Fortunately for friends and family knowing someone who does photography is a bonus, especially when it comes to weddings.
We all know weddings are very expensive and what you pay for is what you get.
I was approached by my best friend Emily asking how I would feel about taking the pictures for her mum’s wedding.
Obviously I couldn’t say no for a few reasons, good opportunity, earn a little bit of money and it being my best friend’s mother.
I were told that Anne had meetings with other photographers before realizing they could ask me and when coming up with a suitable price as being put in that awkward situation of how much to charge a friend don’t want to say too little or too much, I asked how much the other photographers wanted and why they decided to not go with them.
Main reason was money, both photographers wanted to charge £500 and the couple was not willing to pay that amount as it was only a small wedding and need a photographer for 3 hours.
After discussing what the couple wanted out of the day I offered to charge a sum of £275, I know this doesn’t seem much but as a photographer and a family friend I couldn’t bring myself to charge more.
For this wedding I found of the exact times and things they wanted photographing and created a plan:-
Anne Harding & Graham Vinncet Nash
17th February
Wentbridge House
12; 15pm – Look at the set up room, take few test shots.
12; 30pm - Go to bridal room capture images of bride and daughter getting ready.
1; 00pm -Picture of all the girls invited to the room and separate ones of family members.
1; 40pm - Meet with the registrar
2; 00pm - Wedding
2; 10pm - Signing of the register
2; 20pm - Picture of the guest leaving the room in couples after bride and groom depart.
2; 35pm - Images of bride and groom outside and group shots.
2; 50pm - Cutting of the cake.3; 00pm – final shot of entire group before dinner.
Wedding breakfast starts at 3; 15pm. (job done)
5 images at 8x12
Book with all pictures in
Disk with all the images on.
On the actual day I was so nervous it was untrue, only doing one wedding ever before it was safe to say I was scared. The night before was the worst night sleep I’ve had in ages, and waking extremely early worried my alarm wouldn’t go off. I even had porridge for breakfast… I hate porridge however I knew it would make me last until the wedding was over and not be hungry.
With the bride and groom knowing me already, it made them very comfortable at front of the camera and very easy to direct them. Although when the other guest started to arrive wanting pictures such as all the girls in the bridal sweet it was slightly more difficult. This being because not knowing peoples names and trying to politely position them as two in particular ladies didn’t really want to be in the shot and hiding behind others.
Also with the group shot outside I found this difficult too, making sure everyone is looking, eyes open and not hiding but I managed.
The day went very smoothly, the area where the ceremony was being held then later the reception had a giant glass roof over where the bride and groom were stood which lit them beautifully and made the room very bright. When I first saw that window on the roof I was amazed and knew my pictures would have good lighting.
However the lesson I have learnt is take a few memory cards because with me being a complete idiot my camera was set to capturing the images in RAW and JPEG, so I had two copies of everything giving me very little space on my card, then to realize half way through then changing it to just RAW, your question is why I have it set on both… my answer is not a clue and didn’t even notice. I have been planning on buying more memory cards as it’s obviously very useful.Of course then it was time to go through processing stage, get prints, and create a book.
After processing I put all 100 images onto a disk and went round to the newly wed couples house so they were able to select what 5 images they wanted to be printed out, look through disk of image to see if they are happy with them and for all of them to go into the book as I didn’t want to create a book and a picture be in there that they didn’t like.
Mr & Mrs Nash was so happy with the pictures, selected the 5 they wanted and was happy with all the images to be put into a book. They stated how I made their day very special and couldn’t stop saying thank you.
Which then made me happy; the pressure of weddings is a nightmare. Not wanting to spoil their day, being there every step capturing the special moments it was a big relief that the couple was happy.
The wedding book was created on blurb I also paid a bit extra to get rid of the blurb logo, to put my own there.
Its all about presentation, I bought a beautiful box, got white tissue paper and propped the book inside with pink rose petals and wrapping the 5 printed images in tissue paper and fixing them into the lid. Arranging to meet to give them the book and prints they were overwhelmed and extremely happy and again that made me happy!
