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!