Fredrick wrote:
Thomas. I did appreciate your input back in April, and told you so. I didn’t ignore your one plea to hire a second shooter. I gave it some consideration but simply chose not to.
OK, you’re a great commercial photographer as evidenced by all the photos you constantly include in your responses. Good for you.
But what I don’t understand is why you feel the need to denigrate the members of UHH? Does that make you feel superior? Does pushing people down make you feel better? UHH is really a relic of another era? Really? How disappointing to hear you say that.
Your decision to redirect your focus to flickr sounds like a good idea for you.
Thomas. I did appreciate your input back in April,... (
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Thomas and others well versed in wedding photography gave sound advice. I've seen many on here asking that stupid question, "how do I shoot a wedding" and those of us who are professionals in that branch, always give the same advice, don't do it, or at least get experienced help as a backup.
I am assuming you did not get a backup because of the cost, since there is no other rational reason not to. I am others told these people who want to do a wedding, to also have backups of everything. You had a flash failure; did you have a backup flash with you? If you did, then there was no need of panic, you simply swap out the flash. Since you did panic and luckily got things working, I am assuming you did not have a backup, to save the day.
You are very fortunate that you got it working, what would you have done if it had totally failed, especially at a critical time like at the end of the ceremony, if the light was too low for available light shots? You could have ruined that couple's magic once in a lifetime day. Thankfully that did not happen. However, now you know why all the experienced photographers, who took time out of their day to help, told you all the things they did. Now it all makes sense to you.
What will you tell the next person who asks this same silly question, will you say go for it, or will you tell them to heed the words of wisdom from those who have warned against it in the past? People need to get over the fact that they feel honoured that someone things they are good enough to cover their wedding (assuming they are not wedding photographers, of course) and just tell these poor uninformed B&Gs to go out and find a pro to cover that extremely important day of their life.
They are not doing themselves, nor the poor photographer being asked to pose as a wedding photographer on the day, any favours by acting as one, and may well ruin their own very special day. I can assure you, when that happens, the B&G will never put the blame on themselves, but will forever more blame that silly photographer who tried to be the expert on the day, with no experience whatsoever.
They may say they are fine with the fact that the photos did not turn out so well, but secretly, they will blame that photographer, forever more, behind closed doors. It never ceases to amaze me that we never hear couple asking someone who makes nice cupcakes, to take on the challenge of making their wedding cake, yet they always ask someone who takes some nice snaps, to be their wedding photographer.