I've been asked to shoot an event, but...

[lextalionis]

Alright,

I'm an armature photographer and have never shot any event for someone else. I haven't a lick of training. Someone in the Austin Area came across my website and contacted me to ask if I would be willing to shot for them. I went to their site and it looks like the deal a lot with UT grads and graduation/party events. They sell prints of these events and seem to charge the average going rate.

I haven't spoken to them yet as I want to digest this some and run it by you all. I want to get experience, but I also want to be very clear about my background and experience. Can anyone give me suggestions on how to go about this engagement?

Thanks,
Roy

[HotHolly]

Who is asking you - the UT students directly or someone else?

[lextalionis]

Someone else...3rd party.

[DanStar]

First, congrats on the engagement! It should be a thrill to get asked.

Second, I am also not a full time pro photog so my comments are not well informed.

Third, the one eyed man in the valley of the blind is king, meaning you know more about photography already than whoever is asking you so go for it. They apparently saw something on your website that they liked so their expectation should be set. Like any full time pro you roll into the engagement and do your best. Shoot alot and bring all the skill you have to bear. Some shots turn out great, others not so great, and the rest are like my pics! I have had plenty of family shoots by a pro and get these results. So I say go for it and enjoy it.

Dan

[Bruce M. Morris]

Many years ago, at OU there was a company just off campus called "Party Pics". They shot all the Frat parties and dorm parties and would have contact prints on display by the end of the week. Is this the kind of thing this third party is asking for? Those were basically medium format shot with one flash on a bracket and emphasis was on the 2-5 person groups that were shot. in 1980 they were charging $10 per 5x7 and people were buying any photo that they were in as memories of the party.
Photography has advanced lots since then, but find out what they are looking for and what they liked about your site. If you are doing the shooting and it is with YOUR equipment, make sure you are covered in case of "party accidents"..
Good Luck!

[zepp]

Originally Posted by lextalionis

I'm an armature photographer....

Amateur not Armature....

Armature:

1. armor.
2. Biology. the protective covering of an animal or plant, or any part serving for defense or offense.
3. Electricity.
a. the part of an electric machine that includes the main current-carrying winding and in which the electromotive force is induced.
b. the pivoted part of an electric device, as a buzzer or relay, that is activated by a magnetic field.
c. the iron or steel applied across the poles of a permanent magnet to close it, or across the poles of an electromagnet to transmit a mechanical force.
4. Sculpture. a skeletal framework built as a support on which a clay, wax, or plaster figure is constructed.


Amateur:

1. a person who engages in a study, sport, or other activity for pleasure rather than for financial benefit or professional reasons. Compare professional.
2. an athlete who has never competed for payment or for a monetary prize.
3. a person inexperienced or unskilled in a particular activity: Hunting lions is not for amateurs.
4. a person who admires something; devotee; fan: an amateur of the cinema.
5. characteristic of or engaged in by an amateur; nonprofessional: an amateur painter; amateur tennis.