Wedding Film Photography Tips

[Alex Benjamin]

Today's bridezillas want the wedding photographs complete and ready to upload on her computer at least two weeks before the wedding.

Even if you're that good, you still can get sued:

Divorced Woman Demands Refund from Wedding Photographer 4 Years Later​

A South African wedding photographer this week received what he calls the craziest request he has heard in his career. A woman whose wedding he shot four years ago in 2019 is demanding a full refund for the wedding photography because she got divorced and “doesn’t need the photos anymore.”

Divorced Woman Demands Refund from Wedding Photographer 4 Years Later

A wedding photographer was contacted by a divorced woman asking for a refund for the photos he shot four years ago.

petapixel.com

 

[Salt&Light]

The meet and greet strategy seems to me to be as good a way as any to gauge how "picky" they are. What's key is : can the non picky one exert any real influence over the picky one?

This sounds like "first base" stuff but unless you have decided that the couple need to have a penchant for film over digital then you are in direct competition with the digital shooters so you need an edge on price or service.

So on a like-for-like basis have you worked out how much film, including processing and printing, you can afford to shoot?

The ideal couple is the one sold on film for whom money is no object. How many of those are there in your area to allow you to earn a living or is wedding photography an additional income so you can pick and choose those you wish to be commissioned by?

I need to lay my cards on the table here. Other than as a favour I have only ever taken film photos at friends' wedding as a guest and then only in b&w as a novel addition to the digital professionals.

pentaxuser

I'm not quitting my day job. Not unless I can be a full-time film photographer shooting all kinds of events. Right now, all my work is fine art, and so I'm going to build a portfolio for events this next year offering my work for free and then trying to work as a second-shooter under a photographer looking for some film work for an event they're shooting (obviously after I have somewhat of a portfolio).

The cost of film, processing, and scans would be around $2000, give or take.

 

[Salt&Light]

Have you considered going to some local wedding shows/expos to size up the competition? Same with visiting bridal boutiques and florists; they tend to have lots of knowledge on what’s selling and who’s doing it. You might even be able to leave some promo materials and get referrals.

Oh shit, that's a great idea.

 

[Pieter12]

The cost of film, processing, and scans would be around $2000, give or take.

And that is a cost not incurred by the digital wedding photographers, so charging a premium would be in order. The couple is really going to want a film shoot, given the advantages of digital today. The few weddings I have attended recently where film was being shot, it was more as a side dish or novelty rather than the main course. And these were mega-bucks weddings with about three photographers and a videographer and an assistant or two.

 

[Salt&Light]

And that is a cost not incurred by the digital wedding photographers, so charging a premium would be in order. The couple is really going to want a film shoot, given the advantages of digital today. The few weddings I have attended recently where film was being shot, it was more as a side dish or novelty rather than the main course. And these were mega-bucks weddings with about three photographers and a videographer and an assistant or two.

Well hey, I'm also not doing this just for the money. I really love film and, I really love weddings, and I want to be a part of that beautiful, emotional event by bringing it alive for my clients. If it ends up being heinous, then I'll switch to digital, but for now, I'm gonna stick with film.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Even if you're that good, you still can get sued:

Divorced Woman Demands Refund from Wedding Photographer 4 Years Later​

A South African wedding photographer this week received what he calls the craziest request he has heard in his career. A woman whose wedding he shot four years ago in 2019 is demanding a full refund for the wedding photography because she got divorced and “doesn’t need the photos anymore.”

Divorced Woman Demands Refund from Wedding Photographer 4 Years Later

A wedding photographer was contacted by a divorced woman asking for a refund for the photos he shot four years ago.

petapixel.com

So if the marriage fails, it is the photographer's fault.

 

[Rrrgcy]

Off topic-ish, went cheap (and I know this can generate millions of lessons and stories, sorry) - my wedding was shot by a friend using film, he ate the most of all people during the reception. I recall having done something important celebratory and looked to find “my photographer” and he was sitting at the head table chowing. To this day I still recall seeing the camera laid atop the white tablecloth. Yeah, and I had his father do the video on a camcorder. Yup, his dad set it up off-center of the church aisle 45’ away and on a tripod. Tilted. Photos sucked, video sucked.

What didn’t was the vacation honeymoon w our large studio-made “book“ built in Taipei with those unbelievable photo boards and variety imagery. She had her wedding gown for those, too. Talk about phenomenal film portrait style studio work. Very glamorous. Those studios seemed to be a common Asia centered wedding adjunct w one on every other street in the nice and even not so nice areas… suspect they still do those “books” (pushing 30 yrs ago).

