jim_douglas1

<p>Absolutely love the G2 and those wonderful lenses....Years ago I bought a "kit" which included the body, the 28, the 45, and the 90, and a really nice leather case to hold it all....Still use it often!</p>

<p>"why would anyone post to a<strong> wedding forum</strong> where a fellow wedding shooter was obviously seeking some sort of <strong>support,</strong> (<em>albeit dramatically titled</em>), and disparage, or disperse their own negative views on weddings, rather than offering up some encouragement, positive reinforcement and constructive suggestions ... <em><strong>or at the very least, not kick someone while they are down"</strong></em><br />Marc, you must be new to the photo.net forums :) :)</p>

<p>If the point of your blog is to promote your site, the blog MUST be on your own domain--the main reason for this is the links that will come in to your blog need to be on your domain to give you credit...It doesn't really matter if the blog is "on" your main website, as long as they share the same domain.<br>

If you blog using relevant keywords in the title and body of the articles, and your articles are written about topics that your potential customers would want to read (rather than PR for your business), your blog will draw inbound links, which are approx 75% of what Google takes into account when determining where you will rank in an organic search. For all this to benefit you, the blog needs to be on your domain...<br>

Here is more on the topic: <a href="http://blog.hubspot.com/blog/tabid/6307/bid/46/Why-Business-Blogs-Shouldn-t-Be-on-BlogSpot-com.aspx">http://blog.hubspot.com/blog/tabid/6307/bid/46/Why-Business-Blogs-Shouldn-t-Be-on-BlogSpot-com.aspx</a></p>

<p>The one thing with digital is that the pictures all go on a memory card.</p>

<p>For me, I just like playing around with different formats, cameras, lenses, etc.. Most of what I shoot are family and friend photos, and my goal in photography is to use the different equipment, since that's what I enjoy. I'm not on some quest to get a perfect image, or even necessarily develop any particular skills...I like the gear and for me that is the end, not the means.</p>

<p>As I mentioned in a previous thread, most award winning and wealthy photographers such as myself have long ago decided that digital was a hoax. perpetrated on us all by the marketing exectuives at Canon, Nikon, Sony, etc. I have let them all know this in personally addressed letters where I discussed this very topic.</p>

<p>Vail you have the right idea...the ideal blog article should be about something your potential client will want to read, or a question or problem they might have....Examples are "Five things to consider when choosing a wedding photographer". This is what people will link to and ultimately will cause you get to qualified traffic and leads if you do it regularly.<br>

<br />Also important is using relevant keywords in the title of the articles (as in my example above, probably should be geo-specific)...Even more crucial is making sure the blog is on the same domain as the main website (and not blogspot.com, wordpress.com, etc.)<br>

<br />Here is a treasure trove of information on blogging and how businesses should be doing it:<br /><a href="http://www.hubspot.com/business-blog-marketing-hub">http://www.hubspot.com/business-blog-marketing-hub</a><br>

<br />Please let me know if this makes sense of if there are questions....Good luck!</p>

<p>Personally I don't find wedding photography that difficult--we've all had a rough moment or two and hopefully Lom will use this as a learning experience and come back stronger than ever.<br>

Give the refund, accept responsibility, do what it takes to make it right. Also, as others have said, if you don't, your reputation will suffer, and at this stage of your career that would be far worse than a one time refund.</p>

<p>Yashica made some weird little point and shoot about 15-20 yrs ago that came in both a right and left handed versions...It was held one handed like a camcorder I think...</p>

<p>If done properly, blogs are the one thing that can start driving tons of qualified traffic to your website.</p>

<p>Nadine, I think "It's a TV show" applies because since it is indeed a TV show/entertainment, there's no expectation (on my part at least) that anything on the screen has any relevance to reality or any of the logical points you mention. For me, the fact that this is a reality (or whatever we call them) TV show, gives them license to do anything that my or may not reflect actual reality</p>

<p>One thing I noticed was that when they were discussing the fact that the church official said that flash wasn't allowed, the photog said something like "I just found out that day!", as if any kind of prep or site visit would never occur to them in a million years</p>

<p>One sales technique I've used successfully is to have a friend or colleague call my cell phone when I'm on a customer meeting. I'll answer and act as if it's a celebrity on the line looking to book me for the same date as the bride I'm meeting with. "Certainly Mr Cruise, I'm available that day to shoot your function", or "Of course, you can tell President Obama and the first lady that I would be honored to photograph the gala". <br>

This usually creates a great sense of urgency with my prospects, and they usually end up booking me right on the spot.</p>

<p>If it's any consolation, once the baby arrives you will be having so much fun with family photos you'll probably forget all this. My wife and I hired an amazing photographer for our wedding, everything was great, total pro, well worth the $5K. Beautiful photos. 10yrs later I can't remember the last time I looked at them....That's life i guess.<br>

On another note, regardless of equipment, Canon, Sigma, etc, I just can't fathom a pro (or someone aspiring to be one) not having a backup. The few weddings I've shot, I've been so paranoid something would go wrong I've had three cameras with me just in case. <br>

Best of luck</p>

<p>When using film, just make sure the film is properly loaded in the camera, otherwise your photos won't come out nicely</p>

<p>You might offer to take the photo down for a fee, then use that fee as a down payment toward a family photo session for the holidays!</p>

<p>It doesn't have to be an either/or. Referrals/word of mouth of course are great, but being found online is great also. The best way to to rise to the top of the rankings is to blog, and the blog MUST be on your own domain--not blogger, blogspot, etc..</p>

<p>Your best bet would be to work on your own website, so that you are getting found directly by the brides and other potential clients you are looking for. Check out this company, HubSpot--several photographers I know have used them with great success:<br>

<a href="http://www.hubspot.com">www.hubspot.com</a></p>

 

<p>I wouldn't be jumping through all these hoops just to apprentice...Prepare as much as you can and you will be fine. </p>

<p>When I shoot a wedding I generally wear a dark blue suit. I'll even bring a second suit as backup in case i wind up drinking alot and spill something. A true professional is always prepared.</p>

<p>I for one would prefer to go back to the era of the Flintstones, when a bird in the camera would look at the subject, then chisel the image with his beak on a plate of some sort.</p>

<p>Everything is individual taste. Many couples choose a "budget" photographer because they like his/her work and personality, not because they're ignorant. I get really tired of clueless pros whining on these boards about uninformed clients. If folks are happy with their photographer and the resulting photos, end of story. </p>

<p>I agree w/Ellis 100%. As a general rule, a non-refundable deposit makes perfect sense. However it also makes sense to be flexible, since in certain instances it may make more business sense to refund. I agree it's got nothing to do with hearlessness, or feelings, etc. It's all about what's best for your business. If by refunding in this case, you feel you may buy yourself goodwill (and hence referrals, more business, etc.) then consider the refund.</p>

<p>Perhaps it's my compassionate nature, but I feel bad for anyone who's having a hard time, for whatever reason. But then again I'm extremely wealthy, so I don't have the class envy/resentment issues that some others may harbor.</p>

<p>So since this is the wedding forum......Do wedding djs need to get some kind of permission to play songs at weddings?</p>