I’m planning to set up a wedding and special events business in Sheffield and surrounding areas. I’m currently in the process of developing a website for the business and will be online soon.

The reason why I’m offering my personal time for free is that I need hands on experience. I’m very confident in my skills as a photographer and I feel I have my own unique style which is evident in online gallery - please feel free to have a look so you can see for yourself - Graham Shackleton Photography Gallery (http://grahamshackleton.photoblink.com/). I also have several friends who have their own business in the industry that are advising me and helping me get my foot in the door hence “Free wedding photographer”.

I have professional digital equipment which will be used to its full capacity but if you like the old grainy look or have you own preference for the final print, I’m skilled at Adobe Photoshop and have the knowledge to create an individual style to suit your special day.

Please don’t hesitate to contact me so we can arrange a meeting and discuss a package to suit your needs. If you leave a message on this thread or send me a private message, I will send you my phone number and email address.

I hope to hear from you soon.

Regards,
Graham

free photography sounds great - especially if like me you cannot afford a photographer but woudl secretly love it. shame i'm getting married in the lake district.

good luck.

Aren't all wedding photographers 'free'?

It all come out in the price of the prints.

As a professional photographer f.R.P.S. of a fair few years, I would strongly advise you to assist a pro wedding photographer before even thinking about taking on the job solo.
It is too much to risk. Reshoots of weddings never work.
I assisted for almost two years before taking commissions - go and watch closely at any wedding (without getting in anyones way) and you will see the singularly special skills needed - many of which, have nothing to do with photography.

Yes .. i agree with supertyke :)

Taking the photographs is only part of doing the job ... a good photographer has to hold the whole thing together for at least a couple of hours ..apart from the Bride and Groom they are the main focus of attention ..so need to be organised and know how to keep the wedding party calm and relaxed. Apart from the obvious like having insurance .. a bad or ill experienced photographer can ruin their day.

I would also advise you assist a professional wedding photographer after all .. weddings these days cost a fortune ..you wouldnt want to make mistakes and risk spoiling their big day.

..you wouldnt want to make mistakes and risk spoiling their big day.

It's a fact Ms Tetley. Even pro's have been known to blow a wedding shoot.

Using one of the most important days of someones life to get practice is not such a fair deal really.
Digital might be easier to correct post production but nothing is assured in this game.

While i appriciate your advice, im sure you can appriciate not everyone has a £1000 budget for a wedding photographer, and if i was charging that much yes i would worry about the above things.
The people who i am trying to appeal to have a low buget and generally rely on friends and family to take shots and would appriciate something a little more professional .... free.
Im sorry if you think this is unfair.

While i appriciate your advice, im sure you can appriciate not everyone has a £1000 budget for a wedding photographer, and if i was charging that much yes i would worry about the above things.
The people who i am trying to appeal to have a low buget and generally rely on friends and family to take shots and would appriciate something a little more professional .... free.
Im sorry if you think this is unfair.
============================================

It may appear unkind of me to uncloak the folly of your offer. However, it is obvious to me that you have no idea whatsoever of what you are getting yourself into - and more importantly, getting some unsuspecting, though naive, couple into.

What you are saying is that, because you are not charging, it's o.k. if the shoot is at best poor and at worst, ruined.

You use the word 'professional' freely, if you were at all professional - (but untrained in wedding photography) - you wouldn't dream of making such an offer.
Ask any sports photographer - landscapist - product photographer - if their field of expertise would allow them to confidently shoot a wedding and they would emphatically say - no..

Also, I think you will find that 99.99% of couples place 'the photography' highly in their list of priorities. Indeed it is amongst the most treasured residuals of 'the day', if not 'the' most treasured. And they would be more wise to skimp on the catering than on this treasured archive.

I am not attacking you I am defending 'them' - though it would be considered by many that I am defending you from the wrath of the disappointed couple! And of course, defending your 'yet to be earned' reputation, which may never recover from a potential disaster of this magnitude.

Please, do as I suggest and watch a wedding.
I too used to think that wedding shoots were 'easy money', - till I assisted.
The amount of work - highly stressed and skilled work - that goes into producing a wedding is enormous.
The preparation and post capture alone can run into months - in fact - MUST run into months.
If you want to do something for free - assist a pro for a while - you'll know if and when you are ready to 'fly solo'.
Or just do a wedding - I don't care that much - this is merely my advice...

============================================

Also, I think you will find that 99.99% of couples place 'the photography' highly in their list of priorities. Indeed it is amongst the most treasured residuals of 'the day', if not 'the' most treasured. And they would be more wise to skimp on the catering than on this treasured archive.

I am not attacking you I am defending 'them' - though it would be considered by many that I am defending you from the wrath of the disappointed couple! And of course, defending your 'yet to be earned' reputation, which may never recover from a potential disaster of this magnitude.




does that mean i'm in the majority or are you calling me a skinflint??

