Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/01/04

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Subject: Re: [Leica] an appeal to photographer
From: Nathan Wajsman <wajsman@webshuttle.ch>
Date: Thu, 04 Jan 2001 19:49:37 +0100
References: <20010104092846.E26EADC99@morpheus.skynet.be>

Hi Pascal,

The one time I have shot a wedding, I did it for free. The request came from a
couple in their early 50s in the Netherlands, both good friends who knew of my
passion for photography. They offered to pay me an appropriate fee plus
expenses, both of which I declined--the pictures were my wedding present for
them. I explained that I would do it and that the pictures were going to be B&W,
grainy, "reportage-type" photos. I shot the ceremony and the party afterwards
using D3200, M3+Noctilux, and presented them with an album containing about 25
prints a couple of weeks later. They were thrilled with the results and offered
payment again, which I again declined. They bought me an expensive photo book
instead. I think I would be quite uncomfortable shooting a wedding on a pro
basis (i.e. getting paid a real fee). I would do it again, in similar
circumstances, but only for people for whom I would be willing to do it for
free. It is also important to note that this was a mature couple, second
marriage for both of them, and no mothers in law were involved ;-)


Nathan

Pascal wrote:

> On the other hand, if you ask a nominal fee for your work as a hobby
> photographer, much of the "fun" is gone since no faults are, of course,
> allowed and you're expected to "perform".
>
> Sometimes, it's a difficult trade-off for a hobby photographer.
>
> I'd be interested to hear how others in this (common, I guess) situation
> react!
>
> Pascal

- --
Nathan Wajsman
Herrliberg (ZH), Switzerland
General photo page: http://members.tripod.com/belgiangator
Belgium photo page: http://members.xoom.com/wajsman