Quote:
Originally Posted by adman
Lewis, I could be wrong - but I suspect that it was these comments that raised H's hackles.
The way I see it is that photographers are free to charge whatever they like to shoot weddings, and clients are free to pay that charge or not.
The onus is on the client to do their homework. To have a clear idea of what they are after, to look at photographers portfolios, and maybe contact people they have previously done weddings for, and decide whether they are worth the fee they are asking. And if not, move on.
The flip side of the fee is the clients expectations. I would suggest that clients who pay higher fees will have higher expectations of the quality of not only the delivered product, but also the levels of service given by the photographer before, during, and after the wedding.
It is possible that the reason you find weddings so easy to shoot, is that the fee you are charging, in general, attracts clients with lower expectations. I am not saying that the product you deliver is lower in quality, nor am I trying to denigrate your skill as a photographer (of which I have no knowledge). Setting a low price, then exceeding expectations is certainly one way to create happy clients.
If I buy a chinese $20 cordless drill at bunnings, and it gives up 1 day after its warranty I would be less inclined to raise a stink than if it were my $350 german made equivalent. A poor analogy, but anyway...
Adam
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I certainly don't think that the model I shot 4 sessions for prior to her wedding - as she was "checking me out" (and using the photos too) had low expectations
In fact, none of the ones I have shot do. Most actually come to me after being disgruntled by high charge photogs that show their portfolios and they do NOT like what they see (like all those cheesy "photographers" who troll Model Mayhem for the lingerie or nudie shots and take abhorent pictures and still charge the noob models money!). One client told me a photog wanted to take 20 photos only, charge her $3000, and demanded to be put up in a hotel etc., and yet her photos were flat, staged looking and melancholic.
99% od the time, the planned ideas I throw out the window. I like candid, not puppet shows. I will do the staged, but most of the time, the staged ones I shoot candidly (shooting when they are not ready etc) and it is THOSE pictures they usually decide on. There is NOTHING on earth like a real smile vs a posed smile.
I have had couples comment after wedding shoots that they didn't even know I was there, or forgot I was. My work then, is complete
If I can do it all, not be noticed, everyone totally natural, then...win win win. Of course, there are time for the group portraits etc.
As I said, I prefer a natural reportage style than a scripted wedding.