The 14th Official Completely Random Discussion for TPBM

I saw all these hits on my old smugmug site and was wondering "why are they coming from POTN?"

puddlepirate44 wrote in post #6474939
I'm going to shoot a wedding with TD tomorrow over at the coast. Should be really nice. As per usual, I'm perusing different wedding photog sites to get some ideas, some creative juices flowing, etc. I saw one that was very nice and, just out of curiosity, I clicked on the pricing tab to see what he sets as his packages.

$3k for the bare bones set up.

$10k for the deluxe package.

Oh, and he says that he only does, max, 20 weddings a year and that every 3-5 weddings he does, his rates increase.

Holy Sands of Gobi! I am totally in the wrong biz. Now if I could only shoot like he does....

Wow! That's so nice to hear Thanks a lot!

eddarr wrote in post #6475053
Is it just me? I was not impressed to the tune of 10k. I think there are at least a few on this site that do better. And besides if I could get away with $10,000 for anything I would be double booking them.

Ouch! Just kidding. Photography is super subjective, so I know I can't make everyone happy If it helps, ALL the photos on my website are from last year (2007) when I was (rightfully) a $1500 wedding photographer. My blog is MUCH more representative of my current price range. Here's my last wedding as I'm just a bit embarrassed by my current site that you've all seen. I've basically been using my blog as it's easier to update and gets five times as many hits as my site. Jan-March I have NOTHING planned so a new website with new photography it is!

I really do appreciate the honest words, though. Just makes me realize I need to get on the ball and update my site with my wedding work from this year...

BearLeeAlive wrote in post #6475067
Holy Cat Crap
That is darn expensive. And he does have some nice photos, but they really did not seem that great to me. The only wow factor was in the pricing. I have seen many better shots from folks here. Dan, Lisa and you need to boost your prices it seems.

Double ouch! Remember though, it's simple marketing. Although I enjoy booking that $10k package, it's really there to sell my mid-range package ($7k)

Skrim17 wrote in post #6475075
there is a guy on here who is fantastic, his name is emin or something like that. He's in the NY area and does fabulous wedding work.

He's AMAZING!!!

puddlepirate44 wrote in post #6475109
I think he does a lot of destination stuff.... many around the country (US) and some intercontinental. But, yeah, $10k seems a bit steep. However, many of the big league shooters out there charge that much, AND turn away clients.

I like his style and his vision for certain shots. Agreed, there are MANY photogs on POTN, and even on this thread that can compete with his work, imo.

Thanks again! And you guys are all right, by the way. I'm not terribly unique or even close to the best photographer out there. It's all about consistent photography and making sure clients are happy

eddarr wrote in post #6475115
Also notice that he is based in San Diego. Attitude counts for almost as much as talent there.

I'm sure travel is not included in the 10k.

I just wish I could get people to pay me for the things I am good at.

Ha! This is such a generalization of SoCal! We have more wedding photographers than almost any other city. Google "San Diego Wedding Photographer" and I come up listed around the 200 mark. Go to Craigslist and search for a wedding photographer. You'll have a hundred that will shoot your wedding for $300! Attitude alone means nothing in this talent rich area. Again, it's all about clients being happy with you (so there's where the attitude comes in) and consistent photography (which requires more than just attitude).

And you CAN get people to pay you for the things you're good at! So long as you have talent, it just comes down to being a person that people like to be around on their wedding day. Figure out how to make them feel that and you are in business!

JWright wrote in post #6475668
He's got a Smugmug site too. http://bobbyearle.smug​mug.com/ I knew the name sounded familiar. When he set up his Smugmug, he used my referral code to get the discount.

He may be based in San Diego, but to the best of my knowledge, I've never met him.

So YOU'RE the culprit who linked to my dead smugmug page! That thing has been sitting there unpaid for for 6 months! It's all such old, crappy work of mine But thanks for the referral code!

I'm really a nobody kid who's shot like 20 weddings and had a lot of ducks fall in a row, so to speak. Not the best photographer, but I love what I do!

Deb you up??

Skrim17 wrote in post #6481196
Deb you up??

Nope, I'm up. Does that help?

Bobby: Thanks for stopping in. You're right in that much of wedding photography is subjective, like all art. The brides that like your "eye" will hire you for their weddings and the ones that don't, won't. I like a lot of your work and the work of many others on this board, and this thread specifically.

Good luck out there!

Good morning everyone! I'm up too.

Hi Bobby! You tracked us down. Thanks for the link to your current site....but I really did enjoy going through your smugmug site too. Nothing to be embarrassed about. Well... except that your 10k weddings were discussed in a room that normally consists of only the <2k wedding crowd.

Mornin' Cat.

Mornin Dan.

I just took a bite of scrambled eggs that had a little piece of shell in in.

Way to start my morning off crunchy.

