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Free wedding photography?
Now and again I see models asking for "free" TF wedding pictures. The sad part is they get replies to these so called "casting calls". If some photographers think their work is work nothing... then they shouldn't be doing it. Mar 23 11 03:27 am Link
Post hidden on Mar 23, 2011 06:48 am
Reason: violates rules Comments: Trolling. Mar 23 11 03:40 am Link
Post hidden on Mar 23, 2011 06:48 am
Reason: violates rules Comments: Positive contributions are welcomed and encouraged. Nonsense and attempts at misinformation are not. Mar 23 11 03:45 am Link Fashion is about the perpetuation/'reinvention' of the ephemeral. This forum theme has been done before, like most others, like most portfolio themes. Like most of TV and magazines. Done about 200 weddings. Many for free. I've also turned down many people. I sometimes shoot for free weddings - or other shoots - which I feel will benefit my portfolio, or provide a marketing opportunity. So when I choose to shoot a model's wedding in a beautiful location, full of beautiful people, whether free or cheaply - hey, it gets me out of the house, you never stop learning - and might get some other bookings out of it. Mar 23 11 04:06 am Link if people with camera's would like to do weddings for nothing then let them do it if brides and grooms think they are getting something for nothing and that will be of a decent standard then let them think that way. it mostly always ends up in tears one way or the other, for the person taking pics or the person receiving pics.. until there is a major shake up of photography and formal distinctions made between the hobbyists (who do it for the love) and pros who's skills need to be proven by technical assessments (and do it for money) then this is the 'Self Help' society we live in. as it stands, anyone with a point and shoot just bought from walmart and with no training can advertise themselves as a photographer and shoot someone's wedding for free or for thousands of pounds/dollars. as long as no one gets physically hurt no-one really cares Mar 23 11 04:11 am Link GlamourLingerie Studios wrote: Zink magazine has a so called contest going were you now pay them 250$ per submission. Mar 23 11 04:15 am Link I don't know how things are in England but it must be very different for you to have that attitude such as you do. I agree with your artistic viewpoint about location and beautiful people. Clearly you have much more experience than I do. I just found in my geographical location that people tend act like vultures things are free. Mar 23 11 04:28 am Link Neil Snape wrote: with more and more people becoming 'image rights' savvy its a wonder why we are not being charged for more and more things we shoot Mar 23 11 04:31 am Link GlamourLingerie Studios wrote: the attitude is that there is nothing we can do about it unless there is a major shake up Mar 23 11 04:42 am Link SoCo n Lime wrote: Feel this to be something of a generalisation. I've an upcoming no-profit wedding shoot at an Italian castle, the bride being a model featured in Harpers - No advertising - the bride asked me. Despite 200 weddings, this will be a great opportunity. Mar 23 11 05:09 am Link Image Unlimited wrote: looking from a distance who is the one benefiting in the situation the model? or photographer? Image Unlimited wrote: if i had shot 200 weddings just like any other sensible business person i would of made 200k profit. this would be more than enough to see me through 10 years of basic living expense never mind the ability to be working full time as a photographer. Mar 23 11 07:26 am Link GlamourLingerie Studios wrote: I imagine they feel they get something out of the experience. People can value things other than monetary compensation. It could be they value the images, the experience or the networking. Mar 23 11 07:31 am Link If you're good enough to shoot a wedding, you're good enough to get paid for it. Photography is a job. I know the reality is much more complicated, and I understand one or two free weddings to start off with...but over 200 weddings and you're still shooting for free? I understand it's a great client, model, been in Harpers and so on...but are they paying the location? Are they paying the caterers? Apply the logic to a commercial arena. Would you do a full day commercial shoot for Shell because a client that big would look good in your portfolio? Maybe...but probably not. Thats just my objective point of view, but in reality I fully understand why you are doing it, and if you didn't, it's likely they would be 100 other photographers willing to take your place, also for free... Mar 23 11 07:39 am Link As a wedding photographer who are you really competing with . If you are shooting weddings for $6000 are you really competing with those shooting for $1800. If you are shooting weddings for over $25000 are you really worried about getting that $1200 wedding. Why are wedding photographers so worried about someone shooting cheap weddings. It is a new market. Clients pic and choose the work that they want. Every wedding magazine that I have looked at is based on wedding photography and not one of them has advertized "I will shoot your wedding TFP" or "I will shoot your wedding for free". Look at it this way at every wedding for as long as I can remember and I am retired there has been an uncle or a cousin or someone taking Polariods, Brownie pics. Are you really worried about them getting your work. I think that the only time I ever would say it is time to be worried was when I read a note from a wedding photographer who stated that he had been shooting for several years and he was upset because the brides uncle was taking better pictures than him. Mar 23 11 07:47 am Link GlamourLingerie Studios wrote: Why should this surprise you?? Most of the school Senior pictures business is gone, done by PWC (People With Cameras). Common family portraits are done with PWC. Mar 23 11 07:49 am Link GlamourLingerie Studios wrote: why is it sad? Mar 23 11 07:56 am Link some people feel that they should actually shoot a wedding or two before starting to charge for it. the TF weddings provide an opportunity for them