March 2010

I recently spoke to a friend of mine who is the owner of Alwyn Photography here in Rochester, NY.  We got to talking about how the market has changed regarding the wedding photography business.  He mentioned a recent bridal show that had a person offering wedding photography packages for $400.  I asked him sarcastically, “for the price of $400 are all the images shot with disposable cameras?”  His response was, “disposable photos.”  The term disposable photos really nailed it regarding what a client should expect with a $400 wedding package.  Advances in digital cameras have really changed the photography industry.  Just about anyone can jump in and feel like a photographer.  Unfortunatly, for the soon to be newly weds  the end results of a $400 wedding package are usually  just average, forgettable, blah photos.  In other words disposable…

There is a saying that goes something like this: Amatures practice until they get it right…  Professionals practice so they never get it wrong. 

The same holds true for wedding photography.  Weddings are one time events and there are no do-overs (except for second marriages -joke-).  Sure, an amateur will have some good photos.  But and it’s a big but… will all the important “one time” moments be captured with high quality results like a professional would provide? 

Maybe I’m wrong and it’s not a money things… Maybe the value of truly good photography hes been lost in the digital age generation.   When a camera seems to be built into every electronic device on the market and everyone is snapping quick pictures of everything.  Maybe this generation is just accustomed to seeing all these cell phone pictures and accepted those as good results.  Maybe instant results from a cell phone or point and shoot camera are more important than quality and skill needed to produce outstanding images. Maybe couples aren’t thinking long term about quality photographic memories that they can look back on and enjoy years down the road.  Deep down inside I have to believe that people still value high quality, they just need help seeing and understanding what that really means in this digital age.

In conclusion newly engaged couples be forewarned of the to good to be true $400 wedding package…  Maybe the better question to ask is why are most others that have been in business for years more expensive?

Remember not all photographers are wedding photographers. See below…  Enjoy!

Following up on my last post of “Nothing to Take Photos Of?.” 

Easter is just around the corner and many towns host some type Easter egg hunts or some other type of Spring activity for the kids.  Why not donate an hour of your time and offer to photograph the event?

Sliding down the frog slide at Easter Splash.

This past weekend I offered my time and talents to capture some great moments at Easter Splash, an event held at a local community aquatics center.  I had a great time photographing the event and then submitted a few of the photographs to the local newspaper.  Kids and parents love seeing thier photos in the newspaper and since the local papers don’t have staff photographers to send out to cover every event, this is a nice way to promote the event, the participants and you.

I often read or hear stories of people saying they are in a rut and have run out of things to photograph.  I say IMPOSSIBLE!  If you feel like you’ve run out of things to shoot then you need to step out of your “comfort zone,” stop shooting the same old thing and try some innovation!

Stop thinking what if… and just try it!  Strap your camera to the dog,  hang your camera out of the car window while riding in a car or toss your camera up in the air with a slow shutter.  See what you get.  An unexpected surprise or maybe nothing turned out but at least you started getting creative and creativity will lead to greater creativity.  If you like looking up and taking photos of tall skyscrapers try looking down and thinking smaller… photograph the trash on the sidewalk that manhole covers on the street.  If you normally shoot in the day then try going out after dark. The import thing is to get out there and shoot.  There’s nothing to lose.  After all, it’s all digital… if it doesn’t work out, just press delete… and you won’t wear out that chair or couch your sitting in as quickly!