How important is wedding photography, really?

[JaertX]

From the Masters of Wedding Photography DVD:

"I'm creating something that's going to be looked at 20 years from now...the cake is gone, the dress is in a box, the flowers are dead; it's over for that...the ultimate thing is the photography." - Joe Buissink

This DVD is well worth the money spent for inspiration to move to a higher level of photography. The above quote is my favorite reminder from it of how important our job is to document the day well...and why when someone rises above the mediocre masses can and should expect to make a lucrative career out of it.

Boy do I have a lot to learn!

[PIXI_666]

This is why i don't understand Brides & Grooms buying a camera and getting "Friends & Family" to document the day. OK 8mths ago i was one of those people, until i did my 2nd wedding and all of a sudden...i am so glad i got myself a professional!!
Our job IS important, which is why i almost pee myself everytime i do a wedding, "What if i stuff up the photos?" "What if i trip over and hurt myself so bad i cant take the photos?" "What if i get so sick i cant make it there and get the shots?" what ifs run through my head a week before the wedding!!!!
Now...i know myself, i am capable, and i do need improvements, but the clients i have know my position, im a newbie, BUT some things can happen that are out of my hands!
Nothing as yet has happened...but still, i always wonder?

So i agree with you whole heartedly...our job is SO important, apart from the celebrant/priest, the B&G themselves and the rings of course lol I think the photographer role is waaaaay up there! Back then when i wanted a friend to document my day, i kept saying "Why the hell do wedding photographers charge so much, all they do is snap away and then print the photos, bobs ya uncle they are done!" i wish i could go back now and slap myself LOL what the hell? SO not that easy!!!! So now when i hear people say it, i wanna slap them but contain myself and explain clearly and nicely...that this is not our roles at all!

My 1st wedding was a breeze...but the 5 after that is where i really saw the "Role as a whole"

Ill go up against ANYONE on the "Debate of the wedding photographer" people don't see what happens after the wedding....so much work is involved, and yes our role is VERY important, every time i walk into someones house, what's the first thing i see on the wall? Their wedding photo!!!!!!!!!!!!! Even 35 years later it's still up! End of story....that's it just there - you don't see their dress hanging up or the flowers lol

Del

[tim]

If anyone wants to send a disc my way to have a look at i'd love to see it.

[JaertX]

Oh yeah, about the DVD. I did hate paying that much for something like this, but I won't be able to attend any seminars this year so I figure a few nice training aids will have to do.

Denis Reggie is supposed to be coming out with a new set of DVD's covering his seminars. And he's a Canon guy so I'm sure he goes over how he uses Canon equipment. I e-mailed them and it's in the works but the release date was set for December '05...lol. The guy told me it will be released, just some editing and dvd production details left.

[Arnie1]

Mr Buissink does conjur up a colourful quote.

My favourite is "The perfect photograph doesn't exist...the only thing that's perfect is the moment"

Arnie

[cmM]

Great DVD indeed.
Almost as good as Joe Buissink's "Defining the moment"
I get goosebumps watching these guys :)

[SuzyView]

I watched a pro this weekend do a shoot I was asked to do, but stepped down. He had an interesting style. My son was not convinced it was better than mine, but I told him all pros do things their own way and if they know what they are doing, the pictures will come out great. After steaming over the long time it took for the after wedding shots, my son saw the final product and was completely convinced wedding photographers are pros. He said all the pictures presented were excellent. My niece got wonderful shots even though I didn't take them and I got to see a pro in action. I have to admit, I still have a lot to learn, but one thing I do know, that day is very important and people should realize that good photos can't be had after the event is over.

[staciecd]

As a bride to be, I can't begin to explain how important the pictures are to me. Even if the worse happens, I am leaning on my photographer to make it all good. My fiance wants to print out our own albums, but especially with my current printing issues, I want to leave it all up to the pros.

Stacie

[tim]

I'm not sure i'd want to design my album, i'd rather pick a pro with a style I like and let them do their thing. Then again if I liked someones photos but didn't like their albums I might negotiate.

[Arnie1]

Guys, take a look on ebay UK, theres a new copy of Masters of Wedding Photography that finishes its auction in 2 hours....at the moment its just £15

(I just bought one for £25)

[tim]

Damn, I missed it. There's one on ebay.co.uk but they won't ship to NZ :(

[XMX]

Alot of people would rather it be cheap then good I have noticed from the business my family is getting. Establish a rep around town and business will come I guess.

[Wilt]

This DVD is well worth the money spent for inspiration to move to a higher level of photography. The above quote is my favorite reminder from it of how important our job is to document the day well...and why when someone rises above the mediocre masses can and should expect to make a lucrative career out of it.

Yeah it is so important to many brides that they spring for MORE money for a DJ than they spend on their wedding photography, and they complain about the cost of wedding photography being high, but do not blink to the cost of th DJ. The DJ will impress all their friends and relatives (they think...in reality they only notice poor DJs!) whereas the photos impress no one because most people won't get to see the photos. Women dress for other women and brides spend $20k for the dream wedding to hopefully impress their friends, although the money could probably be put to better use buying that first house or paying off the student loans from college!

[Wilt]

As a bride to be, I can't begin to explain how important the pictures are to me. Even if the worse happens, I am leaning on my photographer to make it all good. My fiance wants to print out our own albums, but especially with my current printing issues, I want to leave it all up to the pros.

Stacie

Tell your fiance your concern about permanence so that he does not fall victim to the unknown of printing your own at home using inferior inks and offbrand paper.
But also be sure your 'pro' is not merely a weekend warrior who prints your photos at home using inferior inks and offbrand paper, where the prints are in danger of fading away to off-colored remnant in just a few years. Inquire about how the prints are made (commercially made on photographic paper, or printed with inkjet).

[Sharyn1983]

There isn't that much of an issue to let people get their own pictures printed if they can't afford whole packages. Try mpix.com. It is great if you do digital, and they can get their picture processed in chunks whenever they have the money. As for the album part, that is my favorite part. So there is no way I am giving that away.
(OK, it is a tie with actually taking the pictures)

[RobKirkwood]

Guys, take a look on ebay UK, theres a new copy of Masters of Wedding Photography that finishes its auction in 2 hours....at the moment its just £15

(I just bought one for £25) Well thanks - I was actually winning that for just £15 :rolleyes:
Never mind, I found another option! ;)

(If you go to his ebay store, same thing is listed as a "buy-it-now" item at £24.99 - but he also has a "make offer" option on it ...which I did. There are currently 8 copies still available on this particular item. http://stores.ebay.co.uk/The-Little-Photoshop)