Comments on: Looking For A Wedding Photographer? http://roelphoto.com/blog/2007/12/looking-for-a-wedding-photographer.html Travel and Wedding Photography From All Over The World Wed, 09 Nov 2011 03:56:01 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: Robert Scott http://roelphoto.com/blog/2007/12/looking-for-a-wedding-photographer.html/comment-page-1#comment-78 Robert Scott Thu, 03 Apr 2008 12:44:10 +0000 http://roelphoto.com/news/2007/11/09/looking-for-a-wedding-photographer/#comment-78 <p>Wow, this Terry guy sounds like a real character. Building on the comments of my wife Shaeree above, I just have a few things to state. <p>1.) Roel, your list is great! I'm currently rebuilding my website and will be adding my answers to a few of your questions into my FAQ's! <p>2.) Terry. Wow, I'd love to see the lawsuit that is eventually going to be slapped on you when you totally screw up someone's wedding and have absolutely no recourse. Good luck digging your way out of that one without any kind of insurance to cover you. It's people like you who make all of the questions listed in the original posting necessary. <p>I'm fairly new to the photography business myself. I've completed one season and and just starting my second. If I didn't carry backup equipment including extra lenses, I would have completely screwed up a Wedding on New Years Eve/Day when one of the lenses malfunctioned. Considering I've only been in the business for a short period of time, I gathered the opinions of a few colleagues in the area who have been doing this much longer. They ALL have had some kind of equipment malfunction at one time or another and ALL were saved by backup equipment. <p>Terry reminds me of a "professional" photographer we ran into at a wedding once who was shooting with a 1.3MP Canon PowerShot, point and shoot camera. I was just tagging along while my wife DJ'd their event, and had my Nikon D80 in tow. After seeing what the "professional" was shooting with, I asked the B&G if they would mind me taking some photos of my own. I never once mentioned to them during the event that their "professional" photographer was using crap for a camera. A week or so after the event, they received their photographs from the "professional" and needless to say, they were very upset with the quality of the photos. They practically begged for the photos that I had taken that night. I don't even begin to believe that the Nikon D80 that I was using was the best equipment for a wedding, but it saved their day. <p>Granted that is a little bit of a different situation, I believe the point is the same. Their "professional photographer" was obviously not professional and didn't care what came of the photographs as long as they were getting paid. <p>Terry, you're going to get bitten in the a$$ sometime when you have an equipment failure or even if you just mess up your lighting/composition. I feel extremely sorry for the Bride and Groom who will fall victim to your scam. Wow, this Terry guy sounds like a real character. Building on the comments of my wife Shaeree above, I just have a few things to state.

1.) Roel, your list is great! I’m currently rebuilding my website and will be adding my answers to a few of your questions into my FAQ’s!

2.) Terry. Wow, I’d love to see the lawsuit that is eventually going to be slapped on you when you totally screw up someone’s wedding and have absolutely no recourse. Good luck digging your way out of that one without any kind of insurance to cover you. It’s people like you who make all of the questions listed in the original posting necessary.

I’m fairly new to the photography business myself. I’ve completed one season and and just starting my second. If I didn’t carry backup equipment including extra lenses, I would have completely screwed up a Wedding on New Years Eve/Day when one of the lenses malfunctioned. Considering I’ve only been in the business for a short period of time, I gathered the opinions of a few colleagues in the area who have been doing this much longer. They ALL have had some kind of equipment malfunction at one time or another and ALL were saved by backup equipment.

Terry reminds me of a “professional” photographer we ran into at a wedding once who was shooting with a 1.3MP Canon PowerShot, point and shoot camera. I was just tagging along while my wife DJ’d their event, and had my Nikon D80 in tow. After seeing what the “professional” was shooting with, I asked the B&G if they would mind me taking some photos of my own. I never once mentioned to them during the event that their “professional” photographer was using crap for a camera. A week or so after the event, they received their photographs from the “professional” and needless to say, they were very upset with the quality of the photos. They practically begged for the photos that I had taken that night. I don’t even begin to believe that the Nikon D80 that I was using was the best equipment for a wedding, but it saved their day.

