What have i signed myself up for. Looking for wedding info/help

mobileblog

I got a phone call out of the blue in the middle of the week asking if i was a photographer. I couldn’t really talk as i was at work, but basically they wanted to know what packages i had and so on. Told them that i was slightly shocked by the call and would have some figures for them in a few days and to call back.
Today i was caught off guard again. Phone rang and i gave them a figure of 500, she sounded surprise, realizing that i had just shot myself in the foot i told her 500 for the day then 300 or so for the prints and books etc. Questioned what the others had quoted and it was between 1-2k.
Now she knows that this would be my first wedding, (The way that i think she’s looking at it is, they get a cheapish photographer and i get the experience. win - win) I’ have told her that we’d need to bounce idea’s to she what she was looking for. Apparently it was word of mouth and they liked the pics on flickr.
Then just got a call tonight and they want to meet me face to face on Sunday to talk about the wedding and to see some prints.
The wedding isn’t until next year which give’s me time to get my practice in and work on being able to direct people where i want them (my biggest problem)

So I’m looking for some advice here
I guess i need to tell them what they want to hear , whilst being realistic, in order to get the job.
Is there anything i should bring up with then, they are both around 25 or so.
I was thinking about the wedding book last night ( seen a few links in the archive here) I like the touch friendly/wipeable cardboard style books. What would be popular at the moment?
Should i mention to them that i’d like to do some mock shots/test runs, pick up a dress in oxfam/charity shop and bring them to potential locations to see how things work out.

My brother got married last year so I'm going to have a talk with them tomorrow to see if they can bring up some pointers, but if anyone had any advice it would be much appreciated.

CabanSail

Do you have all the insurance cover?

mobileblog

Not yet, but i can get it next year, plus i need to check to see how it will be.

AnCatDubh

Thanks to Eirebear, and a few others, here's one which was prepared earlier from the faq's;

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055184390

Tis good stuff.

mobileblog

AnCatDubh wrote: »

Thanks to Eirebear, and a few others, here's one which was prepared earlier from the faq's;

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055184390

Tis good stuff.

Thanks alot for that AnCatDubh. Perfect, It reads like a cheat sheet

RoryW

May also help, found from Mr Google

http://www.cheap-wedding-success.co.uk/wedding-pictures.html

Your List of Must-Have Wedding Pictures

Wedding pictures before the ceremony
- Wedding dress lying over a chair
- Zipping up or buttoning the wedding dress
- Mother of the bride fastening the bride’s necklace
- The bride’s garter
- The bride’s veil
- *The bride’s bouquet
- A close up of the brides shoes peeking out from under the dress
- Bride looking into a mirror
- Bride looking out of window
- Bride and bridesmaids putting on makeup
- Bride pinning corsage/boutonniere on mother/father
- *Bride hugging parents
- Bride touching up makeup
- *Bride and parents leaving for ceremony
- *Bride getting into car
- Groom tying tie
- Groom looking out of window
- Groom pinning corsage/boutonniere on mother/father
- Groom hugging parents
- Groom and parents leaving for ceremony

Wedding pictures at the ceremony
- Outside of ceremony site
- Parents arriving at ceremony site
- *Guests walking into ceremony site
- *Bride and father getting out of car
- *Bride and father entering the ceremony site
- Parents being seated
- Grandparents being seated
- Bridesmaids walking down the aisle
- *Bride walking up the aisle
- *Flower girl and ring bearer walking down the aisle
- *Groom (nervously) waiting for bride
- Ceremony musicians
- Officiate
- Alter or canopy during ceremony
- *Close up of bride, just before she makes her entrance
- *Bride and father walking down the aisle
- *Groom seeing bride for the first time
- The back of the bride and father walking down the aisle
- Father of the bride and bride hugging at the top of the aisle
- Shot of audience from the bride and grooms point of view
- *The unity ceremony
- *Close up of bride and groom saying the vows
- *Wide shot of the bride and groom saying the vows
- *Exchanging the rings
- Close of up hands
- *The kiss
- *Bride and groom walking up the aisle
- *Confetti being thrown over bride and groom
- *Outside the ceremony site
- *Receiving line
- *Bride and groom hugging guests, laughing and getting congratulated
- Bride and groom getting in car
- Bride and groom in back seat

Posed photography before the reception
(these can be taken before the ceremony to save time)
- *Bride alone (full length)
- Bride with chief bridesmaid
- *Bride with bridesmaids
- Groom with bridesmaids
- *Bride with parents
- Bride with siblings
- Groom with siblings
- *Bride and groom together
- *Bride and groom with bride’s parents
- *Bride and groom with bride’s immediate family
- *Bride and groom with groom’s parents
- *Bride and groom with groom’s immediate family
- Bride and groom with bride’s siblings
- Bride and groom with groom’s siblings
- Bride and groom with bride’s entire family
- Bride and groom with groom’s entire family
- *Bride and groom with entire wedding party
- *Bride and groom with flower girl and ring bearer
- *Groom with parents
- Groom with best man
- *Groom with best man and ushers
- Bride with best man and ushers

