If you think about it, wedding photography is a rip-off from beginning to end.

Folks are spending a large amount of money to 'create' memories' but really, what is left after a few months?

Very little, possibly an image or two on walls that will never be looked at again, a couple of albums that will gather dust until lost during a move.

In a few years the images will be yellow, desuet on some piece of furniture among other equally old and part of a scenery some call home.

Years later the album may be reopened one day by a kid who was snooping around and sees images of a wedding they do not relate to. “Is it you mom? Dad?” Then the album is placed back into a dark corner and forgotten again.

Nostalgia lasts only as long as someone remembers.

When reopened next, it might be when someone cleans out an attic and finds a trace of an event, does not know who is in the pictures, guesses about it for a few moments. The album is placed on a pile, 'keep' if the person wants to look at it again but probably will forget that too. With a little less luck the album ends in an estate sale and those that did not make the cut, the greatest majority, in a literal bin disposed up in a field full of trash... Who wants a cracked, dried up book made of people no one knows?

So thousands of $$$ to fill the dumpster, historical or real...

Those here who speak of the 'ethics' in pricing should stop and think about their 'commodity' offerings and realize that they are ripping up folks who need their revenues toward something more useful than spit in the wind.

Now, yes there is a market so why not profit from folk's gullibility? You must have a photographer because the Jones had one.

At the very least, now, be honest about it when you work, at least in your mind.

Your answer is way out of line. Quite frankly it is so emotional I question why...

I use personal observations, not generalities. Yes, some folks consult their albums from time to time, few if you are honest. Yes, some folks years later will come back for more.

One does not prevent the other. Memories do not last long. While pictures last longer there is no one to look at them.

If memories were so important while preserved as images, why are historic events completely ignored or simply denied?

We are not learning from anything, so why are you so sure that you can castigate anyone for something that is true? Because you think it is a personal attack against you as a pro?

Just take another example such as vacation pictures. What is the point of that? Folks live their vacation behind the camera and snap hundred of images and bore living **** out of everyone showing them while saying how good it was to be there when they return... Just to have the same pictures completely ignored for the rest of their lives?

What is disgusting about stating the truth? The idea that we live short lives, have short selective memories and forget almost everything? The idea that photographs do not mean jack in the scope of things? Or is it the idea that being cold and analytic about this is reprehensible for you?

The idea that I question the ethics of being a wedding photographer? I do not. I was one. If you read carefully, I question those who posted in another thread that 'ethics' are paramount in their business practice (fair pricing for all). These folks are simply deluded about their craft. In the same thread I described photographers as mercenaries, hired hands because this is what we are, were.

You hate seeing yourself as being ephemeral as a pro like everyone else?

Sorry, as mentioned once those who care about you die, so will the memories of you, good or bad. Just another pile of dust. The same goes for me, don't worry, I am not claiming otherwise. I am just honest about it.

And, oh, I have been married twice. My first wife was killed by a drunk driver. My second wife is alive, doing well and we plan to stay married since 1983. So... Wedding/Marriage hater? Riiiiiiight.

Had an Asshole who got in my Photos when I was Up in San Francisco Last May, this Foreign Middle Eastern Jackass got in my Selfies Zone when I was on a 90 Minute Boat Ride Around San Francisco Bay, Stupid Bastard Got in my Photos when I was Taking a Selfie of Myself Under & Both Sides of the Golden Gate Bridge, the San Francisco Skyline, & this Prick Got in My Photos!

I Could have Moved, but it was a Full House on the Boat Ride that Trip around Frisco Bay.

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You Ain't Lying...

Around 20 Years Ago, or May 1997, I was at a Subway Sandwich Shop here in the Hollywood Section of L.A. A Small Bus Full of German People Pulled in the Parking Lot Around 11pm, After Some City Night Tour Around the City, they Came in Subway, & Took Over the Freaking Place!

