jelly nerves...

Jazmyn76

<sigh> so i got roped in to shooting a friends wedding. they're really good friends of ours, it's not a totally formal event, they're *really* tight on a budget, and i havent shot a wedding yet on my Nikon (D80).
i've been scouring the links and info and sites of you fantastic photogs here, and i gotta say THANK YOU for this site. by no means do i think i'm ready to shoot or call myself a wedding photographer. on the contrary, i know with more assurance that at this stage i simply do not have it to use that in a namesake, and will be sticking to portraits and landscapes for quite some time.

i do have a generic contract that i made my own, but i have the feeling they expect me to do this free. i have a call with the bride tomorrow afternoon, we're going over the venue, other details and such.. and i'm just nervous about asking for a fee, honestly. as i've not done any weddings recently (the last one i shot was 5.5yrs ago and on film with my old Pentax for a cousin~<faint>). i am still going to have the contract in place, and also ask for a family member of theirs to sort of help assist in getting said listed family members all in place and the like.
their original photog was a coworker of hers; he and his brother are wedding photographers evidently. i dont know much about their story, or why they're no longer doing it.

idk.. i dont think i have a single question in mind with this post.. i think i'm just a little overwhelmed. honored at the opportunity, excited for their day, glad to be a part of it, and under no misunderstanding that i'm not going to be there as a guest, but to work. believe me. heh. i also need to get the sb 600 speedlight. ideally i'd rather have the 900, but financially i simply cannot afford it b/c i want to get the kit that has the speedlight, the diffuser, the batts & charger, etc.
i'm your normal average run-of-the-day Mom who works a sometimes 50hr work week in an executive office, have an amazing hubby and fantastic son that are my heart, and an intense passion for photography which my family is all urging me to move on with and really do something 'more' with now. the want is there, but i lack the confidence that you guys all have which i know comes with time and practice.

so.. i guess just a thank you for this part of the forums, and any other links you might glean would be beneficial. i have learned a TON reading and lurking here, and in a lot of ways cant wait to shoot this wedding, in part to try the things here i've seen and read, and in part to get more expierience under my belt.. but maaaaaan am i nervous!

Candid Arts

just make sure that they know that you are not experienced with this type of event. Make sure that they know what kind of results you are going to give them. Make them extra aware of that fact. Then say it again. If they are wanting some really nice wedding photos, they are going to have to pay. I've been in this same boat for awhile now, and to come in the next couple months as I have 4 or 5 weddings lined up to do. But am il-experienced having only done 3 weddings, and am still learning PP skills. If you are going to charge them, make sure that your pictures are worth charging for, as this even cannot be re-ran to shoot again. This is the exact same stuff that people on here have been telling me for the past month or so.

Here is a thread I started like two days ago, that I believe has some great info for your situation. Maybe...

Hope that helps. And good luck on the wedding!

Jazmyn76

thank you! i did see your thread, which actually prompted me to write this one.. heh. and yes, i think we'll have more to talk about tomorrow afternoon than she's anticipating.. heh. i dont want to charge much, but i know that i'll be doing a LOT of work and running around, and post processing on my own nickel, so to speak. my own time is a tad limited due to my 'normal' life, which is part of why i have not taken on weddings at all yet. but this is a good friend in need...
i'm excited to do it, but also a tad on the nervous side. i think i'd be crazy not to be, truly. it's not -as everyone here says- a day that can be re-shot.

Candid Arts

One thing I'm doing for a friend's wedding in May, is going to the wedding, as a friend, and taking some photos while there. Not paid obviously as I'm just going as a friend with a really nice camera. But, he is paying me for the editing later on. I charged him for two hours worth of editing. This might be something you might want to consider?

cj99si

Do this.... Tell her her want to do it but you need the speedlight to do it right. So trade the speedlight for the work. Then its more like your both doing each other a favor because no actual money was exchanged. Its like giving a buddy beer and pizza to come over to help you do whatever you dont want to pay a professional to do..... Your a Girl I understand but I figured you would get what Im trying to say.

Also get the speedlight soon so you can practice with it.

Jazmyn76

cj99si wrote:

Do this.... Tell her her want to do it but you need the speedlight to do it right. So trade the speedlight for the work. Then its more like your both doing each other a favor because no actual money was exchanged. Its like giving a buddy beer and pizza to come over to help you do whatever you dont want to pay a professional to do..... Your a Girl I understand but I figured you would get what Im trying to say.

Also get the speedlight soon so you can practice with it.

that's honestly what i was thinking of.. that's a fair trade, right?

cj99si

Jazmyn76 wrote:

that's honestly what i was thinking of.. that's a fair trade, right?

in this situation absolutely.