I personally would have taken the op u p on his offer if it was possible. IF at the end of the day I was not happy with the quality of the photo's i quite simply would not hand over any money and i am sure the OP would see exactly why not.

supertyke has got this one spot on. There are some things to give away free - wedding photos isn't one...

Uncloak the folly of my offer? A tad dramatic!!!!
For someone who does not really care so much a 7 paragraph rant is extreme.

Like i said im trying to help people who otherwise would be relying on family and friends to take snapshots.

If grahamgraham was saying "Don't use a professional photographer. Use me!" I'd agree with Supertyke. But he's not - he's saying "Don't go without wedding photos. Use me!".

If it was a choice between a pro & an unknown amateur, nobody would go with the amateur. However, if your choice is between getting your sister's boyfriend to take the photos with his canon ixus, or getting a decent amateur who (from the look of his portfolio) has some decent equipment & knows how to hold a camera, I know which I'd go for.

I'd look at the portfolio before the equipment.

Wedding photography is 99% people skills. You have to show that you're in control and if it's known you're working for free, a lot of the relatives might decide to not take you seriously at all.

I've done exactly two weddings at cost price (never EVER free) and at both of those I felt sidelined because people knew I was doing it as a favour. What's worse is when people assume you're a student or something and start giving you "tips".

It's rather annoying.

Also, while I appreciate the sentiment of what you're offering, I'd advise against it. I honestly don't think you understand the magnitude of what you're offering. Also, a lot of us make our living through commercial services like this, and everyone who works for free makes it that bit harder for us to get work.

Now people are expecting to get all of the images shot on the day on DVD without paying extra, thanks to people doing it for free and/or just handing over all of the photos with little or no post production. The photographs belong to the photographer and are counted as a continued means of income when reprints are ordered. By handing over this income for little or no remuneration you make it much harder to make wedding shoot profitable.

This also means that photos that wouldn't quite make the grade become public, and this can also be damaging for the photographer concerned as the photographs themselves are a means of winning business.

Think this through quite carefully. Your "free" service can run into hundreds of pounds worth of time on your part. Is it really worth it?

Also, exactly what equipment do you have?

Ive assisted at over 60 weddings..............if asked to fly "solo" well,i could do it now,but like i said ive assisted at many weddings,the pressure on the photographer is immense...you need very very good people skills,the couples big day is in your hands for several hours,you need skill and patience.......the wedding photographs are often the only memory the couple have to show from the wedding.
Shooting the wedding is only the start of the work..............the time and cost it takes to go from wedding to finished album is immense......you do get what you pay for,in my opinion after the actual service the photographs are the most important part of a wedding.........not an occasion to use as "practice".

Mr chris as usual has got this one right - if you give something away for free - it devalues it..

Look at any sunday paper giving away a dvd or cd - it will say "free - worth £...or previously sold for £..."

This establishes worth in the mind of the customer -

I've read this thread and to be honest I think some people should stop posting in it.

There's a photographer here who is offering to do some shots of weddings, aiming it at those people who don't have the budget for a photographer.

These people will have a friend with a compact digital camera snapping for them - and this could happen alongside this chaps offer to try some more professional standard shots.

I don't see why people have to come in and stamp all over it.

It all seems a little too much like those opposed to it are scared that this chap will leapfrog them into a career as a professional solo photographer.

It reminds me of the competitive nature of the mobile DJ's and it's quite pathetic to see.

Let the chap offer his time to do the pictures and let those interested contact him and take him up on it.

Good luck to him, it's good to see someone trying to get on and it's just a shame that jealousy see's him getting sniped at by others.

Totally agree with Sheffielder, These guys are obviously not even hearing what he is offering. Their so pretentious they refuse understand that some people do not having hundred's of pounds to spare for wedding photo's.

These photographers are being obnoxious and rude and should not display their fear of competition so openly. After all he is hardly hitting on their clients.

These people will have a friend with a compact digital camera snapping for them - and this could happen alongside this chaps offer to try some more professional standard shots.

I don't see why people have to come in and stamp all over it.



I'm not a photographer but I can understand their point. Grahamgraham would be a fool if he did the entire lot for free, and he clearly isn't as if you read his first post it indicates he is giving up his personal time for free, not the entire service. Producing the shots afterwards still costs hundreds of pounds, and if they are not up to standard that's hundreds of pounds that the people this service is aimed at clearly couldn't afford.

I mentioned it earlier on in the thread .... we certainly did not "pay" a photographer a "fee".
We agreed a cost of albums and prints and also agreed that there was no contractual obligation to buy.
The photographer was professional enough and confident enough to know that he would make his money.
We accepted his services based upon personal recommendation and from his portfolio of past work.

Sounds similar to what is being proposed here, isn't it?
I suppose that he doesn't have a portfolio of past work though. Which is why we would probably not have risked using him.

