I shoot weddings both photo and video and being there and sometimes dealing with the douchebag family members (controlling moms are the worst) can really test your patience. This is someone's special day and most of the time the photographer is already in the budget. I have found that if you talk to them about your fees, if you ask what they are looking to pay first, you can base what your figure is going to be.
I have tried the route you speak of and for me, my time is worth far more than hoping to make a profit off of pic prints. However, prints can make you some bank, fo sheez! Also, Never, ever do I release the rights to the photos unless they are family or friends. This is because I have made thousands of dollars over the years just by people calling me up and asking for another print which requires very little work on my part.
One thing that banks me easy cash is holiday parties, last year I shot a holiday party for the local dmv. I brought a backdrop, my cameras and some lights, along with a portable color printer. When the peeps came in, I took their photo, then I printed out a 8x10 on my portable printer and then charged $20 a pop for them. I already got my fee paid to show at the party so this was icing on the cake. Out of 1700 people, I got about 950 of them to buy prints, I ran out of ink and had to change cartridges 9 times, even ran to office depot once. However, it was worth it, my fee was $250 for the evening but I collected close to $20k for the prints. I didn't expect that but most of these people were there with their wives/hubbys or girlfriends/boyfriends and were dressed very nice. So they wanted to remember that by buying a print.
Back to weddings, I offer a set of different packages, every package is different in price and what it offers. One thing peeps really seem to love is similiar to an idea posted. I have a generic wedding site template that I built a year or so ago and then I build a site around their day. I set it up as a sub domain, so no cost to me.
Don't be afraid to charge peeps, if you have good equipment, some talent then you are worth the money. I run nikon cameras and they capture magnificent shots with little adjustment. Also, offering a photo/video package is a big hit for me. People want to remember their special day so videos, photos, whatever, 9 times out of 10 they are willing to pay. I for one absolutely hate shooting weddings, its intense, for the most part and lots of stress for me cause I want to capture it better than the competiton.
I do weddings for the money, it generally only takes me a couple of hours to shoot and I bank a easy $1k, if they get a video/photo package I bank around $3k.
I think you should try it out, but at least charge a small fee, maybe $100 so that at least you get paid for your trouble. Because if noone buys prints, which is unlikely but possible. You went through the trouble for nothing. However, the printing of pics can be lucrative, see above.
I say test everything out, you might find something that blows up but make sure you charge your worth. Don't think the next guy will give handouts, cause he won't.
I didn't see a specific forum that this might fit in, so thought "shooting the shit" might work since it is a possible money making idea for ya.
What do you think? Good idea? stupid?
Was thinking of a new angle at wedding photography. Might work perfectly since economy is in the toilet.
Basically don't charge anything to do the photography. Market yourself as a way to get "candid" wedding shots. When you take
pictures, hand out a small card with a web site address on it... tell them they get get the photos there.
Then, when they get there they can see either a small preview or a watermarked version. From there let them pay for only what they
want. Not sure what would be a good price but I guess start small and go up from there if they sell like mad.
On top of all this give them rights to print as they wish wherever they want.... blow the competition away?
In a way this would be like stock photography, only it's probably a lot easier to sell your photos.
