jeffrey_blake_adams

<p>I am sure that people can find less expensive alternatives to flying me in somewhere to shoot, but they choose to pay whatever they must, to have the exact coverage and products that I provide, if cost were THE primary issue, they would hire whoever was cheapest.</p>

<p>they include a kind of liabilty protection service, sort of, never had to use it, but it sounds kinda like arbitration with ppl they have on staff... but you still need biz insurance, equipment insurance and health. Hill & Usher is one company that does that, you can go thru PPA or WPPI to get a quote from them or go it alone and get it w/o membership. J</p>

<p>I'd spend it on an atty, accountant and marketing...</p>

<p>I use whatever fits the looks I wish to create. I often shoot w a view camera for a few images, w a film camera w Chrome film, E100VS from which I can now get prints easily, and E200 to cross process. Sometimes I use an old Lomo or pinhole camera also. Most of the effects from each can be duplicated digitally, as with all the lensbabies etc, but sometimes you want the organic negative w all the flaws and irreproducable results they offer. Part ofthe magic that photography used to hold, was the unpredictability, and although as a pro you know all the settings and know you can get the shot, the exerimentation that often ledt to even more than you hoped for, was part of the magic. I still shoot 90% w pro digital gear, but some images, some aesthetics just cry out for old style techniques. If you have ever looked at an 8x10 contact print done in platinum, drom the original 8x10 neg, well, they are so deep and rich, oh my.</p>

ask their past Brides, see if their work moves you, I mean if you get emotional looking at someone else's wedding the entire album just like the bride recvd,,, then you prolly have found yoru connection, and its just a matter of finding a way to afford it. J

ne1 w a film recorder can burn negatives for you, J

I cover the whole day, start to finish. Of course I charge enough that it doesn't matter to me how long it lasts. I am usually like one of the family by the time the wedding takes place and I want to be there anyway.

Paid in full the latest 30days prior to event. J

Check w the texas chapter of PPA, but at that price point, I dount you will find anyone of quality and if you do find someone acceptable at that price, I bet they are booked for next year. Good luck anyway, and congrats on yrou wedding! J

GIve him the invoice and write DONATION across the top, PAID IN FULL. I always invoice when I give anything as a contribution, so people know the value of what they are getting, and so I can write off the deduction if its possible. J

Amortize the investment of time, gear, insurance, lisc's education etc, and do a biz plan that makes calculates how much you must charge to cover the expenses and make a profit that you can INVEST in your future, more fun gear if you just like it, and your college. J

As professional photographers, we preach "Use a pro" it matters, we say "NEVER use less than a pro for your wedding" and then we don't hire a pro for a legal document that could RUIN our business if done wrong...?

of course, you get used to the weight, it dimished harsh shadows, and eliminates red eye. J

I would immediately seek a competent photographer to cover the weddings and have them meet w the B&G and take over for any your might not be able o give 200% to. Then relax and take care of you and your baby. Best wishes, J

My contract states it is only valid when payment is made in full. If mine is not paid in full by the date specified they void the contract and recv no refunds. I will be happy to enter into a NEW contract w them if they still wish to have me do the wedding, at CURRENT pricing, which is HIGHER than any contract I have agreed to in the past. You will need to contact YOUR lawyer that wrote your contract, to see what you are abel to do. You DID hire a professional, a lawyer for that RIGHT? I mean, we always tell clients hire a pro,... so should we. J

580EXII

adobe exchange has a few free actions urban acid and some other cp actions. J

Ask them about themselves, ask them about how amazing the bride and groom look, ask if they heard how the couple met, get them thinking of good things and have fun with it. I have at times said; Okay, lets get some really stiff, uncomfortable posed photographs out of the way so we can have fun" It really helps to have a remote release and the camera on a tripod, so you can talk and engage the people, and hit the shutter when things look great. J

Depend on where its being done, some fine art album makers are overseas, and take much longer than local companies. One in Australia comes to mind. Have you swung by the studio to visit and see about shooting a fresh new family portraiture set? Perhaps whilst finding out about that you can ask about lead times for the album etc... J

Video is here to stay, a few generations (camera generations) from now video cameras will offer the resolution of our still cameras, and stills will be easy to pull out and print large. I don't do video, but I would never suggest to a bride she not have one, y not add it w one of yoru assistants, since you have been to school for it, train them to work WITH you and how to stay out of yoru way, capture things that are NOT redundent etc. Sounds like a new profit/sales opporturnity not a problem... and later you can both shoot vids, and have your post processor pull stills out for the albums, and canvases etc... J

Often an intentional tilt will add to the drama of the image, or the impact, what I can't stand is seeing it done just to do it, or when its done unintentionally, I hate seeing the ocean at a mild tilt, like y isn't the water running out of the photo?? J

Location is important, if your drive/walkby traffic is GOOD traffic, (not numbers but YOUR target clients) then the money you save on advertising may offset the cost.

 

I continue to do both, I have lived in large commercial spaces that served as both home and studio, I have lived in homes and condos that also serve as shooting space. Some cannot work at home due to distractions, cluter kids etc. Its important for me to have a special place to meet w clients, that is all about the sale. Shooting can happen anywhere, I MUCH prefer location over studio for shoots.

 

Many large office complexes have an impressive meeting room thatis available for rent by the hour, and if you pay monthly, you'll get a certain amount of meeting time, phone answered and mail recvd. In ATL the king & queen towers serve this purpose, in Charleston the Gateway Ctr.

 

As for any "workspace" it helps to have it AWAY from home, so you can do your work, unless you can ignorethe kids, laundry, TV etc whilst doing it at home. J

One other thing to consider, besides the fact you should figure pricing based on your biz plan, which you should dofor your wedding biz and your portrait biz seperately... (most never do, and GIVE away their work, time, future, etc or even or worse, PAY to work)

 

With a wedding the goal is to create images that will make for a wonderful story, sized to fit in a wedding album with a few wonderful large portraits.

 

With a commissioned portraiture session, the goal is to create several amazing photographs, that when enlarged properly, the heads in the photos will be nearly lifesized. So think 40x60's mounted, coated and framed, or canvas prints etc. Think in terms of "would you like that Sofa Sized?" which is much better than never doing a biz plan and having to say; "would you like your meal supersized?"

youreventonline, mpix, and many more are picking up the slack. Make sure to stick w a prolab for final fulfillment. Never use a lab your clients can also use. J

I am seeing this more and more, if you show up w a pro camera, officials freak, and yet, its the wannabes that shoot nudes in public places w/o permits that cause the problems. I always suggest, attacking the beahviours that are a problem and not everyone w a camera.. kinds similar to any civil rights argument, arrest problem PEOPLE, not just everyone on a motorcycle, or everyone on roller skates, or everyone w a camera or everyone of a certain ethnicity. Deal directly w any PROBLEM not just unilaterally with anyone that resembles someone who has caused a problem in the past. Many many resorts that are freely open to the public, try to stop photographers and clients from shooting there. Many try to charge a Venue fee. Seaside FL is one, if you are commissioned to do a wedding there, they will charge you a "vendor" fee. Which I explain to any bride that is considering using seaside. Whilst I have several properties in Seaside, its anti-welcoming attitude is one reason I always suggest other venues for weddings, and will only shoot there if my clients insist.

 

Whilst I understand the genesis of the problem, I am so saddend to see the end result of poorly educated people trying to enforce some sort of order in resorts and parks. But when you have $10/hr people placed in charge of multimilliondollar real estate that is what can happen. They may be doing the best THEY can, but there is def room for improvement where people behaving badly are dealt with discreetly and legally, and others are welcomed and left to enjoy. J