Some people will find this offensive.... but

I've found that most people who get married aren't that ugly
Also the more rich the couple are, the better looking the bride are

I know the above sounds crass and not very tasteful, but it's just my observations

nicksan wrote in post #15402569
Well...let's now kid ourselves. We all get profiled to a certain degree, especially if you don't fit the ideal image.

I am a 5'6" Asian American. I'm not stupid enough to think that that doesn't have an impact on things, often times negatively.

That's just reality.

I even got it worse than you, Nick. I'm a 5'-4" Asian American.

Seriously? Not taking on a client because of their looks? This has to be a joke, right?

I've found no correlation between looks, size, and budget. I'll take on any couple that is *happy* to hire me as their photographer. Of course, some people just don't seem happy to hire me but want to anyways... WTF? Those are the types I try to avoid.

Only shooting "pretty" people will NOT help your portfolio. The best thing you can do to help your portfolio is to get as much experience as possible in all conditions to increase your repetoire, increase the variety of angles and compositions, practice lighting styles, and get lots of practice in great posing.

If you only shoot pretty people then you're basically *practicing* on your portfolio couples and will probably screw it up anyhow. Wheras if you shot more openly, you can master the techniques so when the day comes that you have a portfolio couple you can execute with perfection.

Not every couple will be on your website. Especially when you're more established and there is quite a demand for you, the number of portfolio photos decreases every year. I probably only get between 3-6 wedding shots a year that I would move into my website portfolio. Eventually, the number of portfolio weddings are MINIMAL (regardless of how good looking they are) compared to the non-portfolio weddings. But you're not gonna get to this point if you ONLY shoot pretty people.

Not to mention, after a girl has makeup and hair done and slips into the perfect dress, it can turn any ordinary girl into a bombshell. But you never would have known if you judge based on looks.

Basing business decisions on looks has to be one of the worst things you can do!

HiepBuiPhotography wrote in post #15411964
I even got it worse than you, Nick. I'm a 5'-4" Asian American.

5'4", 5'6"...all the same bro.
Let's face it. We might as well be Hobbits.

nicksan wrote in post #15412538
5'4", 5'6"...all the same bro.
Let's face it. We might as well be Hobbits.

I know Speaking of Hobbits, that was a good movie!

picturecrazy wrote in post #15412497
Seriously? Not taking on a client because of their looks? This has to be a joke, right? ....

That was very good advice very well stated.

It seems that you stated the "overload" principle of athletics (and many other things)--you don't grow unless you move beyond your comfort zone.

Photographing only beautiful people is like never exercising intensely enough to work up a sweat. Pleasant, but one never improves.

This has become a long thread and I've not read all of it, but I will simply say that beauty . . . as well as the absence of it . . . is in the eye of the beholder. Clearly, these clients find that beauty in each other even though it is not so readily apparent to us. It is, however, our job to bring out that beauty they see through their eyes in photographs.

I should also say that I include photos of many couples who are not especially attractive in my portfolio and I've actually had a few prospects come and comment on how they liked that I didn't seem to only work with the "beautiful people".

protege wrote in post #15400230
If you can make fat/ugly people look good in a photo, wouldn't that mean more business for you?

LOL - awesome! You hit the nail on the head as shallow as that sounds :P

nicksan wrote in post #15402569
Well...let's now kid ourselves. We all get profiled to a certain degree, especially if you don't fit the ideal image.

I am a 5'6" Asian American. I'm not stupid enough to think that that doesn't have an impact on things, often times negatively.

That's just reality.

I was homecoming and senior prom king,

but I have yet to get a paid wedding gig.

Although, come to think of it, it's always the grooms who find some way to back out of the offer,



Joking aside, I liken this to my day-job of recording and mixing music albums.

I will absolutely turn down a project if the client doesn't have a certain amount of musical skill.

And it would seem logical that the similar mindset of "better the musician, the easier the work will be" translated to "better looking couple will be easier photog job" would prevail, it's just too hard to go that route for some reason.

But, if I was a big-time wedding photographer among the others on this board who have answered, I wouldn't give a flamdoodle what the couple looked like - not my style.

Funny how two professions can be so similar and yet so dissimilar sometimes.

smorter wrote in post #15411625
I've found that most people who get married aren't that ugly
Also the more rich the couple are, the better looking the bride are

I know the above sounds crass and not very tasteful, but it's just my observations

Easy for you to say!

You live in Australia!

I've been to Sydney and Melbourne on gigs, spent a month there, and throughout the ENTIRE stay, I only saw 2 "overweight, ugly" people. (no offense to anyone)

TWO.

It was like Australians were bred to be beautiful and fit and extremely good looking...

I was shocked.

All brides, with a little makeup, can really improve their image. I'm sometimes surprised.