Granted that is a little bit of a different situation, I believe the point is the same. Their “professional photographer” was obviously not professional and didn’t care what came of the photographs as long as they were getting paid.

Terry, you’re going to get bitten in the a$$ sometime when you have an equipment failure or even if you just mess up your lighting/composition. I feel extremely sorry for the Bride and Groom who will fall victim to your scam.

]]> By: Shaeree http://roelphoto.com/blog/2007/12/looking-for-a-wedding-photographer.html/comment-page-1#comment-58 Shaeree Mon, 18 Feb 2008 23:40:34 +0000 http://roelphoto.com/news/2007/11/09/looking-for-a-wedding-photographer/#comment-58 <p>Roel has hit the nose on the dot with a lot of him information above. </p> <p>You wouldn't hire someone with a home stereo system to DJ your wedding, so why would you hire someone who is just getting into photography. </p> <p>I do photography and so does my spouse, I am a professional Disc Jockey for the last 14 years.</p> <p>People do not understand that when you hire someone the costs involved to make that business happen. </p> <p>Terry - Insurance is a must. Why you say? What happened if a drunk walked up to called you a name and then threw your (in my case) $3000 camera on the floor. What next? Without insurance you would have to buy a new. Your insurance covers you for that kind of thing. </p> <p>Terry - Backup equipment. Why well once again what if the sensor goes in your camera, what if the flash stops working, what if the drunk pulls your camera down and it smashes on the floor. With backup gear you will still be able to provide services set out in their contract.</p> <p>Terry - Training. There is so much available for training out there and I think it is great. Looks great on your resume and it doesn't hurt to touch up on some of those skills. </p> <p>So ask yourself this would I want to hire Terry who thinks things are not a necessity and get screwed in the end of deal with a professional. Some people do not realize that there are people out there that deal with this kind of thing. Bottom feaders - as a DJ I deal with that a lot. A friend's cousin paid $500 for a DJ to show up late, and asked the bride to burn her own music. WRONG ANSWER - Audio Video Licensing Association Inc deals with those issues and copyright infringement. </p> <p>Listen to your vendor when they explain how the quote was made and based on what facts. Too many people out there get screwed because they hire people like Terry.</p> <p>Sit down and ask them questions: What setting do you use RAW or JPG? What camera do you use? What do you have to use in way of lenses our church is really dark but they do not allow flashes? Do you know what ISO and Aperture? Can they do macro shots? </p> <p>I have a list like this for my couples to ask a DJ too. Those who studder and hesitate to answer these questions are not really intuned with their professional. Or is Terry's case. HOBBY.</p> Roel has hit the nose on the dot with a lot of him information above.

You wouldn’t hire someone with a home stereo system to DJ your wedding, so why would you hire someone who is just getting into photography.

I do photography and so does my spouse, I am a professional Disc Jockey for the last 14 years.

People do not understand that when you hire someone the costs involved to make that business happen.

Terry – Insurance is a must. Why you say? What happened if a drunk walked up to called you a name and then threw your (in my case) $3000 camera on the floor. What next? Without insurance you would have to buy a new. Your insurance covers you for that kind of thing.

Terry – Backup equipment. Why well once again what if the sensor goes in your camera, what if the flash stops working, what if the drunk pulls your camera down and it smashes on the floor. With backup gear you will still be able to provide services set out in their contract.

Terry – Training. There is so much available for training out there and I think it is great. Looks great on your resume and it doesn’t hurt to touch up on some of those skills.

So ask yourself this would I want to hire Terry who thinks things are not a necessity and get screwed in the end of deal with a professional. Some people do not realize that there are people out there that deal with this kind of thing. Bottom feaders – as a DJ I deal with that a lot. A friend’s cousin paid $500 for a DJ to show up late, and asked the bride to burn her own music. WRONG ANSWER – Audio Video Licensing Association Inc deals with those issues and copyright infringement.

Listen to your vendor when they explain how the quote was made and based on what facts. Too many people out there get screwed because they hire people like Terry.

Sit down and ask them questions: What setting do you use RAW or JPG? What camera do you use? What do you have to use in way of lenses our church is really dark but they do not allow flashes? Do you know what ISO and Aperture? Can they do macro shots?

