Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2002/01/15
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Once or twice a year I "get" to do weddings. If it is family I don't have any problems because even if it really crocks up (it hasn't but as a mental exercise I imagine being shunned for a while)they are still family. If it is a really good friend then run don't walk away from shooting the wedding. Pay for a wedding photographer if your friendship is worth it: just don't be the professional. Find out what the bride/mother of the bride expect. If it doesn't match your style subtly find a way out. If what they want is something you can do then great, go ahead. Once you agree to the shoot get a contract signed. Make sure you receive your entire payment prior to the wedding, maybe thirty days prior so if they don't come through they have enough time to find someone else. Take the time to explain precisely what will happen and when, and make sure it does. Previous posters have not exaggerated on equipment. During the day some key component will fail. Have entirely different solutions to all problems. Batteries for flashes and a way to shoot without flash. Cords and adapters to shoot from the wall if the batteries fail. Two or three different strobe sets. Many bodies/backs. Shoot Polaroid's of the formal portraits so you know the system is working. Run two different backs for the formal portraits so even if one fails you have another set of negatives to draw from. I get the film processed, select enlargements, and build a modest album of select enlargements and smaller candids. The bride gets the film. The biggest pain in weddings is Great Aunt Martha ordering "That nice picture of Billy" a year later. If you are getting paid, set your price backwards from expectations of prints, number of rolls that need to be shot, etc. Don Dory dorysrus@mindspring.com - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html