STVest Loc: LA - that's Lower Alabama

I would like your comments and thoughts concerning this aspect of wedding photography. I have attended weddings/receptions where it seemed that every shot was staged for the photographer. I came away not feeling that I had been a celebrant at a wedding, but had been a witness to a photo shoot.

I understand that the group pictures, especially of the wedding party, must be set up. But, otherwise, I feel that the photographer should disappear into the background and capture his shots surreptitiously.

Am I being unreasonable to feel this way? I’m thinking this may be one of the differences between hiring a professional and hiring a pretender. Right? Wrong?

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

That holds true for the reception photos, but not for the formals...They are always staged...Keeps people from inadvertently walking in front of the photographer during their shoot...

Wahawk Loc: NE IA

Many professionals, but not all, have such big egos that they feel they are in TOTAL control of such events. Many of the 'pretenders' are much more successful at capturing the 'true mood' of the event!

Annie_Girl Loc: It's none of your business

I think it's a sign as you said of hiring a real professional and hiring someone pretending to be a professional. Professional blend in, the pretenders try to be noticed "look at me I know what I am doing".

Pretenders also tend to post pictures of themselves "working" on their facebook and blog pages.

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

If a "professional" is someone getting paid, then both types of shooters qualify...Irregardless of experience...

JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK

I have found more and more that when I shoot a wedding they know what they want and stage the shots for me, I do manage the larger groups but when the bride and groom say "we want these shots, here is the list" the Ushers do their job and I take the shots

G Brown Loc: Sunny Bognor Regis West Sussex UK

Question is "whose day is it"? If the Bride asked for lots of photographs then the photographer is probably going to step on toes. A good professional will likely get the Bride and groom + important guests quickly through a portfolio of shots and then 'as you suggest' stop asking for poses and take the candid shots and shots of the guests etc. in a less intrusive manner. reading the forum suggests that modern brides are looking for a huge shoot list + video etc etc etc at cut prices and likely to want a cd full of shots as well as album etc. That is going to intrude no matter the competance of the photographer(s). Little wonder that vicars pastors and Civil officials often demand a single static video and no flash during the ceremony. I am probably like you - its the brides day, but also a family event rather than a photo-shoot.

STVest Loc: LA - that's Lower Alabama

I recently saw some comment (most likely here on UHH) about a photography who seemed to take over the wedding/reception. I thought it may have been a kindness in response to an inept wedding planner. Maybe not.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Wahawk, that is really funny!!
Most photographers are SO geekie, even a HUGE ego is still pretty darn tiny. :D

STVest Loc: LA - that's Lower Alabama

I prefer this definition of professional:
characterized by or conforming to the technical or ethical standards of a profession; exhibiting a courteous, conscientious, and generally businesslike manner in the workplace

rather than this one:
engaged in by persons receiving financial return

In the two photography courses I took, both instructions lamented the new camera owners who become "professionals" before they even returned to their cars after making their purchases, much less even removed the camera from the box.

Nevertheless, there were those in each class who would ask questions which revealed they were TOTAL newbies; and they also made it perfectly clear that they intended to immediately offer their services for hire. All you could do was roll your eyes and shake your head. I just can't attribute them the title of "professional".

Wahawk Loc: NE IA

Except for a few on here, I would agree. However there are a couple on here that have EGOs that the space shuttle couldn't carry!

chapjohn Loc: Tigard, Oregon

At weddings, one person should have the assignment to photograph the photographer throughout the whole event because sometimes wedding photogs need to be shot.

Wahawk Loc: NE IA

I was asked to be a "second" shooter several times. The first one had a local pro (site was a nationally know historic site) and he kept bugging me to move over by him and get the "correct" shots. I was using a 35mm with 135mm lens and he was using either 2-1/4 sq or 6x4.5 gear. After the couple got the package from the pro, they asked if I had gotten any good shots. I gave them a set of 4x6 prints as a wedding gift (bride was my wife's friend). After reviewing them, I got an order for several 5x7, 8x10 and larger prints to give to the relatives because they were not happy with what the pro shot. They ended up using one of my prints for the 20x30 on their living room wall!! Oh yeah, and I was shooting with Fuji 400 color print film, and there were no flashes used. I stayed out of the way, but captured the "money" shots that they were really interested in, not the "cookie cutter" shots that the pros insist on shooting.

Wahawk Loc: NE IA

:lol: :lol: :lol: If you video'd some of them it would be a real YouTube sensation!!

Annie_Girl Loc: It's none of your business

A "Pretend" professional is one that solicits for clients, charges well below going rate, doesn't charge or collect sales tax, doesn't have the legal documents/paperwork required by their country, state or county. Works under the table for extra income, thus is able to undercut the Pros in their area.

Of course the majority of "pretend" pros I have encountered don’t care that they are not a true real business, they are only after two things.

#1 – ego boost, they want to be popular. They have that “look at me, look at me, I’m a Pro”. Their facebook business pages have more than a few pictures of themselves working behind the camera, as if to say, “look at me, I know what I am doing”.

#2 – money, while all of us like money and need money, the Pretend Professional claims it’s not about the money at all, that’s why they only charge $150 for a full day of wedding photography. After all, the Pro down the street that charges $1,000 for a full day, is the one that only cares about the money. Theydon’t tell the client the reason they charge $100 and the other photographer down the street charges $1,000 is one of them is paying for the following and one isn’t:

* liability insurance
* equipment insurance
* Income Tax
* business permits
* Sales Tax
* Software updates (vs. picmonkey)
* Workshops (vs. the client loved it, I’m good).

Plus a ton of other business expenses that are part of running a legitimate business that the “pretend” professional does not have. They don’t mention that that $150 the client pays goes right into their pocket and does not appear anywhere on any paperwork for income to the IRS, the client doesn’t need to know that part.

Being a “real” pro or a “pretend” pro has nothing to do with skill level; it has to do with the reasons why you are in business to start with and the integrity in which you run your business.