Experience Vs. Inexperience
Hi! I'm so on the uptake as blogging and chat rooms aren't exactly my forte. I'm a mom who works full time, so that doesn't leave a lot of time. These are great questions, so let's break them down.
Wedding photography does come in ranges all over the place. I've see even worse ($300 -$125,000!). The old saying "you get what you pay for" doesn't really cut it with photography. I've seem some very talented newbies coming up through the ranks, but I'm always shocked that they tend to charge so darn much right off the bat ($2500-$5000). That's what two of my brides who "decided" to "become wedding photographers" after I shot their weddings started charging. I've been a professional shooter for twenty years and it takes time and experience to not only develop a style, but consistently great results. Wedding are a very difficult shot. Churches and receptions are like pretty caves and lighting them is always a challenge. Always look at their portfolio to see what their ceremony photos look like. You'll want to see at least five perfectly lit ceremonies in order to feel that they can indeed handle it all. Newbies aren't all bad, they're fresh, they're still excited and they'll work hard. But you've got to be 100% sure they know what they're doing. Everyone thinks they're photographers and everyone knows how to take photos, but those two things hardly a great photographer make!
"So my next question is: How much of good photography is "luck" - good lighting, photogenic subjects, etc. - and how much is skill?" Luck 1%, skill 99%. You have to learn to anticipate moments in the making and learn to deal with lighting disasters and jittery people. That's all skill, baby! "Can I really judge a phogoraphers work from the samples he shows me"? Always ask to see an entire album, or at least you want to see five albums that have at least 20 great shots. Like you said, anyone can show you a portfolio of "Best of" after a season. You want to know that you'll have lots of great images from each and every wedding. "What other clues can I use to evaluate their talent"? Remember, you'll be spending more time with your wedding photographer on your wedding day than your new spouse! Find someone you really like. "I really like the photojournalistic approach, and it seems that is more popular among the "newer" photographers" - this has become a catch all phrase for meaning less posing involved. Some true photojournalists (like myself) do shoot weddings, but many feel it's too much pressure and shy away. The young photogs have all learned that the old stiff style is, well, old and stiff. It's not natural, it's imposing and the results are boring and predictable. I'm glad brides appreciate a little dose of reality along with their fantasy. Beware of studios who offer "photojournalist packages versus traditional". They generally will have a list of posed "spontanious moments". They either shoot spontaniously or they don't and most couldn't spot a spontanious moment if their life depended on it. That's not to say that by taking tons of photos you're ensuring you're getting a better chance at getting lucky and having something cool happen. The reason many photographers are now taking so many images is that we're shooting digital and it doesn't waste any more money to shoot more!
"Also, do professional photographers frown on other people taking pictures (not of the posed shots, of course)"? Some photographers hate it, some don't mind... I think that's something to ask your photographer. Are other wanna-bees in the way? Totally! But sometimes I know they'll be getting something different and they're still easier to shoot around than the press corps, so I personally don't mind. If the photographer still holds all rights to your images and is wanting to charge a lot for reprints, they'll mind as that cuts into their business. Thanks and I think I can now retire as this question pretty much covers ALL topics! Marci
__________________
|
Linear Mode
