I have a digital camera...therefore I am a wedding photographer.

Echoing what most have said.
Just stay out of it. Not worth it.

Let me know the next time you go to buy furniture, clothes, a car, get a haircut, etc, etc. I'll be happy to come by unsolicited; question your choice of product and vendor, and give all parties involved a lecture in quality, workmanship, aesthetics, attention to detail, etc.

Whether your wanting to be involved is for positive reasons, or negative reasons, it really doesn't matter, it's family, just don't get involved.......

Wow! A little harsh towards Point-n-shoot-n??? I agree, stay out of it. However, his story is a little different scenario then some comparisons made here. It had happened to me recently when a 21 year old co-worker asked my suggestion(s) for a camera kit as a HS graduation gift for his fiancé. Less then a month later she was doing senior "portraits" for $50. This can get frustrating, especially if you are photographer in the area & if they are taking business from you.

As photographers, we've all had someone ask our advice on what gear to purchase. I used to ask 2 question: What are you going to shoot (fam, sports, etc..)? What is you budget? I still ask those questions, but now I first ask "Are you planning on only shooting auto, or do you want to actually "learn" about the camera"? The answer to that might then make me steer them away from a kit lens.

Pigpen101 wrote in post #18480961
Wow! A little harsh towards Point-n-shoot-n??? I agree, stay out of it. However, his story is a little different scenario then some comparisons made here. It had happened to me recently when a 21 year old co-worker asked my suggestion(s) for a camera kit as a HS graduation gift for his fiancé. Less then a month later she was doing senior "portraits" for $50. This can get frustrating, especially if you are photographer in the area & if they are taking business from you.

As photographers, we've all had someone ask our advice on what gear to purchase. I used to ask 2 question: What are you going to shoot (fam, sports, etc..)? What is you budget? I still ask those questions, but now I first ask "Are you planning on only shooting auto, or do you want to actually "learn" about the camera"? The answer to that might then make me steer them away from a kit lens.

It's not that Point-n-shoot-n is somehow at fault. Nobody is saying that. It's simply that he's on a hiding to nothing if he tries to intervene. He should let this be, as his wife advises.

Either the novice know-nothing wedding shooter will begin to learn and improve through experience or everything will go embarrassingly pear-shaped at some point ... after which, she will either start to work on improving or maybe lose interest and quit. Either way, it could be worse, and it likely will be (for him) if he gets involved.

I agree with all the advice to stay out of it, just thought it might have been a little too harsh is all.

If you're worried about the $50 shooters then you need to reevaluate your business. If a potential client isn't sophisticated and discerning enough to appreciate the difference between what a budget shooter offers verses me then there is no way I can get, or want the gig.

texkam wrote in post #18481008
If you're worried about the $50 shooters then you need to reevaluate your business.

True, but I didn't get that Pigpen was worried or that he regarded this shooter as a competitor.

[QUOTE=texkam;18481008​]If you're worried about the $50 shooters then you need to reevaluate your business. If a potential client isn't sophisticated and discerning enough to appreciate the difference between what a budget shooter offers verses me then there is no way I can get, or want the gig.


OhLook beat me to it. I propose your reading comprehension might need reevaluated. I've never taken a "senior portrait" in my life. It was merely an example. I'm very confident in my work.

I managed a pizza shop while in college. One day, a chain pizza shop opened up literally next door. It closed it's doors 18 months later. The shop I worked for survived even though they saw the business drop 50% in the first 12 months. That meant people losing their jobs. Photography already doesn't get the respect it should, an 18 year old starting a business after 6 weeks of owning a camera doesn't help. Yes, those clients will eventually go back to photographers that know what they are doing, just how many can weather the storm until then?

Yet another warm, welcoming post on this thread. No wonder the thread starter has chimed back in.

I can see where the advise to keep out of it might be the best course of action as hard as it is to do. The kids nowadays don't seem to want to put in the effort to learn anything.
I guess I am from the old school where you study and practice to improve. My opinion is that having a camera doesn't make you a photographer any more than having a scalpel makes you a surgeon. My concern for her situation is more to protect her from possible negative repercussions.
My simple question as to what aperture she was shooting at was just to see if she was indeed as uninformed as I suspected. I guess I will stay out of it and let the chips fall where they may. I will always offer advice and knowledge if she asks for it but will no longer do it if unsolicited. Thanks for the input guys and gals!

I haven't been able to check in on the thread since I have been working out of town. I do appreciate all the replies and will take all the advise offered into consideration. I have thick skin so negative comments don't upset me much at all.

REALLY!?!
So now you're going to paint with a broad brush and make an ageist comment!?! Wow! There are so many hard-working young people out there that don't deserve to hear this tired, age-old comment being trotted out once again. What about older folks that are not willing to put in the effort to stay current or willing to learn new things? Ugh, smh.

Point-n-shoot-n wrote in post #18481211
The kids nowadays don't seem to want to put in the effort to learn anything.

That comment can apply to any age. If you're not seeing any dedicated young folks, you're looking in the wrong places. I recommend you check out some volunteer-active events for non-profit organizations. You'll see scores of socially and civically engaged young folks.

Ironically, the most '5 minute and I'm a professional' sham operators I've seen recently have all been early retirees playing at it for pin money, and that's photography, fly fishing guides etc. And if it goes wrong, they don't care, they've got their pension, so no practice, no training, no quality kit, no qualifications, no insurance, no real commitment to doing a proper job etc etc.

welshwizard1971 wrote in post #18481508
Ironically, the most '5 minute and I'm a professional' sham operators I've seen recently have all been early retirees. . . . And if it goes wrong, they don't care

Maybe they don't know. It's time to mention the Dunning-Kruger effect: people who lack competence at something also lack competence at evaluating how poorly they're doing at it.