Craigslist Ad Says *Pro Wedding Photographer* LMAO Come Get Some Laughs IN!

I am not trying to be mean to whoever posted this, I just figured my fellow nikonites would get some laughs in! LOL This guy/gal claims they are "pro" yet the images in the ad are clearly amateur and the last photo of the bride and groom coming through the gate is absolutely horrible in every way.

I think these beginners claiming pro status is whats killing the market. $200-300 for a wedding is just plain killing the market. Take a look, what do you think?

~~~~~PRO WEDDING PHOTO - starts at $279~~~~~


This one is the WORST AD I have ever seen for a so called "PRO" photographer. No offense to this person but I can take better photos with my iPhone 5.

http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/crs/3599026994.html

well certainly the first and last photos are bad ...the last the groom is on the wrong side ..jacket undone cars in the background exposure wrong flowers wrong ...why not use the archway artistically ....all you can say is if thats the best god help the worst ..
BUT he may never do a $279 wedding its just a tease to get you to call..

do I see any mention of qualifiations ? at least if you are in MPA etc someone has looked at your work and say yes or no ...

pistnbroke said:

well certainly the first and last photos are bad ...the last the groom is on the wrong side ..jacket undone cars in the background exposure wrong flowers wrong ...why not use the archway artistically ....all you can say is if thats the best god help the worst ..
BUT he may never do a $279 wedding its just a tease to get you to call..

do I see any mention of qualifiations ? at least if you are in MPA etc someone has looked at your work and say yes or no ...

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I agree, its just horrible in my opinion LOL

The second set looks like a typical family snapshot in the park.

Why would you advertise your (pro) services like that on Craigslist?
The spelling is so atrocious I'd run a mile anyway in the other direction just after the first few lines.

And whilst not a pro myself, I would certainly class those pictures as far from professional.

But hey, we all gotta start somewhere!!!

I play the highland bagpipe (for 20 years now) and I have seen, and heard, the same thing when people advertise they play weddings, funerals, etc. One of the worst experiences to one's ears are untuned or poorly tuned bagpipes played by beginners or people who have little musical talent. When people call me and think my fee is too high, and that they can get the "same" for $50, I tell them politely "you get what you pay for." Same thing here with photography.

Capitalism is a wonderful thing. Yeah, they are not real "pros". But, on the other hand, they are not sitting on their hands and doing nothing, which is more then i can say for lot's of other people.

Hideous images.

Craigslist is a breeding ground for anyone with a camera to be 'pro'. Makes me sick.

I feel bad for them. But yeah, at least they're trying.

Faymus Media said:

I think these beginners claiming pro status is whats killing the market. $200-300 for a wedding is just plain killing the market. Take a look, what do you think?

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If these guys are actual competition in your market, you may need to re-evaluate your own skills.

We need fauxtographers like this. Then when a potential client balks at my prices, I can point them to a link and say: "See? This is what you get for $300."

Im very much an amateur and I could do better with a pocket camera.

Photography is an interesting field, because it has such an overlap of amatuers to pros.. and the line can be so so fuzzy.

First, is how does one become a pro?

The conventional 4 year college programs are often more a liberal arts degree with a whole lot of filler and not a whole lot of shooting.

I would like to see the programs revamped to a 2 year associate degree with emphasis more on
the technical aspects. Almost like a graphic Art degree, with at least 4 courses in the digital programming world, 2 courses in accounting, 2 courses in psycholology, 2 courses in art appreciation and photo history, 2 courses in composition, 1 course in gear, 1-2 courses in lighting,
2 courses in Math, physics with emphasis on optical,

Then, a 2 year apprentice program, with photographers,, at which point the student would
become licensed as a professional..

or... the long way... self taught/apprentice program....

I was taught by my father who was taught by the US ARMY, but the rest was self taught,
but I would not put myself as a professional, because I have another full time career.

I have taught photography for the last 5 years to many groups, some as graduates of
photography colleges, some pros, serious amatuers to beginners.

and the end, it comes down to the knowledge one has, skills exhibited, and ability to communicate those skills to other.

Actually, I guess I am glad we don't have a program I outlined above, because without a rigorous program, with a clear certification process, well, then the field is open more to well..

talent and effort (what a concept),, let the best rise to the top..

One of the best things a photographer can do is to assist, apprentice or become a second shooter and gain experience. The full weight of the shoot or event doesn't fall on you, you gain real world experience and learn about the pressures and the concept of thinking on your feet to problem solve since nothing ever goes as planned and the unexpected can happen at any time.