I have a list like this for my couples to ask a DJ too. Those who studder and hesitate to answer these questions are not really intuned with their professional. Or is Terry’s case. HOBBY.

]]> By: Rod Pascoe http://roelphoto.com/blog/2007/12/looking-for-a-wedding-photographer.html/comment-page-1#comment-43 Rod Pascoe Fri, 18 Jan 2008 17:08:56 +0000 http://roelphoto.com/news/2007/11/09/looking-for-a-wedding-photographer/#comment-43 Just a messge for Terry, GET OUT OF THE WEDDING BUSINESS. Your attitude stinks. People want images of their special day to be just that. Special. Not taken by some moron who doesn't care. Rod Just a messge for Terry,

GET OUT OF THE WEDDING BUSINESS.

Your attitude stinks. People want images of their special day to be just that. Special. Not taken by some moron who doesn’t care.

Rod

]]> By: Jenn http://roelphoto.com/blog/2007/12/looking-for-a-wedding-photographer.html/comment-page-1#comment-14 Jenn Thu, 10 Jan 2008 20:26:08 +0000 http://roelphoto.com/news/2007/11/09/looking-for-a-wedding-photographer/#comment-14 I found the link to this blog in facebook. I wish I had read this list before I got married. I got burned. Big time. We have no decent images from our wedding day. I called a couple photographers asking if they could somehow "fix" them, but most of them couldn't be "fixed" (like out of focus shots, blurry shots, way too much flash, way too dark, unflattering composition... and lots of stupid/corny poses). Most professional photographers really aren't into "fixing" other people's work I found out and turned down my request. <br> Yes, we went for "cheap" instead of quality when we hired our wedding photographer. It is not that we didn't have the money - we had an expensive reception, great food, lots to drink, limo, gorgeous flowers - and lots more. When those bills started to add up, we decided to cut back in a few areas and photography was one of them. And unfortunately, we left it to the last minute. With the benefit of hindsight, we had enough money for a fanastic wedding and photographs. We just never made photography a priority. It should have been. A very hard lesson learned. <br> So, we spent a huge sum on our wedding. But that is all gone now and all we have left are the photos... and in a word, they are "utter crap" (ok, that is 2 words, but who is counting anyway?) <br> All of the warning signs were there at our initial meeting, but his price was right for what we were asking. I'm so stupid... his "sample album" had photos from the album company... they weren't even his own! But yes, silly us, we paid our deposit anyway. And now, we have only regrets. He even photographed my bouquet in a ratty old box... he didn't even think to take them out of the f***ing box! To top it all off, this idiot we hired made really stupid and vulgar remarks and jokes all day. My husband, the wedding party and our families hated having him around. <br> My advice to couples reading this list: print off a copy, read it, then re-read it. You will be well armed when you visit potential wedding photographers. And please don't cheap out when it comes to your photographer. Hire the best one you can afford - and most importantly, make sure they are someone you could easily become friends with. We underestimated how important personality and professionalism were going to be for us. <br> As someone said earlier, you really do get what you pay for. It is so true. I found the link to this blog in facebook. I wish I had read this list before I got married. I got burned. Big time. We have no decent images from our wedding day. I called a couple photographers asking if they could somehow “fix” them, but most of them couldn’t be “fixed” (like out of focus shots, blurry shots, way too much flash, way too dark, unflattering composition… and lots of stupid/corny poses). Most professional photographers really aren’t into “fixing” other people’s work I found out and turned down my request.

Yes, we went for “cheap” instead of quality when we hired our wedding photographer. It is not that we didn’t have the money – we had an expensive reception, great food, lots to drink, limo, gorgeous flowers – and lots more. When those bills started to add up, we decided to cut back in a few areas and photography was one of them. And unfortunately, we left it to the last minute. With the benefit of hindsight, we had enough money for a fanastic wedding and photographs. We just never made photography a priority. It should have been. A very hard lesson learned.

So, we spent a huge sum on our wedding. But that is all gone now and all we have left are the photos… and in a word, they are “utter crap” (ok, that is 2 words, but who is counting anyway?)

