Ideas Ideas ideas....

[Dynamic Entertainment]

Ive heard a few reports about Photo Slide show projection falling flat on its face as far as guests not wanting to give up their memory cards etc, so i was looking at ways around this with a view to starting this add-on.

Anyway, my thought was to have a seperate, standalone netbook (for example), that isnt used to run the projector, with a multi-card reader and bluetooth capabilities, and invide people to come up and upload their own material, that way they can browse their own memory card and not worry about passing it over to someone else. What do you guys think?


Secondly, the videographer got me thinking at last weeks wedding. He doesnt do photography, and we noticed that their photographer didnt even stick around for the first dance (this may have been arranged with the B&G though). Anyway, now that my Roadie is getting good with the camera, the videographer suggested promoting "Party Photography" as an additional extra, with 25 professional prints supplied, and a CD-Rom with the rest of the photos. This has got me thinking, especially as the B&G last week phoned me last night and commented on how great the phictures have turned out, especially the likes of below.

What do you think, good or daft idea?

[Vectis]

Anyway, my thought was to have a seperate, standalone netbook (for example), that isnt used to run the projector, with a multi-card reader and bluetooth capabilities, and invide people to come up and upload their own material, that way they can browse their own memory card and not worry about passing it over to someone else. What do you guys think?


You'll end up spending the whole night offering technical support. The general populace isn't as clued up as you might think when it comes to these things. Avoid.



Secondly, the videographer got me thinking at last weeks wedding. He doesnt do photography, and we noticed that their photographer didnt even stick around for the first dance (this may have been arranged with the B&G though). Anyway, now that my Roadie is getting good with the camera, the videographer suggested promoting "Party Photography" as an additional extra, with 25 professional prints supplied, and a CD-Rom with the rest of the photos. This has got me thinking, especially as the B&G last week phoned me last night and commented on how great the phictures have turned out, especially the likes of below.

What do you think, good or daft idea?

Nice camera ;)

Mrs VV is a pretty good amateur photographer, and I offer an Event Photography package which quite a few wedding guests go with.

Basically she charges £50-£100 to cover her time, turns up for a couple of hours mid-flow (usually around buffet time/just after) and makes sure she gets a couple of headshots of each guest, then any dancefloor shenanigans. These are uploaded to a website where guests can buy prints from £5 - £10 depending on size, and she pockets about 2/3 of the proceeds. The host/B+G get a CD with web-quality versions of the pictures (ie 1024x768).

On a good wedding with lots of guests she's been known to take £250.

My only piece of advice would be to look again at the equipment - will one fairly basic by todays' standards camera cut it? What about flashguns, backdrops and reflectors?

[Larry B Entertainment]

You'll end up spending the whole night offering technical support. The general populace isn't as clued up as you might think when it comes to these things. Avoid.


:agree:

Its amazing how many people I see in Asdas struggling with those machines that print photos from memory cards.

Offering a photo viewing service for a wedding sounds more hassle than its worth

[Dynamic Entertainment]

You'll end up spending the whole night offering technical support. The general populace isn't as clued up as you might think when it comes to these things. Avoid.


:agree:

Its amazing how many people I see in Asdas struggling with those machines that print photos from memory cards.

Offering a photo viewing service for a wedding sounds more hassle than its worth
Thanks Martin & Larry...sometimes I forget that theres lot of technically backwards people out there :)




Nice camera ;)

Very nice...im well impressed with it :D



Mrs VV is a pretty good amateur photographer, and I offer an Event Photography package which quite a few wedding guests go with.

Basically she charges £50-£100 to cover her time, turns up for a couple of hours mid-flow (usually around buffet time/just after) and makes sure she gets a couple of headshots of each guest, then any dancefloor shenanigans. These are uploaded to a website where guests can buy prints from £5 - £10 depending on size, and she pockets about 2/3 of the proceeds. The host/B+G get a CD with web-quality versions of the pictures (ie 1024x768).

On a good wedding with lots of guests she's been known to take £250.

