Pro Wedding Photographers, forever ?

[maytownme]

I have been chatting to a photographer friend recently,about the future of wedding photography.My opinion was that at some stage in the future the wedding photography business wil slow down for everyone making a living full time from it.My reasons are that people seem to be increasinly prone to be taking it upon themselves to "give it ago" and also with new technology and computer software making this alot easier. This also with the fact alot of people want to save alot of money on there wedding day without hiring a pro to do it. My photographer said basicly that "any good photographer has nothing to worry about" and it didnt seem to bother him at all what I feared could happen in the future. Does anyone sense that this could be a prob in years to come?

[th3r0m]

Without getting into a discussion regarding the apparent lowering of the value of photography in the eyes of the public due to the rampant and widespread availability of digital cameras, I think that more and more people will try their hands at "pro" photography (myself included), but that those photographer's with above average to exceptional talent will never have a problem finding work. Photographer's whose income relied upon purely technical ability and large barriers to entry into the "pro" photography market will find themselves seeking other sources of income however.

My .02

[bcap]

I'd like to see what other's thoughts are on this topic, but, I'll chime in with my 2 cents.

Professional photography is here to stay. The only factor pushing it away is other non-professional, "Wal-Marts" of the world, undercutting our prices. For example, you don't see many families going to a professional studio these days to get family portraits done. Instead, they head over to Sears where they can get a photo, an enlargement, a teddy bear and a freakin' lolly pop to go with it for $25 with a mail-in-rebate for $30. How does Sears function off of this? Pay it's wages? Pay off equipment? I have no idea, and, truthfully, I don't care.

Professional photography will not disapear. As we all are well aware, no amount of technology can replace a good eye, the creativity and the drive and motivation of a self-employed professional photographer. Sure, people may try the whole "give everyone at the wedding a digital camera and don't hire a pro" gig, but, they'll soon realize that the quality and the quantity of photographs just doesn't compare.

I agree with your friend in that a good photographer has nothing to worry about.

[tim]

We've got to do something that Uncle Bob can't do. The things on my plate at the moment are emotion, group photos (see the Toogster), dramatic posing, and off camera lighting. Am I that much better than Uncle Bob that people will pay me thousands of dollars? Well, they do, and I think they'll keep doing it for a while, and i'm always getting better.

[liza]

The key is to market to customers who look more for quality than price.

[Jon Rouston]

Hi, I'm new but I'll chime in anyway, whether you want me to or not ;-)

Firstly, I think that people who differentiate their market down will do well, those who try to sell everything to everyone will not get on particularly well.

Secondly I think that there have always been and always will be 'Uncle Bobs' digital doesn't really have much to do with it. And to be honest, the more there are out there screwing up people's weddings, the more likely that people (who hear about said screwed up wedding) will hire a professional anyway. As someone in another forum said "this particular sky has been falling my whole career"

Thirdly, I don't think digital has made it easier for anyone, because already skilled and talented photographers have had the same advantage given to them. So while Uncle Bob is chimping shots to check exposure, Pro has already got the shot, is thinking about what shot they need next and exposing for maximum latitude within photoshop / exact effect they want.

Like Tim said, as long as your delivering something Uncle B can't you're onto a winner.

[mcmadkat]

There is always the problem of less people getting married these days, ceratinly here in scotland it seems less and less.

[notapro]

There is always the problem of less people getting married these days, ceratinly here in scotland it seems less and less.

I'd agree that this poses a bigger threat to wedding photography than Uncle Bob or digital does. I'm not married and have no intention of ever being. Almost all of our friends are in long term relationships, have purchased houses with a significant other, and some have kids, but we only know three married couples, and most of the rest also have no intention of ever getting married. Maybe it's just the people we run with, or the fact that they're not very old (25-35 range), but getting married doesn't seem to be as important anymore.

[Jimbo24]

I've been getting requests for video + still shots which I can't offer quite yet...

[ImagesByInku]

I'd agree that this poses a bigger threat to wedding photography than Uncle Bob or digital does. I'm not married and have no intention of ever being. Almost all of our friends are in long term relationships, have purchased houses with a significant other, and some have kids, but we only know three married couples, and most of the rest also have no intention of ever getting married. Maybe it's just the people we run with, or the fact that they're not very old (25-35 range), but getting married doesn't seem to be as important anymore.

Notapro, this isn't directed at you, but what you wrote just got me thinking...

I'm not one to tell anyone how to live their lives, but I'm a little disappointed that so many people nowadays put so little value and meaning into marriage. Marriage is no longer forever, but until it's no longer convenient for both parties. Maybe people have just become too selfish to be able to share a life together.

Anyway... this is a topic for another message board. Hahah.

[picturecrazy]

Uncle bob will hurt those starting out and trying to get into the field. In many cases, uncle bob has more experience than newbies fresh out of photography college.

People charging $2500 and up probably don't have much to worry about though. So I don't think they'll ever obliterate the pro field. Yes, there are some amateur superstars that have skills and techniques, and the eye that can make a pro look like crap, but those are few and far between.

Affordable digital SLRs haven't really raised the bar for full time pro photographers... it just means there are many many more people putting out crappy pics at the bottom of the barrel.

[notapro]

Notapro, this isn't directed at you, but what you wrote just got me thinking...

I'm not one to tell anyone how to live their lives, but I'm a little disappointed that so many people nowadays put so little value and meaning into marriage. Marriage is no longer forever, but until it's no longer convenient for both parties. Maybe people have just become too selfish to be able to share a life together.

Anyway... this is a topic for another message board. Hahah.

