Style emulation

BradJohnsen · 5th of May 2012 (Sat)

Hi, has anybody ever had a potential client that showed you photos from other wedding photographers and asked you to "make them look like that"? I am in this situation right now and am talking the potential client out of hiring me through explaining in no unclear terms that my style is what they'll get, not someone else's.

I'm just curious if anyone else has been in any similar situations. If so, how did you handled it?

Thanks,
Brad

Numenorean · 5th of May 2012 (Sat)

Pretty much the same. They should hire me because they like my style, not someone elses. If they like the other persons style better then they should go hire them.

bnlearle · 5th of May 2012 (Sat)

I'd tell people that if I had the same couple in the same location I still wouldn't be able to duplicate MY OWN photographs. Too many variables -- even if you have the same couple, same location, and same photographer. The light will be different -- major problem. The feelings the couple had can't be reproduced. There are just too many variables.

So duplicating someone else's photo, of someone else, in a different location

Not possible.

MrMagoo65 · 5th of May 2012 (Sat)

I think style imitation is VERY hard to do. If they want artistic vs. photojournalistic vs. posed, it could be hard for you to do if it is not your normal style.

Peacefield · 10th of May 2012 (Thu)

I'm just not interested in doing something like that. If there's a pose or situation that they'd like to create, fine; but they're getting my interpretation of that and everyone is clear on this from the beginning.

highway0691 · 10th of May 2012 (Thu)

Really dislike this. Here is a cut and paste from an email I sent to a client recently.

"I always get a bit worried when people nominate photos of other people by other photographers . Firstly I can't and wont even try to copy another photographer and similarly you must be yourself too. Also worth noting - the colours, lighting and indeed yourselves will be uniquely different on the day as well. Having said that, one of the photos you have attached is mine and the other two in-the-water shots are taken from the rooftop of a four wheel drive, (at least one of them is) and that is something we will not have access to. Best I could do is take shots of a similar theme. It's important we have an understanding of this before the day - let me know your thoughts."

She was more than happy with this response.

SMP_Homer · 10th of May 2012 (Thu)

I always welcome ideas that couples find with other people's engagements or wedding photos...

But I usually tell them I don't want to duplicate the results, but I do want to improve on them...

nicksan · 10th of May 2012 (Thu)

Quote:

Originally Posted by BradJohnsen

...showed you photos from other wedding photographers and asked you to "make them look like that"?

Sorry, that day is booked already.
Next!

Hire me for me. That's all I ask. If not, I ain't biting.

bnlearle · 10th of May 2012 (Thu)

Quote:

Originally Posted by nicksan

Sorry, that day is booked already.
Next!

Hire me for me. That's all I ask. If not, I ain't biting.

Bingo.

tim · 10th of May 2012 (Thu)

When I was new it happened sometimes. I told people I can use images for inspiration, but I can not and will not copy an image. Copyright extends to poses, and you can be sued for copying them if it's a really distinctive image.

5th of May 2012 (Sat)	#1
BradJohnsen Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 82	Style emulation Hi, has anybody ever had a potential client that showed you photos from other wedding photographers and asked you to "make them look like that"? I am in this situation right now and am talking the potential client out of hiring me through explaining in no unclear terms that my style is what they'll get, not someone else's. I'm just curious if anyone else has been in any similar situations. If so, how did you handled it? Thanks, Brad __________________ 5Dmkii / 50D 10-22 / 17-40L / 24-70L / 50 1.4 / 70-200L 2.8 IS / 85L / 100 macro / 135L / 400 5.6L 580exii x2 / 430ex / PW x6 / AB1600 x1 / AB800 x2 / ABR800 x1 http://bradjohnsen.com http://www.flickr.com/photos/206photog/

5th of May 2012 (Sat)	#2
Numenorean Goldmember Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 4,106	Re: Style emulation Pretty much the same. They should hire me because they like my style, not someone elses. If they like the other persons style better then they should go hire them. __________________ Gear List

5th of May 2012 (Sat)	#3
bnlearle Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: San Diego Posts: 1,890 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Style emulation I'd tell people that if I had the same couple in the same location I still wouldn't be able to duplicate MY OWN photographs. Too many variables -- even if you have the same couple, same location, and same photographer. The light will be different -- major problem. The feelings the couple had can't be reproduced. There are just too many variables. So duplicating someone else's photo, of someone else, in a different location Not possible. __________________ twitter // facebook Website San Diego Wedding Photographer blog

5th of May 2012 (Sat)	#4
MrMagoo65 Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Parsippany, NJ Posts: 28 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Style emulation I think style imitation is VERY hard to do. If they want artistic vs. photojournalistic vs. posed, it could be hard for you to do if it is not your normal style. __________________ Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 1D Mark II, Canon 60D Canon: EF 28mm f2.8, EF 50mm f1.8 II, EF 70mm-200mm F2.8L USM, Canon 24mm-105mm f4L IS USM, Canon 16-35 f2.8L USM Tamron: 24-70 f2.8 DI VC Flashes: Canon Speedlites 430EX & 580EX II, Yongnuo 565EX Speedlite

10th of May 2012 (Thu)	#5
Peacefield Goldmember Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: NJ Posts: 3,859	Re: Style emulation I'm just not interested in doing something like that. If there's a pose or situation that they'd like to create, fine; but they're getting my interpretation of that and everyone is clear on this from the beginning. __________________ Robert Wayne Photography 5D3, 5D2, 50D, 350D * 16-35 2.8 II, 24-70 2.8, 70-200 2.8 IS, 100-400 IS, 100 L Macro, 35 1.4, 85 1.2 II, Tokina 10-17 fish * 580 EX II (3) Stratos triggers * Other Stuff plus a Pelican 1624 to haul it all

10th of May 2012 (Thu)	#6
highway0691 Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 587	Re: Style emulation Really dislike this. Here is a cut and paste from an email I sent to a client recently. "I always get a bit worried when people nominate photos of other people by other photographers . Firstly I can't and wont even try to copy another photographer and similarly you must be yourself too. Also worth noting - the colours, lighting and indeed yourselves will be uniquely different on the day as well. Having said that, one of the photos you have attached is mine and the other two in-the-water shots are taken from the rooftop of a four wheel drive, (at least one of them is) and that is something we will not have access to. Best I could do is take shots of a similar theme. It's important we have an understanding of this before the day - let me know your thoughts." She was more than happy with this response. __________________ There is nothing worse than a sharp image of a fuzzy concept. Ansell Adams

10th of May 2012 (Thu)	#7
SMP_Homer Cream of the Crop Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: London, Ontario Posts: 5,047	Re: Style emulation I always welcome ideas that couples find with other people's engagements or wedding photos... But I usually tell them I don't want to duplicate the results, but I do want to improve on them... __________________ 5D3 x2 / 5D2 Sig85 /35L/50L/100L/135L/16-35L II/70-200L II/100-400L B400 x2 / B800 x2 / ABR800 / VML x2 / 600EX / 430EXII x3 / TT5 x8 / PW TT1 x3 / AC3 x3 / AC9 x4

10th of May 2012 (Thu)	#10
tim Light Bringer Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Wellington, New Zealand Posts: 47,927 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Style emulation When I was new it happened sometimes. I told people I can use images for inspiration, but I can not and will not copy an image. Copyright extends to poses, and you can be sued for copying them if it's a really distinctive image. __________________ NZIPP Qualified Professional wedding photographer. Camera and Lens Reviews ~ Wellington Wedding Photographer Wellington Wedding Photographer (site2) ~ Wellington Wedding Photographer (site3) Read all my FAQs (wedding, printing, lighting, books, etc)

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