Photography courses

[tony fanning]

For those of us with a very limited portfolio, are bridal photography courses worth the money? I know you can get some cracking shots with little or no pressure (unlike a real wedding) but is it worth it? All you seasoned pros out there- have you got these "staged" wedding shots in your portfolios?

by the way-got my new 17-55 this week. All I can say is OMG what a lens!

[Phil V]

Recently I was looking through local WP's website, I was gobsmacked to see some 'portfolio filling' from a course. It was so obvious, there was this gorgeous lone bride photographed in a completely different style to the rest of the portfolio. (no groups, no groom no bridesmaids, just the bride)

Whether a customer would notice is another question. Maybe they'd just see the nice pictures?

[tony fanning]

Thats kind of my view as well Phil but the shots DO make an impact to the untrained eye.
By the way-I`ve been waiting to see your site but it`s taking longer than Wembley to build!

[Phil V]

Thats kind of my view as well Phil but the shots DO make an impact to the untrained eye.
By the way-I`ve been waiting to see your site but it`s taking longer than Wembley to build!
It sounds like excuses, but before Christmas we had my mum in hospital for a couple of months. All the spare time I had went into processing 2 weddings. Since Christmas I've had problems getting my @rse in gear. But it's definitely on my 'to do' list.
You probably are right about the untrained eye though. IIRC the image on the front page on Rob Kirkwoods site was shot on a course (hope he doesn't mind me saying - I'm sure he's discussed it here). It's a great image though.

[italianfemmy]

I actually want to take some courses just to work with different lighting techniques with real life subjects so as not to jeopardize messing up the photos from someone's actual wedding. Also, it would be nice to start out with a "bride" who has nothing else on her mind but posing for me so I can figure out best exposures, etc. Then I will know what's best to use and when the "real wedding" comes, I will be prepared. :-)

[RobKirkwood]

You probably are right about the untrained eye though. IIRC the image on the front page on Rob Kirkwoods site was shot on a course (hope he doesn't mind me saying - I'm sure he's discussed it here). It's a great image though.Haha - talking about me when I'm not paying attention eh? ;)

Yes that shot did come from the course we went on, and I decided early on to use it because it's a strong image with a powerful look.

We also use other shots taken on the course within our portfolio, and I struggle to see the issue here to be honest ...do they suddenly become bad photographs because they were staged or shot with models - surely part of what we're selling to customers is our ability to make/take a decent photograph?

Rob

[tony fanning]

I agree rob, i was just asking if these courses are worth the money in experience or just for the WOW factor in some portfolio shots?

[liza]

Recently I was looking through local WP's website, I was gobsmacked to see some 'portfolio filling' from a course. It was so obvious, there was this gorgeous lone bride photographed in a completely different style to the rest of the portfolio. (no groups, no groom no bridesmaids, just the bride)

Whether a customer would notice is another question. Maybe they'd just see the nice pictures?

Photographers of high end weddings sometimes offer bridal sessions which occur before the wedding and are done either on location or in a studio. That's probably what these were.

[RobKirkwood]

I agree rob, i was just asking if these courses are worth the money in experience or just for the WOW factor in some portfolio shots?Sorry Tony, I never answered your original question. I think the course we did was worth the money, because we had a 2-day course exclusively for the 2 of us - so the entire time was devoted to Ann and me getting what we needed out of it ...we didn't have to run at someone else's pace, and we didn't have to hang around while everyone else had a go.

Once you've done a few weddings I'm not really sure what a wedding photography course is going to tell you that you don't already know - and if it's portfolio shots you're after, it'd be much cheaper to hire models, clothes and venues directly yourself.

Rob

[LeesaB]

I think this forum is one big photography lesson..

But, I have taken a few courses and most of it you know, but every once in a while you will get a great tidbit of info...

I read alot and learn onlne

I need a course with photoshop for sure

and album design...

[coreypolis]

I don't think I would take any wedding specific courses outside of a large photo school. However I would suggest going to as many seminars and workshops as possible. Mny include shooting time. Brooks Institute teams with David Jay once in a while (like next weekend) for a 2 day workshop, shoot 1 day process and talk the next day.

I believe it was more of an e-shoot last time, but I wasn't there so can't say for sure.

[Phil V]

Photographers of high end weddings sometimes offer bridal sessions which occur before the wedding and are done either on location or in a studio. That's probably what these were.
I know I can come across as cynical sometimes, but you really had to see these. They bore NO resemblance to anything else in the portfolio. Maybe they could've been 'bridal sessions' if there had been several different brides shot similarly, other brides shot to the same standard. More so if the same brides were visible in other types of shots, from their actual weddings.

However as it stood there were a smattering of pics of the SAME bride, well posed and well lit. These were surrounded by lots of badly posed, badly lit wedding images. If I was really cynical I'd have suggested that they were another photographers work. YES the difference was that great.:)
I think after 20odd years of studying photography I can recognise these things, no offence taken;).

[Phil V]

Haha - talking about me when I'm not paying attention eh? ;)

Yes that shot did come from the course we went on, and I decided early on to use it because it's a strong image with a powerful look.
Rob
I was actually pointing out that someone we know and respect had used images shot on a course.
Just for clarity

[RobKirkwood]

I was actually pointing out that someone we know and respect had used images shot on a course.
Just for clarityWow I'm flattered that you should hold me in that regard - I don't feel I'm worthy of the pedestal though, I'm just bumbling around making it up as I go along (and frequently getting it wrong).

Rob