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Some thoughts about wedding photography. . . .
It was twenty six years ago last month when I shot my first wedding in Seattle. The venue was stark, dark and a little depressing, but I didn't care. I was hired to shoot my first wedding! Not satisfied to just do the job and be on my way, I suggested to the couple, (damn... I wish I could remember their names) that we zip over to Green Lake and take some photos of the two of them together that actually looked like they were having fun. I wanted to do an "over the top" great job for them. They loved the photographs and placed a order that doubled their initial fee. Voila! A wedding photographer was born! The year was 1987 and being the practical girl that I am, I bought a brand new vacuum cleaner with my booty.
Voila! A wedding photographer was born!
The year was 1987, think: no internet (I know, it's almost unthinkable) I managed to find dozens upon dozens of new clients by hitting the courthouse and sending out cute little postcards to the marriage license applicants. I was able to use the actual handwritten application of the bride and groom within a day of their visit to the courthouse in downtown Seattle. Marriage license information is (was) public information.
It didn't hurt that I was only charging a hundred dollars. I had a decent portfolio ( you remember portfolios, don't you?) I had been taking photos since grade school, and photography classes in high school and college. I grew up with a dark room in our basement. My dad loved photography, and so did I. I managed to find weddings on Saturdays in various parks and churches, sneak in and grab a few shots, once while camping in Carnation, just outside of Seattle, a bride and groom arrived with their photographer to take some photos on the bridge over the river. I could hardly breath....what a opportunity to add more photos to my book! I was all over that, their photographer was so nice, he let me grab a few shots.
My portfolio looked like I'd been shooting for years. With my unbridled enthusiasm and my little portfolio and bargin basement prices I shot 100 weddings my first year. It was a goal I set, and met. The next year I shot 99 weddings. Of course, as you can guess that was not sustainable, given how stressful weddings can be. My third year, my goal was to shoot 25 weddings and to increase my fees to make the same amount of money that I made shooting a 100 weddings. Again, I was able to meet my goals.
Fast forward to these days.. after several thousand weddings, I am photographing weddings for our company " Elope San Diego". I work on the beaches of San Diego and Coronado California. I work barefoot and on the beach. The beach is my office. It's fantastic! This chapter has had it's challenges and it's rewards. I have created an elopement package that has stripped away most all of the drama that surrounds weddings, and wedding photography. I work with my hubby Steve who performs ceremonies. Together, we specialize in "elopement packages" on the beach, no more than 25 people. We offer a unique service that includes all of the fun,and none of the stress of the traditional wedding. We even offer pet friendly weddings with dogs on the beach.
I am challenged these days by a shift in the value of photography. Wedding photography seems to have been devalued in a way I never thought possible. I have brides who call and email who don't want to invest even the minimum amount of money on photography. I've been asked over the last month to tag along with Steve to a ceremony he was officiating to take a few photos on an Iphone? Or the woman who called and said she had a "professional camera", she could just give to her daughter to take the photos at her wedding. I could go on all day with my somewhat demeaning inquiries... but I won't. I can't imagine what would possess brides to say some of the things they say. I want to scream...TMI ! TMI ! Too Much Information. Have we become a society that has completely lost any sense of decorum? I have heard the LOUD unmistakable gasp of a bride, as I described our tiny package for $500 that included the session, CD and the images. She told me she could get it cheaper at the courthouse. Why, yes you can.
Sometimes, I can't help but think to myself, Steve and I spent $1000 in 1987, 26 years ago, and that I use to charge $4-5 THOUSAND dollars for my wedding services in the 1990's.
It's a sad to see something I care so much about cheapened and valued so little on a regular basis. Here is what I think: a nice camera does not make a photographer, in the same way a nice stove doesn't make a great chef, or a nice race car does not make one a race car driver.. NUF SAID !
SO, if having a small wedding or
elopement with beautiful photos at a great price works for you... give me a call.
It will fun and you will be so very happy with your wedding photos.
Visit our CONTACT page of our website
or give us a call
858 945 8341
xoxo
christine
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