Thinking of getting into weddings

[lentil]

I am after some very real critique. I have a thick skin, hit me with your best shot. I certainly dont want to start and make a fool of myself. My main lens are the tamron 28-75, 50mm 1.8, kit lens and 75-300. I have done one paid wedding and one i shot some photos as a guest (the troy and bec ones)
Thanks for anyone who may answer

http://www.pbase.com/lisalent/weddings


Lisa

[johnd]

Lisa, I really like your work. You've made a great start to the wedding photography thing. One small comment though. It looks to me from your web site that the images are in adobe RGB colour space. They just seem to lack a little punch in the colour department. This seems to be most evident on the colour ones (understandably). Did you convert to sRGB before posting them on the web site or did you keep them in adobe RGB? Of course for prints, adobe RGB is the way to go. You've used diffusion glow extensively in your PPing. This may be giving the impression of the softer colours; I'm not sure. PS Your work is heaps better than mine with a similar number of weddings done.

Cheers
John

[phillipb]

Not much wrong with your photos, Lisa. Just remember to take a close up, a 3/4 and a full lenght of each formal (posed) shot, as the bride especially will always wish for something other then what you take. How many times have I heard " I like this photo but I wish I could see the whole dress".
Good luck.

[shutterbug]

Hi Lisa,

From the images you have on show, it look good

First thing I would do if you want to get into wedding is to get yourself a website and advertise...and call around to see if you can assist other pro's

Cheers
Vincent

[lentil]

thank you so much for your replies. I actually dont know alot about the whole sRGB/RGB thing I guess I should learn that. Am i correct that you only use sRGB for websites and use RGB for printing?

I am looking into getting a website up and running and have asked a few wedding photographers if i could tag along and assist, but have found that they arent very keen on me doing so. I dont know if it is a central coast thing or it is like that all around Australia.

Thanks once again

Lisa

[gstark]

Lisa,

Send a PM to member Padey here. I'm configent that Andrew may have some suggestions about helping you to go to weddings to help you learn what it's all about.

[lentil]

thanks Gary,
I am still deciding if i want to concentrate on weddings only. I have a very keen interest in events of all sorts and would love this to be my primary income. If someone asks me to do a wedding tho I would love to able to do so confidently. Gotta love a wedding even with bridezilla

I have a shoot tomorrow that is volunteer and if they like what they see they are going to start paying me. I am very excited by this because I feel it will help me get into the events area. Wish me luck

Lisa

[johnd]

I actually dont know alot about the whole sRGB/RGB thing I guess I should learn that. Am i correct that you only use sRGB for websites and use RGB for printing?

I'm with you on this one Lisa. From what I've read suggests you set the camera to Adobe RGB (which is probably the default) and leave the image in Adobe RGB for post processing and printing. Then convert the image to sRGB for posting on the web.

Someone please correct me if I've got it wrong. It's been known to happen (frequently)

Cheers
John

[padey]

Sorry about not commenting on your shots. But this forum has heaps of good shooters that can give you that advice. There are two ares that most people misjudge when wanting to getting into wedding photography, first one is the business side of it and the other is the equipment side.

If your looking at getting into weddings, then you are looking at getting into a business. And for 'catoandpade', we find that we spend at least 75% of our time organising business needs, meeting clients, making albums, organising our contract and full time staff, coordinating prints and frames, looking of niche advertising opportunities, managing finances, doing pre-wedding shoots....

In reflection I can see that the time commitment to each wedding hasn't changed from when we first started to where we are now with six staff, just the volume has increased. The key thing is to set up scalable structures. Plan your growth into your business structures.

Each wedding we do consists of about 4 days work depending on the clients requirements. Most of our time is NOT taken up with wedding day photos! So if you're not into running a business, then maybe you want to get someone to help you on that side, or become an assistant for someone else. There is nothing easier then turning up on a wedding day, taking a few hundred photos, handing them over, getting paid and going home. The best part about it is you get to learn on someone else's money and reputation!

Regarding equipment, i'm going to make a few assumptions, 1) you want to run a wedding business. 2) You know how to use your equipment.

I'm not an equipment nazi, in that if someone enjoys photography as a hobby, then buy what you can afford and enjoy it. But if your into photography as a business, then you buy the best tools that you can. Tradesmen don't use K-Mart black&deck tools. They spend the money on the best tools.

Look at it this way, your lenses and cameras will pay themselves off over time. When I started I set a limit to three years. I went out and spent about $40k on lenses and camera bodies, with a business plan that would see this payed back in at least three years. I sold my car, bought a cheaper car and dropped the rest into the equipment. Good news is it's paid back and still earning me money.

I hope this helps. I could keep going but lets see what other have to say.

[shutterbug]

Totally agree with Andrew

1. You can be an average photographer but top with business skills.
2. Top photographer with average business skills
3. Top photographer and top business skills

You will do pretty well if you fit into any of the three above.

Clients usually get a misconception of photographers work is just on the day, they don't release the amount of hours after the wedding we have to commit.

Cheers
Vincent

[phillipb]

Sound advice Andrew.
If I was starting out on weddings now, I would
a) get experience working for someone else first for at least 2 years and
b) follow your business plan after that.

[lentil]

Thank you so much for your reply Andrew, it is much appreciated.

For once in my life I know this is my chosen career, after being a stay home mum for 15 yrs and working retail I have finally found something I am incredibly passionate about. It scares the life out of me but also thrills me to the bone all at one time.

I do know I need better equipment. I think that is going to be a slow process with really only one income. (hubbies). The actual business side scares me. I am going to a sole trader workshop shortly to find out more of what I need to know.

Thanks so much for your reply. I truly appreciate it.

Lisa