Crunchy corn dogs. Crunchy scrambled eggs. Is there anything you eat that isn't crunchy?

cfpackerfan wrote in post #6481507
Mornin Dan.

I just took a bite of scrambled eggs that had a little piece of shell in in.

Way to start my morning off crunchy.

I just had two big bowls of cereal. Mmmm.... Cereal is like a big treat to me. Sometimes I have it for dinner.... when Lisa's not here.

Having eggshell in your scrambled is like having sand in your sandwich. Makes my teeth ache just thinking about it.

thomascanty wrote in post #6481523
Crunchy corn dogs. Crunchy scrambled eggs. Is there anything you eat that isn't crunchy?

They live in a great, whopping sandbox. It's GONNA happen.

puddlepirate44 wrote in post #6481537
They live in a great, whopping sandbox. It's GONNA happen.

Yummy...

Permagrin wrote in post #6480121
I thought they were great shots (but her dress was blown) but definitely great shots!

They certainly were, as were the ring shots. Eagerly awaiting more of yours and Chris' later too . . .

cfpackerfan wrote in post #6480056
Marian just got home from work.
She got "Employee of the Month" at her store. *grin*

She said that honor has never been given to a courtesy clerk (bagger) at her store.

COOL, huh?

Tell her Congrats from John and I.

Permagrin wrote in post #6480186
the colors were great! (this is SOOC, not adjusted at all)

and Zane...love the "man" shots

Lisa, I love this photo.

Hello back to all that posted last night. I was cat sitting for a friend and her computer ran really slow. I would click on something, play with the cats for about 5 minutes then return to the computer. I am not use to that slow of a computer, so I closed up shop and went to bed early (about 9:30 which is early for me)

OK time to get off and clock in for work. Have a great day all.

Morning folks. Had a busy day yesterday...game and then a wedding. Got home at 10PM and went straight to bed I was so tired.

Today, I don't know what's on the plate. I want to stay home and veg....but I may go to a classic car show like I did last fall in a small town North of me....still up in the air with that though.

So on with the SMMQ

Jamie Holladay wrote in post #6476798
Photos please.

Got some and I'll post them later. Still haven't downloaded them off the card yet.

thomascanty wrote in post #6476965
I felt the same way until I bought my laptop. I was forced into Vista because Dell no longer offers XP.

Actually you can get XP from Dell if you order a business computer instead of the home computers.

cfpackerfan wrote in post #6477295
Hm. And yet you don't share. odd.

I have shared shots, they are just few and far between.

misspix wrote in post #6477322
Hubby is up on the top of a mountain hunting venison

Mmmmm....venison. I want some venison jerky and venison tamales now.

Jamie Holladay wrote in post #6477325
Your right though. I think I may try som SP tonight. I got a hair cut just a few ago, and have a scruffy beard now (which I need unbaied opinions on)

short5 wrote in post #6477404
I am off for a ride but maybe I will get Leyla to take a picture. I have some serious man scruff going.

I have some serious 5 O'clock shadow going on

Becky N wrote in post #6477743
We can do textures too.
http://performancephot​o.smugmug.com/photos/3​91464434_UuXTJ-O.jpg

That looks nice Becky, though it appears you left some green in her earring on the left side (her right).

CrazieCricket wrote in post #6478168
It is going to be like pulling teeth to get senior pics of my daughter. I asked her about it again today, because before to long now there will be no leaves on the trees. She gets all upset at me and says "MOM!!! I don't care about senior pics!" grrrrrrr So, then she says "wait until we go up 4wheeling in the snow this winter. You can go along and get pics of me with my truck and the snow". She does NOT want any posed pics I tell her if we want any pics of her while there are leaves on the trees than it has to be soon. I need to send my camera in to be fixed. She says I can just use her camera than. Can I choke her now? please?

But one day she'll come to you and blame you for not taking any Senior shots of her. You could always tell her to jump onto that ATV and you can take some shots of her on it like you did with the horse shots.

mtnphtgrphr wrote in post #6478688
I worked the pumpkin patch at our Church yesterday.... Check out this cutie who came by....

Adorable shots Jen.

Permagrin wrote in post #6479326
I'm soo tired...I don't know why but I'm in more pain today than normal after a shoot. But really it was a lot more fun that the last couple I've done. I think cuz Chris let me have free reign all the creativity and NONE of the responsibility.

Are you sure? He wasn't ill was he? LOL!

