some wedding photog work (and get paid). Then friends and family saw some pics, and I was doing a whole slew of weddings gratis. After the 7th one in a row (hey, I hate going to weddings anyway - it sucks even more when your friend is getting married and you are the official photographer). So I worked out a deal with my (now) brother-in-law - took 2 bad rolls on purpose and let everyone see those. That did it. Was only asked once after that to do wedding work by friends, and I was 'busy' on that day.
FWIW, publicity (PR) shots are easier and pay better for your time. I did that in college as well.
PS: The Coolpix cameras kick ass. Nikon's well earned reputation for superior lenses allows even snapshots to look almost three dimensional. They did a good job with that model. Sadly, my digital is a Casio Exilim - not bad, but not nearly as stunning results as with the Nikkor lenses.
LOL Kaiser! I'm actually going to be paid for my work which is also an added bonus to starting a portfolio. The bride said she'd pay me to take her practice portraits as well . Do all guys hate weddings? It seems to be that way. I LOVE weddings! I get to see what i want, what i don't want, and the dancing isn't that bad either .
i didn't know any of that about nikon - thanks for the info
Well, since you're not going to listen to me , a few unsolicited tips.
-figure out your lighting ahead of time. What types of lighting do you have to use, what kind of lighting at the hall/service/church, etc.
-get to the locations early, scout out where you want to be to take pics. Attend the practice ceremony if possible to get comfortable with how the ceremony will be conducted - take detailed notes to review and know before the actual ceremony. Draw out a map based on those notes on where you need to be to take shots. Plan, plan, plan, and then when you think you have it down, plan again.
-make sure you know just how far your optical zoom will go - don't use the digital or you'll get blurry shots! Also, figure out how quickly your camera takes to cycle and how many pics you can take on one memory card before you need to replace with the next one. You'll be taking a lot of shots. Figure about 500 minimum per wedding, at least. Given that the people hiring you might want large prints, you have to figure on best quality. Make sure you have enough memory for that.
-don't forget to ask if you can have access to the pre-wedding activities (bride getting ready, groom before he shows up). They are often the best shots, but some families don't want the photog there during those private moments.
-ask, ahead of time, where you can and can't be and how much movement you are allowed during the ceremony. Get quiet shoes so you can move around stealthily. Wear dark clothing to not stand out. Also ask the person performing the service on their restrictions, etc.
-pics of kids at the wedding and the reception = golden. Take lots. Especially the unrehearsed ones at the reception.
Hmmm, that's what I have off of the top of my head. I know I'll dredge up bad memories and remember about 10 more later.
Good luck! And remember: when you are as cute as you are, you can get away with a lot of shots that people might otherwise be irritated with having taken. So just smile, and if that doesn't work, give 'em a little wink.
PS: Yeah, weddings are for females - guys hate 'em (the recent 'Wedding Crasher' inspired craze not withstanding).
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