Biggest Compliment

I love when you are shooting a wedding and people come up to you and say "I wish I had of known about you when I got married"

I had a woman who just got married come up to me crying because she used a "discount" wedding photographer from Craigslist instead of booking me. She said the girl who came was rude, unprofessional and took horrible pictures. Apparently, the girl was 30 minutes late getting there and was in jean shorts and a t-shirt, because, "Well, I just didn't have time to change." It does make you feel good when someone appreciates your work, doesn't it.

I did my first wedding this weekend and this was put on facebook with a link by a guest who was there:

I've booked 4 weddings @ $400. It's too bad that once I get through the next 2 this month my prices will be 1k+. I just needed to get a couple to cover expenses and get a port. going.

There's no better compliment than talking to someone who was referred by a past client.

Good job. Well done mate.

Although I do occasionally receive compliments on the job (usually "you're doing a great job" from a family member of the b&g), they don't usually mean anything to me because I know where they're coming from. I accept that I probably look like I'm working hard, but in most cases the person giving me that praise is coming from a work standpoint and not a photo quality one. They haven't seen the photos, so they have no idea how good a job I'm really doing, right?

The other compliments I get are from the b&g, but I only receive those occasionally as well: Many b&g couples I never hear from again after the photos are mailed to them, and I have to inquire to make sure the discs are fine and all is good. A few I did particularly well with have mailed me cards thanking me for the job I did. Others may leave an online review or email me some nice words.

My last wedding was actually the sister of a past bride for me, so that's along the lines of what peacefield mentioned. During that wedding, the new bride said that I do work comparable to those who charge $2k in their area (Sacramento). But they also include albums in their price, I explained. There probably isn't a ton of competition for those medium-priced photographers in that city to make them try harder or be better photographers, so they could very well be mediocre and still get plenty of business.

Bottom line for ME (not you necessarily)...most (not all) of those who give compliments either have never seen the finished product (you're doing a great job!), or they may have compared my photos to somebody else in their area who overcharges because of the local market's reign of mediocrity. Of all the compliments I have received, they might be genuinely deserved about 2% of the time, and simply coming from a point of contrast-induced bias or blissful unknowing the other 98%.

BrandyJackson wrote in post #10684872
I love when you are shooting a wedding and people come up to you and say "I wish I had of known about you when I got married"

And that is before they see your results

tfizzle wrote in post #10685628
I've booked 4 weddings @ $400. It's too bad that once I get through the next 2 this month my prices will be 1k+. I just needed to get a couple to cover expenses and get a port. going.

not to get off topic, but really? $400 for a wedding?

(if you're really not confident enough in your work to charge a rate that will net you more than working at a fast food joint, you should really be assisting or shooting second until you are. there's no shame in shooting second. it lets you build a portfolio, you get paid more, and it's less work and responsibility.)

Plenty of people, include some of the more seasoned photographers in here started out around that range, nudging the price upwards after a few weddings.

Nothing wrong with that IMO.

BrandyJackson wrote in post #10684872
I love when you are shooting a wedding and people come up to you and say "I wish I had of known about you when I got married"

I would much rather get compliments on my actual photos. But sure, it's always nice to have someone compliment on how you are behaving as a wedding photographer.

BrandyJackson wrote in post #10684872
I love when you are shooting a wedding and people come up to you and say "I wish I had of known about you when I got married"

Is that because they prefer you to the husband / wife they got?

One of the biggest compliments I get is when I walk into someone's house and see my images on their wall! Incredible feeling!!

neil_r wrote in post #10687458
Is that because they prefer you to the husband / wife they got?

hahaha, clever.

To me, there's no better feeling than to walk into a brides house and find one of my past brides as a bridesmaid. It's like having an old friend with you all day long....and you know why you were hired for this gig!

Biggest compliment yet: I got this couple (and the whole wedding party) to "frolic" in a field of dandelions and since that wedding in May I've gotten an email from two local photographers asking me where that field was and if I'd be mad if they used that idea. I'm not sure if either of them actually used it, but I was beyond flattered that other pros liked the idea.

That was also the first wedding I shot for someone in my hometown and my Mom says from time to time people will come up to her at work and compliment my work on that wedding. They could just be making small talk with my Mom but it's still nice to hear!