Sound like you all had a great time and the shots you have posted so far are all great.

misspix wrote in post #6479556
[potentially boring share]

No not at all. Great family story.

puddlepirate44 wrote in post #6479647
RING SHOTS:
OK, these are straight from the camera. Honest. There is some tweaking that I have to do to make them "final", but I thought I'd share what I have so far.
http://lcimages.zenfol​io.com/img/v4/p3825495​86-4.jpg
http://lcimages.zenfol​io.com/img/v4/p5358977​70-4.jpg
http://lcimages.zenfol​io.com/img/v4/p3070773​79-4.jpg

Nice set of ring shots Dan. I like these three with the shells.

puddlepirate44 wrote in post #6479712
I've only had one person draw up, frown and ask "Why?" The rest of the time they just hand them over like it's no big deal. No one seems to be too concerned, oddly enough. I'm over there, shoving the rings into dirt, ash, putting them on rocks or piano strings and no one really pays attention.

Well, so long as no stray dog gets a hold of 'em, eats 'em which then you would have to chase the dog around waiting for them to pass, I think you'd be all right with the happy couple

Permagrin wrote in post #6479767
It was funny today...I was climbing on some rocks to get an overhead shot of the couple (it turned out great btw) and I hear Chris saying "what are you doing what are you doing..oh no!" And I said (just as I realized I was going to fall) "climbing rocks but it'd be nice if you could come over here and put your hand on my back so I don't fall and kill myself" He obliged and I lived through the experience.

*gasp*...there were no...

CrazieCricket wrote in post #6479778
Sounds like we need PIT shots of Permie!!!! HAHA

...yeah ^^that?

Permagrin wrote in post #6479830
the pit shot story:

A while ago, (before I bought the 300 2.8 ) Chris rented the 600 F4IS and I rented the 300 2.8. He and Dan and I went birding and the whole time we were out (Dan was using his 400 F5.6) Chris kept saying to Dan "look at your teeny leetle lens" (and variations thereof). Obviously this "got to" Dan...So today, Chris left his camera on a tripod (which we did save from being blown to the ground) on the cliffs while he went to round up people. Dan walked up to the tripod and held up the 300 2.8 next to Chris's camera and said "lookit your teeeny leettle lens"

http://lcimages.zenfol​io.com/img/v4/p3395408​25-4.jpg

LMAO! Love it when a PIT shot has a backstory.

puddlepirate44 wrote in post #6479898
Wedding shot, ala 300. Again, sooc, so I know that it needs some work, but I was just wanting to show some sweet bokeh....
http://lcimages.zenfol​io.com/img/v4/p1255332​47-4.jpg

That sure is some sweet creamy bokeh.

cfpackerfan wrote in post #6480006
It was cold cold cold today. Like... I had to wear a jacket.

Leave it to Amikah to learn how to swim on a cold windy day.

We went to a large pond this afternoon. It's fed by a pretty good sized stream. the dogs and I walked all the way around the pond, then down by the stream. I was surprised that it was fairly deep and flowing nice and fast. We've been having a lot of rain lately, so that must have been why.

Anyway, the only stream that Amikah has been in so far, is that little one that we've taken them to before that you can walk across. I think she thought that this was no different.

She dropped her ball in the water, then when it started floating away, she launched off the bank to get it. And went all the way under.
She's a pretty strong swimmer... I was impressed. She did the swim/leap/plunge/jump/​swim maneuver all the way across to the other side, then when I called her, she did the whole thing again to get back to me.

I watched her close, and was ready to jump in and save her, but she was totally fine with it. Like she does it every day.

Dang Amikah! But wait....didn't you...

CrazieCricket wrote in post #6480031
Did you get any pics??

...yeah ^that.

cfpackerfan wrote in post #6480047
No ma'am. Camera was in the truck.

For shame Cat .

cfpackerfan wrote in post #6480056
Marian just got home from work.
She got "Employee of the Month" at her store. *grin*

She said that honor has never been given to a courtesy clerk (bagger) at her store.
COOL, huh?

That is cool....tell her Congrats.
Oh, and I think that movie "Employee of the Month" was a hoot.

short5 wrote in post #6480150
Part of where we ride is pine reforestation. It makes for a cool trail.
http://i76.photobucket​.com …railride10-11-08006pp.jpg

That would look spooky with some fog at night.....or darker that what that shot is.

bnlearle wrote in post #6480882
I saw all these hits on my old smugmug site and was wondering "why are they coming from POTN?"

Welcome Bobby. I was one of those peeking into your smuggy....great shots btw and those on your blog.

Thanks Bobert!!!

Heya threadies, hung out with Deb for a bit this morning. Not too many butterflies but did get some bee shots!

bnlearle wrote in post #6480882
I saw all these hits on my old smugmug site and was wondering "why are they coming from POTN?"

I'm really a nobody kid who's shot like 20 weddings and had a lot of ducks fall in a row, so to speak. Not the best photographer, but I love what I do!

Hey Bobby Thanks for popping in and giving us your perspective! I am guilty of not looking at your smuggy site I had it bookmarked for a 'get around to it' moment

Hubby update: We will be having venison this winter And thanks to Bobert, I may make venison enchiladas (don't know how to make tamales)