Wedding Photographers

FootNote · Feb 26, 2008

Hello all,

My question is mostly aimed at wedding photographers. Right now i am still overseas but when i get back to the states i would like to pick up a part time job as a second shooter for a (few) wedding photographers. Now i know i might get some bias answers here due to the fact this is a film forum.

But how much would it hurt me if i wanted to use my Mamiya C330 as my main camera in this digital age when trying to sell myself to wedding photographers?

Or would it be one of my main selling points?

Love to hear everyones thoughts. Thanks.

pesphoto · Feb 26, 2008

I think you might have a tough time with that unless you can find someone like minded.
Most Pro shooters these days want a 2nd shooter to shoot, burn, and hand over a disc full of images.

Gary Holliday · Feb 26, 2008

I doubt that your C330 will appeal to anyone. The majority of wedding photographers have gone to the dark side. Why don't you set up your own business? Shooting film is one of my marketing tactics.

FootNote · Feb 27, 2008

Gary Holliday said:
I doubt that your C330 will appeal to anyone. The majority of wedding photographers have gone to the dark side. Why don't you set up your own business? Shooting film is one of my marketing tactics.

While photography is a very enjoyable hobby it is just that, a hobby. I would love if i could make some money on the side doing it to at least cover my expenses.

It seems i might just have to look around and hopefully find a wedding photographer that does film (slim to none i know)

JBrunner · Feb 27, 2008

FootNote said:
While photography is a very enjoyable hobby it is just that, a hobby. I would love if i could make some money on the side doing it to at least cover my expenses.

It seems i might just have to look around and hopefully find a wedding photographer that does film (slim to none i know)

Hooking up with the average wedding dude or dudett to "do weddings" with your C330 might be a tough sell.

Setting up a little side thing to do bridal portraits would be a better idea IMO. Sell it under the premise of being a specialist. That is the arena where your camera has all the advantage, assuming your personality and skill set can make use of it.

wildbill · Feb 27, 2008

I'd say, give it a go yourself. I've shot a few weddings on film and seen the results compared to those shot by fauxtographers with their $3000 mark 1zk111dssssssssss's and the results are just better for the look. I've also recently seen a horrid wedding album done a by a guy using a 6x6 and a large strobe. His compositions were terrible but the blown out skin tones didn't help either. Give it a shot.

Derek Lofgreen · Feb 27, 2008

Jose Villa only shoots film http://www.josevillaphoto.com/ he is pretty hot right now. He does workshops etc. too. Oh, and he makes bank $$$.

D.

donbga · Feb 27, 2008

FootNote said:
Hello all,

My question is mostly aimed at wedding photographers. Right now i am still overseas but when i get back to the states i would like to pick up a part time job as a second shooter for a (few) wedding photographers. Now i know i might get some bias answers here due to the fact this is a film forum.

But how much would it hurt me if i wanted to use my Mamiya C330 as my main camera in this digital age when trying to sell myself to wedding photographers?

Or would it be one of my main selling points?

Love to hear everyones thoughts. Thanks.

One thing to consider is the cost of processing 120 color negative film. I've found prices from $8 to $14 per roll, just for processing - no proofs! And service time is usually 5 to 10 days. As a result I started processing my own color neg film using the Unicolor K-2 chemistry. This brought the price down to about $2.50 per roll.

If you have a Jobo processing C-41 is a snap, though using traditional daylight tanks are pretty easy too.

I've been shooting a lot more 120 color neg. film for the past few months with my C330s mainly as a result of friends that are wedding photogs giving me their old 120 film which they use no longer. They all shoot digital. Sign of the times.

mabman · Mar 1, 2008

I could see it as a specialist thing - one trend in some areas (at least according to some posts I've read in the Wedding forum at photo.net) are couples wanting at least some shots in b&w that look "traditional" or "retro" - I don't think it matters what camera you use, as long as you're using B&W film developed in an appropriate way.

It might be possible to sub-contract yourself out to digital photogs who have no skills with this - possibly approach more of the upscale photogs in your area and find out if there's any interest. If eBay is an indication a lot of photogs have sold off their medium format gear, so if people want these types of film-based shots there might be a market.

Christopher Walrath · Mar 1, 2008

Yeah, Jason's right. Said photographer dudes or dudette would either have to be 80 or one of us in or . . ., hey wait a minute. Post a thread here looking for someone in you area now and get started and get to know them through correspondence, etc. Use the APUG/NETwork. (How's that for an idea, Sean?)

Wedding Photographers

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