Yes, my time is free but to suggest I’m making money from the client is untrue. All I ask of clients is to pay the cost price and as I have connections in the printing industry, it will not cost hundreds of pounds. Obviously I would allow the client to select the digital images before any printing or post work is done.

I’m not trying to make money from this, they only payment I want is the experience!!

Good luck Graham. I am sure there will be many couples who would appreciate your time and work, like you say, who would otherwise not be able to afford a pro.

The best way to learn anything is "hands on", and even by making a few mistakes, and if the couple wouldn't have been able to afford a pro anyway, I can't see any harm done.

:thumbsup:

I myself am lucky as my parents are paying for my photographer for my wedding which is roughly £2000 but if I was in the position where i couldn't afford a professional I would definately take up his offer. I agree that not everyone can afford the high prices and if you are helping him get experience then why not?

I would say to grahamgraham that it is a big undertaking as you have to organise not just the bride and groom but family as the wedding usually has a strict itinary.

But good luck and I beleive it is a sensible idea for the right couple.

Maybe it's a measure of your inexperience that you consider my well meant advice a 'rant'. But my objective was only to warn you of the dangers in your proposal.

You seem to think that there are great numbers of people who are unable to afford a photographer - there are in fact very few couples who don't either save up for one, or, like the previous poster, have one paid for by a relative/friend.

You also seem to think that your efforts will be better than the efforts of the friends and family of the couple. Not necessarily - I.M.O. trusted friends, with whom the couple feel relaxed and comfortable, will achieve better results than a stranger who doesn't possess any wedding experience.
A relaxed, natural set of images is far better than awkward and contrived images, which may or may not, be technically superior.

All that I was saying was, get some experience in the usual way - by customised courses and assisting; instead of hoping to short circuit the system in this precarious way.

I would like to see just how many off these people would really, - 'gladly take your offer up' - 'if we hadn't already got a photographer'.
The importance of a good set of photo's can't be over-stressed. It's only those who think that 'anyone' can take a photo, disagree.
Check out how many REALLY knowledgable people under-rate the skills of a pro photographer.

Wedding photography is one of the most difficult fields to master, you are not working with professional models - you are working with impatient people in all weather and lighting conditions, tantrummy kids and nosey bypassers, all vying to sabotage your best efforts.

There are many problems that await to destroy your efforts;
- your camera skills must be totally automatic - enabling you to give the group your full attention,- you must be aware of backgrounds, changing light, facial expressions composition and many unexpected distractions and pitfalls.

The event must flow, the slightest uncertainty on your part will instantly unnerve your subjects - you will not get their confidence in you back.

Shooting a wedding demands a great deal of experience - no less for a small registry, than for a large church ceremony.

Had you not been so rude I would not have posted this last piece - but your plan will do nothing to improve the arena for hard working professionals, quite the opposite; and until professionals in other fields use similar methods to further their education, I again, strongly advise you to learn the profession in a more conventional manner.

P.S. There are many photographers, myself included, who will tailor the costs of the photography to meet the budget of the individuals.

If the couple getting married understand the photographer is not massively experienced in weddings, what's the problem?

Oh yeah, it may devalue what the rest of you 'professional' photographers do. Get with the program, it happens in all industries. I have a lot of experience of it myself when students undercut my computer services.

You're in business. You will have competition.

If the couple getting married understand the photographer is not massively experienced in weddings, what's the problem?

You're in business. You will have competition.

If competition from the likes of Graham Graham was a threat to my business I would pack in tomorrow and I would not have gained the reputation I currently enjoy.

Read my post again - pay close attention to the part about 'friends producing better results than an incompetant stranger', and its not that he's 'not massively experienced' - he has NO experience.

FAO Graham

Good luck with the venture

If I were you I'd advertise this as much as you can, to as many people as you can and allow many more to enjoy this service that you are offering

I'm sure many couples will benefit and hopefully you will get repeat custom through recommendation when you decide to charge in full

Can I just say graham, not being in the line for needing a wedding photographer (thank god!) that your pictures are beautiful and Im sure you would do a good job.

Nice to see you demonstrating those people skills that all photographers need.
If you get wound up that easily its no supprise that you find wedding photography so stressfull.


ha ha !!

Quality response to such a disappointing post by the chap

Graham - good luck with your project mate

While i appriciate your advice, im sure you can appriciate not everyone has a £1000 budget for a wedding photographer, and if i was charging that much yes i would worry about the above things.
The people who i am trying to appeal to have a low buget and generally rely on friends and family to take shots and would appriciate something a little more professional .... free.
Im sorry if you think this is unfair.
im very interested sent you a pm

Nice to see you demonstrating those people skills that all photographers need.
If you get wound up that easily its no supprise that you find wedding photography so stressfull.

Maybe when you've turned 14 you'll aquire the grace to accept well meant advice in the spirit in which it is offered.

As for my people skills, I should look to your own in that respect, it was YOUR childish spite that made me react - as you well know.

