The fact is that a lot of people get married and have relatively "average" pictures to show for it. I'm sure Denise will exceed those results and do a really nice job.
Dave
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The fact is that a lot of people get married and have relatively "average" pictures to show for it. I'm sure Denise will exceed those results and do a really nice job.
Dave
Of course she will! You will do great, Denise!!Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave Throgmartin
Hope you will get better soon.
Should a lawyer not take that first case? Should a teacher not get that first job in the classroom? Should a surgery resident not get to do that first procedure? Your logic fails.Quote:
Originally Posted by Slim Chance
Denise has been totally up front with the client. It's their choice, and they seem to be comfortable with it. And for good reason. Check out Denise's work.
Denise, congratulations on a very classy response to that unfortunate posting. You will do wonderfully at the wedding and I'm sure they will be very happy with your results. I can't wait to hear all about it. But first be sure to get well soon... nail that bug to the wall and keep on shining brightly.
Denise - I can see a real transformation in you throughout this thread. You started out happy, but then a bit scared and feeling like you were in over your head. But you dug in and worked out those worrys with hard work, research, and a lot help from your friends (what a great bunch of people here). And now that you have the support and the knowledge base, you have transformed into a confident and "determined" lady on a mission to make sure this works. It is good to see. That confidence and determination is what is going to make this work for you and the couple getting married. It is a pretty slim chance that you would need Slim in the wings.Quote:
Originally Posted by ddt0725
Get well soon!!!
Pat
+1.....get well soon:)Quote:
Originally Posted by Jonathan Huyer
I just want to add that I am pretty sure that any couple that gets married will prefer having their special and unique photos taken by an enthusiastic wedding-amateur with great overall photographic skills than by a grumpy "pro". If the connection between the photographer and the couple is great, the couple won't have to worry and that will show in the photos.
Also the photographers favorite shot is not always the same as the couples favorite. They might even like the photo, where a special moment for them is caught on camera, that you would have thrown away because it was blurry for example.
Denise I hope you get well soon!
Oh and if you have gels for your flashes. They might get in handy when the difference between the red-room and your flash light is too great.
Your bonus with the red-room is that you won't have to worry about red-eyes. It will probably will look better in the picture anyways:rolleyes:
Here's an update on my wedding saga and of course, a request for more advice! Orginally, accuweather showed a beautiful sunny day for the wedding day! Fantastic! Beautiful Lake Michigan photos between the ceremony and reception late in the afternoon, couldn't asked for more cooperation from mother nature! Well, mother nature has turned on me and it now shows days and days of rain, including the wedding day! Granted, the forecast could change many times before the big day but I have to prepare for the fact that it might not!
I'm having a hard enough time struggling with how to take properly lit photos in the room for the ceremony but now I have to figure out how to do some group shots in this very narrow room!
Here's my problems I am having with this room. Feel free to chime in on any suggestions you may have!
The ceremony is going to take place in front of two long windows, which gives me the possiblity of a lot of glare. I don't know how they are going to have room for the entire wedding party of 12, bride and groom and minister. I am hoping to go to the rehearsal to see how this is all going to work. I was going to have my daughter on the left up front (by the french doors) if there is room for her. We are going to have to work hard with not getting each other in our own shots plus she will have to make sure she is not in any shots in front of the mirror across from her. 75 guests is not going to leave much room to move around in. The other problem with the mirror above the fireplace is back of head shots & glare. This is also the only room to take shots in after the ceremony if it is raining other than possibly a shot of everyone on a somewhat narrow stairway. So, full party shots is going to be challenging, not enough room in front of the french doors, half windows at shoulder height on the other wall. Further down the room is longer windows but they show the house next door!
So, what I thought was going to be an alright room is turning out to not be so easy ...or am I just suffering from pre-wedding jitters?
Attachment 1378
Attachment 1377
By your description it seems you have considered most of the issues. Going to the rehearsal is a great idea, they may even want some shots from it, and you can see how to plan your shots. You might try standing on a small step stool, if you are in the back of the room a little elevation will help you. If it's not covered up you could possibly use the mirror....if you can get the right angle, you could have the couple face the mirror and get an interesting image. Lots of possibilities, I think being there with the wedding party ahead of time will solve it for you.
Thanks for the suggestions and those scenerios would be ideal but no, nothing like that is available. No porch or gazebo. Just an old house with not even a yard to speak of. Hopefully, at that time of the afternoon it will have stopped raining at least to where I will be able to figure something out and turn a negative into a positive.Quote:
Originally Posted by jrw
If it isn't raining and just a dark gloomy afternoon, there is a park with an old historic library right across the street that I think would be ideal for group shots on the steps!
Wedding is in 4 days and my ...so much has changed!
#1 - Weather forecast has changed. Now it is going to be intervals of clouds and sunshine!