to get that experience. some big name wedding photographers have gotten their start this way. the problem i see is if the bride is thinking $5,000 wedding quality (not that price is always an indicator of quality) for free can the newbie deliver? i'm surprised that brides aren't charging photographers to shoot their wedding. i bet they would get some takers. so many people looking to get experience and build their portfolios. Mar 23 11 08:41 am Link Let them do their thing. There will always be a strange selection of people who think that this is the best way to do things. I have a model friend who got married and hired me to shoot the whole thing. She didn't expect anything for free even though we shot TF and I gave her an extremely low rate for the entire thing. There's give and take and to each their own. Aaand there are people who only know "take" and they feed off of those who only "give". The reason I say let them be is, I for sure as hell do not want to work with these people and try to convince them otherwise.. Mar 23 11 09:08 am Link I'm not bothered by it. People who like my work, pay for it. Those who don't, go elsewhere. And if some n00b with no experience is attracting my clients, then I need to look at my work and figure out what I'm doing wrong instead of bitching about the n00b. Mar 23 11 09:12 am Link SoCo n Lime wrote: I believe contests where you pay to enter AND 'they' get the rights to y'r work [even if you lose] are more and more common! Mar 23 11 12:20 pm Link AL COOLEY PHOTOGRAPHY wrote: Long ago the prez of Borlands Software was on a panel with competition [B Gates] Mar 23 11 12:23 pm Link I may shoot a wedding with a great looking couple in a fab location for free, with just one condition. I want signed and witnessed releases from every single guest and worker at the wedding before the first picture was taken. Now that would have some potential to recoup the cost. However getting such releases would be very unlikely.. T Mar 23 11 01:56 pm Link Free weddings.... I don't even know what I can say except for, "FUCK THAT!"...... Mar 23 11 02:46 pm Link FKVPhotoGraphics wrote: BAHAHAHAHA +100! Mar 24 11 06:35 pm Link there's nothing wrong with shooting for free. as an artist you need to feed your creativity and sometimes that means making yourself available for a reduced rate or for free in exchange for an opportunity to shoot something new, different or creative. Mar 24 11 06:57 pm Link Paul Dempsey wrote: But Paul-that's exactly the problem. Usually in weddings there is some creativity, but not as much flexibility for it like when you shoot a model. You are locked into some pictures, and there's only so many ways you can get the groomsmen/bridesmaids/family to stand, sit, kneel, etc. That's why it's more then shooting for free-it's about going to do something that literally is work. I agree with your opinions about artistry-but that is why many people, new and experienced remain starving artists. You're selling yourself short when you sacrifice using your talents for nothing in a market full of people who do things that will never stand out. Mar 24 11 11:35 pm Link But your work is very good Paul-but I'm talking in general terms of a wedding market. Mar 24 11 11:38 pm Link The way I see it is like this. I have no idea how to change a battery on my car I have no idea how to give it a tune up I have no idea how I would change the oil on my car but if some fool is willing to take the chance on me with their car then so be it. Give me your car and I will work on it. That is the same way i feel about models asking for photographers to shoot free weedings for them. Mar 24 11 11:44 pm Link GlamourLingerie Studios wrote: I saw an ad on Craigslist from a guy who advertised that he would shoot weddings for FREE! I called him up to chat with him to see where his head was at and why he is doing free wedding photography. Really nice guy working a 9 to 5 job making good money with lots of camera gear and time to spare. He just wanted to do it for the experience of it. After I got off the phone with him, I no longer bother even trying to book weddings. Why bother? Mar 24 11 11:59 pm Link Patrick, maybe the guy ill get tired of working for free! Mar 25 11 11:54 am Link FKVPhotoGraphics wrote: Frank for President. And...just to state the obvious...Frank, you're cooler than all of the rest of us put together! Mar 25 11 12:42 pm Link GlamourLingerie Studios wrote: Yes IU does very nic work and I agree with you. Mar 27 11 12:15 pm Link FKVPhotoGraphics wrote: YEP! I just told a friend at work, no thanks on his wedding. Told him to expect 3 to 5 grand for a quality wedding shoot. He has a friend that has done 2 jobs with his camera, both point and shoot stuff, doing it for around 500. He just asked me to be there 'in case' something goes wrong. Told him I would be a guest only............now I doubt getting an invite. Mar 27 11 01:01 pm Link Photogdan wrote: I recently had an acquaintance who is a friend of my close friend ask me about wedding photography. She got somebody to shoot stills and video for $700. I thanked her for thinking of me, but that I could not compete with that price and "best wishes!" We'll see how that went. Mar 27 11 01:13 pm Link FKVPhotoGraphics wrote: John Doe and Exene wrote: Yes! He gets my vote! Mar 27 11 01:15 pm Link I do TFP, isn't that the same as free weddings? (all my weddings are paid though) Mar 27 11 01:20 pm Link OlafSiebert wrote: Do 20 to 300 people at wedding sign a model release? Mar 27 11 01:42 pm Link No, but I am 'steeling' work from the pro by offering TFP. The same as the free wedding guy 'steels' work from me.. Mar 27 11 01:46 pm Link How much does it really cost to shoot a wedding? I am looking to expand into wedding photography and accepted a TFCD shoot for 5 hours of my time. I spend most of my time sitting on the beach, watching TV and playing video games. I see some photographers charging 500 per hour for weddings which is ridiculous. If someone wants to spend their time shooting free weddings let the do it. They are not taking business from you or anyone else by doing so. Mar 27 11 01:47 pm Link FKVPhotoGraphics wrote:
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