Scott Brooks
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Jul 6, 2006, 7:14 PM
Post #20 of 38
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Re: [RustyB] Oh my - how much fun is this?!
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Sounds familiar. How many times do we read the posts on VU, about someone that is looking to buy a VX2000 and start shooting wedding, and how much they should charge. If I say they should shoot a few freebies first, and then get 50 or so under their belt before even busting the $1000 mark, then I seem to be in the minority. The attitude seems to be...if you own the gear...your time is worth $200 an hour...no experience necessary. Then the customers loses, when they come back and post how they forgot to push the record button, their completely untested refurbished $59 iRiver mysteriously didn't record the vows, they placed their backup cam directly behind the photographer's back, or they post a clip and it makes you sea-sick watching it.
I agree with most of what you're saying although I think 50 under the belt before breaking a grand is a bit rough. It does boil down to how comfortable you are with yourself, your equipment and your ability to deliver a consistant product.
At least Jenn has the benefit of knowing how a wedding works, and generally what the shot list will be, with no surprises. So with that in mind, plus the obvious "sod off" attitude many of her photographer friends will have about her becoming an instant photographer by simply buying DSLR, I wouldn't bother finding some mentor to kiss up to or carry a flashpole for. I don't think you'd have much to learn. I think the most important thing would be to first learn how to properly use the camera, then start practicing as much as possible in a fast paced, poorly lit, candid, environment. I guess that just comes with experience. I have a basic grip on how to use a camera, but still find it very hard to take interesting pictures of people, and a wedding reception would seem rather daunting. I'd hate to come home with 2000 pictures that suck, and try to explain to the customer why I charged them $2000 for garbage, simply because I bought a DSLR off eBay.I agree about the experience factor. When I decided to start photographing weddings last year I at least had some degree of knowledge about framing the shots, aperture, exposure, shutter speed, and ISO settings. (It wasn't the first time I had picked up a camera, but still had a lot to learn.)
I also had the benefit of years of wedding experiences ... the flow of the day, the interaction with couples and their parents, dealing with the clergy ... not to mention the drunk wedding guests. 
I never felt like I walked into a totally new arena ... although in reality that's exactly what I did.
I didn't suck up to anyone, never held a flash pole, never carried someone's bags for them, didn't drive them to and from the wedding. I simply was allowed to shoot in any way I wanted, with the exception of a few shots. He wanted me to shoot from the back of the aisle during the processional. (Didn't find that unreasonable.) He also already had an assistant that shot with him, so there was no reason to let me go with him.
Travelling to and from the weddings we had the opportunity to discuss the business side of photography. This is one area that we were worlds apart.
I do not find photography to be easier. Ok, I lied ... I do, but not technically or artistically. I find it to be less demanding of me from a physical aspect. I have one roller bag that carries all lenses, two flash, three bodies and a boat-load of batteries. I also take along one monopod.
I'm not shooting 4 minutes of a first dance with one camera on a tripod and then myself shooting a second camera, hand-held and going for various angles ... all the time concerned about the audio as well. It's just easier for me to handle than video.
And while I'm at it ... I find editing to go much quicker as well.
It took me 15 years and I don't know how many weddings to hit the $3000 mark in video ... both of them being my last two weddings ... and I beat myself to death with those two. It should have been much more.
This is my first year in photography and my first $3000 wedding is in two weeks. They know this is my first year. They know that all the photos they've seen were taken for another studio, yet they hired me anyway. It must have been my sparkling personality and boyish charm. 
Most importantly though through all of this ... I really look forward to my Saturday weddings. I have three weddings in a row and I can't wait for the next one. All three will be completely different ... one is just a punch and cake reception, one is a large church wedding with a good sized bridal party and a great reception planned and the third will be outside at the arboretum at the University of Illionois. We'll also be doing pre-ceremony shots around the campus.
I'm ready to go!
Scott
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Besides, my competition will probably be the other cheap photographers, until I'm more confident in my stuff, and not the experienced photographers in a whole different market. 
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