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I have had the displeasure of reading some ill-informed, ignorant, repugnant, inflammatory, disrespectful, and unnecessarily hurtful and scathing posts, responses and attacks on this forum but this one is simply disgusting!

And of course, this is gonna attract the usual entourage of MISOGAMISTS (marriage haters), disgrunteled or failed former wedding photographers, and an onslaught of people who never were involved in professional weddg photography, don't know what hell they are talking about but just like to inject nasty comments.

I've been professionally photographing weddings for well over 50 years. It can be hard and demanding work at times- it's HONEST work that requires skill, patience, empathy and sometimes the willingness to sweat and put in long hours! I don't know of any serious professional who sets out to "rip off" his or her clients. Personally, I have great respect for my customers and do not consider them gullible, stupid or frivolous. People of certain backgrounds and cultures place great importance on the celebration of their marriage and will invest large sums of money in the event, oftentimes photography is the least of it. Some folks do not prioritize such celebrations and expenditures.

Word of mot referral is important in every business and people asking others to recommend a good photographer is not "keeping up with the Jones''. I suppose, however, that you can find something foolish or sinister in just about anything.

Perhas people do spend money on lots of non-necessities and at the peril of their financial integrity. Chen out the forum- there are lots of talented photographers and I assume they can afford their hobby or luxuries. There are others who invest significantly in high-end photographic equipment and yet have absolutely no talent, can't expose or compose a decent picture to save the life and yet carry on. I fear many of these incompetents have taken on wedding photography for "fun and profit" and although they were well-meaning, the customer ended up "ripping thyself off" by not seeking out recommendations, and finding a good professional.

I have photographed thousands of weddings. I'm sure some of my clients were divorced, others never look at their album, perhaps a few have intentionally burned them. For the most part, I think not! I still get occasion re-order from old customers. I have replaced many wedding albums that were water-damaged or lost in house fires. Many of my long-time customers tell me that in months following their wedding they frequently enjoyed their albums with friends and relatives and later it kinda went into storage in a closet or the bookshelf. Now, however, much time has passed, many of the elders and loved-ones are gone and they absolutely cherish those images. I have received many albums for re-binding because the album itself is worn out- somebody's been enjoying their old pictures.

The pandemic has caused many business failures for family portrait and wedding photographers. Some are struggling and trying to survive so they can see some recovery going forward. This is a fin time to post your disgraceful diatribe.

What hell is wrong with you- man!

Rongnongno,
I couldn’t disagree with you more. (And I’m not a wedding photographer. I hate shooting weddings.)
My wife, Angie, and I, look at our wedding pictures all the time. We have many of them framed, use them on Facebook, and love looking back on the best day of our lives. It was a fairy tale to be sure. I don’t even remember what we paid our photographer, but it was worth every dime. Had we spent the money on some “necessity”, the “necessity” would probably be broke or in need of replacement by now.
Bill

Cool! Now we need an instant wedding photographer ordinations. I can see the ad now:

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When you are at you next wedding send our regards to the instant minister!

The Wedding University.