I received an email a couple hours ago from the b-t-b letting me know that the rehearsal is now. I wasn't prepared to go to a rehearsal spur of the moment which would have been very beneficial ...if only she would have told me maybe yesterday.
I have convinced them that taking all of the portraits in 1/2 an hour in two locations between ceremony and reception wasn't possible. So, they are going to have me for an additional hour during the reception. That doesn't change the amount of time between ceremony and reception but at least now it doesn't have to be all done in a 1/2 hour! WHEW!!! So, I think it would be best to do the entire party shot down by the lake and a couple b&g shots.
I am thinking of doing the portraits in the ceremony room down the hall from the reception area during the reception (after main dances) and just have people come in there when it is there time to take photos.
Now this opens up a whole new set-up possibilities for lighting! I would probably still have my daughter in the reception room taking candid shots with the 430ex II. Which leaves me with the 580ex II for portraits. Now I need to decide whether to still leave flash on camera and bounce it, use an omni-bounce or use my small on-camera softbox. Or, set-up a softbox or umbrella on stand?
If anyone wants to chime in on ideas for shooting individual and group shots with one speedlight feel free. I'm just trying to figure out what is best to use with it and best way to eliminate any shadows.
I have read 4 books on wedding photography this past week or so and alot of it is all jumbled in my head at the moment ...each book tells me something different!
Got it figured out. Now, just waiting for Saturday to come ...and go!
Just remember when things get crazy and you are not sure, stop, count to 10 and then go on. Don't let yourself get worked up because of something that went wrong.Quote:
Originally Posted by ddt0725
I would wish you good luck but I don't believe in that. I know God will give you the patiance to get through the wedding and the bride will have some wanderful images to remember her day.
Mark:Quote:
Originally Posted by clemmb
You have been a great source of information and calm throughout this whole thing. Your advice has always been positive and very helpful; and today your wisdom and calming effect continues.
I have been amazed at everyone's efforts here... you all have been truly amazing.
Denise - I am headed up to the U.P. on Friday, and I look forward to seeing some of the great shots that you will produce when I get back.
Sorry to jump in here and disrupt the thread, but I have been in awe of what has been going on here.
+1! When I first started photography a couple years ago, there were a couple of forums I looked at and the best decision I made was sticking with this one! You guys are the best and yes, Mark you have been a godsend with your support and information provided here and in PM's! And to everyone that has entrusted me with the use of their equipment or offered to send me their gear, I could not be more appreciative of your generousity and friendship!Quote:
Originally Posted by conropl
I told my daughter that next time we will be able to charge so much more, rent the equipment we need and still come out ahead! She told me never, ever again! I think she is the first assistant to put in their notice before the first job is even done & I'm the first photographer to make one want to quit in such a short amount of time ...LOL! Seriously though, she has been just as fantastic as everyone here and I hope she knows how much I appreciate her help as well!
Today is the day, right? I don't need to say it, but good luck Denise. I know you will do a great job!!
:D
Yes, in exactly 7 hours it will be the start of a very long 5 hour shoot! All equipment is ready to go! The photographer, well not so sure!!
Thank goodness my daughter is helping me with this! I have always called her my human post-it note ...I run things by her, she remembers them and reminds me later when I forget! Right now, I am totally blanking out on everything we practiced the last few weeks! So, unless it is like riding a bike & it all comes back to me once I'm up and going, she will do me wonders with jogging my memory!
All batteries charged ...check!
Lens selected and cleaned ...check!
Flashes packed ...check!
Sensor cleaned ...check! I didn't realize how much my 7d looks "used" until I saw John's spankin' new just out of the box model! Anytime you want to trade John or if that baby ever goes up for sale, you just let me know!!
Brown paper bag to breathe into ...darn, I knew I was forgetting something! LOL!
Can't wait to hear about the day and see your work!
You will do great! :)
Best wishes for an uneventful event!
Dan
Shot my first wedding and lived to tell about it! But OMG ...my entire body aches from head to toe!!! They had us stay longer ...and longer ...and longer!!!
I think I have a few more gigs coming up!!! The bride's sister & the dj are getting married soon and also some want me to do kiddie portraits. Also, the groom wants me to do a portfolio for him! I guess he used to be a model (I can see why) and he wants to get back into modeling!
Time to charge more!Quote:
Originally Posted by ddt0725
Great news Denise! I can sympathize with the aching from head to toe. My back and feet hurt for two days after my first wedding. No one ever mentions to wear comfortable shoes (sorry I forgot to mention that to you). As long as you had fun staying longer, you probably got some good portfolio shots. Hope the PP work doesn't bog you down and you can show us some of the stellar shots in the near future!!! Congratulations again on surviving your first wedding!
Yehah, go you good thing. Knew you would blow them all away.Quote:
Originally Posted by ddt0725
Well, I got some good shots ...and some really, really bad shots!!!
