Are Wedding Albums Dead??

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Robert Mitchell

Senior Member
Here in the US, the 'average' wedding client is still getting a very nice album. The budget clients want you to 'shoot and burn'. An improved economy probably won't change much because it's a digital mindset that has taken over the industry.
 
Marcel

Marcel

Happily retired
Staff member
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I think that there are a few other factors involved in this thing. Don't forget that 30 years ago, picture sharing was not what it is today. In these days, people had to get printed pictures if they wanted to share them. Today, they probably would rather watch them on their big screen HDTV instead of browsing through a printed album. They can also email digital versions to their friends. There is a trend to go paperless wether we want it or not. Prints used to be the gravy on the meat kind of thing for wedding photographers in those days. Now, one has to find something more to give to his customers in order to make the money.
 
AC016

AC016

Senior Member
Marcel said:
I think that there are a few other factors involved in this thing. Don't forget that 30 years ago, picture sharing was not what it is today. In these days, people had to get printed pictures if they wanted to share them. Today, they probably would rather watch them on their big screen HDTV instead of browsing through a printed album. They can also email digital versions to their friends. There is a trend to go paperless wether we want it or not. Prints used to be the gravy on the meat kind of thing for wedding photographers in those days. Now, one has to find something more to give to his customers in order to make the money.
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looking at pics on a nice HDTV - i do this - is so much more convenient and practical than passing around a photo album. That way, you can get a bunch of people in the room and look at the pictures all at once - no hovering over the person with the album! Better yet, you can make movies in Windows Movie Maker and put all the pictures in sequence with music, transitions, titles, etc. This is what i have done for our vacations. The digital format is easier to do and much easier to share.
 
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Robert Mitchell

Senior Member
In many cases, the bride still wants that gorgeous album. Seeing something in print and holding it in your hand takes on a much more personal feeling and those brides love to take out the album every so often and remember the feeling they had for each image they see.

For group viewing, sure, digital images on a large screen are great but it's not for everyone, and even though we keep seeing less and less film being shot, there's no denying that the feeling of a beautiful image shot with film is still something very special and different.

A lot of the really great wedding photographers are shooting a mixture of film and digital and it's absolutely gorgeous in print.
 
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fotojack

Senior Member
pistnbroke said:
.....No offense was intended .
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You say no offense was intended, but you come across as a real smartass know-it-all a lot of the times! You should choose your words a little more carefully if you don't want anyone to mistake your real meaning.
 
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fotojack

Senior Member
Robert Mitchell said:
Here in the US, the 'average' wedding client is still getting a very nice album. The budget clients want you to 'shoot and burn'. An improved economy probably won't change much because it's a digital mindset that has taken over the industry.
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I totally agree, Robert. It's the same here in Canada. My wedding clients got about 300-400 pictures on a DVD and they would pick and choose their own favourites, and have whatever ones they wanted printed out. Much cheaper for them, and easier for me, as I didn't have to go through the hassle of laying out a "picture" album with the pictures I thought they might like.
I refuse to do weddings anymore. I just stick to the occasional portrait session and family and friends. This isn't a career for me! :)
 
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pistnbroke

Banned
fotojack ..you run an international website but dont seem to realize the difference in expressive style between the european direct say it as it is and that soft dont offend anyone american perspective ...I know my business after 30 years and will tell you do this and it will work for you ..I want to help people ...whats your problem ,,,Moderators should stay in there box unless it gets nasty and if they want to post advice do it under another name without the word "super moderator " which means what I say is law ,,,,, Come on no one is shooting school kids here we are just talking ,,,,Everyone else has got into the swing of this post and is passing good informatoion ..digital age ..economy ..things wont change ..put a twist on your work ....whats your problem ....???hey have a look at my avatar ,,missed that one ???
 
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§am

Senior Member
pistnbroke said:
Moderators should stay in there box unless it gets nasty and if they want to post advice do it under another name without the word "super moderator " which means what I say is law
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I think you're missing the point of a moderator... There is no need to hide behind another name when moderating, and more often then not in a huge number of forums, moderators are part of the community as much as non-mods are.
As for the naming of these moderators - this is part of the site design, probably integrated into the vBulletin coding itself - yeah it could possibly be changed, but why?

I for one don't care who I'm replying to on here - the whole moderator not moderator is defunct for me, unless I have an issue, at which point I would then seek one out. I didn't even notice I was a 'senior member' until your comments pointed me to the bit under my name (well fotojack's, which then led me to look at mine).

Moving back onto the subject in hand though....
I think in today's economic climate, people are a lot more cautious about where they spend their money and how much. Cutting the cost of a wedding album may let the couple use that money for extra seats at the reception, another day on their honeymoon, a slightly more dazzling wedding ring etc etc.
And having their pics in digital format allows them to then if needs arise or desires change to create their own 'photobook' or even better ask the photographer to help them :)

I don't think the wedding album is dead yet - certainly not the newer photobook types, and certainly in some cases not the 'old skool' print and stick/slide in versions either.

As has been said before, it's what the current wedding photographers can deliver compared to say uncle Bob which will determine how much business you can drum up, and how many 'extras' you can sell with your services above and beyond a set of pictures on a DVD.
 
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pistnbroke

Banned
Totally agree SS but one on the biggest sites in the world Boat design.net has no visible moderator ..I think its only one bloke and he only steps in if another member complains ..then he moderates ...and this is one of the most professional with the highest technical level discussions in the world ...sorry keep them in the box ...
 
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jdeg

^ broke something
Staff member
I shouldn't have to reiterate that your tone isn't necessary. Next time it will be a ban.
 
ohkphoto

ohkphoto

Snow White
My 2 cents on wedding photography/photographers, and I know I've said this before:

1. Wedding photographers (as a profession) are the "whiniest" of all professionals . . . they can't seem to adapt to changing times and to all the "uncle bobs".
2. MOST brides and their families are budget-minded --venue is at the top of their priorities, flowers and photos (professional) at the bottom.
3. Many brides want to include photos taken by friends and family in their album.
4. I don't push albums with my clients . . . very time consuming to for layouts and the top quality print albums are so outrageous even at my cost.
 
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