Most unprofessional wedding photographer

[jake337]

I was under the impression that it would be disrespectfull for anyone to have their phone on during a wedding ceremony, let alone a paid "professional".

 

[unpopular]

btw - I am not sure that how much these blokes cost have a whole lot to do with how professional they are. This is more likely just an excuse to overcharge clients and discredit successful startups using mid-end gear who don't charge as if they are processing medium format C41 and E6. if I were to guess, this guy is pretty well established and behaves this way be cause he thinks that he can get away with it.

 

[Nubbs]

I personally can not wait to see the pictures. I will try to post some up when I get them.

 

[ElanImages]

This sounds discracefull. As a pro wedding photographer (I only shoot weddings and have done for 5 years), I'm constantly annoyed by idiots bringing the industry down like this. It's all about the couple - forget that and you might as well pack up and find another line of work. Just for reference I take two sets of pro kit with me to every wedding (about £30k of equipment), no silly copyright restrictions, am fully insured and finally spend about three days in post production, per wedding...plus I always travel with one 'battle proven' assistant! Yes, customers do get what they pay for - isn't that the same as anything? I approach every wedding like it's my own - keep professional and don't compromise on quality. I'm not saying that there isn't a place for amateurs or semi-pro's in the marketplace - just as long as they are up front about it, and expectations are met and understood with their clients.

Oh, and my mobile phone doesn't even come in to the venue / church with me!

 

[gatrell]

Just shot my first wedding last Friday, and i have to say it was one of the hardest but most enjoyable days in my life. I have been approached to shoot a few weddings in the past but refused these jobs as I had to make sure i was very confidant in my self before i accepted any wedding photography jobs. I have worked gigs and clubs in the past, and finally decided it was time to properly start my photography career. I met the client well before the wedding and made sure that she understood that this was going to be my first wedding and she was still happy for me to work for her. i attended the wedding rehearsal at the church and took a couple of shots, and showed her the photos after i had flown them though lightroom and she was over the moon. I wedding went really well, i am very happy with the results of the wedding and i know that my client will be, and i cant wait to present her photos to her.

And my phone never turned on, so no mishap's there.

So although some of us starting out, may not have 1D's, instead having low end kit, There are some of us who do respect the industry and the hard work that goes into it, and does there best not to embarrass the industry

 

[gatrell]

Just one of my photos from the wedding..

 

[2WheelPhoto]

Bestbuy hardware and Facebook hosting qualify everyone as a pro, right? There are no required qualifications other than have the client pay in cash for the lost-cost under the table shoot.

I'm surprised when folks come on this forum asking is formal training required and the overwhelming consensus is "no", waste of time.

I'm doing this as hobby only and attending a certification program at USF Tampa. The program teaches from beginner to advanced, composition, beginner lighting, advanced lighting, studio lighting, business classes for photographers, print color management and file management, and I can't remember the other courses. It the program would be a waste of time for these pro weekend warriers that come around here asking about such

 

[bennielou]

From my experience most pros are pretty annoying, there was only one whom I trusted for my wedding. When I found that she was booked for that day and offered a replacement I declined. We didn't have any profo bafoons and just had guests take the photos, the results might have been a bit blurry, but I think the content was a bit better than the cliche garbage I would have had paid for (never mind the draconian copyright policies).This guy, though, takes the cake in the goofy profo self importance. if I did weddings, I wouldn't even bring my phone, and would insist my employees not either. Being that this guy had two assistants, he must have been pretty successful, which I am sure doesnt help his ego any. Reenacting the toast is just stupid.Then again, my uncle had a photographer at his wedding who opened the camera without rewinding the film...

Priceless. Only on the internet could you find someone named Unpopular, with this kind of quote. I love the internet!

 

[bennielou]

Another great discussion.

I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with people like the "wedding photographers" described in the OP.

The hate part comes from them screwing up the situation for all those that follow. For instance, some churches don't even allow photographers to shoot the ceremony anymore because of the many idiots that pole vault over the alter to get the shot. I always talk to the clergy prior to the wedding, and get the rules and follow them, but I also always ask what the wackiest thing they see photographers do. The list is endless, and crazy, but the best reply I ever got from a Minister was this one:

"During the ring exchange, the photographer actually walked onto the altar area, LAID DOWN under the couple to take a photo". He told me that when he admonished the photog after the ceremony about the behavior, the photog explained that he was an artist, and that the shot would be arty.

OMG

I also have to carry a $2,000,000 liability bond, because certain crazy photographers wreck furniture with their stunts.

I can no longer shoot at many of the locations I used in the past because crazy photographers didn't give a rat.


Now, the reason that I love them on occasion is because I book many a client who realized, only after witnessing behavior like this, or seeing a buddies horrifically effed up photos, that they need to take photography seriously. It is rare that I speak to a potential client anymore who doesn't tell me some photographer horror story.

Sometimes bad photographers reinforce the reason you should respect the good ones.

 

[vivalaveritas]

Well said

 

[bennielou]

Hey Vivalaveritas,

I just saw your website and it is STUNNINGLY BEAUTIFUL. Your photography 101 section should be required reading. Just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed your site.

 

[vivalaveritas]

Well thank you very much

 

[Assassin]

Wow, that's bad !!

 

[steve_tan]

good discussion indeed. thanks for sharing yr thots...

we often do not want to encounter such unpleasant experience.

 

[DiskoJoe]

yeah...........can we get a redo on that speech? Lmfao. Did they seriously ask that? and why was he answering the phone if he had two assistants? one of them would have been on phone duty. i feel bad for your friends.