I said that weddings are stressful events, I didn't say that I was stressed by them. Maybe 15 years ago but not now.

You, however, will find a great deal to be stressed about.
You see, in any profession, stress is proportional to the level of ones experience and skill. As you will undoubtedly discover..

I was actually waiting for you to ask me if I would be prepared to have you along as an assistant.
But of course, you don't like the look of 'L' plates do you? Don't do much for the street cred do they?
For certain, you will gain nothing by alienating yourself from other photographers, indeed you will lose a lot.
I am 38 and have been pro for 17 years - I've loads still to learn.

Anyway, your test would apear to be in the pipeline; perhaps these other posters, who know so much more than we pros on S.F., might reccommend you to THEIR family and friends.
GOOD LUCK..

I think your photos are beautiful, Graham

Graham,

Pay no attention to this supertyke chap who is obviously jealous as hell

Go for it - work hard - and enjoy the rewards you will reap

Better to work hard, have original marketing ideas and get stuck in than to sit on messageboards criticising others who thought of it first

Good luck Graham

Graham,

Pay no attention to this supertyke chap who is obviously jealous as hell

Go for it - work hard - and enjoy the rewards you will reap

Better to work hard, have original marketing ideas and get stuck in than to sit on messageboards criticising others who thought of it first

Good luck Graham

Are you mad? -

Original marketing ideas - jealous - critisising - though, you're right he probably is the FIRST to think he can skip training and go straight into wedding photography!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



I wonder if you would like your plumber - electrician - doctor - to skip his education and PRACTISE on you - free or not, it is not the way we do things in this country. Or perhaps YOU HAVEN'T NOTICED. - He defininitely had that idea before me..

I will say this ONE more time, my original intention was to offer this person sound PROFESSIONAL advise - I would have even had him along to assist me on a couple of weddings - had he asked - just to let him see that, even a registry wedding, needs careful planning, and TWO little things that you seem to think he can do without, - SKILL and EXPERIENCE.
My initial posts are there to prove this. I don't know why you feel qualified to advise anyone in this field, you are doing this guy no favours.

And for your info - I amuse myself on S.F. and other forums usually whilst waiting for stuff to come through the processor - dry - print or some other process that gives me a couple of minutes. I wager that I earn more in an hour than you do in a week. So don't give me crap about 'hard work and rewards'.

As I said, perhaps you would recommend the O.P. to your friends and relatives for their big day - even if they can afford a pro - why not put your money where your capacious mouth is and demonstrate your confidence in him?
Don't forget to show us all on S.F. some of the results will you?

Hi would you consider doing family shots (wouldnt mind you then using them for your portfolio) we are a family of five with a cat! would love some nice photos. PM me if you would be interested and how much it would cost us. Thanks Sue

There you go Graham - Another offer of work !

Great stuff

Keep it up and ignore the jealousy of the others

And for anyone contacted by Supertyke regarding him doing some shots for you I would strongly advise reading his aggressive and obviously jealous posts on here and ask yourself if this is someone you would consider mature, professional and strongly think before letting him loose on your wedding party.

Hi would you consider doing family shots (wouldnt mind you then using them for your portfolio) we are a family of five with a cat!

That really is a more sensible idea dulcet69.

There you go Graham - Another offer of work !

Great stuff

Keep it up and ignore the jealousy of the others

And for anyone contacted by Supertyke regarding him doing some shots for you I would strongly advise reading his aggressive and obviously jealous posts on here and ask yourself if this is someone you would consider mature, professional and strongly think before letting him loose on your wedding party.


The last wedding I did, my malicious friend, was in Herefordshire last weekend.
It numbered two hundred + guests and earned me almost £2000.

I am presently working on a promotion for a well known japanese airline, I don't rush as I'm on 600 quid per day.

My diary is chocko for the foreseeable future but if anyone does want my services at £155 p/h, I promise I won't bring my baseball bat with me. -

Honest!!!!!!!!

And for anyone contacted by Supertyke regarding him doing some shots for you I would strongly advise reading his aggressive and obviously jealous posts on here and ask yourself if this is someone you would consider mature, professional and strongly think before letting him loose on your wedding party.
That's a little unfair.
tyke's posts did start out as well intentioned (even if they could have been phrased a little differantly).

Perhaps,

But look at his foaming at the mouth posts that he's currently making

lol

I wouldn't let him anywhere NEAR my wedding or any other function if that's how he behaves

Perhaps,

But look at his foaming at the mouth posts that he's currently making

lol

I wouldn't let him anywhere NEAR my wedding or any other function if that's how he behaves

If you think I'm foaming at the mouth now, you should see me when I get an awkward mother in law at a wedding - oooooooh turn away quick!!!!!!!!!!.
And really - please - I invite anyone to read my posts and describe them as raving - come on pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeese - be reasonable.
P.S. AWW SHEEFY- I would have loved to have shot you at your wedding shucks!!!

