Wedding Photos

Frequently Asked Questions

1. QUESTION:
   Wedding photos?
   I have just been looking on the net for photographers and i have come across one that will attend you wedding and take anything from 600 to 800 wedding photos then send them to you with 72 hours on a cd rom for you to have either developed at a local photo shop or yourself at home. They are not copy right so you can do what ever you like with them. They are asking for £350 and a £60 deposit. What do you think? UK only please

   • ANSWER:
     You should probably check out the credentials of this individual. A good wedding photographer is worth their weight in gold.

     It's the difference between capturing the day in both formal and reportage format in less than a hundred pictures. This is one of the most important days of your life, and you will probably never want to view 600 to 800 photos when 10's of photos will capture the most important aspects of the day.

     Always go to a few professionals and compare their styles from previous work samples. Choose one that consistently produces the pictures you would like to look at time and time again.

     A poor photographer will not give you the memories you deserve, so choose carefully.

     This is not to say the photographer mentioned does not produce good work, but check first...

     All the best for the big day.

     )

2. QUESTION:
   wedding photos?
   is it possible to find a photographer that will put a wedding package together based on the amount of photos that you will actually need?

   • ANSWER:
     yes, most professional studio would work with you. try sunset studio.

3. QUESTION:
   Wedding Photos...?
   I was wondering what the etiquette was on the wedding photos? Are the bride and groom supposed to give their bridal party pictures of the wedding or are they just supposed to give everyone a wallet size with the thank you card? I don't know what the proper etiquette is or if there is proper etiquette to giving pictures. I thought that if you were in a wedding you would automatically receive pictures from the couple for being in their wedding. I'm not talking about receiving a whole photo album but 3-4 pics.
   My son was in my uncle's wedding as the ring bearer in August 2006 and all we received was a wallet with the thank you card. Of course I took my own pics but how does the bridal party take pics if they are the ones standing up there?

   • ANSWER:
     Actually that is totally up to the bride and groom.It is a very nice gesture to give a photo to your attendents but that could get pricey if you order them from your photographer... I actually just sent them a thank you note and a picture with them in it of some kind...I don't remember but I know it wasn't a professional one. I didn't have the money ...I think they would ask you to order them one if they wanted one..But if you can afford it ,,It would be a nice gesture..
     Oh yes,,, GOOD LUCK and Best Wishes for your Wedding..Just saw your Name...
     I used to do professional wedding photos and I know they are very pricey for sure..but well worth the memories...

4. QUESTION:
   How do I get more copies of wedding photos from proofs, when the photographer is dead and studio is closed?
   The wedding was 11 years ago, photos were taken with film, received proofs of all photos. I now want to order more than the original package I had bought but the photographer is deceased and his studio closed. No one, as far as I know, has bought his inventory or his studio. I would like to get more pictures printed from the proofs but it wouldn't work when I took the proofs to Walgreens to scan and print. The guy at the photo counter was no help and I don't know what to do now. Thanks for any input.

   • ANSWER:
     I think the two best choices would be to -

     1. Take the proofs to a professional photographer that offers copying, restoration and/or retouching services. This will usually get better quality results but is more expensive than..

     2. Take it to a camera/photography store that offers copying and restoration services and ask them to make copy negatives and prints from them.

     Hope this helps. Good luck

5. QUESTION:
   How can I take professional wedding photos?
   I've been asked to take photos at a friends wedding reception. I'm not a professional photographer, but I do enjoy photography and have a Canon 20D camera with the standard 18x55 Canon lens, and a 28x200mm Zoom lens. I don't have any additional flash equipment, just what I stated here. The reception will be at dusk/night time. I want to get mainly candids, but I'd like them to be as professional as possible. Any tips or suggestions to think about?
   ...if I needed to purchase additional equipment, this is possible, but I can't afford 00 lenses. You get the idea.
   ..just so everyone knows, they're not expecting miracles, and neither am I. I could just use some camera settings to try so I can get some decent shots in the light I have to work with. I will probably get an additional flash at least.

   • ANSWER:
     Shooting at dusk/night is a hard task for a novice wedding photographer.. It is very unlikely that you will get images that look truly professional, but you can give it your best effort. Just make sure the couple understand what they are getting, and make sure your friendship will be all right if the photos aren't.

     First. get a Canon flash, and a bracket if you can to reduce red eye. If you can't afford a fast f/2.8 zoom, then use the lenses you have. The 18-55 will probably be the most useful and have the best image quality, although I am not familiar with Canon lenses, but definitely the 18 end will be necessary.

     Is it indoors or out? Visit the venue before hand if possible. Take someone with you and practice a few shots. Note the camera settings and chimp for adjustments. If the reception is outdoors, you can practice anywhere at the same time of day. Make lots of shots and learn what setting make the best looking picture. The key here is practice. Learn how to meter for the sky and compensate your flash output.

     If indoors, learn about using bounce flash and practice that. (You will have to have an external flash for that, the built in won't bounce.) You might also want to research diffusers, but you will need some practice with those, too.

     Learn about a technique called dragging the shutter and practice that as well. A good resource is www.photo.net. Go to the wedding and social event forum and search the archives for first time and beginner threads.