All of the warning signs were there at our initial meeting, but his price was right for what we were asking. I’m so stupid… his “sample album” had photos from the album company… they weren’t even his own! But yes, silly us, we paid our deposit anyway. And now, we have only regrets. He even photographed my bouquet in a ratty old box… he didn’t even think to take them out of the f***ing box! To top it all off, this idiot we hired made really stupid and vulgar remarks and jokes all day. My husband, the wedding party and our families hated having him around.

My advice to couples reading this list: print off a copy, read it, then re-read it. You will be well armed when you visit potential wedding photographers. And please don’t cheap out when it comes to your photographer. Hire the best one you can afford – and most importantly, make sure they are someone you could easily become friends with. We underestimated how important personality and professionalism were going to be for us.

As someone said earlier, you really do get what you pay for. It is so true.

]]> By: Roël Dixon-Mahatoo http://roelphoto.com/blog/2007/12/looking-for-a-wedding-photographer.html/comment-page-1#comment-12 Roël Dixon-Mahatoo Sun, 06 Jan 2008 00:22:24 +0000 http://roelphoto.com/news/2007/11/09/looking-for-a-wedding-photographer/#comment-12 WOW - I am surprised to see so many comments so soon after this post! <br> I am personally disappointed that some people seem to be in the wedding business for all the wrong reasons, especially when they think that (1) their customers don't care about quality work , (2) they think that they can defraud the government and (3) they don't need to take a couple's wedding seriously. <br> A mentor once told me (actually, he told the whole class): If you aren't serious about this job, get out before you ruin a bride's wedding day. <br> To Terry (and others like him), please don't ruin someone's wedding day. Many people (including your client's lawyers) will never forgive you if you do that. <br> Or maybe you simply don't care at all. <br> Roël Dixon-Mahatoo Roël Photography WOW – I am surprised to see so many comments so soon after this post!

I am personally disappointed that some people seem to be in the wedding business for all the wrong reasons, especially when they think that (1) their customers don’t care about quality work , (2) they think that they can defraud the government and (3) they don’t need to take a couple’s wedding seriously.

A mentor once told me (actually, he told the whole class): If you aren’t serious about this job, get out before you ruin a bride’s wedding day.

To Terry (and others like him), please don’t ruin someone’s wedding day. Many people (including your client’s lawyers) will never forgive you if you do that.

Or maybe you simply don’t care at all.

Roël Dixon-Mahatoo
Roël Photography

]]> By: Amanda Lachapelle http://roelphoto.com/blog/2007/12/looking-for-a-wedding-photographer.html/comment-page-1#comment-11 Amanda Lachapelle Fri, 04 Jan 2008 22:59:29 +0000 http://roelphoto.com/news/2007/11/09/looking-for-a-wedding-photographer/#comment-11 This is a great list Roel! - I visited it from your facebook group. I think it covers all the items a bride should consider during her research for a photographer and I love when brides ask me these kinds of questions. <br> As another wedding photographer I just want to address Terry's comments for a moment. First of all I hope anyone looking to book you reads this post because it really does show your level of professionalism, and honestly I wouldn't book you as a bride as it doesn't seem you have any respect for the sanctity of the day. Wedding photographers don't pay for insurance and backup equipement just to help the economy, they do it because should anything go wrong you can't restage a wedding! I've been at a wedding where my flash has stopped working and the only thing that saved the reception photos was the fact that I had back up equipment. I'm very passionate about this argument as I've seen naive brides trying to save money booking someone without the proper tools or dedication to the job and end up disappointed with no level of recourse. I don't think that you need formal education to be a wedding photographer but it certainly helps, and if you have no formal education you should definitely be a full time photographer before offering your services as it gives you the time to do the research on techniques and test things out in order to better serve your clients. Your comments and lack of concern for being prepared shows just how much you have to learn - I would be concerned about booking someone who thinks that it's great to be deceptive and not pay taxes, because let's be clear you do have to pay taxes on what your making on the side the difference is you are choosing not to disclose it and are being deceptive. I wish you and the brides that book you the best of luck because as the old adage goes (and Im pretty sure Roel said this above) you get what you pay for.... <br> Amanda "Sucker" Lachapelle This is a great list Roel! – I visited it from your facebook group. I think it covers all the items a bride should consider during her research for a photographer and I love when brides ask me these kinds of questions.

