does anyone work [weddings] with physical limitations

[laurenm]

By that I mean, do you have an injury or handicap that causes you to have to

adjust how you used to approach photographing a wedding? and if so, did you

start out with that obstacle or did it develop after you had chosen the career

of wedding photography?

 

I ask because I was in a low speed rear end collision almost three yrs ago

(hours after asking on pn what people do if they can't make it to a job for

emergency reasons! lol) Since then without getting into it too much, I have had

all kinds of issues to deal with because of the accident, most recent being

headaches and neck pain and nerve pain. The most difficult to deal with in

wedding photography however has been my knee injury. I just came across this old

post of mine from about a month after the accident.

 

http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00DIYJ

 

Complaint after complaint, I finally went to another orthopedic doc and in Jan

2007 had arthroscopic surgery to clean up some meniscus tears and try and smooth

some severe cartilage damage. Now over a yr later, and months after some

artificial cartilage injections... I saw doc yesterday and he is basically

telling me this is as good as it will get (though there MAY be some other

surgical options)

 

I didn't do much wedding work last season (at advice of PT). What I did do was

mostly just second shoot jobs and I tried to take it easy but even then, with

meds and braces, my whole leg would swell for about a week after and there were

times during the wedding I felt it might just give out (wouldn't be a good

scene!) I took it easy and as a result have sort of slowed way down on learning

and pursuing wedding photography as a new career. With the latest news that my

knee may be like this always (until I am old enough for a replacement), I'm

wondering if I should make adaptations and continue this career pursuit or

should I choose another route?

 

I know no one can really answer for me but you all know more than the doc and PT

how physical the job can be, so I'd be interested in your opinions and personal

experiences. I'm sure there HAVE to be some vets here with arthritis issues.

Would you enter into the field in the shape you are in now?

 

Thanks!

[jc5066]

Not to really answer you question, but can't you do more portraits instead of wedding?

 

Weddings are a long tiring day. I can't imagine having pain issues and trying to shoot a wedding.

 

When theres a will, theres a way. But is it worth it? Is it going to effect the quality of your work? Those are the two question YOU need to answer.

[mr. sullen]

That sucks is all I can say. I don't think this kid shoots weddings but he is an inspiration to be sure.

 

http://www.photo.net/shared/community-member?user_id=4011737

[laurenm]

Thanks Jon, I had thought of just portraits and it would be physically easier - though I've found kids portraits can also be physically challenging even if done in just an hour.

 

"Is it worth it" i guess is the big question. A few years ago, I was dabbling to even see if I could learn and if I would be any good. It has turned into one long dabble and I don't even know the answers yet - so I am starting to wonder if I should bother continuing. Guess I can adjust the career to fit me instead of vice versa.

I already know it MUST effect quality - I did "pull off" a wedding a few months ago and adrenaline seemed to sail me through it -but I certainly don't strive to "pull off" weddings.

 

Shay, thanks for the link. Have to admire that kid. I'm sure there are other inspirational stories like his out there -maybe reading them will inspire me.

[bdp]

Well, if it's any consolation, I've had 5 knee operations on the left knee, originally from Torn Cart. and back in '76, the thing to do was remove it, instead of just trimming it. So for 30+ yrs, it's been bone-on-bone and either I have a high tolerance for pain, it does bother me on somedays more than others, or maybe I've just become so used to it it I don't notice it as much.

 

There are are days, in certain weather, that doing stairs can be a real Pain in the Knees. Yes, Knees, the right leg has had 1 operation to repair an 80% in my ACL.

 

My left knee will eventually need a major re-do due to the bone on bone and years of wear, the shin bone head is messed up.

 

Does it bother me, sure, but I still did 27 weddings last year.

 

DO the Phys. Therapy.. if you don't, you'll pay for it later. No matter how crappy it feels, keep pushing it. TRUST ME.

 

If you can tolerate the pain, or motion issues, go for it, I find wedding photography very rewarding as a job.

 

Good luck!

[laurenm]

Thanks Bob, sorry for your knee troubles. Actually, I don't think it is the pain as much as the lack of function from my knee that concerns me. I can take the pain afterwards and sort of during. Where the cartilage is damaged, it sort of causes the knee to get stuck if I fully straighten it. If I put full weight on it when straight it kills - so I avoid doing that but in the moment its hard to remember. Also, when it is straight for a minute, it literally gets stuck straight and takes some maneuvering to bend which really effects whether I can always move in a hurry.

 

It is nice (though not for you) to hear that someone has similar pain yet loves wedding photography enough to continue with it. Doc said I will spend my life trying to not have a knee replacement. At my age I am a long way off from that even being entertained. I have done tons of PT - aside from continuing with strengthening, PT says there is nothing else he can do. Maybe I really need to be pushing the doc instead of rethinking my career goal

[marv_stasak___southfield__]

There are other areas of photography that you might want to explore such as fine art or even underwater photography where your weight is supported. Consider becoming a PhotoShop guru and supplying your services to other photographers. Become an expert in Painter. Check out Helen Yancy.