Wedding pictures during the reception
- *Bride and groom arriving
- *Bride and groom greeting guests
- Table centrepieces
- Table seating
- Bride and grooms table (head table)
- Musicians or DJs
- Guest book
- Place card table
- Close up of bride and grooms place card
- *Wedding cake
- Gift table
- Decorations (specify which)
- A shot of bride and groom with guests at each table
- Bride with school, university and/or friends
- Groom with school, university and/or friends
- The buffet or dinner serving
- *Bride and grooms first dance
- *Bride and father dancing
- *Groom and mother dancing
- Guests dancing
- *Bride and groom cutting the cake
- Bride and groom feeding each other cake
- *Toasts and speeches (specify who is giving them)
- Bride and groom drinking champagne
- *Signing the marriage license
- *Bride throwing bouquet
- Groom retrieving garter
- Groom throwing garter
- The getaway car
- Bride and groom leaving party
- *Bride and groom driving away

http://www.cheap-wedding-success.co.uk/digital-wedding-photographer.html
Questions To Ask Your Digital Wedding Photographer


Experience
- How long have you been a photographer?
- How long have you worked with digital photography?
- What kind of style of photography do you do?
- Have you photographed weddings before?
- What’s your approach to photographing a wedding?
- How would you make my photographs personal to me?
- Can I view samples of your digital photography?
- Can you supply me with references?

The service
- Will you have an assistant?
- Will you be shooting the pictures personally?
- How long will I have to make up my mind which shots I want?
- Will you help me choose the shots for the album?
- Is it possible to get retouching done?
- How will the final album be delivered to me?
- What precautions do you take to ensure there is no damage to or loss of the film?
- Are you insured?
- What is the cost for over time?
- Are their any travel costs?

Technology
- Do you use film as well?
- Do you shoot in black and white or colour or both?
- Do you have a website where my friends and family can view and order prints?
- How will you show me the shots for selection? Contact sheet, digital shots, online, disc?
- Can I have a copy of the proofs as hi-res images?
- What is the best way to store the photographs once printed out?
- How can I prevent the photographs fading?

The packages
- What is included in the package?
- Is it flexible? Can I upgrade or downgrade if I change my mind?
- How are the costs of the package worked out?
- Is the wedding album included in the package?
- How many hours are included in the package?
- How many prints are included in the package?

The wedding album
- Do you produce a wedding photo album?
- Is there a choice of styles of wedding photo albums to choose from?
- How many shots are included in the wedding album?
- When will I receive the wedding album?

Contract and payment
- Do you have a contract? Can I view it?
- What are your payment terms?
- Do I have to pay a deposit?

DotOrg

mobileblog wrote: »

So I’m looking for some advice here
I guess i need to tell them what they want to hear , whilst being realistic, in order to get the job.

Simply be honest. If you're a good photographer in general you will get some good shots at the wedding, you may miss things, get stressed at times but good photography will show through. The cheap price they'll pay will be because of your lack of experience in following a wedding as it happens

mobileblog wrote: »

I was thinking about the wedding book last night ( seen a few links in the archive here) I like the touch friendly/wipeable cardboard style books. What would be popular at the moment?

Don't worry about that till you have the pictures, there's loads of companies out there to choose from. They will have ideas about what they'd like, maybe they'll just want the prints or a cd or maybe they'll want a 16" wedding book

mobileblog wrote: »

Should i mention to them that i’d like to do some mock shots/test runs, pick up a dress in oxfam/charity shop and bring them to potential locations to see how things work out.

Say you will do an engagement shoot if you haven't done many relaxed or formal portraits before. Don't get them to dress up in wedding gear and prance around a park though

mobileblog

DotOrg wrote: »

Simply be honest. If you're a good photographer in general you will get some good shots at the wedding, you may miss things, get stressed at times but good photography will show through. The cheap price they'll pay will be because of your lack of experience in following a wedding as it happens


Don't worry about that till you have the pictures, there's loads of companies out there to choose from. They will have ideas about what they'd like, maybe they'll just want the prints or a cd or maybe they'll want a 16" wedding book




Say you will do an engagement shoot if you haven't done many relaxed or formal portraits before. Don't get them to dress up in wedding gear and prance around a park though

I think I’m ok. But i feel I still need to work on my processing a bit. But looking back the photos that I’m enjoy most are where the people were relaxed and natural (but this is due to the fact that i know them) hopefully we’ll get to that stage.
I’m not sure if they have been photographed before, so the engagement shoot should/could help break the ice and open them up a bit.
Thanks

Deliverance XXV

Time is on your side so use it to your advantage.

A few pro wedding photographers use a second person to capture candid shots of the wedding throughout the day. So maybe you could advertise on Adverts that you are willing to act as a second photographer for a pro for a wedding for free or a small amount. You'll probably gain an invaluable amount of experience from that.

Keep an eye out for adverts like this.

PS. I looked through your Flickr and you have some cracking shots.

stylie

This is a good website for some tips

http://www.all-things-photography.com/bride-and-groom-portrait-photography.html