     Vary your point of view. Get some wide and some close. Don't forget to take some pictures of the details, the flowers, cake, special touches. Be careful when taking pictures of people eating. No one looks good while stuffing a forkful in their mouth or chewing. Also watch the table clutter.

     If you are comfortable using manual, then do so. If you are not certain what settings do what, then you will probably be better off using the program mode. Be aware, program mode with direct flash equals deer in headlight snapshots that any guest with a point and shoot will be able to deliver.

     Wedding photography is partly about gear and technique, but it is also about timing and capture. If you get some great emotion captured in your images, then you can consider your first wedding venture a success on that level. I have seen many "pro" images, although perfectly lit and executed, that have no life or emotional impact.

     Good luck !

6. QUESTION:
   How much should a photographer sell her rights to photos for of my wedding photos?
   We ordered a wedding package for 1350 which is a standard price in our area, but after the wedding we realized we didnt get the rights to our photos. We figured we did since almost every other place we looked did so, and didnt even think about it since we booked a photographer we sort of knew, and they were just opening their studio. How much do you think would be a reasoable amount to offer for the rights to our photos?

   • ANSWER:
     They should be included... ask first before you offer any extra money.

7. QUESTION:
   What would you suggest as some cute wedding photos for after the reception?
   My bride-to-be and I are looking for suggestions of cute, silly, romantic or just "fun" photos that we can do while still in our wedding post reception that preferably would not "totally destroy" the clothing we are wearing. Can you offer your suggestions?

   • ANSWER:
     You could go the beach and take pics at the piers, You could have the guys that were groomsmen all help in picking her up as the ring bearer just uses one finger under the bride's hip. My favorite thought would that you could always smash just a TINY more cake in each others face now that your guests are gone and you are free to be as silly as you want to be

8. QUESTION:
   How many wedding photos should I give to the bride?
   I'm having a little trouble figuring out how many photos to hand over to the bride. It was my first wedding shoot, and a small event, for which I was paid 0 dollars. Anybody know an acceptable count of photos?
   I was a last minute replacement and so I didn't get to discuss with the bride as many details as I should have. We didn't agree on an amount and they are going on disc.

   • ANSWER:
     150$ ???

     It COSTS me more than that to shoot a wedding. How are you planning on making a profit at those prices once you factor in income tax, gear rental, gear replacement fund, business operation costs (marketing, phone, web hosting, domain name registration, transportation, business cards, printing of portfolios, contracts ...).

     Anyways, that's not what you asked.

     For a 8 - 10 hour wedding, I hand over 500-700 pictures. This is after culling most duplicates and ruined shots but includes portraits of most of the guests (think high school portraits, background, off camera lighting ...) and it also includes some edits ... of course, I also charge 1500$ for a wedding.

9. QUESTION:
   How long does it take to shoot photos after the wedding?
   How long do post wedding photos usually take? Considering we are going to get all of the photos we can without us having to be together taken before the wedding, so the only ones left for post wedding will be the ones of us as a couple and the couple with family.

   • ANSWER:
     about an hour at most.

10. QUESTION:
    Where is a good photo lab for touching up and printing wedding photos in Chicago?
    My wife and I have a couple of CDs of photos from our wedding and are looking for a reasonably priced photo lab in Chicago to touch them up and create prints. Any recommendations or places to avoid?

    • ANSWER:
      There are lots of places that can help you get prints, but if you want them to touch up and do photo work that is harder to find and you need a more professional shop. Here are a few recommended by people I know:

      http://www.elcocolor.com/
      http://www.gammaimaging.com/index.asp
      http://www.adoramapix.com/

11. QUESTION:
    How do I find someone to make a book entirely of wedding photos?
    I went to a wedding fayre and saw a hard back book made up entirely of wedding photos it was lovely only problem you had to hire photographer and use thier services the cost £1600.
    Is there a cheaper way to do this with my own photos ?

    • ANSWER:
      Most Album companies only deal with professional photographers.

      Here is one any consumer can use....
      http://www.weddingalbumsandmore.com/index.php?WT.srch=1&gclid=CMzHoK2Sq48CFQIQFQodHSxXRQ

      Pippa Middleton’s post royal wedding party plans scare palace aides

      New York, Apr 28 (ANI): Pippa Middleton, the younger sister and the maid of honor of Kate Middleton, has reportedly scared palace officials with her attempts to introduce a 'younger atmosphere' to the royal couple's evening reception.

      According to the Daily Mail, the soon-to-be royal sister-in-law caused some stiff upper lips to tremble when she suggested turning the throne room at Buckingham Palace into a nightclub atmosphere for the late evening post wedding celebration, reports the New York Daily News.

      The palace aides tried to put an end to her plans to add some glitter to the after-wedding - until Prince William...

      Continue...

12. QUESTION:
    What to do when mother in law wants boyfriend to be in my wedding photos?
    Our wedding date is may 22, but parents are pretty much paying for the entire wedding. My fiancee mom has a boyfriend she has been dating for a couple years, and she is expecting him to be in the wedding photos and I don't feel to comfortable with him being in the photos, but I don't know how to approach the situation, my fiancee would tell her but usually twist and turns it and he gives in. I just feel like I don't want this man who I don't care for to be in my wedding photos.

