sad and frustated-mediocrity as a wedding photog is ok? a bit long.

[Woodyg3]

It seems like you, personally, did the best you could. The fact is, you can't control other people. You can let it drive you crazy, or you can simply continue to do the best work you can in any given situation, and have pride and satisfaction in knowing you did all you could do.

I understand your frustration, but it sounds like getting good pictures was more important to you than the bride, groom, family and other people involved. Ultimately, you are hired to do what the bride, groom and family ask of you, and you did that.

Human beings are the most frustrating creatures on the planet. That's why I'd rather be off in a field somewhere taking pictures of wildlife.

 

[rocketman122]

thank you guys for the emotional help and your perspectives. youre right in that I need go with the flow, do the best I can under the circumstances but ultimately what the BG want is what they decide. ill have no choice but to accept it. ill also have to try to find work with photogs I have the same work ethics as this is a bigger issue. working with people who take this responsibility on themselves and have a who gives a crap attitude brings me down.

I did a wedding on thursday. this couple does not like pictures. they specifically said we dont want you in the middle of it all. in the ceromony, guests viewing are more important than the pictures, in the dance floor, dont be right in their faces. the venue is usually jam packed at 230 people. this is the amount I would say that its tight but still room to "breathe". their wedding had 350 people. it was a nightmare. the dance floor was so packed and the venue is so tiny. it was cool when we came in after the outdoor ceremony, but within the hour the ac wasnt effective and it was very hot.

my photos were crap in the ceremony. not to my liking but I guess enough as a document of it. dance floor was very hard to work. very tight. could not move around. dont understand why people would pay so much for good photographers when they arent really interested in the pictures. they could have saved quite some money. im back more than a year now shooting and Im not sure ill hold up.

 

[Marcel]

Some of these situations could be avoided if you could carefully interview the couples before they sign the contract. This would give you a way of opting out of some events when you get the chills just from the interview.

But as much as it is hard to say no to certains things when your bread and butter depends on it, for one's sake, it' sometimes better to go hungry for a day or two than to have the feelings you can get when things or people really don't want to cooperate and let you do your job the way you'd like.

 

[Browncoat]

The best part is: when this couple reviews their photos and are not happy, then it's going to be the photographer's fault they didn't get the shots they wanted.

My hat's off to wedding photographers. I've done enough to know that I don't want to do them anymore. Anyone who charges under $1,000 for a full day of wedding photography should be legally committed and sterilized so they don't procreate. It's just not worth the headache.

 

[sonicbuffalo_RIP]

I can understand the frustration in that you have to show your work at the end of the day, and with little cooperation it may become more difficult to produce the results that you desire. However here is my take on the situation.

The wedding couple have a right to enjoy their wedding and not be stuck following orders from a photographer. It is their own fault if they don't facilitate your work, they are aware that they will end up with less than desirable results if they don't agree to take pictures. I think you should take a look from both perspectives. It's their wedding, they hired you, they make the calls. If they don't want pictures taken that's their choice. As a photographer you should be respecting their decision whether they want to make the most of your service or enjoy their wedding in the moment rather than trying to create artefacts to remember it by. It's not a studio shoot, it's a wedding. The photographer should have as little interference with the proceedings and wishes of the host as possible in my opinion. I would be pretty annoyed if at my wedding, some photographer was hassling me to go and take photos while I was trying to enjoy my night and celebration with my family and friends.

Then, just have someone use their point and shoot. You won't be wasting any money or the photographer's time.

 

[rocketman122]

The best part is: when this couple reviews their photos and are not happy, then it's going to be the photographer's fault they didn't get the shots they wanted.

My hat's off to wedding photographers. I've done enough to know that I don't want to do them anymore. Anyone who charges under $1,000 for a full day of wedding photography should be legally committed and sterilized so they don't procreate. It's just not worth the headache.

yes, BC, its the norm here. they demand even though I wasnt given proper conditions to be able to deliver proper pro level pictures.

one bride complained we didnt do enough photos. my best bud I work for told her right away away..hey hey hey, dont even go there. you told him, 2-3 more pics and that was it. so she was quiet. but it happens often. the pressure is that we must deliver in all aspects. hair makeup salon/outdoor studio shoot/family formals/details/dancing/ceremony. we dont have a must have list but throughout the day there are a lot of things that happent hat we need to catch. a lot of pressure. were portrait photographers (family formals), were fashion photographers (GB outdoor studio shoot), we do still life images (details/hall), were a bit of sports photographers (dancing)