I forgot that youve mentioned Mrs VV doing this before, so there is a working set-up of my "not-so-original" idea then ;)



My only piece of advice would be to look again at the equipment - will one fairly basic by todays' standards camera cut it? What about flashguns, backdrops and reflectors?
never considered reflectors and backdrops....but i quickly figured out that the 300D either took pictures in complete darkness, or with full flash and lost the effect....so i invested in a Jessops 300AFD Digital Flashgun (Bounce adjustment, autofocus assist light, zoom settings etc), seems to do the trick in providing a bit of light in the "atmosphere" without looking like daylight.

[Shaun]

What do you think, good or daft idea?

Good idea, and one I've been offering for a couple of years. ;)

I don't offer prints though (as you've indicated you'll be doing). I only offer a DVD photo slideshow of pictures I take at the event, which can also include their professional wedding photos if they make them available to me.

[Dynamic Entertainment]

Good idea, and one I've been offering for a couple of years. ;)

I don't offer prints though (as you've indicated you'll be doing). I only offer a DVD photo slideshow of pictures I take at the event, which can also include their professional wedding photos if they make them available to me.

Thats a good idea. It may be worth offering prints Shaun. I got a price list of Klick PhotoPrint for those machines where you print from memory card. a 7x5 photo costs 38p each (price goes down if you want more than 9 photos). I got a couple done yesterday for a meeting with a hotel today and the quality on them (bearing in mind i had enough sense to use 300dpi jpegs) was excellent.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Mrs VV is a pretty good amateur photographer, and I offer an Event Photography package which quite a few wedding guests go with.

Basically she charges £50-£100 to cover her time, turns up for a couple of hours mid-flow (usually around buffet time/just after) and makes sure she gets a couple of headshots of each guest, then any dancefloor shenanigans.

Is this not akin to an Ipod wedding?

Having talked to a pro photoographer on Saturday, I can't see that this is any different to a photographer or anyone else saying they can supply a PA and Ipod for the music?

Do people know the difference between a pro package and 'event' photography?

[Vectis]

Is this not akin to an Ipod wedding?

Having talked to a pro photoographer on Saturday, I can't see that this is any different to a photographer or anyone else saying they can supply a PA and Ipod for the music?

Do people know the difference between a pro package and 'event' photography?

Absolutely they do, and I have no qualms about introducing the Mrs as a 'semi-pro' because in effect that's what she is. Unqualified on paper, but with a great portfolio and plenty of experience.

I disagree with the 'ipod' comment because this isn't sold by me as a service; it's something I offer up as a recommendation when discussing the event in more detail with the client and it becomes apparent that they'd like something along these lines. It's no different than my recommending a table magician or a fun casino. If my wife did these things, she'd get first dibs at them too :D

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I understand what you are saying, but I'm not sure there is much of a difference.

[Vectis]

I understand what you are saying, but I'm not sure there is much of a difference.

What does Mrs Solitaire do?

[Dynamic Entertainment]

The only reason it got me thinking is because the "Pro" photographers rarely stay past the first dance...infact my last 3 weddings the pro has either took off early, or "staged" a first dance shot because they wanted it at 7pm and the B&G refused to do it before the buffett.

A few B&Gs have asked if it would be possible to get the photos that we took for promotional purposes and ive just handed them over on a disc...but i could make some cash out of it :)

[Shaun]

I understand what you are saying, but I'm not sure there is much of a difference.

Whether it's an ipod wedding or a semi-pro photographer, there's room for all markets. I have absolutely no problem with the people that want an ipod wedding or a sixty quid sid, and I've no problems with people that want a cheaper photo package option than the expense of a professional photographer. There's room for all markets, not everyone wants 'top of the range'. As long as they are aware that they aren't choosing the top end of the market and that the results could vary from a professional service.

I suppose there's graphic designers out there moaning about people like me that have no formal design training, and charging lower prices than them, I make no apology to them either.

There's semi-pro and advanced amatuers in every profession, and there's room for them all. How many times have we had a friend or a friend of a friend do a job for us as the price is a lot cheaper than hiring a professional in the field? I know I have! :)

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

What does Mrs Solitaire do?

Not event photography!

[Vectis]

Not event photography!

OK be cagey, but if for example she happened to be a caterer, and a client of yours asked for a recommendation for caterers, I'm pretty sure she'd be top of the list IF you were confident she could deliver?