    • ANSWER:
      He doesn't have to be in every single photo. Just take a couple with your fiance's mother and her boyfriend. It won't kill you.

13. QUESTION:
    What do you think is better for your wedding photos, a professional or an enthusistic friend?
    Hello,

    Do you think it's better that your wedding photos are taken by a professional photographer or by a friend (or associate) with a keen interest in photography?

    Thanks,
    Tom

    • ANSWER:
      As someone who is getting married a less than a month, and whos fiancee is a professional photographer.... I say without a doubt, go with a professional photographer. Its not just the day-of work that you're paying for. With a professional photographer, you're paying for the photo processing afterwards which includes (but not limited to): retouching photographs, playing with lighting/colors to make the photos perfect, and putting together an album.

      Here's a perfect example: My fiance recently shot a wedding and the groom had a HUGE grasshopper on his shoulder throughout the whole wedding ceremony. He had the time and expertise to carefully remove the bug from all those photos -- and there were a lot! If you didn't see the before picture, you'd never know the difference!

      Also, if its someone you know outside of your wedding plans, you may end up holding a grudge if the photos don't turn out just right. Its your wedding, you don't want to feel like you missed out on documenting your memories.

      There are a lot of things that come with experience too. Wedding photography isn't just the posed wedding party photos. Its the candid photos that show the whole vibe, and atmosphere of your wedding. You need a professional photographer with a real eye for this and experience.

      To gracefully decline your friend's offer, simply say that you don't want him/her to have to "work" at the wedding, and that you got a recommendation for a professional photographer who has all the necessary equipment/time (even if you really didn't). Beyond that, if your friend would like to take photos in addition to your photographer, I would say by all means go for it!

14. QUESTION:
    What should I put as a personal engraving on a picture frame containing wedding photos for my dad?
    My fiance wants to give our parents picture frames as gifts on our wedding day. We both have divorced parents, so 4 frames will be given. The frames contain room for two photos, one from the wedding day and one of me as a boy. The frame can be personally engraved, but all the ideas we come up with just sound kind of silly for a picture frame being given to the old man. Anyone have any ideas?

    • ANSWER:
      "Thank you for my wonderful life"

15. QUESTION:
    What did you do with all of your wedding photos?
    Did you put them in a typical wedding album or did you make a fancy scrapbook of the best photos? I have about 350 pictures ranging in poor to decent quality. Now they are in a typical album, but I'm considering putting the better pictures into a fancier scrapbook with other memorabilia. What did you do? Where did you buy materials?

    • ANSWER:
      My photographer took over 4,000 pictures the day of the wedding. She gave them all to us on a CD; then we ordered an album with our favorite pictures from her.
      If you want to put the other picture in a scrapbook I think that would be nice. You can try going to a local craft store, like Michaels, to get some supplies. They also sell lots of stuff at Target and Walmart. Or, if you want to buy them online try save-on-crafts.com.

      Good luck!

16. QUESTION:
    Need a good song for a dvd of wedding photos?
    I'm was photographing at a wedding recently and am planning to make a 10 minute-ish dvd of the all the photos. They include before the church service, in the service and the reception. Need a couple of suitable songs for background music.

    • ANSWER:
      "So Close" by Jon Mclaughin is very sweet..
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FH8WAoRL1xo
      That link shows a video with the song..

      And then, "At Last" by Etta James, I agree, that one's good...
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fSY_S45rZ4

      Good luck!

17. QUESTION:
    What's the best film to shoot engagement/wedding photos?
    I'm shooting my first engagement/wedding photos this August and next October...The engagement photos are going to be taken outside. I was wondering what's the best type of film to use for them and also for indoor wedding photos?

    • ANSWER:
      Kodak Portra Professional NC. It has the most natural skin color of any current film. It's available in 35 mm and medium format rolls. (It's also available in 4x5 sheets, but you wouldn't normally want that for weddings...)

      http://www.kodak.com/global/en/professional/products/films/portra/portraIndex.jhtml
      http://tinyurl.com/3cru9b

      For weddings you need lots of detail, so never shoot high speed film or high speed ISO settings on a digital camera than you absolutely have to. If you want/need grainy photos it's easy to add the effect afterwards in Photoshop or even in the darkroom. If the original shot is too grainy, you can never reduce the grain.

      I do hope you have some experience helping others photograph weddings...

18. QUESTION:
    How do I tell my co-worker that her sister is MUCH hotter than her in her wedding photos?
    She has been showing off her wedding photos today. I've noticed that her sister looks like my co-worker used to before she put on 40 lbs. She is hot. I was thinking about asking for a cropped photo of her wedding shot on the beach, but with only her sister in the photo.

    Thanks a lot for your help in this matter!

    • ANSWER:
      Just explain to her that you only want the photo to masturbate to, nothing creepy like using it as part of a collage.

19. QUESTION:
    How much should I charge for wedding photos?
    My cousin is getting married and I offered to do wedding photos for her. I am pretty good at getting good shots and photo editing as well, but I'm not an expert.