Worst thing is, there was no room in the ceremony room at all!! Photo above shows the front of the room where the ceremony took place. There was an arch set up in the middle and the party consisting of 6 on each side of the arch! The guest chairs went all the way to the wall on each side so once I was up in front to take photos of her coming down the aisle I was stuck! Manuveured my way in and out of rows of chairs to get back some and my daughter was crushed against the wall somewhere next to the fireplace and stayed there the entire time.
Worst thing was ...as soon as the ceremony started, almost every guest was standing up the entire time with their phones and camcorders going nuts! One even had a dslr! There was no way to get good clear shots without someones head being in the way! I felt like I was at a concert!
Interesting idea, a crowd surfing wedding photographer!Quote:
Originally Posted by ddt0725
LOL, good one. That would be an image to see.Quote:
Originally Posted by Raid
Congrats on the nice job Denise! Maybe it's time for the price to go up?Quote:
Originally Posted by ddt0725
Dave
Good to hear that your day went well! Congrats! I really hope you enjoyed it and you and your B&G like your results and those of your daughter of course. I hope you'll be able to get some more out of it. That would only be better. Good luck post-processing ;)
What photo? :confused:Quote:
Originally Posted by ddt0725
It sounds like it went well overall. I know you got some good shots. Looking forward to seeing them.
I have done small rooms like this too and it is very difficult to get the shots you want.
O don't worry about guests with DSLRs. They are always going to be there. I am sure my nieces photographer did not like seeing me show up with my 5D and 580EXII:rolleyes:. I do get a bit peeved when they block my shot. I am not always the nicest when I am telling them to get out of my way if they have been really obnoxious.
The first photo posted earlier in this thread on 9/8 is where everyone stood for the ceremony.Quote:
Originally Posted by clemmb
I am knee deep in sorting through photos so you won't be hearing much from me for awhile.
Being my first gig, I wasn't sure what to say to all these people with their cameras. I did get pretty rude to people by the lake though that were taking photos in the area that I had planned to use since time was something not on my side.
When we were doing the private portrait shoot in the ceremony room during the reception, I had told the bride days ago when this was setup that I only wanted the people in there that were getting their photos taken at that time, then they can leave and go back to the reception and the next group can come in. Otherwise it is too distracting. Well, the room was packed with people going in and out, standing around, giving instructions to a point that I could not be heard, kids running in between my tripod and the people I am photographing and get this ...a guy stood next to me the entire time with his p&s taking the same photos!
After awhile, sad to say ...due to exhaustion, I think I gave up and my dedication faded to the wayside. It was crazy!
Since I know I wouldn't be able to charge more for awhile (especially to the same family), I don't think I will be doing this again. I will leave it to the pros.
Ok, back to editing. Once I have everything done and posted on my website, I will also post some here. I think some are pretty good & others, I would be ashamed to say I took!! I must say though, my daughter did a fantastic job. I think the only problem she had was keeping the camera in one shot when they were doing the first dances. Otherwise, her lighting & composition was great! Being the first time she ever used a dslr, I am proud of her! Taking photos, holding reflectors, getting me what I needed ...she was awesome!
That's great news about how you and your daughter worked well together. Do you want to tell us how many shots you took yet?
And what time you left home and what time you got back. Also put the clock on yourself during the editing and photo post presentation to the bride and groom. This will be an interesting exercise for all of us amateurs to gain some insight.
+10 for the daughter
some how I suspect she isn't the little cutie on your flickr page. :)
LOL! Is this your sweet and subtle way of telling me to be quiet now, Steve ...enough info already! :pQuote:
Originally Posted by Steve U
Or you just make it clear that you are charging more for your services. If anyone mentions your previous pricing, just tell them that was your first time. Now you have an idea of what it costs you to do it (gear, effort, physical pain, time to shoot, time to post, profit). If you charge more, you might hurt a little less after the next time.Quote:
Originally Posted by ddt0725
I hate to break it to you Denise, but after that shoot, you are a pro. It's up to people like me to leave it to people like you.
No Denise, re-reading my post I can now see that there is a possibility of interpretting it that way.Quote:
Originally Posted by ddt0725
I am actually very interested in seeing the amount of time you end up putting into this venture. You set a very high standard for yourself and I know you priced this event to reflect your experience and also as a learning experience, but it would be a good exercise to see how much time is actually involved to deliver the final product. Including if you have to go and see them again to discuss details and so on.
I don't have your technical abilities and skills, but I try to come close with passion and enthusiasm. We all can learn a lot from your experiences with this first wedding.
Most of us probably charged our batteries and sent positive thoughts your way and were hoping for clear skies in Wisconsin last weekend. I know I said to my wife, Denise is probably elbowing people with P&S cameras out of the way right about now!! Hope she's keeping her cool.