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Oct

13

The Fate Of Wedding Photography

Filed Under Wedding Photography 

As a whole, where does the industry of wedding photography stand today?

I just read an interesting post by David Ziser (a June post, must have missed it when he originally wrote it) and thought it was filled with a lot of things I too have witnessed in this industry. (It’s worth the read.)

Wedding photography is more than just shooting a few pictures at an event. In my eyes - as a professional wedding photographer for many years - it is the most difficult form of photography.

  • You have to mix with dozens of different types of personalities, some with frazzled nerves.
  • You have to photograph a bride’s white dress with a grooms black tux, in the blazing sunlight, and in the dark reception hall - making every photograph turn out perfectly.
  • You have to photograph professional portraits, and become a dynamic photojournalist, anticipating where the client wants you to be.

I could go on, but I’m sure you understand what I’m saying.

Yet you continually see Craigslist listings for free photographers, or an entire wedding package for $250. There is no way a professional photographer can remain a professional photographer at this level. Instead you’ll get the comments I hear almost every day of:

“I used a friend who loves photography, but they did a horrible job and now I have no photographs from my wedding.”

To be a professional wedding photographer, you have to dedicate yourself to the art of wedding photography. You have to practice. You have to understand every nuance of the day. AND you have to charge what you’re worth to stay in the business.

I recently did a post on The Pendulum Swing Of Photography. Every single point holds true to this post as well, but let’s discuss point #7 again here:

7. The photographer that isn’t out for the quick buck, and caves into “what everyone else is doing”. The biggest statement I hear from photographers on why they charge one low fee and hand over the digital files - “everyone else is doing it”. That’s not how to get to the top. The way to the top is to give what no one else is giving.

The only way to remain a true professional wedding photographer is to provide 110% service to your wedding clients - and tell about it. Do your clients really want to rely on the free Craigslist photographer - that may never show up? Do they really want to rely on the friend - that only photographs landscapes? Do they really want to trust their memories to a photographer that has never photographed a wedding before? Do they really want to trust a photographer that hands over the files - and doesn’t understand the professionalism of helping you design your wedding album?

I can go on and on. It all boils down to how much you put in is how much you will receive.



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Comments

6 Responses to “The Fate Of Wedding Photography”

  1. Best Wedding Photographers » Blog Archive » The Fate Of Wedding Photography on October 13th, 2008 4:59 pm

    [...] As a whole, where does the industry of wedding photography stand today? I just read an interesting post by David Ziser (a June post, must have missed it when he originally wrote it) and thought it was filled with a lot of things I too have witnessed in this industry. (It’s worth the read.) Wedding photography is more than just shooting a few pictures at an event. In my eyes - as a professional wedding photographer for many years - it is the most difficult form of photography. You have to mi Source: http://virtualphotographystudio.com/photographyblog/2008/10/13/the-fate-of-wedding-photography/ [...]

  2. » The Fate Of Wedding Photography : Photography Business, Wedding … »Digital Photography on October 28th, 2008 7:47 am

    [...] Digital photography by Virtual Photography [...]

  3. Alan Nielsen on October 28th, 2008 12:01 pm

    Too true. Too many times do you respond to a craigslist add or a Kijiji add and they say, but I only have $100.00 for a photographer. I’ll accept an amateur.

    Well, I will still send them my quote and I try to explain the difference between your “aunt” and a true wedding photographer.

    –
    Alan Nielsen
    Nine Live Photography
    http://www.ninelivephotography.ca

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  5. Mark Tuck, M and R Studios on December 6th, 2008 4:44 pm

    I battle AWACs (Amateurs With A Camera) every day. I shoot sports and HS athletes in their environments for one of a kind portraits that no-one else can offer.

    Your comments about a friend shooting a wedding and having no pictures of the event is tragically very typical. I have been shooting (beginning with 35 mm’s ) since I was 13 yrs old. I learned the hard way while shooting airplanes, drag-racing, and stock car events under all kinds of lighting conditions that there is absolutely no substitute for the following:
    1) Know your equipment, blindfolded and in the dark.
    2) know the limits of your abilities to get the shot - i.e. lag time of the shutter, ISO maximum, focal length available, depth of field, etc.
    3) know how to compose the shot on the fly,
    4) plan ahead - walk thru the church, church-grounds, receptiion halls. check out the lighting, (meter it!!) mentally walk thru the events of the day and position yourself while looking thru the viewfinder.
    5) talk to officials and site managers (in the case of a wedding this might be the minister or his representative) about limitations on you and your plans.

    know your job forwards and backwards before taking on the task. (if this isn’t possible, shoot as an assistant for some else a few times. It’s like playing rythm guitar before soloing in front of a live audience.)

    my two cents worth.
    Mark

  6. Virtual Photography on December 9th, 2008 10:53 am

    Great comment Mark - I couldn’t agree more. Professionals will prevail over time. There truly is a difference.

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