    Only problem is I don't know how much to charge, I don't want to charge too much because she's also my friend.

    I was thinking 30 bucks for the whole session, or should I charge per photo? [Example: 5 dollars a photo.]

    Can any photographers out there give me some suggestions. I'd really appreciate it. <3

    • ANSWER:
      Are you insane! 30$? Might as well not charge at all.

      My base rate is 1000$ + addons varying from 250$ - 300$ each and my prices are retardedly low.

      Think about it ... 30$ for 8 to 10 hours of shooting, then another 4 hours fixing up the images. That's like 2$ an hour and I haven't even factored in costs like printing pics, burning DVD's, renting gear (flashes, extra camera, extra memory cards, renting decent lenses ...).

      You CANNOT go do a wedding as a hired photog with just one camera, one flash and a kit lens ... you need a backup of everything in case something craps out. If you don't have any backups then you'll have to beg, borrow or rent some gear ... this increases your base cost for the shoot.

      First thing, sit down and factor in your costs for rentals and the likes and the costs for the final product ... your base rate has to at least cover that and income tax (unless you aren't declaring it).

      Then work out how much you want in your pocket for the work and voila.

      Remember that it's not just the time at the wedding but preparation pics for the bride and groom, ceremony, formals, reception ... and then sorting through the crap, editing the good shots to clean them up a bit, sending them off to the printers, organizing them, burning them to DVD.

      Now the next question is, have you ever shot a wedding before? If the answer is no, then get ready for a ulcer inducing event as you struggle with poor lighting, inexperience with posing, un cooperative guests ...

      Also, do you like this cousin? Do you have a good relationship with him/her? Well if you do, you can kiss that goodbye if you mess up on the shots as these are HOPEFULLY once in a lifetime shots.

      I do weddings professionally and I refuse to do family weddings. My brother is getting married next summer and I've told him flat out that I'm not doing his wedding. I'll of course be taking photos as well but I'm not the paid photog. Also, just remember that suddenly you are not a guests but part of the staff ... no drinking, not chatting with people ... you're there to work. During the meal, people will be getting up to do speeches so you really won't be eating (bring some Granola bars).

20. QUESTION:
    Where is the best place for printing wedding photos?
    Our wedding photographer gave us our photos on a cd to print as we would like. So far, when I try online to set up printing, a couple of places won't let me print over a 4x6 size. Is there a certain place I should be using that would be better?

    • ANSWER:
      It sounds like the images the photographer gave you are only at the resolution/size to print a 4x6.

      Read your contract carefully to understand what it is that you bought when you got the images on CD.

      Also, most online services check the files for approximate print size. What they are doing is telling you that they guarantee the sizes they recommend to print well. The other, larger sizes, they do not. You could still try and print them, but do not expect them to come out well.

      If the agreement was for printing images at a larger size, then it is time to seek out the photographer and get the correct size images.

21. QUESTION:
    When should I have my wedding photos by?
    My photographer seems to be taking a long time (over 3 months now) and I haven't seen any of my photos yet. How long should it really take for him to get them back to me? This is his part time job, so it's not like he has a wedding every weekend.

    • ANSWER:
      The probable problem, you've answered yourself. It's his part time job and he's possibly wearing himself a bit thin with two jobs.

      Really, you should have had some discourse with the photographer in the 3 months since the wedding. Generally I try to get photos back within a month. I definitely feel uncomfortable after 6 weeks has passed, but often it depends on the developing and how quickly the developer returns the prints.
      I would give him a phone call asking for an update, at least then you aren't guessing when they'll arrive and what the hold up is.

22. QUESTION:
    Locations in San Francisco for good wedding photos?
    My partner and I are getting married in San Francisco on July 10th. We're eloping (we live in NC) and having a civil ceremony. My partner's father is a photographer and he's coming with us. We don't know the area that well and are looking for locations where we can get some beautiful wedding photos around the city. Anyone have any suggestions?

    • ANSWER:
      Conservatory of Flowers
      http://www.hoteltravelcheck.com/sfo/Conservatory1.jpg
      or Shakespeare Flower Garden
      http://pictopia.com/perl/get_image?provider_id=10&size=550x550_mb&ptp_photo_id=461217
      or Botanical Garden
      http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.aviewoncities.com/img/sf/kveus4300s.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.aviewoncities.com/gallery/showpicture.htm%3Fkey%3Dkveus4300%26dir%3Dparks%26tpe%3Dcat&h=600&w=400&sz=154&hl=en&start=5&tbnid=rITebRL7YPMB4M:&tbnh=135&tbnw=90&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dbotanical%2Bgarden%2Bsan%2Bfrancisco%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG
      in GG Park

      wedding day??

      where would be a good place to get a wedding dress??i live in east liverpool ohioAlfred Angelo is fabulouswww.alfredangelostores.com hph, xoxo...

      Continue...