I guess supertyke is one of those guys who always has to be right and totally aggressive with it. Best avoided if you ask me, keep going with the photography grahamgraham im sure you will find that not all of the older guys are like him. Just hoping that i dont get a barrage of abuse now! Good Luck.

I guess supertyke is one of those guys who always has to be right and totally aggressive with it. Best avoided if you ask me, keep going with the photography grahamgraham im sure you will find that not all of the older guys are like him. Just hoping that i dont get a barrage of abuse now! Good Luck.

HOW DARE YOU SAY THAT? I AM ABSOLUTELY FURIOUS I'M GOING TO REPORT YOU TO THE MODS FOR AN UNPROVOKED ATTACK - YOU SHOULD BE BOILED ALIVE AND THROWN INTO A MUDDY PIT -...

Kidding!!! It's just that I love to be totally agressive and beat women up - oh, and I like to tie fireworks to animals, boil bunnies and all sorts of things like that - WHAT FUN!!

You might like to know that Graham P.M.d me to apologise, and is most probably coming on a shoot with me. He saw that I was genuinely trying to help him.
You really should have more faith in human nature - or perhaps you like to see only bad in people.
Feel free to continue avoiding me I will do likewise with you.

Oh it's so nice being right.

I take back all that i said. Here's me thinking you were some control freak stuck in the 1950's when actually you are a misunderstood philanthropist! When is the shoot? Be sure to let us all know how it goes - I love to see a happy ending.

I don't go back quite as far as the 50s Somegirls, maybe the late sixties!
But I do need to be a control freak occasionally - though only in a professional capacity!!
Also I am a volunteer with a few homeless charities so 'philanthropy' may not be too far off; misunderstood - apparently - if you look at my early posts you'll see that I started with good intentions - it was only when people made out that I was jealous and scared of competition that I kicked off.
The shoot - well I advised Graham to do a course and then contact me - so it could be a couple of years.
I hope Graham is not embarrassed by his P.M. being outed, I wasn't going to mention it...

What a nice guy!

Supertyke, have you got a website? I've been looking at various professional wedding photographers' sites lately, and would like to see more!
Thanks very much
Joose

He is proberly neither a photographer nor a philanthropist.

He is proberly neither a photographer nor a philanthropist.

Are you completely MAD??
I've just sent you a really nice reply to your apologetic P.M. - then seen this -My advise to you is - GET SOME TREATMENT.

Supertyke, have you got a website? I've been looking at various professional wedding photographers' sites lately, and would like to see more!
Thanks very much
Joose

I am proberly neither a philanthropist nor a photographer.

All I can say is that it beats having a drunk relative do it:thumbsup:

Are you completely MAD??
I've just sent you a really nice reply to your apologetic P.M. - then seen this -My advise to you is - GET SOME TREATMENT.

I am not going to explain myself as you seem like you could argue forever and i kind of have a life to be getting on with.....

Ooooh, this really did turn into a bit of a flame-war. I think I've forgotten the point I was going to bring up...

Oh well. Apparently it's all worked out in the end! My point still stands about devaluing a professional service - although, to be honest, at the end the pros still stand out by a mile.

I get work because I'm good at what I do, and I'm fairly priced. I tend not to do weddings as, well, I have enough stress trying to run a design company!

I wish Graham luck with this endeavour. If you can master it, social photography is one of the most beautiful branches of this craft as every picture does tell a story.

You have doubtlessly come across the claim that 'anyone can take a photo' mr_chris, which was the crux of this thread.
My intention was to save the O.P. from disappointment and possibly humiliation - not to mention his reputation.

There are people who would say this about photography - but about no other profession - they were telling Graham what he wanted to hear - easy. And it makes you a friend. Anyway you know thew rest...

Grahamgraham i would like to remind you the story of the man who stood on the top of the hill out of the reach of the wolf and mocked and insulted him. The wolf could not reach him and thought, it is not you that insults me but your place on top of that hill.
I hope one day Grahamgraham that you are on top of that hill and the people who do not wish you well reap what they sow. Good luck with the future my friend.

Graham

You should know by now that most postings on here will get shot down in flames and unfortunately those against you shout louder than those in favour. If people genuinely want to help you they will constructively offer advice in private, not display their comments which serve mainly to try to make you look foolish and of course its a way to wind people up.

You came on with best intentions and we can see that.

If you need any marketing help, just some discussion and tips, PM me. I don't charge as it feels nice to help people. (And no, I am not getting married!)

I also know how to say it without insulting you or making you feel inferior and winding you up. But then again, I am a professional business person, not an amateur.

Graham

You should know by now that most postings on here will get shot down in flames and unfortunately those against you shout louder than those in favour. If people genuinely want to help you they will constructively offer advice in private, not display their comments which serve mainly to try to make you look foolish and of course its a way to wind people up.

