calin_ardeleanu

<p>Hi Greg,<br>

Great posting, though a bit sad. I found the same trends in the market I operate - Toronto, Canada. Today, as many famous photographers said it, it is more important to master marketing and sales than photography. It's said but true. If in the past you were a good photographer if you could get a good exposure, today any kid with a cellphone can obtain a decent photo. So, what does a pro wedding photographer has to do? <br>

The following pieces of advice come from famous photographers and you don't have to agree with them: <br>

1) differentiate through lighting and posing<br>

2) network network network<br>

3) give back to society: help charities, churches and schools so that you do more than weddings and burn out<br>

4) raise prices whenever you can. Many photographers book weddings at low rates only to have tens of inquiries for the same date. If you have been fully booked in June, July, August for 10 years in a row, chances are you will be booked next year so do not book cheap weddings<br>

5) offer albums and prints even if you were to include them in your packages at cost. They are a good conversation starter whenever a friend visit your clients and will bring referrals <br>

6) offer amazing service <br>

7) never give up. If you love wedding photography and you can not pay your bills yet, get a job and keep doing what you are doing best. Your passion and talent will convince your clients you are the right person for the job<br>

I hope you will never give up photography! I heard that Mr. Sanders (KFC) visited 1006 people before someone bought his recipe...<br>

Calin</p>

<p>Here are some ideas. There is a book called "Shooting in s...y light" and they talk about it. (for some reason I can not quote the exact title of the book. The authors are Lindsay Adler and Erik Valind<br>

1) have an assistant follow you with a video light...it might be weird and everybody will look at you...but whatever. Even a cellphone flashlight will help...not from far though...<br>

2) you are talking about focusing and not lighting...there is something called zone focusing...so here it is: use a wide angle lens for larger depth of field. Focus on something shiny at 5ft (ask someone to show you a cellphone so that you can focus on it, then switch to manual focus. Shoot between 5 and 10 ft and everything will be in focus.<br>

3) make sure your flash AF assist beam is on...you can even use that and disable the flash for fast focus on a black tux if you want.<br>

Cheers,<br>

Calin</p>

<p>If you are a good friend of his/her, do it for free. Many people advised you to ask the couple to increase their budget, but photography is obviously not important for the couple...a guest at a wedding costs the couple $250 and the average wedding photographer in the US charges $2500-2600. That being said, it looks like your couple does not want to spend a lot of money on photography. <br>

I would tell my friend not to expect great photos (it is always better to over deliver and under promise) and that I would do it at no charge. Now, I saw the photos of the bride at the only wedding you shot. I would have posed that bride completely differently. I would have picked a higher perspective, shot her with a long lens and asked her to move the body AWAY from the light and her face INTO the light...that has a slimming effect on curvaceous brides. I photographed plus size brides and they are beautiful, but it takes a bit of practice to know how to pose them...sorry, pose is a dirty word...direct sounds better...to know how to direct them...<br>

I am not in your shoes and photographing for free is ok in my opinion. To the other photographers, if the couple does not want to pay $500-$1000 they are not your target market...there are plenty of brides who appreciate photography. I saw some stats and about 25% of the brides wish they spent more on wedding photography. Well, we all know that when all is over, the wedding album is what remains to document the big day, but it is our duty as wedding photographers to educate the brides. <br>

Cheers, <br>

Calin</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Hi Rob,<br>

<br />Let's look at it from a revenue standpoint. If you want to be in this industry in 5 years, let's look at 5 years. Once you charge this DJ, will he recommend you to any of this potential clients? I know DJs are booked after photographers, but still, they are players in the industry and can introduce you to venues where they are preferred vendors, etc. <br>

<br />Scenario 1) you charge him $...enter the amount ...and you never hear from him..<br>

Scenario 2) you don't charge him, he gives you credit for the photo and refers you clients. <br>

<br />To me Scenario 2 is the way to go if you want to think long term. Even more, this is free advertising for you as it is your photo!!! I would give all the partners I can find all the photos I take if they give me credit. It builds brand awareness and brides will see you everywhere. If you are top of mind when they think to hire a photographer you hit the jackpot. </p>

<p>My 2 cents. </p>

<p>Cheers and happy bookings, <br>

Calin</p>