Fest wedding!

[Jon Hanslow]

I've shot numerous weddings out at fest, and while many are fairly simple, I have also shot some very elaborate ones as well where I followed the couple around for the entire day to record their special day.  The main thing is that you enjoy the day, regardless of how simple or complex you make it!

any idea what photographers run in general?

[DeadBishop]

Price can be all over the ballpark.  You may find people willing to do it for several hundred to several thousand dollars, or even those willing to do if for free just to get the experience. Remember, in most cases you get what you pay for!

Honestly, I'm at that point in my career where I'm not trying to grab every wedding/event possible, trying to lowball the competition just to get the job.  I've been shooting professionally for almost 20 years now, and if I get the job, great; if not, oh well.  Be wary of those that charge little to nothing for their time, and of those who photography is just a hobby and might find it neat to get paid for once.  Remember, this is definitely something where the phrase "you get what you pay for" comes into play. (unless you happen to personally know a pro who will cut you a good deal )  You can't redo or fix bad photography.  Anyone who brags about their equipment is trying to make up for a lack of talent, expecting the equipment to make up for it. 

I teach private tutoring sessions to a wide range of people with varying experience, more commonly those just starting out or wanting to learn more past the fundamentals, and unfortunately to those that bite off more than they can chew, trying to tackle a wedding with little to no experience.  They come to me with 10k worth of camera gear that they just bought yesterday, with a wedding to shoot tomorrow, and have no clue how to use it.  Usually it's a crash course and a bit of an eye opener when they realize it's not going to be as easy as spending their money on expensive equipment. 

Talent, experience, and creativity are probably the three most important aspects to consider in a photographer.  After that it's all numbers. 

[Kiss-me-Kate]

I can vouch for DB.  He shot my son's graduation pictures and they were awesome!