 

Bob Donlon makes good points in his reply. I, myself, have essential tremor in my hands which shake slightly when I work. I take a cocktail of drugs to control it, but it is still there slightly. Image stabilizing lenses are a godsend for me. I also have some arthritis in my back and a long wedding just kills me. This year, I am using an assistant and that looks like it is going to work out very well. Do I lose work because of it? Sure, especially young brides. Brides in their 30s and above are more understanding because, by that time, almost everyone has had a pain or two or some infirmity and they look at my work and my personality. I take the position that, if after looking at my work, a potential client is bothered by my tremor then it is their loss, not mine; I'm better off not working with them.

 

The question you have to ask yourself is: How important to me is doing this, both creativly and emotionally? How bad do I want it?

[laurenm]

Thanks Mary for sharing your story. I may have to get a better handle on all this accident stuff before I make any long term decisions. When i stop and think about it, I haven't yet figured out how to do stuff in regular life (like food shopping and walking the dog) - so maybe I'm getting ahead of myself.

 

I started looking into wedding photography because I enjoy people so much and capturing moments and emotion. My love of relationships and people I think brought me to photographing and wanting to treasure and freeze "the moment" -as opposed to first having a love for photography itself. I wouldn't be as happy doing PS work or fine art (nor do I have the eye for it)

[marv_stasak___southfield__]

<My love of relationships and people I think brought me to photographing and wanting to treasure and freeze "the moment" -as opposed to first having a love for photography itself. I wouldn't be as happy doing PS work or fine art (nor do I have the eye for it)>

 

Photography is a mechanical medium to achieve an end--in your case, love of relationships and freezing "the moment". You still have to master those mechanical techniques and also develop creatively or you won't have to worry about any of this--no one will hire you. You have to be able to demonstrate that you can produce at a wedding something that a guest with a point-and-shoot can't. So don't say you "don't have the eye for it". Besides, your wrong. Your pix of your dog in your portfolio demonstrate that you do have an eye; you just need some training.

 

Do not think negatively. Use this time while you strengthen and assess your physical abilities to develop your craft. Take classes. Attend seminars. Many community colleges now have very complete photography courses where you can learn and get feed back on your work. One last suggestion: You like people and you like dogs(well, at least one of them). Put these together. Become the best people/animal photographer that Northshore, MA ever saw!

[coats]

I've got Cat IV kidney cancer and I've been able to work around it. I schedule my treatments and photo shoots around each other. I have found that the greatest help is hire an assistant. I also have another photographer standing by (if he's not working) to take over if I'm too sick. So far it hasn't been a problem. I have found that adrenaline is very helpful.

[laurenm]

Marv, sorry for calling you Mary! Thanks for taking the time to look at my pn gallery. It is interesting that you would comment on my dog's pictures as those are probably where I experiment and practice most - though I still can't see any great eye, it is encouraging that you see maybe a glimmer of hope. I guess part of the underlying question in my question was whether I even have the eye to be pursuing this - when I was "healthier", I felt I had the time and energy to put in to learning and finding out if I could create something sell-able so I began (just before the car accident) to learn, learned lots in a year and even landed a second shooting job

 

-now since I have been dealing with pain issues (some much worse than my knee)I guess I have been questioning myself even more and wondering if I have the energy to put in to learning something that I may not end up being so good and even if I were, would I be able to do it with some (minor) difficulties in my path (hence my question about others working with physical limitations)

 

I do love other dogs by the way, lol

[laurenm]

Ted, congratulations on the strength you must pull together day to day! I hope you take care of yourself and have a strong support system. You will be in my thoughts. It makes me thank God for my minor problems and hope I don't appear to be whining about my issues. Having been mostly second shooter, I am too green to even be hiring assistants to help (or maybe not)

I can see from the few examples that people do manage with difficulties to get through the challenges of a wedding day. As I said, I think I need to get a better handle on what I am dealing with long term and then decide what I can do to make the job do-able. If I can figure out how to resume second shooting, it will give me an idea of whether I should continue the learning path to a career. You've all given me some things to think about for sure and I thank you for sharing your stories.

[coats]

Lauren, thanks for your kind words. Fortunately for me, I don't have a pain issue. It's more of a fatigue problem. My assistant is my daughter, and photography is my mental therapy. I figure I'll do weddings as long as I can, then I'll concentrate on portraits. Good luck.

[laurenm]

Ted, my words are understated at the least. Pain stinks but it is just pain. Fatigue is your body telling you to rest. really, take care, your body needs energy to heal. I admire your strength and courage and the fact that you have an awesome assistant!