So this post isn’t really about the wedding event that day, but maybe try sucking the couple into a studio for some nice film work. Those Taipei photos “saved our wedding” in a way.

 

[pentaxuser]

Nice story. It's put me into a philosophical mood and made me think of what saved my marriage. I "may be some time" as Capt Oates famously said in reaching an answer

pentaxuser

 

[markjwyatt]

Great advice here, and reminds me of the days I used to shoot weddings (80s/90s- part time as I went to college and a bit beyond). I prefer to shoot for enjoyment today. Shooting weddings is actually pretty critical and it is work. As for liability mentioned here, Professional Photographers of America used to have insurance for wedding shoots for their members. I do not know if they still do. I never had insurance, and never needed it, but I took some risk.

There are certain shots you HAVE to have, and others (lots of candids, dancing, etc.) are less critical, but still nice. Be sure to know what is required (e.g., bride + groom, ring shot, cutting cake, bride + her father, full bride's family, etc.).

If there is a religious ceremony, be sure to ask the priest/pastor/rabbi/etc. if it is ok to shoot during the ceremony, and if flash is allowed. Have a silent camera. I would not want to use anything but a leaf shutter for weddings (silent plus flash sync).

I used a Mamiya C330f + C220f; brought a couple of 5-packs of VPS 220 (minimum, usually did not use all of it); Two Metz CT60 flash guns with charged dryfit batteries (never came close to depleting, but you cannot get these anymore). Changing film was a bit of a pain, but with 220, and two cameras was pretty manageable. Usually I had the 80mm on one camera and the 55mm on the other for groups. Ring shots were a snap with the C330f and bellows (just had to pay attention to the parallax indicator and bellows factor indicator). My dad shot weddings for a few years before me and I worked with him a few times as I started.

If I wanted to make money at weddings today, to be honest, I would probably go digital (I know you say you are not in this for the money). But I do like the idea of going film. I just suspect there will not be a lot of people caring too much these days, and they will still want great results.

When I shot weddings the film was available and reasonable (and 220). Porta today is probably a little better. Pro Labs were fast and reasonable and produced really good 6x6 proofs fast (I used Visual Productions in San Diego), and optimized around VPS/skin tones, plus had good kits for cropping enlargements, etc. The Metz CT60 flashes really worked well (and still do, but without those great dryfit batteries). I often set the aperture/flash to f8, then varied the shutter speed depending on the background lighting (and avoiding ghost images).

 

[Helge]

In a word: Don’t.

Just not worth it. Not fun. Not much money in it.

Do it as a favor for a couple you know and shoot a few rolls. Bring remote triggers and star filters.
Let them pay for the film. But don’t promise anything.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I have posted this before: At the university one of the guys in the dormitory was getting married and asked me to take the photographs. The groom was of the heavy persuasion, as was his intended and both families. I was careful to make sure that there were not round or square objects in the background. When I went to print the photographs I experimented and found the best angle to tilt the easel. I printing three albums, one for the couple and one for each family. Everyone was so happy with the photographs because I got the "real me" that I got many orders for print. I made enough money on that one wedding that it paid for a year at the university, room and board at the door, all the my books and supplies and spending money.

 

[Helge]

I have posted this before: At the university one of the guys in the dormitory was getting married and asked me to take the photographs. The groom was of the heavy persuasion, as was his intended and both families. I was careful to make sure that there were not round or square objects in the background. When I went to print the photographs I experimented and found the best angle to tilt the easel. I printing three albums, one for the couple and one for each family. Everyone was so happy with the photographs because I got the "real me" that I got many orders for print. I made enough money on that one wedding that it paid for a year at the university, room and board at the door, all the my books and supplies and spending money.

Genius idea, not having round objects in the background.

Trouble is people couldn’t care on bit about big prints today. The usual reply would be: “What do you do with them?”.

 

[pentaxuser]

If there is a religious ceremony, be sure to ask the priest/pastor/rabbi/etc. if it is ok to shoot during the ceremony, and if flash is allowed.

Or indeed the civil servant conducting the civil marriage ceremony. Is Elvis such a person when he conducts the ceremony in Las Vegas?

Thanks

pentaxuser

 

[faberryman]

Is Elvis such a person when he conducts the ceremony in Las Vegas?

Yes.

