That One Phone Call You Never Want To Get

[hark]

Finally having attended a proper, big, non-Chinese wedding, being the main and even 2nd is SOOO much work. Feel I'd personally rather learn and lean towards commercial photography than deal with 3-4000 shots from 1 weekend.

Is taking 3k-4k shots the norm for a wedding's photographer these days? And what is the average number of iimages purchased? Anywhere close to that number? It used to be @200-500 images. Just wondering as times have changed.

Jake, does the photographer have a web site--just wondering what you think of the person's ability. When you saw some of the Facebook photos, how did they look to you? You mentioned the photographer didn't inspire a lot of confidence so were you happy with what you did see of your nephew's wedding?

 

[Steve B]

Jake, does the photographer have a web site--just wondering what you think of the person's ability. When you saw some of the Facebook photos, how did they look to you? You mentioned the photographer didn't inspire a lot of confidence so were you happy with what you did see of your nephew's wedding?

Unfortunately pictures on web sites and facebook pages are meaningless. There has been more than one case where a photographer has used pictures that weren't theirs to advertise their skills and business. Ask for references and talk to previous clients.

 

[RocketCowboy]

Is taking 3k-4k shots the norm for a wedding's photographer these days? And what is the average number of iimages purchased? Anywhere close to that number? It used to be @200-500 images. Just wondering as times have changed.

We ended up with ~7700 shots from our wedding. That was with two photographers (1 main tog and 1 assistant), and a lot of the 2nd camera shots are not usable. Based on that one data point, I could see 4K shots being fairly normal.

 

[Steve B]

We ended up with ~7700 shots from our wedding. That was with two photographers (1 main tog and 1 assistant), and a lot of the 2nd camera shots are not usable. Based on that one data point, I could see 4K shots being fairly normal.

That just seems extreme. Even if they are taking pictures over a 12 hour period that figures out to a picture every 6 seconds.

 

[sonicbuffalo_RIP]

We ended up with ~7700 shots from our wedding. That was with two photographers (1 main tog and 1 assistant), and a lot of the 2nd camera shots are not usable. Based on that one data point, I could see 4K shots being fairly normal.

out of those 7700 shots, how many were included in the package you chose? In other words, how many finished shots did you and your wife get? Just curious.

 

[Geoffc]

I guess you want two or three of each posed shot to make sure the eyes are open etc. on a few family group shots (not at weddings) I've taken three or four of the same shot and still had too photoshop heads from one image to the next to have everyone smiling with their eyes open.

I've only ever done candids at a wedding which I enjoyed as I wasn't under any pressure.


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[RocketCowboy]

out of those 7700 shots, how many were included in the package you chose? In other words, how many finished shots did you and your wife get? Just curious.

We did a package with engagement pictures and the wedding all in one package. We ended up using all the prints (plus a couple) from the engagement pics to decorate the wedding venue, and as gifts for the parents. So after the wedding, any additional prints would be extra. We ended up with all the images, but it looks like they are all jpg and not raw. We just haven't had the time, in 3 years, to consume all these images and find what we want printed.

 

[sonicbuffalo_RIP]

We did a package with engagement pictures and the wedding all in one package. We ended up using all the prints (plus a couple) from the engagement pics to decorate the wedding venue, and as gifts for the parents. So after the wedding, any additional prints would be extra. We ended up with all the images, but it looks like they are all jpg and not raw. We just haven't had the time, in 3 years, to consume all these images and find what we want printed.

I just wondered how long it would take to go through 7700 images? Then whittle that down to a hundred or so?

 

[Nero]

I saw this article today and had to laugh at the utter absurdity. There are some things even Annie Leibovitz won't shoot.

Kanye West tells Annie Leibovitz: check out my wedding snap | Life and style | The Guardian

The fact he thinks that him and the most worthless famous woman on the planet could edit a photo to look like she took it just proves his narcissism and stupidity. He can't even make a decent song, and she's only famous cause her family is rich. lol

 

[SkvLTD]

Is taking 3k-4k shots the norm for a wedding's photographer these days? And what is the average number of iimages purchased? Anywhere close to that number? It used to be @200-500 images. Just wondering as times have changed.

Jake, does the photographer have a web site--just wondering what you think of the person's ability. When you saw some of the Facebook photos, how did they look to you? You mentioned the photographer didn't inspire a lot of confidence so were you happy with what you did see of your nephew's wedding?

The ones I talked to work under some big name umbrella. I've almost been suckered into a crummy art event coverage by a big umbrella company and it's not uncommon that the contract photog signs requires him to deliver X number of shots for Y amount of pay. He does no editing (in wedding example), but does owe that many shots to his contractor.

In art event case, I would have owed 500 useables (for a 4 hour event) for $100. I told them, with love (cuz I know the local contracted director), _|_

And explanation was that they simply have check boxes to check off per every dollar spent on outside services.

 

[Ijustwant1]

Jake I am a little disappointed ! You only shot 4gigs of photos ? ;-)

 

[BackdoorArts]

Jake I am a little disappointed ! You only shot 4gigs of photos ? ;-)

"Shot"? No. "Turned over"? Yes. Imagine what I would have had if they'd told me they were doing group shots on the other side of the property during the reception?!

 

[STM]

There are no "do overs" in wedding photography. You get one shot only to get it right. Screw it up and your rep will go down the toidy quickly. There are no shortage of "photographers" (or as I call them "GWC's", guys with cameras) out there who will do your wedding for $300. Nowhere is "caveat emptor" more true. You REALLY DO get what you pay for. I don't do many weddings any more because my "cheap" package starts at $1000 and I get asked a lot "well, so and so says he will do it for $300". I ask them have they seen examples of their photos? In nearly all cases the answer is no. I tell them to go look at his images. I am not going to bother competing with some amateur who got a camera from Walmart and now calls himself a wedding photographer. With even my "bargain basement" package you will get photos in albums with all the trimmings. NOT a CD or DVD with all of your images on them.