An education in photography is great but in the end, more programs don't really teach photographers what they need to know. Also, many people that do go to school for photography aren't really learning. I saw the same thing happen in the music business with all the kids that were going to institutes for audio engineering, and when they actually tried to get work, it was obvious that they either weren't taught correctly or hadn't learned a thing after spending thousands of dollars.

Many talented photographers would be more than happy to have an intern, apprentice or assistant with a great attitude and a basic understanding on photography rather than those that studied for 2 or 4 years in a program that felt they were prepared and already on a 'pro' level.

A few years ago, I dropped out of a "conventional" 4-year college program (Information Technology) to pursue photography. Already in my 30's, I at least had the real world experience to see that IT jobs were being trimmed, the economy was tanking, and that if I really wanted to earn a living, the best way was to go into business for myself. I transferred to the Art Institute, and enrolled in their Photography program.

I can tell you first hand, the experience was not worth it. They prepare you to be more of an art critic than a practitioner. While that can be good to a certain degree, it has little application in owning your own studio. What they need to teach are of course photography skills, but more importantly, business skills: accounting, advertising, record keeping, taxes, insurance, etc. All the "behind the scenes" aspects of owning and operating a small business.

The harsh reality is, most small businesses fail, and because of the reasons listed above. You could be the best photographer in the world and it wouldn't even matter if you had crappy business skills.

Secondly, and most importantly...

Many art and tech related fields have apprenticeship programs. Good luck finding a local pro willing to train his future competition. I tried that route too, and was either laughed at or flat out ignored. I can tell you one thing, though. They're not laughing or ignoring me anymore.

Robert Mitchell said:

One of the best things a photographer can do is to assist, apprentice or become a second shooter and gain experience. The full weight of the shoot or event doesn't fall on you, you gain real world experience and learn about the pressures and the concept of thinking on your feet to problem solve since nothing ever goes as planned and the unexpected can happen at any time.

An education in photography is great but in the end, more programs don't really teach photographers what they need to know. Also, many people that do go to school for photography aren't really learning. I saw the same thing happen in the music business with all the kids that were going to institutes for audio engineering, and when they actually tried to get work, it was obvious that they either weren't taught correctly or hadn't learned a thing after spending thousands of dollars.

Many talented photographers would be more than happy to have an intern, apprentice or assistant with a great attitude and a basic understanding on photography rather than those that studied for 2 or 4 years in a program that felt they were prepared and already on a 'pro' level.

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This is so true also in any field that involves manual dexterity. I've seen so many piano technicians come out of the school with their diploma in hand that literally freak out when faced with the first trouble-shooting job that comes to them.

Thanks for the post Robert

Robert Mitchell said:

Hideous images.

Craigslist is a breeding ground for anyone with a camera to be 'pro'. Makes me sick.

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Amen Bro! Well Said!

Browncoat said:

If these guys are actual competition in your market, you may need to re-evaluate your own skills.

We need fauxtographers like this. Then when a potential client balks at my prices, I can point them to a link and say: "See? This is what you get for $300."

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I completely agree.



What I believe is it comes down to how bad one wants it. The "drive" to learn and perfect. Learn from mistakes, and get better. Learn any way possible. Watch others, watch videos, get better and better. Over time, with much practice, patience, dedication, and love for photography can make a average photographer now become an amazing pro years down the road.

That may be going a bit too far, but I agree to an extent.

In the days of film, photography was more of an artisan's trade. There was a certain mystique, and anyone who wore the "pro photographer" label had their own studio and a ton of equipment and skills. Digital has changed all that. Photography these days is less of an art form and more of a gadget. Everyone has a camera on their phone or iPad, and with stock agencies and apps like Instagram being so popular, photography has lost a lot of its mystique.

Of course people with even a modest interest are going to try and cash in, especially with weddings. I would argue that anyone advertising on Craig's List isn't actual competition at all. Most of them are one and done, or just people fishing to see if they can actually get their 1st gig. They're either A) going to realize they don't have the stuff or B) have ticked off customers on their hands and give it up. I would guess that a very small percentage of them actually make a real attempt at progressing and turning pro.

But...I don't blame technology for the woes of the working pro. It's their own damn fault.

Getting into price wars with these Craig's Listers and Facebook Fauxtographers is futile. You're not going to win, nor should anyone even try. Instead, compete on quality, service, and reputation. Anyone shopping for a real photographer isn't checking Craig's List anyway.

"My work has been published all over the World." Yeah right They look like point and shoot images, the first one is terrible.

Having images on Facebook qualifies as 'published all over the world'. Marketing lingo is a wonderful thing.