You came on with best intentions and we can see that.

If you need any marketing help, just some discussion and tips, PM me. I don't charge as it feels nice to help people. (And no, I am not getting married!)

I also know how to say it without insulting you or making you feel inferior and winding you up. But then again, I am a professional business person, not an amateur.


Try looking back to my first post, I was advising G. to GET SOME TRAINING - NOT TO BELITTLE OR TO HUMILIATE HIM.

I DID P.M. HIM, and offered to take him on an asignment AFTER he had aquired some basic training - you know, the way we USUALLY do things in this country.

The offer of your invaluable help ought to have come some weeks ago - along with the voluminous amounts of sheer pomposity - a very undesirable commodity in any PROFESSION.

oh dear, supertyke, that post wasnt aimed at you silly!!

Supertyke - you appear to have a problem with people on this thread.

Can I suggest that you just walk away from this and stop digging.

That's all I'm going to say - just walk away and leave it be, please.

Hi,

Just digging up this old thread to say that myself and my (now) wife Officegirl took up GrahamGraham on his offer, as we were running on a budget.

We've had the proofs off him this week and are absolutely delighted with the results - he did a great job, in both the formal shots and capturing the atmosphere before and after the service and at the reception.

He was very personable and unintrusive on the day and we'd not hesitate to recommend him. Cheers mate! :thumbsup:

Congrats GrahamGraham, at least 1 happy 'customer'.
Are there any wedding images online to take a look at?

Yes, the wedding have gone swimmingly and the couples are very happy. You can have a look at some of the shots on my website.

http://www.grahamshackletonphotography.co.uk

Yes, the wedding have gone swimmingly and the couples are very happy. You can have a look at some of the shots on my website.

Limited selection, but I like what is there. :)

Yes, I would like to put more on there, just need to clear it with the couples first. Do you have a website with you pet photography on? i would love to see some!

lol, i have just see your link......

:)
Just playin atm...long way to go yet ;)

To add my two penneth...

I am getting married next year, and I would jump at the chance of a free, or if not free, then cheap, photographer.

People these days spend EXTORTIONATE amounts of money on weddings: my budget would be less than about £5,000 for the whole thing, and most of that would be spent on the honeymoon. And before you all start telling me I'm naive and it can't be done, you really ought to take a look at my budget sheet.

That aside; GrahamGraham is offering a choice between the naff amateurism of your mate's photos on a digi cam, an old Canon or even worse, an Instamatic and his photos which are taken using professional equipment.

There is nothing wrong with getting a little experience before charging full rates, after all, what is a photographer without a fully fleshed-out portfolio? Some wedding photographer he'd be without the evidence to prove it!

For people desiring low-budget weddings such as myself, GrahamGraham is a dream come true. I can't believe how much you are all criticising him when he is doing nothing wrong! :)


(GrahamGraham... if you're still free next year, can I shotgun you!!)

I've moved this to the wedding group where it will be easier for people to find.

I too used a 'free' photographer for my wedding as we were also on a budget (even less than that mentioned above) and we were delighted. If you are trying to build up a portfolio then this is the way to go about it, no-one wants to pay huge prices without proof of the work a person can do.

good luck to you grahamgraham

Graham
Seen the offer of free Photographs,

I am getting married abroad, so unless you happen to be in the Cuba area in June then i think wedding photographs are out, BUT I am having a reception in South Anston June 16th.
Although not a true wedding, it is an informal garden party/hog roast for all my wedding guests who cannot make it to Cuba. If you would be interested in photographing this then contact me for more details.

As an AP I understand what you are offering as a free service and your desire to build up a level of experience and portfolio.

grahamgraham i think its fantastic that you can offer a service like this i would like to offer you a chance to prove your worth as they say im getting married in august this year and have not yet found a photographer and as me and my partner are really struggling to pay for things and on a really tight budget you would be the ideal candidate for the job we dont want anything ellaborate just a simple memento of our big day if you are available on the 9th of august please reply through the forum to let me know thanks x

grahamgraham i think its fantastic that you can offer a service like this i would like to offer you a chance to prove your worth as they say im getting married in august this year and have not yet found a photographer and as me and my partner are really struggling to pay for things and on a really tight budget you would be the ideal candidate for the job we dont want anything ellaborate just a simple memento of our big day if you are available on the 9th of august please reply through the forum to let me know thanks xHi you probably didn't notice, but grahamgraham's post offering free wedding photography was in December 2006!
You have dug up a really old thread!
So he may not be doing that now ;)

In tonights edition of the Sheffield Star, there is an advert from an experienced photographer, who is offering his services for free in order to build a portfolio. The details are as follows if anyone is interested:

07525046544

or email

stevegriff@o2email.co.uk

May be of use to someone.

Jayne

Thanks Jayne, have e-mailed him, fingers crossed

emailed him & hes coming to see us on tuesday

Be careful you usually get what you pay for.
Also bear in mind if the photographer is indeed experienced, then he wouldn't have to do free work to build up a portfolio.

