Me Being Happy!

[Song4themoon]

Originally Posted by Dacoda Image

All I can say is thank goodness for digital!

Amen to that

[hypordk]

I feel that 2K is a lot. My wife and I paid 1k for a disk with all the images, and a photo album with 12-8"x10". The guy was great but I would have been a little scared if the guy had never shot a wedding before. IMO a bride or her mother is the worst client you could ever run into in photography. Thank goodness, for my sake that our photographer was good.


Once again, I am not a professional photographer, but have shot 3 weddings for friends and have been to like 20 weddings in the last 5 years. And the one peace of advice I can give is make sure you talk to the DJ, the Priest, Wedding Planner or whoever to make sure you know when they are planning to do things like: toss the flowers, cut the cake, if the priest is going to present the couple with a gift, can you stage shoots with the priest after the ceremony. So you can catch it on film. I have been to several of these weddings were the photographer clearly didn't know when or what was going on and got chewed out in front of the whole wedding. IMO I would not recommend a photographer that missed the important moments, even if they took some really great shots. No one cares if Uncle Bob was dancing with Aunt Diane they want the Kiss.

[Song4themoon]

I want to make clear that I dont know if Kelly has done a wedding before, might very well have!! !!!!!!


My suggestion was just for the case that the answer is no.. or very little experience. For 2 K (even if it includes and album and proofs) I think there needs to be a good level of experience.

[MVB]

All good points, although if you don't live in the area, it is hard to judge someone elses market. I live in SD the average wedding is about $3000.00, $ 2000.00 is not even middle of the road. If you price yourself to high you risk pricing yourself out of work,if you price to low you risk looking inept, or unreliable.

I haven't done a wedding in several years, I have done many in the past. I'am planning on starting up doing weddings again,& would be in the price range of Kelly. The only thing I would offer is if you don't have any spares to backup your camera or lighting, you need to. You can't reschedule a wedding because of equipment failure. You don't need to have a backup for all your lights, but at least one & some flash tubes, & a spare camera body.

I think you are very capable & will do great job Kelly.
Mitch

[KellyL]

Hello...

Yes, I have shot a wedding before. I have photos from two weddings from my website and have posted several of my wedding shots here in this forum!

[KellyL]

Wow! so much discussion...and to think I almost pulled this thread last night.

I have shot engagement photos and weddings. I am sharing my work and I have several 16 x 20's of some of my shots to show the perspective bride. She is interested because of what she has seen on my website.

I also have a wedding in July, a wedding in October, and a wedding in May, all coming up, but they are friends, or friends of friends. I was excited because this one is the first one that I have gotten soley based on my work.

[hypordk]

Originally Posted by KellyL

Hello...

Yes, I have shot a wedding before. I have photos from two weddings from my website and have posted several of my wedding shots here in this forum!

oops, my bad. That is what you get when you assume. I went back and read the original post and it read.

...but I just booked my first wedding for 2008!

not MY FIRST WEDDING.

Well Congrats & happy shooting!

[KellyL]

Okay, I am jumping around from computer to computer today, so I can’t get a reply typed. In our area, an average of $3500 - $4,000. Don’t ask me why they are so high. My first wedding, I did for free...needed experience. Second one, for free....then I charged $300.00. For that wedding I also designed an album, which Mark commented on...said it was the best first attempt he has ever seen in his career! (No joke...look for the thread...right here on the Camel!) Folks love my engagement pictures and have told me time after time after time that my wedding pictures are wonderful.

After putting countless hours of work into that $300.00 wedding, I decided that I would never sell my life for that again. It was GREAT experience. I learned a TON! But I looked at my life and said, “Not again!” People will take advantage of you and let you bleed for nothing, as long as they get what they want out of you. So I set my prices. I assumed I would get many $1200 weddings...which I felt was a fair amount to sell my life for. I also have read, as a marketing ploy, to put up prices that you figure you will never get to make your target price look more attractive. So I did.

Here is what the bride will get for $1999.00
Consultation
Two photographers
Full day coverage - from salon to reception (up to 10 hours)
Formal sessions before and after ceremony
Photojournalistic and creative style throughout
Online proofing and ordering
Proof CD, set to music for viewing on your computer
Engagement session with 7x7 hardbound proof book with 50 images
One 8 x 10, 2 - 5 x7 ‘s, 24 wallets of one engagement image and two hundred customized, informational wallets informing your guest that your proofs will be viewable online
20 x 24 bordered engagement photo for guest to sign at reception
DVD slideshow, set to music you supply, with up to 200 images
150 Premium 4 x 6 Prints, boxed, with choice of borders
Leather covered, spiral bound proof book containing up to 600 images

[hypordk]

That sounds great to me for 2K.

[Song4themoon]

Well all is aleady settled There is experience and the package is big. Best of luck to you!