      Legion of Honor in Lincoln Park (here's a shot someone else took): http://www.maginei.com/photos/blog/engagement_3.jpg

      Palace of Fine Arts (I always see wedding parties there):
      http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/4a/PalaceofFineArts.jpeg

      I also see lots of folks having their picture done right at City Hall on these steps:
      http://www.sanfranciscodharma.com/assets_c/2007/12/121307marriage_09-thumb-280x340.jpg

      Or you could drive up to the Marin Headlands for a nice view of the city and the GG Bridge in the background.

23. QUESTION:
    Can I get larger reprints from my proof only wedding photos?
    I have quite a few wedding proof photos that I would like to get reprinted, some I would like in larger sizes. They each have a proof number down the bottom right hand side of the photo. Am I able to do this and if so, can anyone recommend a good website or shop? Many thanks

    • ANSWER:
      Those numbers are so the photographer can make prints for you.

      There are no reputable labs that will print images from proofs. The copyright to these images belong to the photographer and when you buy prints from them, you are also being given the rights to display them.

      Wedding photographers charge to shoot your wedding for a price and then prints are at additional cost. That is the business model.

24. QUESTION:
    I'm looking for unconventional ideas for wedding photos with family members?
    I'm photographing a wedding and the bride doesn't want everyone lined up for photos with the family. I agree they are stuffy but what are the pther options? I'm usually pretty good with coming up with new ideas but I'm stumped with this one!

    • ANSWER:
      Here is my experience with the natural "unposed" look.

      The prints that sell in albums or wall hangers are the more traditional poses. The "far out" stuff is fun, but the parents don't like them much and there is the complaint that there's nothing to frame for the wall. So go ahead and let your creative juice flow, but make sure to get a few traditional formals to go along with the pj shots. (BTW, traditional does not have to mean stuffy and stilted lineups. You can pose people in a more relaxed manner than the ones standing at attention in your Mom's album)

      Surf the wedding websites for some ideas, and look in the big wedding mags to see shots with a trendy feel.

      Also, don't forget that moving locations and setting up unfamiliar poses are time consuming. Make sure the bride knows this and wants to budget the extra time.

25. QUESTION:
    What type of foundation do professional makeup artists use for wedding photos?
    What type of foundation do professional makeup artists use for wedding photos?
    I would ask the person who did my makeup, but I am not speaking to her-she left me to go makeup another bride while I was getting my nails done, and I was late to my own wedding.

    • ANSWER:
      Go to your local department store (like macys) or somewhere with a designer makeup counter and tell them what you are looking for. Hell if you only want it for some photos for one day, go there and have them pick one for you, they will demonstrate it on your skin. I use estee lauder "tient idole" it is a full coverage, long wear, super great for photos( i am an internet model) but it all really depends on your skin type.

      Kenerly

26. QUESTION:
    How should I frame my wedding photos?
    What's a good way to frame my wedding photos?

    • ANSWER:
      nothing I can say, just check this out http://bestweddingdance1st.blogspot.com/

27. QUESTION:
    What should I do if I don't have my wedding photos after waiting a year?
    My wedding photographer was paid in full, and by the end of this month, we will be celebrating our 1 year anniversary and still no wedding photos. She's been pretty good about returning emails, and always says she'll be sending them within the week. But for the past month I have not heard from her at all, she won't answer my emails or my phone calls. Should I take legal action? We're young and can't afford lawyers or anything like that. We just want our photos!

    • ANSWER:
      Did you sign a contract with a photographer? If you did, I would contact legal counsel immediately. Either way, I would at very least consult with a lawyer for legal advise.

      At this point, you don't know what the hold-up is. The photographer could have messed up the shoot, could have skipped town, could have little intention to forwarding the pictures. Maybe the computer crashed the pictures were on. You don't know, but in the end, this is not your problem. A few weeks to a month for post production is expected, but a year? That's just excessive.

      It's a matter of professionalism, and really, if I mess up at my job I am responsible for it. If you mess up at your job, you would be responsible for it, correct? It is no different than that.

28. QUESTION:
    Did you keep or discard wedding photos after getting divorced?
    My friend just finalized her divorced but still displays her wedding photos. Personally I would get rid of them.

    • ANSWER:
      If there are children involved then I can see leaving them up and save a few for the kids when they get older. If no kids toss them all.

29. QUESTION:
    What are the Traditional wedding photos that you are ment to have taken?
    What are the Traditional wedding photos that you are ment to have taken?
    Hi,

    Does anyone know the list of photos that you are ment to have taken such as

    bride and her family
    bride and her father
    bride and her bridesmaid etc..

    Do you know of any others?

    • ANSWER:
      Try this site, I plan to use the same list for my wedding. Hope this helps.

      http://www.knotforlife.com/planning/checklists/photography-poses.shtml

30. QUESTION:
    how much should I charge someone to give them rights of wedding photos?
    Amateur wedding photos
    please answer if this should be based on the nuber of photos and give price accordingly

    If I only charge this
    Im now finding out about two different weddings for those who have answered previous wedding questions! Please respond to the question being asked, not what you assume.

    • ANSWER:
      Contrary to some of your posters, whether you are amateur or professional, you own the rights to photos you take, not the couple who is pictured. Owning those rights and providing future photos is how photagraphers make their income - it is NOT just that day that they took the photos!

