Two questions?

Question

Hey fellow photographers!

I have done several weddings and it's NOT my cup of tea..anyone else hate shooting weddings??

Also i haven't done head shots yet but i have been asked to....any tips you can offer...it seems pretty basic:)

TIA!

http://www.imagiyephotography.com

EXACTLY why i hate doing them:) Thanks for your tips!!

Maybe i shouldn't use the word "hate" but i certainly dislike doing them...actually i booked two a few months ago that i m still going to do but i removed the service from my website.

AND thanks for the feedback on my prices!!

My personal preference has nothing to do with money...i mean i love to work and see the images come to life so it' s not that aspect and because it can be easy money you would think i would like it and want to do it. I think it's because for me it's not as "intimate" and personal like it is when shooting family portraits or one on one with a model for fashion photography. It's the stress and the fact that you can't mess up because the photos are some of the most important one's they'll have done in their life. I don't want to be responsible for that HOWever perhaps after being in the field for awhile longer and becoming more confident it may spark my interest:)

Answer 1

You do good work. And your style would lend itself well to weddings. But I don't blame you. I hated shooting them too.

I just raised my prices on weddings so high I thought no one would hire me. But my workload increased. Go figure! I thought if you make enough money doing something sometimes it becomes more bearable. It didn't for me. Eventually I just didn't offer to shoot them anymore at all.

Head shots wouldn't have to be too boring. It looks like you will find a way to make them fun. Keep up the good work.

Answer 2

For your next wedding assignment, do the required shots as you see fit, but you can really enhance your experience as a photographer and the couple's results by including a lot of informal shots - the bride and others getting ready, for example. A pensive shot of the person who will be performing the ceremony is nice.

Follow some kids around and shoot from their perspective for a little while. Sit and talk with someone (grandma would be a good choice) for a bit and shoot during the conversation (it's best to have a helper for that one). Shoot parts of the church or other surroundings, even the line of cars outside if it's a large wedding.

In other words, find little details of things that are happening on this very busy day and record them. The bride will have missed most of them because she is so wrapped in a different universe at the time. Your photos may be the only recollection that she has of Uncle Bob and Aunt Sue's little girl or the splendor of the food table before it was attacked.

As for head shots - I always prefer a short telephoto for these. For a 35mm camera, I would use a 105 mm lens, which translates to a 70mm for digitals to get the same view angle. With a short tele I feel that the perspective is better (no enlarged noses) and that it's much easier to frame and isolate just what you want to show. With shorter lenses I always feel as though I'm crawling up someone's nose in order to get close enough to take a decent shot.

Answer 3

my self I love shooting weddings. I get to meet new people and get do something I love. I love to control the shoots and also get to shoot candid.
if you shoot your next wedding take extra film and shoot some head shoots there and get use to it. I think most photographers don't like doing weddings is because it is allot of work and they want easier money. To me when you get a great group of pictures from a wedding you feel good for all your hard work.

Answer 4

i love to attend weddings, and i like to shoot at weddings, but not as the photographer...i really feel for the photographer because there is so much going on and children running about at the receptions and people eating and dancing...getting good shots as an armature friend is a challenge, as a pro i imagine it can be a nightmare.

Answer 5

i do weddings reluctantly, cant be bothered with people shots really, i prefer structures and animals - no egos to deal with

your issue appears to be your doing what everyone else is doing - weddings and portraits - deversify......

your rates seem a bit low also?

i cant say i hate weddings but they take alot of time and really the market is full of wedding shooters where i am

head shots, use some flash to sparkle the eyes is about all i know

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Answer 6

I wouldn't shoot a wedding. Too much pressure, and too many expectations. Your equipment can fail you too.
On head shots, lighting is everything. Get two highlights in the eyes. Don't use flash, use floods on light stands. Use bulbs that are near sunlight temperature, 5500 degrees kelvin.