Sacked ...

I was recently asked to do my second ever wedding! The first was for my wife's brother about 6 years ago and afterwards he submitted a couple of pictures to a competition in Norway and both won in their categories!

A couple of weeks back, my brother's wife asked if I would do the pictures for her sisters wedding - I agreed.

Then a couple of days ago, she called and left a message that they have decided to get a "professional" for the wedding ceremony/blessing but could I photograph the evening reception ...

I don't know whether to be relieved or insulted! Relieved, as I have no track record, and it could go wrong. Insulted, as I have the confidence and know I could do a good job.

Do the evening reception, be absolutely brilliant, and that will show them what they've missed!

You'll get the kudos and not have to do the work that way....

do the evening work and then add 30% price increase when you invoice them. LOL

It depends on whether you were going to charge them for it.
You could say that you put that date aside and had to cancel another job that came up, ok it's a tad dishonest but you have to think about yourself.

But unfortunately, I strongly doubt you have a leg to stand on as you probably didn't charge an agreement fee (deposit).

It's entirely upto you whether you do the evening work, you have to think about yourself again. You are no doubt a good photographer from what you say, but I think the only reason that she is asking you to cover the evening is because she doesn't want to fork out any extra costs that the "professional" will charge.

It's a matter of pride, do you do it so you can build up your confidence or do you tell them to stuff it and go elsewhere for more experience.

Also you say that you are not sure on whether to be relieved or insulted, personally, I would of been insulted by it, but relieved, no. As I mentioned above you sound like you know what you are doing and you have the confidence, but you say that you have no track record....well you have to start somewhere! When using digital the chances of making a cock up are very slim, yes you could have a corrupt card but even that is doubtful.
You have the main attributes, you know how to use a camera and you have the confidence, the latter is the most important in my book.

Sorry about the long winded reply, but I do hate it when people cancel because of the lack of experience.

I'll leave it at that as I fear I have rambled for far to long

Paul

Think this is insulting, if they had asked for samples and said your work was not the style they were looking for OK but to reject your agreement to do the work because it is not your main income is an insult.

Being female I would want my own back, would attend the wedding, shadow the official photographer and take shots and then send them your very best shot in a frame as a present.

If you take the reception shots or not is up to you but I would be a bit on the expensive site for only doing half a job.

Mr B ...

There was not going to be a charge - a favour for my brother and his wife as I will be in need of their child/house sitting for a while. And for that reason I will do it.

Money is not really a problem for her and the cost of a pro would be just a small part of the total bill. Wedding in Dubai, reception (50+) & blessing in UK and full (300+) reception in Algeria.

I think it is my pride that is slightly dented.

It may be your brothers wife sister panicking over her day and not meant personally. Have you asked the bride what her concerns are? She is most properly worried her big day will be messed up or special moments missed.

As you will know from your first wedding its very stressful being the main photographer at such events. If you was going to do it for free why not go along as a second photographer and get more personal photos for the family that will appreciate them. If the bride likes them and wants some, charge her for them as she is obviously willing to pay.

At least you can enjoy your photography that way and not be blamed if it all goes wrong. You may actually save the day getting the ultimate shop.

I'd say, from what you describe, you've dodged a bullet there! To do that sort of expensive occasion, it's probably a two-camera shoot anyway, as far as the pros are concerned.

Relax - take a few shots during the day if you get the chance, do the evening as a favour in regard to the forthcoming house-sitting deal and enjoy the event. I doubt that you would enjoy it if you had to shoot it.

Ray

As an ex wedding photographer with over 300 weddings I would forget it, the pro might want to do the evening, I used to make as much money from the guests as the wedding and some photographers do not like to see other guys taking photos at a gig that they have been commissioned to do, If I were you when the guy sets up his shots get behind him and take the same photos also pay attention as to what he does for future reference, weddings are not that easy there is quite a lot involved, hope I have helped.
Jack.

OK own up ... which one of you is doing the wedding and phoned the bride's mother?

Have had an apology from bride's mother and sister ... various things that they had thought through was my time, getting prints made/framed/delivered &c, possibility of "failure" although I would have had a K20D and *istD there. She knows that I can do a great job - I took my 10 month old niece's picture for the family Christmas card and it received many, many favourable comments ...

The "professional" is only doing the wedding and not the evening reception so I have that to myself (and my daughter).

It also allows me to take up another invite I have for the same morning and afternoon to do some shooting elsewhere, with what some people may call a cannon. I will be out shooting pigeons. And then on to the reception.

Got a little more ...

Bride's mother had "booked" the professional, whereas my sister-in-law (bride's sister) had agreed to sort out the photographer and had asked me.

One good thing though, is that I have a free pass for the bar all evening!

Do you need an assistant

Personally I'd leave the pro to do the endless boring group photos of the bride and her aunt and go around taking the candid shots of people having fun. It also gives you the freedom to look for unusual angles and shots that the pro will miss getting the standard suite of dull pictures of the bride arriving and all that. If you get some great shots, you'll gain some kudos. If nothing quite works, say you used the free bar too much!