      It is up to you. What you charge for the day of taking photos is completely separate from the actual photos - that is for your time and effort. Most wedding photographers expect to get compensation for 2 sets of usable photos (all the photos). Estimate what you would charge in profit for that and include that in your price. My sister was charged a flat 0 for full rights to her photos, and received both the negatives and the CD, but that was some years ago. In my scrapbooking group another gal paid 0 to get the reprinting rights (CD only since most are using digital cameras now). The photographer still owns the photos.

      I agree with other posters though. If you are not the official photographer, I'd just ask them to give you a few bucks for the cost of the SD card or CD you give them. If you were a family friend pushed to replace a professional photographer, charge more. You deserve it since it took away from your time as being a guest.

31. QUESTION:
    Know any wedding photographers to take photos for parkersburg/vienna wv area?
    I have been looking at photographers lately. I can't seem to find any packages under ,000. We are only wanting to spend no more than like 0 on photos. Does anyone know anywhere to look? I think more than 0 for wedding photos is ridiculous.

    • ANSWER:
      just grab someone that walks by with a canon rebel

32. QUESTION:
    I want to put my wedding photos on to my own website. What is the best place to start out to do this?
    I want to put my wedding photos up on my own personal site. I don't want them just on Snapfish or something like that. I want my own, easy-to-do webpage. Any ideas of where to start? I would really look forward to hearing responses of people who have created their own webpage...Thanks for the help!

    • ANSWER:
      Whoever you are hosting through sholud have some space to upload pictures to then in your code all you have to do is call that picture in order to view it.

33. QUESTION:
    If you put up wedding photos in my home from your wedding for how long did you keep them up?
    I cant say that I have been in many homes where people have kept out wedding photos long after a wedding. I have only been married a year and our photos are beautiful. Basically, when and if do you phase them out if ever?

    • ANSWER:
      I agree with "Fangs" (but I'm not Level 2 so cannot vote). Keep your photos in your house for as long as you want. Your wedding day is a special day, and your photos are reminders of the beautiful memories of that day. Chances are, you spent very good money on a photographer for that day; even if you didn't, show them off! All the best!

34. QUESTION:
    Best 35mm film for medium light inside church for wedding photos?
    I will be using a Canon EOS RebelX S to shoot some wedding photos and was wondering which ISO film would be best for medium lighting such as that in a church. This camera also has the built in flip up style flash. Would I be better using the separate type of flash that attaches to the top of the camera? Any suggestions would be great. Thanks.

    • ANSWER:
      ISO 400 film with a real flash would be a good bet. If you have a fast lens, like f/2.8, 2.0 or faster, that would help.

      And don't forget a good sturdy tripod...

35. QUESTION:
    What can i buy to put on my bald head to stop it shining and wasting my wedding photos?
    im due to get married and i dont want to waste the wedding photos with a shiny head. with sweat on it and flashes going off , the girlfriend will kill me if i waste them..please help

    • ANSWER:
      Go into an alley if you live in the city, best in the dark.
      Start chanting, "here kitty kitty", keep it up, "here kitty kitty".
      There is sure to be an ally cat that is hungry, because you are going to have this big herring that you picked up at the supermarket.
      let the herring thaw for a couple of hours, you want the smell to go all the way down the alley.
      Make sure no'one is at home in the yard that you lure that sucker into.
      Have some chloroform on a rag, make sure you don't get a whiff of it yourself, you and the alleycat, could wake up in a strange yard.
      skin that sucker.
      now put the skin on your head.
      Go get marrried, good luck.

36. QUESTION:
    We would like to know of any gardens or parks that would be suitable for wedding photos in and around Melton?
    We are thinking of having a Wedding in Melton, so does anyone know of any nice parks and gardens, that would be good for wedding photos, in the regions of Melton and Bacchus Marsh?

    • ANSWER:
      The normal place is the Willows but also Westlake is pretty.

37. QUESTION:
    how much should i charge for wedding photos?
    i'm a sophomore in high school for photography. i have a pretty good amount of experience. i've been around photographers since i was little. i've done some of my cousin's wedding photos. i've done a lot of photo shoots. one of my old teachers asked me if i could do her wedding photos this summer. i was wondering how much should i ask for since she said that she would pay me. what's a good price for wedding photos?

    • ANSWER:
      There's lots of ways you can charge, it's just a matter of deciding on a policy.

      option 1# Package pricing - You include x amount of hours of photography, x numbers of prints, a CD with the images and an album. With this, I'd say you should work out your charge based on actual costs plus a small service charge as you are only AMATEUR, and you must recognise this -without a full wedding portfolio and 3 years direct experience you are not professional and should not charge professional rates. So it would be something like ( cost of the album, CD, 0 for 5 8x10 prints plus for your food and travel on the day - so your actual product expenditure cost [which is a justifiable charge as an amateur and professional alike] is 3. I'd then say round up to 0 to add on a nominal service charge). Of course this would gradually increase as you do more wedding shoots (like you'd increase every time you do another shoot so you are charging in line with your experience until you are up to professional rates).

      option 2 - PER HOUR PRICING, this is different in that you charge per hour and include a CD, but if they want prints you charge on top of this. So you might work that out to be per hour, and if you did 5 hrs shooting that will 5 (similar to the service fee in option 1).