There were Only 2 Employees in the Subway that is Still a 24 Hour Store Today, & these German Tourist Took their Damn Time Ordering a Damn Sandwich, at that Time, Because of the Language Barrier, & the Two Employees were Hispanic, & Didn't Understand the Little English, & German of these Visiting Krauts!

When Asked on What kind of Bread they Wanted, they didn't Understand?

When Asked on Did they want Ingredients on their Sub, they didn't Understand?

When Asked if they wanted their Bread or Sandwich Warmed Up, they Didn't Understand?

It was Just Bullshit with these Visiting Krauts, they didn't care about the Other Customers who were in the Store, & Had to Wait, Some Left in Frustration because of these Krauts.

Some of the Tourists were Rude to the 2 Employees, Demanded This & That! It Took Nearly an Hour, & My Bus was Rolling by at La Brea & Sunset at 12:06am, & I would have to Wait Till 1 AM for Another Bus!

I Got My Order in At 11:51pm, & was Out by 11:59pm, Never Looked back at those F**king Kraut Tourist who Took Over the Hollywood Subway at La Brea & Sunset.

You come to my Country & Disrespect me & my People, Throw your Goddamn Weight Around in My Country, & are Straight Out Damn Ass Rude!

I will Never Forget that Incident in 1997.

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I had that Same issue at a Friend's Wedding in September 1988, was Shooting Some Shots of the Bride & Groom Giving a Toast, & Family & Friends on my Nikon Film Camera, an F-301 (N-2000), & the Photographer who was the Official Wedding Photographer, Hired by the Bride, had a Slave Light Flash Mounted on a Tripod, & when me or Several Other People were Shooting Flash from Their Cameras, the Wedding Photographers Slave Light Went Off, & the Photographer was Pissed, & Scolded Me, & Another Guy who Was Also the Friend of the Groom & Asked me not to Shoot anymore Photos Around him that he was the Official Photographer for the Wedding & Interfered with his Slave Light.

After the Wedding Reception Ended, the Bride & Groom had Left the Restaurant, & We were in the Parking Lot, Along with The Guy who he also Scolded, & Wanted an Apology from this Rude Wedding Photographer, & the Photographer Got Pissy, & told him " it will be a Cold Day in Hell Before I Apologize for my Rudeness!" & Also Said to him... "Take your Black Ass to Hell Jigaboo!"

A Scrapping was about to Happen, the Photographer who was White, & the Guest who was Afro American like me, wanted to "Cold Cock" this Rude Photographer for being Disrespectful to him & his Fellow Guest, who also Shot Pictures of the Groom & his Newlywed Wife, & the Photographer Also Said... "Get out of my Face Jigaboo!".

The Guest Lost it & Charged at the Wedding Photographer & they had to Hold him Back, the Wedding Photographer Ignored it & Him & his Young Female Assistant got into his Dodge Mini Van, & Started to Drive Off & his Drunken Buddies Kicked his Van, Threw Beer Bottles at his Mini Van, & the Guy Nearly Ran Down a Couple of Guest Trying to get Away! & Somebody Picked Up a Large Stone a Smashed Out his Back Window of his Mini Van, & the Photographer Kept Going Despite what had Happened!

That was a Night I will Remember, & the Wedding Photographer Later Moved to the Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex, & the Guest was Never Question by LAPD over the Incident, & Lives in Atlanta.

As for the Bride & Groom... He & She Split After a Year, cause she was Caught doing the Nasty with an Old Boyfriend, & Was Later Pregnant with his Child, + She was Controlling Bitch also!

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https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-594604-11.html#10209893

Your interaction with others continue... Going down... Down... The drain.

You see when you try to create an issue, you better show you are right because if folks like me may not have your memory for 'imaginary wrongs' they have the resource of looking back to learn what justifies or not the outburst.

In this case, in my opinion you just show your dire need for help.

Oh, one more thing... Did you read any insult in my answer you are referring to???

To other readers... Sorry but sometime some folks need to be reminded of their own actions.