Shima

cj99si wrote:

in this situation absolutely.

I did my first wedding for the price of a 580EX II. I purchased the flash a week before the wedding and played around with it nonstop. Definitely a good idea!

Jazmyn76

Thank you all for your feedback! i'll let you know how the call this afternoon goes!

sherijohnson

cj99si wrote:

Do this.... Tell her her want to do it but you need the speedlight to do it right. So trade the speedlight for the work. Then its more like your both doing each other a favor because no actual money was exchanged. Its like giving a buddy beer and pizza to come over to help you do whatever you dont want to pay a professional to do..... Your a Girl I understand but I figured you would get what Im trying to say.

Also get the speedlight soon so you can practice with it.

this is EXACTLY what I was thinking!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jazmyn76

played phone tag all afternoon w/her Monday, finally got ahold of her last night. we're driving out to the church and then going to the country club where the reception will be later this afternoon (after i get out of work) and i'll have camera in hand so i'll pop off a few test shots just to see..
i'll also be talking to her on the almost-40-minute drive to the church and presenting her with the idea mentioned above.
keep your fingers crossed!

cj99si

Jazmyn76 wrote:

played phone tag all afternoon w/her Monday, finally got ahold of her last night. we're driving out to the church and then going to the country club where the reception will be later this afternoon (after i get out of work) and i'll have camera in hand so i'll pop off a few test shots just to see..
i'll also be talking to her on the almost-40-minute drive to the church and presenting her with the idea mentioned above.
keep your fingers crossed!

Good luck! It should be just fine if shes your friend.

Jazmyn76

they're paying for the speedlight. :ivar

also got to see the church & reception venues and snapped a few test shots just for light and such. they're actually both pretty good locations as far as lots and lots of windows for natural light to come in, so i'm kinda lucky there. still getting the speedlight though, rather be safe than sorry.

cj99si

Jazmyn76 wrote:

they're paying for the speedlight. :ivar <whew> <img src="https://us.v-cdn.net/6029383/emoji/thumb.gif&quot; border="0" alt="" >

also got to see the church & reception venues and snapped a few test shots just for light and such. they're actually both pretty good locations as far as lots and lots of windows for natural light to come in, so i'm kinda lucky there. still getting the speedlight though, rather be safe than sorry. <img src="https://us.v-cdn.net/6029383/emoji/mwink.gif&quot; border="0" alt="" >

Great news, Im glad it worked out!

hoghead

Jazmyn76 wrote:

<SIGH> so i got roped in to shooting a friends wedding. they're really good friends of ours, it's not a totally formal event, they're *really* tight on a budget, and i havent shot a wedding yet on my Nikon (D80).
i've been scouring the links and info and sites of you fantastic photogs here, and i gotta say THANK YOU for this site. by no means do i think i'm ready to shoot or call myself a wedding photographer. on the contrary, i know with more assurance that at this stage i simply do not have it to use that in a namesake, and will be sticking to portraits and landscapes for quite some time.

i do have a generic contract that i made my own, but i have the feeling they expect me to do this free. i have a call with the bride tomorrow afternoon, we're going over the venue, other details and such.. and i'm just nervous about asking for a fee, honestly. as i've not done any weddings recently (the last one i shot was 5.5yrs ago and on film with my old Pentax for a cousin~<FAINT>). i am still going to have the contract in place, and also ask for a family member of theirs to sort of help assist in getting said listed family members all in place and the like.
their original photog was a coworker of hers; he and his brother are wedding photographers evidently. i dont know much about their story, or why they're no longer doing it.

idk.. i dont think i have a single question in mind with this post.. i think i'm just a little overwhelmed. honored at the opportunity, excited for their day, glad to be a part of it, and under no misunderstanding that i'm not going to be there as a guest, but to work. believe me. heh. i also need to get the sb 600 speedlight. ideally i'd rather have the 900, but financially i simply cannot afford it b/c i want to get the kit that has the speedlight, the diffuser, the batts & charger, etc.
i'm your normal average run-of-the-day Mom who works a sometimes 50hr work week in an executive office, have an amazing hubby and fantastic son that are my heart, and an intense passion for photography which my family is all urging me to move on with and really do something 'more' with now. the want is there, but i lack the confidence that you guys all have which i know comes with time and practice.

so.. i guess just a thank you for this part of the forums, and any other links you might glean would be beneficial. i have learned a TON reading and lurking here, and in a lot of ways cant wait to shoot this wedding, in part to try the things here i've seen and read, and in part to get more expierience under my belt.. but maaaaaan am i nervous!

Might want to take a look at this site. It's got some good tips.

http://digital-photography-school.com/wedding-photography-21-tips-for-for-amateur-wedding-photographers