      Basically, as a model, I am going to say that it is wrong of amateurs to charge the same as professionals using the justification "I am doing the same work". The reality is they are not - the professional delivers much better work than the amateur, this is like Walmart charging D&G prices because they both provide clothes.

      I'd say at a maximum, for 5hrs shooting, you should charge no more than 0 for your time and service, and only charge on top of that for the costs you incur (such as prints, travel, food, albums etc)

38. QUESTION:
    Can I use digital camera for my wedding picture and expect the good quality of photos?
    I am under a tight budget, but, would like to have at least a nice wedding photo.
    Since I've heard so many stories of bad pictures done by professionals, and they are so expense, I am thinking just using a digital camera.
    And can you help me with tips to maximized the quality when taking picture with it?

    • ANSWER:
      Hello:

      Try this site.

      http://www.stanford.edu/~xian/digital1.html
      http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00H030&tag=

      A couple of things you need to remember. The higher the DPI (dots per inch), the fewer photos your card can hold. Next, if your photo is 1800 DPI, but your output device (printer) is only 300 DPI, the photo will only be 300 DPI.

      I would take the photos with the highest DPI available and then take them to a professional photoshop to have the developed. Many shops like this will print your images onto regular photo paper and you can tell them ahead of time which images you want printed.

      Good luck.

39. QUESTION:
    What do you find reasonable for wedding photos from newish people?
    How much would people pay for two photographers that have 10 or less photos in their portfolios? Would people enjoy having digital photos, many options a la carte style, and someone cam-cord their wedding through out the day? What if you were on a budget or your photographer bailed, would you hire two such novices? I would love some feedback on such a idea. My friend posted something similar, but i got a lot of spelling comments instead of cold hard ideas. I did get a few however and wish for more.

    • ANSWER:
      You need to build your portfolio. I'm not even a Professional photographer but I have several thousand pix on my hard drive backed up by CDs. It doesn't have necessarily to be of weddings.

      Offer complete packages with an "out the door" price up front. Charging through the nose for prints always grinds me. Also add-on fees. Perhaps include engagement pix in your package. I like both film and digital.

      Be professional. Show up on time. Two photographers is great! One can set up and do details while the other shoots. Bring twice as much film, memory, and batteries as you think you'll need. Ask the Bride and Groom specifically who they want pictures taken of. Grandma might not be around at the next wedding. Personally I'm big on candids.

      Personally I like pictures taken BEFORE the wedding. Some might say it's bad luck, but all the people I've seen do it are still married. It's done and out of the way and people are ready to party.

      Photography is a rough gig. Best wishes to you! You're going to have to learn the ropes and pay your dues.

40. QUESTION:
    Did you get any really bad or funny wedding photos?
    Or was there anything in your wedding photos or video that you didn't notice at the time that was funny?

    • ANSWER:
      Not at my wedding, but I was the photographer for my brother in laws 2nd wedding in 2001. It was in a park overlooking a lake. I was shooting away like crazy making sure I got all the important stuff. My brother in law has a son from his first marriage that was his ring bearer, and stood right next to him during the ceremony. I didn't catch it while I was taking the pictures, and didn't see it until I developed the film. But his 8 year old son, right as the officiant said you may now kiss your bride started sticking his finger in his mouth, and making fake gaging motions. I got a picture of the happy couple in their first kiss as man and wife as his son was "gaging" right behind him. I didn't say a word when I gave them the pictures, and just waited for the laugh. We still chuckle about it today.

41. QUESTION:
    How mnay proffesional wedding photos should we have?
    Just wanted to know what you all thought about the number of proffesional photos you should have taken on your wedding day. What do you think is a good amount to have?

    • ANSWER:
      AS MANY AS YOU CAN AFFORD! THIS IS YOUR WEDDING DAY!!! YOU WILL WANT TO REMEMBER IT FOREVER AND THIS IS YOUR ONLY CHANCE FOR PICTURES! SO TAKE PICS OF EVERYTHING AND LOTS OF THEM! YOU WILL BE HAPPY YOU DID!

      also another good idea in addition to proffesional pics is to put disposable cameras on all the tables and tell the guests to snap candid shots of you, themselves, everything! you will be happy with the results.

      yay! have a happy wedding!

42. QUESTION:
    Ideas for 40th wedding anniversary and also for my sister's wedding photos?
    I'm planning a 40th wedding anniversary party for my parents with no help from my brother and sister. It will be in June this year. I need help with it. I would to do scrapbooking or something with some my sister's wedding photo but don't what to do with them. Could some one help me please? I got some ideas but I need more.

    • ANSWER:
      you should have a dinner party for them and have it be a 1940s theme or 60's since that is when they got married. as table cards/programs you can have funny and historical facts about the year they were married. also have friends and family bring a photo/copy of a photo of them with or without your parents- then have a book at the dinner where you can paste the photo and a special memory message from the guest. then at the end of the night, you can present it to your parents. OR have people send the photo and message before hand and make a slide show. You'll have to have self addressed envelopes for that, but they'll love it!