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

OK be cagey, but if for example she happened to be a caterer, and a client of yours asked for a recommendation for caterers, I'm pretty sure she'd be top of the list IF you were confident she could deliver?

But you posted that she adds on an extra £50-£100 or whatever she needs. That doesn't come across to me as a separate business or a professional one. (And that is meant with all due respect as I'm sure she is very good)

For the record, my wife has nothing to do with this conversation or this business, so there's nothing cagey about it.

[Vectis]

But you posted that she adds on an extra £50-£100 or whatever she needs. That doesn't come across to me as a separate business or a professional one.

Not quite. I posted that she charges £50-£100 to cover her time, so that's her time paid for (usually 2-3 hours including travel). She then charges per-print and makes a markup on those. A big event will then generate anything up to £250 in additional income through the sale of prints.

Sounds like a business to me ;)

Separate invoice, different name at the top. I just do the recommending.

Having re-read my original post, I can see how "I offer..." has been misunderstood and I could have worded that a bit better. Hopefully all is clear now.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Sounds like a business to me ;)

I didn't suggest it wasn't.


Separate invoice, different name at the top. I just do the recommending.

I thought you said it was an events photography package which is why I assumed it was all under your banner.

[Marc J]

It's no different than my recommending a table magician or a fun casino. If my wife did these things...

My wife's a magician....she manages to make my bank balance disappear every month.....

*groan*

:ontopic:

[PropellerHeadCase]

It's funny, I was thinking about using a semi-professional photographer friend to add 'on the night' pics to a data show as opposed to cam-feed/shadow dancer video shows just yesterday.

[ppentertainments]

Ive heard a few reports about Photo Slide show projection falling flat on its face as far as guests not wanting to give up their memory cards etc, so i was looking at ways around this with a view to starting this add-on.

Anyway, my thought was to have a seperate, standalone netbook (for example), that isnt used to run the projector, with a multi-card reader and bluetooth capabilities, and invide people to come up and upload their own material, that way they can browse their own memory card and not worry about passing it over to someone else. What do you guys think?


Secondly, the videographer got me thinking at last weeks wedding. He doesnt do photography, and we noticed that their photographer didnt even stick around for the first dance (this may have been arranged with the B&G though). Anyway, now that my Roadie is getting good with the camera, the videographer suggested promoting "Party Photography" as an additional extra, with 25 professional prints supplied, and a CD-Rom with the rest of the photos. This has got me thinking, especially as the B&G last week phoned me last night and commented on how great the phictures have turned out, especially the likes of below.

What do you think, good or daft idea?

Steve, give me a ring one night (am busy during most days at the moment). Find it easier over the phone than typing ;)

Not tonight though as off to bed soon LOL

[Dynamic Entertainment]

OK Chris, cheers. :beer1:

[The_Blue_Dragon]

When I do slide shows I send them a blank CD which they can add pictures on and I just says fetch it on the day and I just copy the pictures to the correct folder.

I also announce I have bluetooth so any pictures can be sent to "The Blue Dragon" and i'll put them up on the screen. I also accept requests via bluetooth aswel

[Dynamic Entertainment]

When I do slide shows I send them a blank CD which they can add pictures on and I just says fetch it on the day and I just copy the pictures to the correct folder.

I also announce I have bluetooth so any pictures can be sent to "The Blue Dragon" and i'll put them up on the screen. I also accept requests via bluetooth aswel

Cheers, Bluetooth may be an option that ive not thought about much, but with so many phones having 8MP cameras and that now.


I would also like to say a huge thanks to Chris (PPEntertainments) for taking the time out yesterday to give me a ring and have a good hours worth of conversation. Cheers, i owe you a few of these :beer1:

[Vectis]

The only problem I find with the bluetooth thing is you need to moderate the pictures.

I tried an system a couple of years ago and all I got was people taking pictures of assorted body parts (theirs and others :eek: ) and trying to get them onto the big screen :bang:

I also tried 'text a request' but most of what came in was from teens trapped at weddings, demanding totally inappropriate stuff.

Both went by the wayside.