If you want to continue with shooting weddings as the opportunity arises, then have double prints made of the proofs and number both sets. Keep one set, the negatives and key for yourself, and give the other set to the couple. If you're shooting digitally, it might be nice to give the couple their photos on CD-ROM as well, so they have the images for their digital library.

If you're a friend, you may want to give all the photos to the couple. But if you're doing this for money, you may want to engage in a practice as old as weddings (or at least as old as wedding photography). As you are now a budding wedding photographer, you may want your clients to come back to you if they want to buy extra prints.

Summary
Just because a couple doesn't have a lot of money doesn't mean they don't deserve professional looking wedding photos. I was taught a long time ago that anything worth doing, is worth doing well. This was never more true than wedding photography, because the events in a wedding only happen once. If you're willing to take on the responsibility of shooting a wedding, then you have an obligation to do the best job possible.

Knowing your equipment and preparation beforehand will go a long way to making your job a lot easier. Not every wedding will be as formal as the examples or necessarily follow the pattern I have outlined here, so find out ahead of time what the sequence of events will be.

You also need to have confidence in yourself. If you don't, you won't be able to command the shoot and direct people. But that doesn't mean being pompous, arrogant, or full of yourself either.

Be prepared for on the spot requests during the shoot. Do your best to accommodate them, but if time is becoming a factor, don't hesitate to let them know. Ultimately, try to relax, have fun, and make the best out of it. Good luck and good shooting.

James Booth is a self-taught PC and Palm device user that dabbles in graphics and photography. He can be reached at lizardworks@mchsi.com.