That aside; GrahamGraham is offering a choice between the naff amateurism of your mate's photos on a digi cam, an old Canon or even worse, an Instamatic and his photos which are taken using professional equipment.
I've got a professional drill and saw. Anyone wanting a house building for free, just so I can get some experience?

In case I'm being way too subtle, it's not the equipment that makes one professional.

steve was absolutley wonderful. my proof pictures arrived back on tuesday. they are wonderful. he made us feel very relaxed & at ease.

steve was absolutley wonderful. my proof pictures arrived back on tuesday. they are wonderful. he made us feel very relaxed & at ease.

Thats great. Just goes to show that even free services can be good :smile:

Jayne

Graham,
I have just looked at your web site, and I cannot understand why you are offering your services for free.
You have a good eye for an image and your exposures are spot on.
If all you need is advice on suppliers and such then ring me and I will help all I can. Phone no. sent by pm.
I would also suggest that you ring around the local hotels and try to get into a wedding fair, to show some albums etc..
Good luck, you have a bright future.

Barry

hi i am currently getting married on valtines day ov this yeari saw your ad and am rely interested as we are rely getting married on a tite budjet and you sound like a bargin not too pass up would you please get back in touch with me asap yours thank fully zoe sharrock perfectangel_devil@hotmail.com

So, you are offering free wedding photography and this is the result.
You will be the busiest photographer on the planet this year.
But, you will also be the poorest.
Good luck to you, you deserve all you get.

hi i saw ur add and seemed like a god send could u help me

In tonights edition of the Sheffield Star, there is an advert from an experienced photographer, who is offering his services for free in order to build a portfolio. The details are as follows if anyone is interested:

07525046544

or email

stevegriff@o2email.co.uk

May be of use to someone.

Jayne

i got my wedding photos back from steve. they are amazing. i would highly recommend him i manage to get the offer he was advertising. i would definatly use him again if i need any professional photos done. thanks steve if you get to read this :thumbsup:

Hello all,

I have posted in the services offered section but wanted to let you all know about our new unique service we are offering for couples planning their weddings.

P&H Photography is a new unique company that provides a wedding photographer AND a wedding planner for you on your big day.

Having a wedding planner on hand means that your day will be as stress free as possible, we deal with all the details so you don't have to worry about a thing. Our wedding photographer shoots the wedding in a non-intrusive style and stays the entire day (not just until the first dance is over!).

As we are just setting up the company we are offering our services totally free of charge for any ceremonies taking place this year to increase our portfolio.

Please PM me for more details; and we can show you some of our work.

Many Thanks

Helen Haigh
Wedding Days by Helen and P&H Photography.

Hi,

I'm a fellow wedding photographer so just wanted to say 'hello'!

From what I've seen from other photographers just starting out who offer a free service, if you make an offer for 'free wedding photography' to build your portfolio it sends the wrong message to people. Firstly, you're admitting that you've never shot a wedding before and are very inexperienced **EDIT: I'm not saying you are inexperienced, I mean you may be viewed by potential customers as inexperienced.**. Would you want someone who is inexperienced dealing with the most important day of your life? Secondly, if you offer anything for free then the value of that service is effectively £0.00; Ergo, worthless. You may find people will take advantage of the free service and treat it with little or less respect than they would otherwise for a service they're paying for. I've seen photographers be a lot more successful when offering their services for a vastly cut-down price, even after trying for a long time to offer their photography services for free.

Hope this helps. :)

Matt

Fair enough, I have to say I was worried I would be shot down in flames!

I should point out that we have done another wedding before (also free of charge) and our previous clients are more than willing to provide a testmonial for us.

To be fair we don't want to charge too much money as we feel we need to have a few weddings "under our belts" first.

I do, however take your point. Thankyou for expressing it kindly ;)

Helen

Fair enough, I have to say I was worried I would be shot down in flames!

I should point out that we have done another wedding before (also free of charge) and our previous clients are more than willing to provide a testmonial for us.

To be fair we don't want to charge too much money as we feel we need to have a few weddings "under our belts" first.

I do, however take your point. Thankyou for expressing it kindly ;)

HelenThat's fair play to you then, just thought I'd offer a bit of advice. Whether you take it or not is up to you, of course. :)

It's obviously working okay for you though, so keep it up!

Mod note: Glad to hear we have another photographer offering free photography. Threads merged.

i would b gratefull if u would get in toudh with me as soon as pos im grttin married on the 11/12/08 so its not long away were on a very tight budget n carnt realy afford a photographer 4 my speacial day and i would like it if u would do my pics plse reply as im not going to waist your time im desperate many thanks linzi

Can you do a wedding for me on April 25th.
A couple just phoned, but I am busy.
You do the wedding for nothing and I will only charge them £800.00.
I can see to the album for you as well.