43. QUESTION:
    What is a reasonable budget for wedding photos?
    I'm looking for a professional wedding photographer in the Charleston, SC area. But I'm not exactly sure how much we should spend on photos and what is a reasonable price.
    ABCD,
    may I please have your web address?

    • ANSWER:
      I run a pro studio and although I am not in your market, I just wanted to offer up my honest opinion with regards to budgeting. When you are working out your budget you really must keep in mind that a Wedding is an opportunity to capture moments that will happen only once. Trusting an amateur with such a task is very risky. You will not be happy with the outcome - I can almost guarantee it. For every Bride out there who is happy with the fact that she saved a few dollars and was satisfied with her images, there are 10 who will undoubtedly admit that they just settled and did not get the best quality/quantity they could have. It looks like you are already planning to use a professional. I just wanted to say that I have to agree with ABCD with regards to choosing a pro and really stretching the budget. Do away with the expensive napkins, downgrade the centerpieces, create your own invites, etc, etc, etc - but when it comes to cherished memories that have to be captured RIGHT the first time - at the moment they happen - cannot be done by an amateur..In my market (NJ) we are very competitively priced (K-.5K incl. albums), while many photographers charge K+ to just shoot the event...Budgeting for a Wedding is difficult. After all you want the best of everything to help make the day amazing...Just keep in mind that almost everything you spend your $$$ on for the day will be only a memory the day after, while your images will be the reminder that will stay with you for a very very long time...Budget appropriately...Just my two cents...Thanks for reading and good luck...

44. QUESTION:
    I need a good lab for wedding photos online?
    Hi,
    Im an old film photographer and it seems like most of the old film labs have closed down and I have my own wedding photos on jpegs and I would like to print them and make an album. Please let me know if you know a good lab. Thanks

    • ANSWER:
      do an internet search for "professional photographic suppliers" - find one in your area, call them, ask for them to recommend a good Pro lab near you

45. QUESTION:
    Brides (or grooms) - how are you planning to display your wedding photos?
    How many is too many to display around the house? We don't want it to look like a shrine to ourselves! Is it self-centered to send a wedding photo out with our holiday cards? Any fun ideas of what to do with some of the photos?

    • ANSWER:
      I live in an apartment so it's a bit different. Note that I also have many photos of family and friends around not just of us as a couple.

      I have my engagement portrait hung on the wall. It is photograph of us on the beach. I have a picture of us in a frame of two rings joining together. It's engraved with our names and wedding date in the middle. I also have a picture on our night table in a frame that says Mr. & Mrs.

      The other photos are in albums. Our thank yous will have our wedding picture in them also.

      If you want to do the holiday card, I think it's a cute idea. Your family will like it especially if you didn't send pics out with the wedding thank yous.

46. QUESTION:
    Can people tell that you got married in an arranged marriage by looking at your wedding photos ?
    I mean it will look like a regular wedding with cake and a wedding reception, can people tell when they look at your wedding photos ??

    • ANSWER:
      I really am not sure that that could happen! People should not be able to tell. http://www.theengagementclub.com/ may have some really great advice on that subject

47. QUESTION:
    What's that country song where in the video there are wedding photos shown in the background? Thanks!?
    What's that country song where in the video there are wedding photos shown in the background? Thanks!

    • ANSWER:
      In Color by Jamey Johnson. he is a super great singer....he sounds like waylon a little bit and sings songs that sound like they were from waylons era. he is a true traditional country singer....and if you like in color then check out his other songs. there all great

48. QUESTION:
    What do you think of these wedding photos?
    What do you think of this photographer's wedding photos?

    http://kelschsistersphotography.com/html_gallery.cfm?menu_itemID=405307&preview=1&load=html

    thanks.
    Which ones are bad?

    • ANSWER:
      Not bad.

      But realize that on a website, the photographer is only going to put up their best stuff. For each of these wedding parties, 95% of the pictures could have been junk, and the one or two amazing pictures are shown.

      Ultimately, it will be down to what you and your fiancee like. Having been married a long time, I will say, get at least one clear picture of the setting, because 20 years from now, what seems mundane will be just as valuable as the artsy pictures.

49. QUESTION:
    Wedding Photos @ Quicken Loans Area - How To Do It?
    I want my wedding photos taken @ Quicken Loans area - right on the court. Does anyone know Where to start or who I ask about this? I'd love to play some 1-on-1 vs Delonte West, and LeBron James in my wedding dress, but am not rich enough to make that happen! Just to be on the court, playing some b-ball with my bridal party would be fantastic! Do you know how I would start researching this? I'm completely lost! Thanks!

    • ANSWER:
      Call the arena!

50. QUESTION:
    I had my wedding photos taken by a photographer. Do those photos belong to me or is it the photographer's? ?
    My wedding planner want some of our photos taken to be printed out in a wedding magazine. If the photos belongs to me I can allow it to be printed,right?
    1 more thing.. I paid him to take the photos for me. Is it still not mine?

    • ANSWER:
      Check the photography contract you signed.