Can Just Anybody be the Knot's Best of Weddings 2010?

I stopped by one of the prominent florists in town today to introduce myself. They had cards out for another area photograher who, to put it bluntly, STINKS. I mean really awful. No creative ability at all. And as best as I can tell, no techincal skills either; no fill flash on sunny days, on camera flash the rest of the day, DOF that runs a mile, etc.

And then I see on his site, the badge proclaiming him to have been voted The Knot's Best of Weddings 2010. Now, I've not yet signed on for The Knot and don't know how things work over there, but how can this be?!? Is this something that is genuinely earned or is it the type of thing where get to say it for having done nothing more than pay for your membership?

I used to belong to The Knot but discontinued my membership after they started asking me to pay dues for a higher listing. Perhaps this photog paid those dues...

Just wait till these clowns have better search engine placement than you and change the sustainable pricing structure in your area. They are temporarily destroying the notion of what being a professional photographer is all about in the public's eye. These people are not focused on pleasing common industry standards, only themselves and they will win battles but hopefully not the war. Perhaps legislation will have to be enacted to keep hacks out. Many of them frequent forms so a big shout out to all of you!

I'm also 2010 best of weddings at TheKnot. It might be based on positive reviews received, or it might be a way to keep vendors on their site.

form wrote in post #9928583
I'm also 2010 best of weddings at TheKnot. It might be based on positive reviews received, or it might be a way to keep vendors on their site.

So Joey, you didn't take any special action? No survey, no application, no anything; they just one day came to you with a congratulatory e-mail?

Nothing.

Best of Web, by TheKnot, is a result of an independent poll TheKnot commissions annually. The poll takers contact brides who have signed on to TheKnot.com for help planning their wedding. They ask what brides thought of local vendors they used at their wedding. The results of the poll builds a list of the Top Ten vendors in each local market, and these vendors, including photographers, are recognized by TheKnot with the right to use the award in their advertising, and each vendor receives a plaque that can be displayed in their studio that prospective customers may see when they come to visit the vendor. There is no requirement to advertise on TheKnot, though they certainly encourage it.

The award is completely unsolicited by the vendors and awarded based on merit as judged by the customers the vendors serve.

I'd venture to say you earned your spot Joey - you do quality work and delivery more high quality value than others in your fee structure.

form wrote in post #9928583
I'm also 2010 best of weddings at TheKnot. It might be based on positive reviews received, or it might be a way to keep vendors on their site.

twinsrus wrote in post #9932707
Best of Web, by TheKnot, is a result of an independent poll TheKnot commissions annually. The poll takers contact brides who have signed on to TheKnot.com for help planning their wedding. They ask what brides thought of local vendors they used at their wedding. The results of the poll builds a list of the Top Ten vendors in each local market, and these vendors, including photographers, are recognized by TheKnot with the right to use the award in their advertising, and each vendor receives a plaque that can be displayed in their studio that prospective customers may see when they come to visit the vendor. There is no requirement to advertise on TheKnot, though they certainly encourage it.

The award is completely unsolicited by the vendors and awarded based on merit as judged by the customers the vendors serve.

Thanks for those insights, Twins. At least I get it now, though I find it no less obnoxious. From a photographic perspective, the award suggests a photogarpher who creates the best art. But if you're a budget bride with low aspirations and give your hack photographer good marks, he's in. Sheeesh.

As twinsrus said, the Knot best of weddings is based only on bride reviews. The knot asks everyone of their registered brides to complete a survey after their wedding, rating their vendors etc. The results of those surveys determine who is "best of."

This means that even folks who do not advertise with the Knot can be voted "best of," which is exactly what happened to a photographer friend of mine. She does not advertise with Knot, but she was voted "best of" (which she definitely deserved). I know all this as a former Knot advertiser...they explained it all to me.

So, maybe in this case the photographer's customer service skills outweighed his photography skills.

"Awards and badges" really mean nothing. Everybody hands out awards and badges claiming one thing or another. Many great photogs have them... many not so great ones have the same awards and badges. So... what do they mean in the end... absolutely nothing.

Perhaps POTN needs to have an award?

POTN has lots of awards...

sctbiggs wrote in post #9936103
"Awards and badges" really mean nothing. Everybody hands out awards and badges claiming one thing or another. Many great photogs have them... many not so great ones have the same awards and badges. So... what do they mean in the end... absolutely nothing.

VERY true. One local photog dubbs himself "south carolina's photographer"

I laugh every time someone tells me that they've seen his work and liked it but liked me more. Guess keeping images from 1980 displayed as your showcasing images might give that feeling?

pcunite wrote in post #9928258
...to keep hacks out. Many of them frequent forums so a big shout out to all of you!

...and hello to you Unite