I noticed that a lot of members here are trying to enter the wedding photography business. Most wedding photographers started out covering their friends/relatives wedding as a back-up photographer. Here are some of my random thoughts:

1. If you're totally new, don't volunteer as the "only" photographer. There is a very high risk of screwing up.

2. Learn to categorize your friends/relatives. It must be clear whom you want to give it for free and who to chrage.

3. You're maybe close to the groom but not necessarily to the bride or vice-versa. Make sure you can satisfy both or else your relationship is at stake.

4. Just like any wedding, you have to give your best shot.

Please add on.

yes i agree, for me i dont shoot weddings for relatives, i only attend if invited and if they will hire me, i charge them properly :)

I would not usually get the job unless they really want me to, I prefer to just attend so I can relax and enjoy the wedding of a close friend or family member rather than stress myself trying to take great shots at a cheap rate (since they would probably have haggled to get a rather big discount :Grin: )

Thanks Carlito and Paul.

Please keep them coming.

2. Learn to categorize your friends/relatives. It must be clear whom you want to give it for free and who to chrage.


If you are to charge, how much would you charge?

I charge regularly for friends. Although most of the time I give extra like parent's album, blow-ups and other favors.

I don't charge those who are really close to me. The most they will spend is the actual cost of prints and album.

If you are to charge, how much would you charge?

The normal startup rate would be around P1,500 per hour for someone new to the field. A whole wedding day will last around 8-10 hours, so that would translate to around P12k-15k. If it is for a friend or relative, you can give them a good discount, something like P8-10k.

I believe that would be a good deal for both parties na. :)

Any horror stories? Relatives and friends can be the most demanding customers. That's true even with a very big discount.

close relatives and friends usually get my pictures for free. my wedding gift to them. others who arent that close can get up to 50% and sometimes no discount at all.

hmmmm, i wonder if i should charge my daughter to shoot her wedding this nov.

;<)

I noticed that a lot of members here are trying to enter the wedding photography business. Most wedding photographers started out covering their friends/relatives wedding as a back-up photographer. Here are some of my random thoughts:

1. If you're totally new, don't volunteer as the "only" photographer. There is a very high risk of screwing up.

2. Learn to categorize your friends/relatives. It must be clear whom you want to give it for free and who to chrage.

3. You're maybe close to the groom but not necessarily to the bride or vice-versa. Make sure you can satisfy both or else your relationship is at stake.

4. Just like any wedding, you have to give your best shot.

Please add on.

As much as possible I don't shoot relatives. There will be conflicts for sure. I just tell them get Dino Lara :Grin:

close relatives and friends usually get my pictures for free. my wedding gift to them. others who arent that close can get up to 50% and sometimes no discount at all.

hmmmm, i wonder if i should charge my daughter to shoot her wedding this nov.

;<)

Sir EBE, how can you shoot your daughter? You'll be in the front seat crying crying :D

can photographers really just be guests in a wedding? Its very difficult (at least for me) to resist taking pictures. I end up taking at the very least my powershot pro1 to most events hehe

can photographers really just be guests in a wedding? Its very difficult (at least for me) to resist taking pictures. I end up taking at the very least my powershot pro1 to most events hehe

I find it very difficult but at least there's no pressure not to take pictures that you don't like.

i agree with vince and dino on this. i find it difficult not to take any pictures as i would always be second guessing and looking at angles. but this of course is only for relatives. I dont shoot professionally so i never go main. riding shotgun lang like what i did with dino in July.

cheers dino!

i agree with vince and dino on this. i find it difficult not to take any pictures as i would always be second guessing and looking at angles. but this of course is only for relatives. I dont shoot professionally so i never go main. riding shotgun lang like what i did with dino in July.

cheers dino!

But you cannot just go to a wedding unless you are invited or you are a crew of one of the suppliers, right? You just cannot go there and shoot pictures without the authorization of the couple and/or main photographer, right?

Hi Marco,

i would never go unless invited. that would be suicide on my part. he he. i might as well go street if my finger gets itchy or pester my kids to pose for me.

I was once in a friend's wedding, in St. James' Parish, ayala alabang, when in the middle of the ceremony, this guy went in, sat a few pews down and started shooting his canon (kasi it was sporting a yummy big white lens) for about 5 minutes and then he left. he was in casuals and we were all in formal attire. hehe. Photo Op?

One of my Ex-Girl friends hired me to do her wedding... Though it was fun... I'll never do that again... :D

whenever friends or family members ask me to shoot their weddings i always say id either do it for free as a backup for another photographer or id give a minimal rate and say i'd be glad to backup someone else :) hehe.. then id just refer other wedding photog friends..

Dino, i think my cousin ended up booking you for her wedding.. Rica Dizon for early next year.. (im glad she wanted me to be a guest and not work) :)

I wonder how would it feel if I shot my own wedding.. or atleast part of it.. hehhee.. :)

I wonder how would it feel if I shot my own wedding.. or atleast part of it.. hehhee.. :)

At least you can stop and compose yourself and your bride :D

I wonder how would it feel if I shot my own wedding.. or atleast part of it.. hehhee.. :)

:D I'm curious which parts you skip shooting...

I wonder how would it feel if I shot my own wedding.. or atleast part of it.. hehhee.. :)

...maybe you're wedding would last a lot longer. Or get a groom double (parang stunt double sa action films) while you shoot. :D

I guess I'll soon find out.. having a "camera shy" fiance. Though I'm thinking of shooting the preps and bridal portraits.. the other parts, I'll leave it all to my friends.. :)

I guess I'll soon find out.. having a "camera shy" fiance. Though I'm thinking of shooting the preps and bridal portraits.. the other parts, I'll leave it all to my friends.. :)
Go for it Jaime and goodluck! :) Kaya mo yan... mmmmmmm... you have friends who are photographers too right...:Grin:

good luck with that jaime. tell us about it after :)