[ben_rubinstein___mancheste1664880652]

I have serious problems with my feet/ankles (including osteo arthritis) and need at least 8 ibuprofen (200mg) per 12 hour wedding to get through and am still in considerable pain at the end. It used to be double that amount of painkillers before the last operation! I even have pills that protect my stomacvh from the amount of ibuprofen I take. I still have years of wedding photography left in me, especially if I lose a lot of weight but I'll be finished by 40 or so. I have a deal with my wife that I bring in the main income till then and then we swop!

 

When the adrenalin is pumping you don't feel the pain, it's the quiet bits when it hits home and starting up again after a break is often the most painful bit. I do of course have an assistant to do all my shlepping and setting up of equipment such as lighting and backdrops, etc, I need to be as fresh as possible for capturing moments.

 

I've asked several specialists and they all said the same thing: I could stop and take things easy with my feet or I could enjoy using them and get the most out of them while I can, it will make no difference in the end but at least this way I will have had a life...

[fotografz]

Many years ago I sustained a severe knee injury while teaching the "real deal" Karate to DEA agents. It has resulted in advanced bone-on-bone arthritis to the degree that my orthopedic doctor cannot fathom how I even walk into his office. Pain is a constant companion that I've learned to treat and ignore. Yes, it's the body telling you something is

seriously wrong, but I knew that : -)

 

Celebrex, and annual cortisone shots relieve it somewhat well. Weight training to strengthen the muscles around the knee also helps. I cannot endorse weight training enough.

 

As it has advanced, I have taken to also using an Aleve just prior to a wedding job, and am now using an assistant at most weddings.

 

Injuries as severe as this eventually take their toll on other parts of the body that are compensating for the weak part ... like hip and back pain. I will need to replace the whole

thing probably next January. If I can manage to dump 30 or 40 lbs, I may be able to delay that by a year.

 

The point is that you can't let it stop you from enjoying life, living and a pursuit of a passion.

[laurenm]

Thanks Ben and Marc, it is quite amazing actually how adrenaline can work. Marc, I do strengthening and was told it is VERY important to even be able keep the function I have. I have also had a herniated disc because of limping which caused sciatic pain so I hear ya on how it effects the rest of the body.

When the doc found how bad the damage was he couldn't believe I had been walking on it (sounds like we photographer types have a high pain tolerance)

 

Ben I am 37 and just getting into photography so slowing down at 40 isn't really an option. I just wonder for you and Marc, would you begin a wedding photography career feeling the way you do now or go a different route? My PT seemed to suggest that I am not doing the knee any good by doing weddings -

 

An assistant would be essential as I have lots of neck and shoulder pain too.

 

Marc, I cringe when I imagine your initial knee injury from karate.

[ben_rubinstein___mancheste1664880652]

Lauren, not only did I start but I was much worse then! I had a choice, lay down and become a 'nebbech' or go out and earn money for my family in a way I enjoy! I'm ten years younger than you so for me it really was a life decision some 7 years back.

[laurenm]

Thanks Ben. Hey and I learned a new word today! I certainly don't want to become a nebbech!

[bdp]

Lauren, if you leg 'locks' try getting a brace that prevents you from fully extending the leg. It may help and give you a little more support.

 

Not the rubber/flex brace, but one of aluminum, like a derotation brace of sorts.

 

Good luck!

[laurenm]

Thanks Bob, that's something to ask about. I'm not sure PT and doc will like it since they want me to keep extending it but if it gets me through a wedding day... and I don't wear it all the time (they didn't want me having too much support at first but maybe now that he's admitted it won't get much better...

Thanks much

[andreamarie]

I have most of my spine fused, and have chronic pain due to the fusion, scoliosis, hardware, arthritis, and nerve problems (and I'm only 24 yrs old!). I also find that the adrenaline gets me through the wedding day. I also got to the point where the doctors said we could try more surgeries, but it probably won't make all the pain go away.

 

I figure, no matter what my back is going to hurt, so why not do what I love and just deal with the increased pain? I find that the emotional reward of doing what I love is the best medicine. Yes, the night and days after the weddings are tough...I do find I need medicine to help me through those days.

 

My condition does effect my equipment decisions. I prefer to shoot with lighter weight cameras like the D200 over the D2X. I also prefer to shoot with the 85 1.4 over the 70-200VR. I also tend to find things that I can rest my camera while I shoot - this helps with my back pain as well as my shutter speeds! I only carry small shoulder bags and use rolling cases for most of my equipment.

 

Good luck to you. Follow the advise of your doctors, but don't let your pain slow you down too much. If it's going to be there forever then maybe it's time concentrate more on mental pain management. Don't give up your dream yet!