Would you pass if you didn't care for the location?

If you had a Saturday that wasn't booked yet, but it's still some time away, and you didn't care for location of the wedding and reception a couple has chosen (boring, etc.), would you tell them you couldn't book them? At first I was like, "I'll take what I can get!" Now I feel like I can be a bit more choosy (not that couples are banging down my door or anything, though), and hold out for a better location or even take the weekend for myself and my family (what a novel idea!). Anyway, just wondering if that is really selfish of me , or if it sounds reasonable. Thanks!

Challenge yourself to make the best of a difficult location and deliver results that will impress in spite of the place you have to shoot. Anyone can point and shoot. An ARTIST will make even challenging locations into beatiful shots. You're not being selfish, you're not being smart. You have an opportunity to add some shots in your portfolio that look good, yet also be able to zoom out wide and show other potential clients what a dump you had to work with!

Good point, Wilt. Thanks!

Make it a challenge for yourself. You can find beauty anywhere...

Easy for you to say, you're in Hawaii! J/K You (as in everyone) can't tell me you don't hope for cool locations, though.

Of course - it makes it way easier but maybe you could take them to another spot ( a nice park near by or something) to shoot at before the reception?

Tell them where to get married or you quit! lol Actually, you said you wanted to be choosy now, so what's the issue, be choosy. But, will the lost income be worth "not being bored?"

joegolf68 wrote in post #2375048
Tell them where to get married or you quit! lol Actually, you said you wanted to be choosy now, so what's the issue, be choosy. But, will the lost income be worth "not being bored?"

Maybe I should start telling people where I want them to get married! LOL Well, I thought about taking that weekend off anyway, otherwise I'd totally be cool w/it. I know there is interesting people/places/things everywhere, but a cool location can make it that much more fun.

Build yourself the ultimate wedding package:

Gorgeous Location, DJ, Limousine, Planner, Photographer all for one low, low price - at a premium of course!

cdi-ink.com wrote in post #2375112
Build yourself the ultimate wedding package:

Gorgeous Location, DJ, Limousine, Planner, Photographer all for one low, low price - at a premium of course!

I'm pretty sure I was a guest at one of those weddings once upon a time, and I can't say I'd recommend it as a concept. Then again, the emphasis was on the "low, low price" part of your package deal, if I recall correctly.

Remember your primary role as a wedding photographer is to create MEMORIES of the event for later review. Your additional role is to do so in a manner which somewhat idealizes the place or captures inherent beauty.

The bride will remember the place, she will somewhat forget the less-than-terrific lack of beauty, so try to mask the ugliness of the setting with DOF control, creative use of some of the things as props or background elements, etc.

If you were going to take the weekend off anyway, just tell the bride that you are booked already!

Yes. There are places that I simply will not shoot any more. It has less to do with the "beauty" or lack thereof of the place than it does to do with the staff. Some places are so hostile to photographers or treat them so badly that I just don't care to giv emyself the aggravation of working there.

Karen

No we wouldn't pass because of poor location - but we won't photograph ugly people!

Rob

I know of one place I won't shoot again. Stained and/or missing ceiling tile, floor to ceiling mirrors lining the entire walls, faded & stained carpet, etc.

RobKirkwood wrote in post #2383615
No we wouldn't pass because of poor location - but we won't photograph ugly people!

Rob

I hope you're talking about people who are "ugly" on the inside. I, also, don't deal with people with whom I don't click on some level - this usually means there's an ugliness on the inside.

[Soapbox]Some of the ugliest (on the outside) people are the greatest people to know and I feel honored to be asked to photograph them. They know they don't look great, but they TRUST me (sometimes) to do them right.[/soapbox]