Wedding Photography; Adding It Up

Just thought I would share the approx. hours that go into wedding photography. I will also indicate who does what with a G (Gary) or L (Louise):

(L)Emailing with bride/groom: 1 hour

(G) Prepping equipment, recharging batteries, reformatting cards, cleaning sensors, packing camera bags: 1 hour

(G+L)Meeting with the bride/groom or checking out new location:1 hour

(L)Engagement shoot (including driving): 2 hours

(L)Editing engagement shoot, (G)burning disk and (L) mailing the CD: 4 hours

(L) Planning itinerary and getting directions/maps all ready to go: .5 hours

(L)Wedding day coverage for Louise (getting ready to end of portraits with driving): 8 hours

(G)Wedding day coverage for Gary (ceremony to mid reception with driving): 10 hours

(L)Uploading, (G)backing up, and (L) going through photos (deleting super overexposed or eyes closed): 3 hours

(L)Editing photos (first in lightroom and then in photoshop): 30 hours

(G)Making slideshow: 4 hours

(G)Renumbering pictures, burning disks and (L)mailing packages: 2 hours

TOTAL:65.5

For 2010, the cost of wedding photography was $1200.00 which is less than $20.00/hour. We feel that we have really built up our portfolio and offer great photos. Needless to say, our 2011 prices will be higher as this doesn't even take into account our equipment and supplies:)

Camera Body Upgrade

Gary has a Canon 5D and I have a Canon 40D. I'm looking to sell my 40D and upgrade to either a 70D or 5D (problem is we'll lose the higher frames per second with the 5D). Thoughts?

Flash

Gary and I have been using our flashes to bounce light (and sometimes direct flash) in ceremonies and receptions. We have been using studio lights as the direct light when shooting in studio. However, what we have not been working on enough, is our flash photography in sunlight (mostly fill flash). With just two people, we can hold up a diffuser and the shadows disappear. With more than two people, it is not an option!

(Just a break in the writing...this is my sisters' dog, Bailey. He wouldn't sit still either while I practiced with my remote flash)

We have recently purchased some radiopoppers...these are transmitters and receivers that allow your external flash to function in places other than your camera. Fortunately we have our light stands already (we actually have 4 total and use two for our studio) so today I tried it out.

(Please excuse today's model, he wanted to play in the sandbox and I just wanted him to sit still for one minute:)

I promise he really is a happy kid. Anyway, I had the umbrella directly in front of him. I realized afterwards that if I had put it on the opposite side of the sun, I could've balanced out the light a little more. Also, would've worked better if the umbrella was lower. I'm still really working with manual as I love shooting aperture priority, unless in the studio where it's so much easier to shoot manual than outside. It's a bit tougher shooting manual when you have a kid that will only stand there for 2 seconds so you better make sure your lighting is as you want it:)

(the set up)

I think the next effect would be cool at night or at sunset...I placed the flash (without an umbrella) directly behind my sister to get an outline of her 24 week baby belly...

(set up below)

(Pretend my sister isn't wearing her bright pink pants..she'll be so embarrassed that I posted this)

So what I learned from today is that I would like to really work on my fill flash and remote flash photography. Gary and I need a photo date to do that together because with the kids running around and Koen trying to knock over the flash stand...it's hard to focus:)

Always more to learn!!!