I wouldn't say I'm selfish. We do share a life. We have two kids, house, car, cat, a shared bank account, all that. Pretty much all that "married" stuff except no marriage certificate. I want to be with my husband (yes I call him that) for the rest of my life, I even plan to be, but I don't promise to be. I would never get married because I wouldn't make a promise I don't mean, and I would never mean that. That's just me.

Aside from religion, there is really no reason to get married unless it has meaning to you. Common-law marriage (in Canada) is legally the same as marriage. I'm not religious, so it just seems silly to spend a whole bunch of money on one day that really won't change anything. It just wasn't important to us and it has nothing to do with being too selfish. I think there is too much pressure on people to stay in relationships anyway. Sometimes it should end. My 0.02.


/hijack

[MrsOpie]

I have recently dug into understanding film and I must say comparing film to digital there is a big difference in the amount of effort one puts into photos. I've found that if you have a clear understanding of exposure and post processing it doesn't matter what equipment you have. Most Uncle Joe's purchase a digital SLR and keep it in Auto all of the time. Sure his camera might look pro but he's lacking the basic knowledge and hands on experience of a pro. Then again I've seen some photographers that say on their website that they've been shooting weddings for 20 years and all of their stuff looks like it was shot in the 80's. It doesn't do you any good to be stuck behind the times no matter how many years of experience you have.

[Padawan Dad]

Give it a few years and your going to see chains such as JC Penny and Sears get into the ring as well (that will hurt pros.)

In the area I live in, a 30 year pro that I have known for 3 years has had to get a 2nd job (his wife also had to get a second job,) and I personally am contemplating doing portraits and small events and eliminating weddings completely (just offering reception photography,) and sticking with my day job and going to school for graphic design.

I know that other areas may be flourishing, but some areas are indeed hurting. Maybe it has nothing to do with an overflow of photographers, it sure feels like a recession is going on though... people aren't spending the money anymore, or are very cautious about spending it... look at the real estate market... it's completely dead, and prices are decreasing at record paces. Personally, I think that credit debt is catching up with Americans and people are becoming more money conscience, and spending it on things that matter more, i.e. food, rent, mortgage, necessities.

To sum it up, I think that the decrease in my area, or future decrease in sales in any area, is due to the economy, and not to a digital revolution, or overflow of photographers. However, if wedding photography is ever adapted by some of the major dept. stores... look out!

JMHO ;)

[notapro]

Give it a few years and your going to see chains such as JC Penny and Sears get into the ring as well (that will hurt pros.)



There is a grocery store chain here that does portraits and now advertise wedding photography. The don't go to your wedding (from what i can tell) You come in dressed in your get-up and have portraits done at the studio, which is in a grocery store. I didn't think anybody would be interested in that, but I found some of a few different couples while flipping through their book the last time I was there. I can't see wedding photography going THAT way, but if those were the only photos that couple got, that would suck.

[cdifoto]

If you're good, you have nothing to worry about. If you're like me, you should be concerned.

[Wilt]

35mm SLRs have existed as tools that the general public has adopted widely now, for over 30 years. So digital is not much different...while there is no film and processing cost now, the cameras now cost 5x as much to buy!

the point is that ultimately it is the photographic skill and compositional eye that will differentiate the rank amatuer shapshot wedding from the one covered by the wedding pro. My stepdaugthers have had disposable cameras at their weddings, and few keepers result! The hired pros deliver the goods.

As someone who has been around photography in a professional capacity for over 40 years, I can state that 5 weekend warriors covering weddings with film back then existed for every 5 weekend warriors covering weddings with digital! If anything, I think SLRs were MORE prevalent than dSLRs are today, because it only took the initial $200 to buy an SLR and then your additional expense was by the roll, whereas the entry cost is so much higher today (after the dSLR purchase, you buy software and storage space and monitor adjustment tools and printers, and ...) . A week's pay at $5 an hour back then to get the SLR, versus a week's pay at $20 an hour is the cost of entry now!

[RedHot]

One thing that is often overlooked is: what does the average person think is a good photograph? I'd bet that most people don't need a extraordinary photograph to be happy with it, which is why many people are happy with family member or paying someone a low amount of money and getting acceptable results from it.

Yes there can be a big difference comparing very artistic pictures to average snapshots, but does the average person know about very artistic wedding pictures? My parents wedding album from 1954 is very plain. Photography was different then, but there was nothing flashy about it. Even my sister's wedding from 1978 had very low key types of pictures.

So has very creative and artistic wedding pictures been an advent of photoshop? And yes I know you can be creative and artistic by using light, perspective, and the right lens without photoshop filters.

The question is: what does the average bride and groom really need to document their day?

[MCB]

One thing that is often overlooked is: what does the average person think is a good photograph?

...

The question is: what does the average bride and groom really need to document their day?

I think they want to document their day, but they don't know or care much about "good" photography.

I haven't shot a wedding yet, but have one booked for next June. But my experience with people regarding other portraits (mostly kids) is that they just can't tell the difference between a work of art and something totally out of focus with miserable composition, no contrast, motion blur and red eye. They really don't get it. And if they do have some glimmer of understanding, they assume the "good" picture is the result of clicking on some action in Photoshop. So they attach zero value to what quality they can perceive.

Given that they can't actually see the difference, it's easy to see why they would go with the cheapest photographer. Maybe that expensive artsy guy can give them some snobby looking black and white glamor shot, but look at the saturation in this other guys shots! Wow! He Rox!!!11! ;)

So, yeah, choose your market segment carefully, I guess...