Thanks,

Barry

What a cheaky question Barry!!!!!

Amanda,
I just clicked on your web details on your reply.
I was directed to a gambling site instead.
Did you know of this or is it a surprise to you.

Barry

What link did you go to as i have two websites - www.atpweddings.com and the one in my signature... that is very worring!!

the person who deals with my website is looking in to that issue. very sorry about that!

Hi all,

Many thanks to those of you have have PM'd me. We look forward to working with you soon.

Barry - Your request sounds strange, and I am not too sure the couple who contacted you would appreciate the proposal. You may have a virus on your computer as Amanda's website works fine for me.

Many Thanks

Helen
P and H Photography

Helen, Barry's post was a mickey take of the thread.
I also am unable to see Amamanda's site from her signature link, as it takes you to 123reg.co.uk holding page. Looks like a possible domain name expiry issue.
Though the wedding page works fine.

'The server has reciently been changed for SEO and performance reasons, the name servers and DNS records have also been changed the should complete propagation in no more than 36 hours.' says the person who deals with my website.

very sorry for any issues caused. :)

Mod note: Glad to hear we have another photographer offering free photography..

I'm a DJ with a difference! Contact me for parties, weddings and events! PAT tested.

So do you DJ for nothing then? :confused: If so, it's great news for us photographers who don't get paid for their work!
Hey let's take this further, if I say I do photography for nothing, does that mean I don't have to pay for my shopping at Waitrose or when I need to upgrade my camera or computer, as those things are damned expensive?

i would b gratefull if u would get in toudh with me as soon as pos im grttin married on the 11/12/08 so its not long away were on a very tight budget n carnt realy afford a photographer 4 my speacial day and i would like it if u would do my pics plse reply as im not going to waist your time im desperate many thanks linziWhy not get your mates to use their mobile phones and text their shots to you? :hihi:

hey hey hey, dont blow this out of proportion. yes its a bit of a silly offer but the poor people are only trying to help people and their portfolio's cut them a break!!!

why shouldnt people with a very very tight budget have either a very inexpensive (which i think its more important than free) or free photographer - everyone deserves a chance at decent photos!!!

Just like I deserve a chance at a decent car you mean? If I can't afford it I don't get it. Why should photographs, which are just a commodity at the end of day, be any different?

Sorry but how many other jobs and Photography is a job [with expensive overheads], would you ask people to do for nothing? The builders who gutted + rebuilt my house this year would have told me exactly where to go if I'd asked then to do the work for nothing.
If people offered something in return, fair enough. I'm not uncharitable and I do do pro-bono work, but too many people devalue photographers/photography, probably more than just about any other job, even more so now everyone has a camera.
Plus digital is anything but free - in fact it's damned expensive. But no-one ever acknowledges that. And time is even more expensive.

i know it has expensive overheads I DO IT!!- but its not like someone has asked them to do it for free they have offered it as a service - and i am pretty sure that if someone offered you for free a day in their very expensive car you would jump and the chance so i think your argument is serveirly faulted! big deal its a silly offer but who cares you dont have to pay for it...

I understand that and yes this devalues our jobs just a little bit but so what makes us want to stand out even further and better our selves dont you think - i welcome competition makes me strive and work that little bit harder so I still come out on top!

Actually I was talking about the post on previous page asking for a photographer to work for nothing, not the OP, plus this is now two threads merged.

BTW I was given a day's use of a very expensive car a short while back [a Range Rover or similar] and completely forgot to take advantage of it.

I can’t believe this thread is still going ..lol :D

Everyone as to start somewhere and at least the OP did state he was novice. He seems to have come along great since the original post and well done to him!!

I did my first wedding job for a tenner over 10 years ago, but I was half way through a full time professional photography course and was doing work as an assistant to a very well know wedding photographer in Sheffield (hi Suzanne, hope your ok). So I had a little experience and my client was fully aware of this. I must state though, I didn’t start up working pro until I had finished my course and got my qualification’s and the wedding’s I did do were for friends and family and they did know the score.
This year alone I have had two brides contact me for help sorting out images another so called wedding photographer as shot for their big day (I must state one occasion it was an amateur set up to do extra work at weekends and the other was a student) nether of these had stated to the client their inexperience.

My point is. Anyone can set up a fancy website and charge over £1000, its up to you as a client to ask the right questions Experience, Insurance, Professional bodies ask about their equipment etc Iv had clients ask me for references before now lol
If you are happy with your photographer whether it be a student (doing it cheap or free), semi pro etc then fare enough but please be aware that some photographers out there might only have a little or no experience but have an all singing and dancing website/camera and charging professional prices that’s the people that get to me, its really quite scary. I was told the other day a story of a bride that paid £2500 for her photographer but didn’t get one decent full-length shot of her or her husband she could frame!!
Ask the right questions get the right photographer with no nasty surprises.