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I have heard a lot of discussion recently on the merits (or rather the
lack thereof) of professional portraiture for weddings. On the wedding
newsgroup I read, photographers are often referred to as "greedy", and
I often see "flame wars" where post after post criticizes
photographers in a "can you top this" fashion. I even recently heard a
famous wedding professional, in effect, describe professional
photography was a distasteful trend. While I have heard my share of
"evil, selfish photographer" stories, I am still surprised at the
energy with which professional photographers are currently bashed, and
I wish to offer couples another opinion on the subject.
In person and in print, I counsel brides about the worth of quality
professional portraiture. In "A Bride's Touch", I put it this way:
"Except for her spouse, the photographer is arguably the most
important wedding decision a bride will make. The flowers may be
fabulous, the setting may be romantic, the men may be handsome, the
women may be beautiful, and the entire gathering may be moved to tears
by the proceedings--but your own and your families' memories of the
whole celebration will begin to fade even before the flowers do. If
you do not have good photographs, those memories and a few souvenirs
will be all you have left of the day.
For the average couple and their families, the pressures of last
minute preparations, guests and emotion have a way of blurring the
ceremony and reception. The portrait viewing may be the first chance
you have to really see the results of all your planning. The color
scheme and details you worked to coordinate, the location that had
just the right ambiance, and the family and friends who brought their
love and best wishes to share--all of these elements combine to make a
spectacle that is hard to appreciate until you can view it as the
photographer does.
Copyright 1997 "A Bride's Touch: A Handbook of Wedding Personality and
Inspiration"
These statements are not meant as an advertisement or blanket
endorsement of all photographers. It is based on my own personal
wedding experiences, and on those of couples I have interviewed over
the years. Over 93 % of the brides who commented on photography in my
surveys have emphasized the importance of finding (and not skimping on
the budget for) a good photographer. It is interesting to me that
brides who had positive photography experiences, and brides who had
negative experiences, both advised other brides to invest in
professional photography.
The negative responses I received about photography were primarily on
subjects such as photo session timing and the numbers of formal and
candid shots taken. These are both important concerns, and subjects
which you should definitely have an understanding about with whoever
takes your wedding photographs. But I certainly would not discourage
couples hiring a professional portrait photographer based on those
concerns.
I have been fortunate to have worked with the same extremely fine
photographer, Joel Bogeberg for over ten years. He took our wedding
portraits, and he has photographed the weddings of nearly every local
couple we've known since then. This man is not the cheapest nor the
most expensive photographer in the area. He has plenty of experience,
and a good reputation. I don't necessarily like every change he has
made in his company policies over the years; and we have agreed to
disagree about whether a couple's portraits are best taken before the
ceremony, after the ceremony, or both. But the reason that this
photographer's work is priceless to me-- and why I recommend him
without reservation-- is that he is what I consider a true
professional.
He is ethical, enthusiastic, hard-working, and creative. He arrives on
time, appropriately dressed, and gets right to work. He listens to his
clients' priorities and tries to focus on capturing the kind of images
they envision. He cares about each and every job. He knows how to
capture personality, sentiment, humor, beauty and romance on film. He
sees his clients' potential. He is open to suggestion; if a client
says that pose isn't "me", he is happy to have them offer an
alternative which is. He is detail oriented. He considers his
portraits to be "art"-- and through his pride and professionalism,
they are.
I know a few people who feel that they were over-charged for their
portraiture. I know one couple whose family and friends took nicer
photos than the professional they hired. I know plenty of couples and
their families who did not particularly enjoy the time it took to get
portraits taken. But I have met far more who regret not having
professional portraits taken, or regret not looking into their
photographer's reputation and referrals more carefully. Professional
portraiture is NOT appropriate for every couple's budget,
circumstances, and priorities-- but it CAN be a truly wonderful,
priceless service when handled by a true professional!!
If you choose to have only amateur photography, or none at all, I hope
that you are happy with this decision. In closing, let me pass on an
appropriate message I found recently in a fortune cookie.
Associate with those who have both know-how and integrity.
I think this applies to all of your wedding services, not just
photography. Best wishes to you!
By Sara L. Ambarian
Visit her website here
http://www.frazmtn.com/~ambarian/
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