BEST Elvis Themed Wedding Packages in Las Vegas

Fun & affordable ELVIS themed weddings / vow renewal packages.

www.funvegasweddings.com

 

[MattKing]

Or indeed the civil servant conducting the civil marriage ceremony. Is Elvis such a person when he conducts the ceremony in Las Vegas?

Thanks

pentaxuser

Around here, the people who officiate at wedding ceremonies outside of traditional churches/synagogues/mosques/temples etc. are called Marriage Commissioners and are licensed and registered through our Vital Statistics offices. Many of them are retired clergy. I expect they need to pass a course .

 

[markjwyatt]

Or indeed the civil servant conducting the civil marriage ceremony. Is Elvis such a person when he conducts the ceremony in Las Vegas?

Thanks

pentaxuser

Yes, but Elvis generally likes his picture taken.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Yes, but Elvis generally likes his picture taken.

I thought that Elvis had left the building.

 

[VinceInMT]

As a hobbyist, pursuing the high stress wedding photo wasn’t on my bucket list but when my sister-in-law got married she insisted that I do the photography. My wife and I flew from California to Montana and, clueless me, I’d checked the bag with my MF film but carried on my 35mm and MF cameras and 35mm film and, of course, that checked bag got delayed. MF film was not available anywhere in Billings so we headed to the wedding site, an idyllic and remote spot in the Beartooth mountains. I figured I’d have to get by with 35mm. However, bright and early the next morning, a couple hours before the wedding, a courier arrived with by checked bag. There was a happy ending after all and the photos turned out great.

For my own wedding, we got married in our backyard by a guy I found in the phone book with about a dozen attendees. I put some film in my 35mm and handed it to my dad and asked him to take some photos. I’d set up a video camera on a tripod and the whole thing lasted about 10-15 minutes. The video was marred by a barking poodle from next door. The photos turned out OK, got stuck in an envelope and I don’t know if I ever looked at them again until last year when I was scanning all my negatives. And, yes, we are still married.

 

[pentaxuser]

Around here, the people who officiate at wedding ceremonies outside of traditional churches/synagogues/mosques/temples etc. are called Marriage Commissioners and are licensed and registered through our Vital Statistics offices. Many of them are retired clergy. I expect they need to pass a course .

Thanks, Matt. I belong to that era when vital statistics as a phrase in the U.K. involved females with "figures of eight". tape measures and eyes on stalks. I cannot help but suppress a smile whenever I heard offices called Vital Statistics, serious offices though they no doubt are

pentaxuser

 

[msage]

In a word: Don’t.

Just not worth it. Not fun. Not much money in it.

Do it as a favor for a couple you know and shoot a few rolls. Bring remote triggers and star filters.
Let them pay for the film. But don’t promise anything.

I have to agree, as one who did many weddings both film and digital I would never go back to film to do weddings! When I was shooting film at weddings I was using Hassblads and would usually shoot up to 20 rolls of 120. Mostly VPS with a couple rolls of 400 ISO for the wedding ceremony. The equipment limits the type of shots and amount of shots that can be done in one wedding. And we're talking about 20 years ago. Couples want more than 200 shots nowadays. I keep up with the wedding industry and enjoy looking at wedding photographers portfolios. The creativity and intimacy in today's wedding albums are amazing! Although I have seen some very good wedding photographers shooting film it is mainly as a little side thing, a selling point, a niche. You mentioned it would cost you about $2000 to do photograph a wedding, after a couple of those they were not going to be much fun! Having immediate feedback is so important! Remember, you are talking about a once in a lifetime event!

 

[markjwyatt]

Nowadays, it seems normal to have multiple photographers, video crew, and a drone camera operator for a wedding. Then after the productions are processed, images, videos, sequences, etc. are released on various social media platforms over time.

 

[benjiboy]

My first reaction to the O.P's questions, is if you need to ask these questions is, don't do it, and the first question you should ask yourself before attempting doing weddings professionally is " what do I do if it all goes wrong".

 

[VinceInMT]

Nowadays, it seems normal to have multiple photographers, video crew, and a drone camera operator for a wedding. Then after the productions are processed, images, videos, sequences, etc. are released on various social media platforms over time.

With about 50% of first marriages ending in divorce, I wonder who gets custody of all that media?

 

[markjwyatt]

With about 50% of first marriages ending in divorce, I wonder who gets custody of all that media?

The divorce rate came to my mind, but the truth is it predates the trend in wedding photography. That started before digital photography, good and easy inexpensive video, and drones.

 

[Sirius Glass]

With about 50% of first marriages ending in divorce, I wonder who gets custody of all that media?

It goes to Bit and Byte Heaven