As another wedding photographer I just want to address Terry’s comments for a moment. First of all I hope anyone looking to book you reads this post because it really does show your level of professionalism, and honestly I wouldn’t book you as a bride as it doesn’t seem you have any respect for the sanctity of the day. Wedding photographers don’t pay for insurance and backup equipement just to help the economy, they do it because should anything go wrong you can’t restage a wedding! I’ve been at a wedding where my flash has stopped working and the only thing that saved the reception photos was the fact that I had back up equipment. I’m very passionate about this argument as I’ve seen naive brides trying to save money booking someone without the proper tools or dedication to the job and end up disappointed with no level of recourse. I don’t think that you need formal education to be a wedding photographer but it certainly helps, and if you have no formal education you should definitely be a full time photographer before offering your services as it gives you the time to do the research on techniques and test things out in order to better serve your clients. Your comments and lack of concern for being prepared shows just how much you have to learn – I would be concerned about booking someone who thinks that it’s great to be deceptive and not pay taxes, because let’s be clear you do have to pay taxes on what your making on the side the difference is you are choosing not to disclose it and are being deceptive. I wish you and the brides that book you the best of luck because as the old adage goes (and Im pretty sure Roel said this above) you get what you pay for….

Amanda “Sucker” Lachapelle

]]> By: Ben http://roelphoto.com/blog/2007/12/looking-for-a-wedding-photographer.html/comment-page-1#comment-10 Ben Thu, 03 Jan 2008 22:39:34 +0000 http://roelphoto.com/news/2007/11/09/looking-for-a-wedding-photographer/#comment-10 Good tips! <br> I worked for another photography company for about a year, they always got their head guy to talk to the clients and show ‘his’ work, (which I’m not sure if it was really ‘his’ work anyway) but the clients were usually surprised and probably dissapointed when another photographer arrived to shoot the wedding for him. I think sometimes he even told them he’s personally going to shoot, but in that case he would stop by and do some photos quick before running off lol. <br> And he charged allot. Good tips!

I worked for another photography company for about a year, they always got their head guy to talk to the clients and show ‘his’ work, (which I’m not sure if it was really ‘his’ work anyway) but the clients were usually surprised and probably dissapointed when another photographer arrived to shoot the wedding for him. I think sometimes he even told them he’s personally going to shoot, but in that case he would stop by and do some photos quick before running off lol.

And he charged allot.

]]> By: Terry http://roelphoto.com/blog/2007/12/looking-for-a-wedding-photographer.html/comment-page-1#comment-9 Terry Wed, 02 Jan 2008 22:34:04 +0000 http://roelphoto.com/news/2007/11/09/looking-for-a-wedding-photographer/#comment-9 I disagree with a lot of what you wrote. I am a part time wedding photographer who is just getting started and I can save people a lot of money. Why should couples getting married hire a real pro or a studio? I don't have the overhead of running a real business, so my clients can save money. Insurance, backup equipment and formal training aren't really needed anyway - that just means people have to pay more for photography. <br> I don't really care to be a full time photographer - I am happy to be making some extra cash on the side. I have a good camera and lens and it takes really good pics. As long as my clients "believe" I care about them, their wedding and their needs, who really cares? Best thing - I don't have to declare what I make so I don't pay taxes on it. You do! Ha ha ha sucker! I disagree with a lot of what you wrote. I am a part time wedding photographer who is just getting started and I can save people a lot of money. Why should couples getting married hire a real pro or a studio? I don’t have the overhead of running a real business, so my clients can save money. Insurance, backup equipment and formal training aren’t really needed anyway – that just means people have to pay more for photography.

I don’t really care to be a full time photographer – I am happy to be making some extra cash on the side. I have a good camera and lens and it takes really good pics. As long as my clients “believe” I care about them, their wedding and their needs, who really cares? Best thing – I don’t have to declare what I make so I don’t pay taxes on it. You do! Ha ha ha sucker!

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