Lessons Learned from Challenging Wedding Experiences
Welcome to our insightful article where we delve into the real-life experiences of a wedding photographer and videographer. Join us as we explore the importance of meticulous planning, the need for adaptability in the face of unexpected challenges, and the power of positive collaboration. Gain valuable lessons and practical advice to make your wedding day truly unforgettable. Let's embark on this journey together and discover the secrets to a remarkable wedding experience.
A Lesson in Wedding Planning: Importance of Being Prepared
A couple hired me last minute to photograph their bridal shower. They absolutely fell in love with the results and were incredibly sweet to me. They already had a photographer for their wedding and were willing to hire me as a videographer instead. The couple didn’t have much money left in the budget and asked if I would offer them a discount. The couple was such a pleasure to work with and were generally a good time that I chose to sign up for the wedding.
Unexpected Delays and the Need for a Plan B
Now, the wedding day has come, the couple hired me just cover the 4-hours of the wedding which would include an hour-long ceremony + everything that came after. I was ready to produce the best Wedding Film to date. I showed up early to get ready and got everything ready to start recording the ceremony which was supposed to happen at my arrival time. Yet, the bride is nowhere to be found. An hour passes and the bride is still not at the church. Everyone is calm and supportive knowing that weddings rarely start on time. Yet, another hour passes and she is not there. At that point, everyone is looking for the groom to explain the situation and the poor guy is hiding from everyone not knowing 100% what’s going on. “I think the makeup person never showed up.” - the groom told me when I found him. The third hour has passed and people are starting to show their signs of being uncomfortable spending 3 hours at the church and still waiting for an hour-long ceremony to happen. Finally, the bride’s limo shows up. We are ready to go. Everyone is cheering. The ceremony almost goes as planned but takes 20 minutes longer than expected. I am already over time but have chosen to stay and finish recording the ceremony to avoid robbing the couple of this beautiful experience. Once the ceremony was over, the couple had to put fires left and right -
The church had an event right after and there was no way the couple could host a private photo shoot at the location as they planned
Some of the guests had to leave and were not going to make it to the reception anymore
The cocktail hour and other parts of the wedding needed to be cut out which probably cost quite a bit of money
And finally, I wasn’t going to be there to record the rest of the evening including the first dance and cake cutting. I still was able to put together a beautiful wedding film but it only included the ceremony at the church and a quick 15-minute video shoot we hosted with the couple outside the church to capture some extra footage for the film.
Lessons Learned: Plan and Adapt
LESSON LEARNED: Don’t underestimate the planning of your wedding and always have a PLAN B option or be quick to think on your feet. Is it really worth waiting for the makeup artist for 3 hours and missing out on all of the above? There is no right answer to this question. You must decide and be ready to make difficult decisions. These decisions will be significantly less difficult if you, once again, PLAN!
Negative Experiences and the Power of Positive Collaboration
Working With Negative People
Energy and the Vibe of other people are so important for me and I am sure for you as well. Very early in my career, I was eager to add some amazing footage to my portfolio, while getting paid, and looked for any opportunity to make that happen. I didn’t have to wait long. A young man approached me looking for a photographer/videographer to capture his wedding. Just like I always do, I hosted a video consultation session with him describing my packages and what he will get in return, as well as asking each other questions about every aspect of the wedding. Right then and there, the groom began commenting that I charge too much for my packages and demanded I reduce the price to work with him. That was the first big red flag I ignored due to my lack of experience. I gave him the discount he desired and he paid the deposit. Your regular transaction, right? That’s what I thought at least.
Negotiations and Red Flags
A young man approached me looking for a photographer/videographer to capture his wedding. During our consultation, he began commenting on the pricing of my packages and demanded a discount. Ignoring the red flag due to my lack of experience, I gave in and offered him the reduced price. He paid the deposit, but later requested a refund until the final photos and wedding film were delivered. I had to educate him once again on the process, and he reluctantly agreed to stick to the original payment agreement.
A Dissatisfied Client and Dealing with Negativity
Months later, on the wedding day, my team and I put our best efforts into capturing stunning images and creating a beautiful highlight film. Despite our hard work, the groom responded with long speeches of criticism upon receiving the final products. Despite receiving positive feedback from my colleagues, the groom continued to express negativity and offensive remarks. Frustrated with his behavior, I decided not to print an album for the couple and offered to reimburse the difference in payment. The groom accused my team of being unprofessional and dishonest, despite us having completed 90% of the work at a discounted rate.
The Importance of Collaboration and Positivity
LESSON LEARNED: Now, please be careful how you interpret this story. Your negative reaction can be justified if the work a professional delivers to you is not what has been promised. Do your homework and only hire people who you believe can and will get the job done for you. But if you continue to hustle/micromanage everyone around you, people will not want to work with you. Being as negative as the groom in this story, you are not only running the risk of hurting people but, most importantly, hurting yourself. There are so many beautiful things to enjoy in life. Please do not create pointless arguments but rather concentrate on what really matters - your happiness. If you are not confident in someone getting a job done for you, continue your search until you find someone who has a similar vision to yours and will take good care of you.
Navigating Challenges for an Amazing Wedding
This article is one of the longer ones I write, but it’s important for me to be transparent with you and help you as much as I can with planning an AMAZING wedding. These stories show that not every wedding is all rainbows and flowers, but an experienced individual will be able to roll with the punches. By being prepared, adaptable, and maintaining positive collaboration, you can ensure a memorable and stress-free wedding experience.