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Ever Feel Overwhelmed?
Scootersbabygirl
Registered Users Posts: 224 Major grins
This spring I booked a wedding from a person who is out of state. She and her soon-to-be are traveling to Vermont to get married, as the groom was born and raised here. During the initial conversations I was led to believe that the wedding was fairly small. I received the contract back around 6 weeks ago and started to get an inkling that the wedding was bigger than I thought. Now I know exactly how big this wedding is, and how formal, and I'm actually feeling really overwhelmed. I've done four weddings on my own at this point and none of them have been this formal. The bride is being VEERRRYY specific in the shots that she wants and I'm actually worried that I won't be able to deliver.
I have faith in my work, and I am a bit excited, but I wanted to ask if anyone else has ever felt a bit overwhelmed when approaching a specific wedding?
I have faith in my work, and I am a bit excited, but I wanted to ask if anyone else has ever felt a bit overwhelmed when approaching a specific wedding?
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When I first began doing weddings 5 years ago, I felt overwhelmed at almost every wedding for the first 5 or 6. Confidence grew with experience. I still occasionally get keyed up when a bride seems very picky, or wants to control every aspect of the photos to be taken. My portfolio is extensive enough that my couples have a really good idea of my style. It's when the client has a different style in mind that I end up feeling (and sometime suggesting) that they would be better off with another photog.
My suggestion is to do the best you can with your head held high. Chances are that the bride will end up with most of the shots she wanted, some that she did not expect but will love, and will likely not remember any that she did not get. I would also strongly suggest having a 2nd shooter with you. There will be much less of a chance that something will be missed.
Good luck!
Don't worry. I can fix you in photoshop.
What does your contract say??? If you asked the questions and they ether didn't know or miss-lead you, that's one thing, if you didn't ask that's an other.
Lets say you have a contact designed for a small 50 person wedding and 6 hours coverage and has been signed by the couple. Then as things develop you discover there will be 300 guests, and will require 10 hours to provide the coverage they are expecting.
What to do?? Easy...............you sit down and talk to to them, immediately. Discuss your concerns with the changes and increased demands on photography. Emphasize your concern with providing the best possible coverage.
If you need a second shooter and additional time add that to the contract and have them initial the changes.
While you can take a list of shots she wants make sure she understands that she or someone she designates is responsible for herding all the guests, relatives for the formal shots. As for any candid shots let her know while you can try, you can't guarantee getting every candid she requests. Explain all the things that can go wrong.
If she is, as you say she is being VEERRRYY specific in the shots that she wants, she won't forget what she requested.
Manage expectations! Learned this the hard way.
Sam
My Gear
My Websites - Personal www.ericsmemories.com |"Professional" www.vividphotography.org
My Favorite Photos - Chicago, NYC, DC, London, Prague, Alaska, Yellowstone, Glacier NP, Vermont, Mt. Rushmore, Badlands NP, The Appalachian Trail
Now, if you're talking about feeling overwhelmed about making my job pay the bills and pay for retirement etc? Yes, definitely overwhelmed.
;-)
=Matt=
My SmugMug Portfolio • My Astro-Landscape Photo Blog • Dgrin Weddings Forum
I don't do a lot of weddings, only a few per year, so I've only got about 15 under my belt. The first 10 caused me great anxiety. Despite that, they went well, and everyone was happy with the photos. Now I just get excited about weddings (although I'm not ready to start shooting them all the time).
Manage expectations for ANY wedding you shoot. Things can happen, people can decide not to cooperate, many things are not in your control. The more time you spend on posed shots, the less time you'll have for candids, etc. If the couple has seen a start to finish example of a wedding you have shot, they probably know what to expect.
I had a couple make a long list of shots they wanted, and when it came down to the wedding day we didn't do them all. They had compiled a list based on suggestions from websites and friends, but decided they didn't care that much in the end.
Caroline
What I feel overwhelmed about is all this editing and order fulfillment that never ends.
Exactly some times I have less than 5mins with them!
Amen sister!!!
Don't worry. I can fix you in photoshop.