"I have a passion for photography" and want to photograph your wedding. This usually means: I have no experience, no insurance, I don't have an office, I don't have a vendor's license so I don't pay taxes, my camera is from Best Buy, I have no access to professional products, your wedding photos will be developed at WalMart, I don't have quality back-up gear, you are taking a chance on me to save a few hundred dollars on something that can not be replaced. Is it worth it? You get what you pay for! Sorry for the vent!
We have:
Insurance
A real office to visit
Pro Equipment
Pro Products and Processing
Pro Back-up Gear
A Vendors License
25 years of experience
We provide:
Peace of Mind!
This topic is probably the hot button in our industry. Do you choose a photojournalist or a traditional photographer to record your wedding? While I am certainly happy to see our industry move away from stodgy lifeless photography, the plethora of people calling themselves "journalists" is laughable. Mostly it is just an excuse for poor technique or lack of posing skill or experience. Having someone haphazzardly going around making snapshots at an event might appeal to some. Eventually they will get something good. It might be 1 out of 100 though. To be sure there is a place for this type of photography. Receptions, outdoor sessions and other unguarded moments allow for wonderful spontaneous images. However, I can not tell you how many mothers of the bride have visited my studio and asked this question. "Do you do family photos after the wedding?" Their experience with a photojournalist at a previous event left them with no posed family or bridal party photos. Everything was a snapshot.
I believe we are not providing the service that our client expect and deserve. The unwillingness of some to provide these types of images is puzzling. Especially since a very large portion of print sales are these poses. I have even attended seminars where the speaker said that he refused to pose groups and that he only made images that he wanted to. If you want groups you would need to hire someone else. His prices were over $20,000 to photograph a wedding. Amazing!
I believe an a more balanced approach. A mixture of posed and unposed photographs still provide classic images to hang on your wall and fun, spontaneous moments that you can treasure. Mom will be happy with photos that she can show off to her friends and the Bride can still have the look she is after. Not many photographers have this ability. Our artform is an ever evolving medium. To survive you must adapt to new styles and trends. You can not forget the basis upon which true professional photography was built.....Answer the client's needs! Provide quality images. Well exposed and composed. Provide quality service. Provide quality products. Provide professional albums and professional prints, not something from a mass retailer or the internet.
We exist in a world where any photograph is an acceptable photograph. We must educate the consumer. They need to understand why professional images cost more. Why it is important to be properly licensed and insured. To arrive at an event properly equipped and prepared. For their sake as well as ours. They need to know that they are really going to get what they expect to get. We must be the ones to educate them.
This is something that has been on my mind for some time now. I do not wish to criticize any professional out there trying to earn a living in photography. I just think we as a whole can do a better job. Please comment. I will respond to them all!
First of all, "Happy Birthday" to my wonderful wife/partner Nancy. I hope we make it a wonderful day for you!
The football playoffs have reached the point where I don't care anymore!
After spending the weekend at the Belden Village Mall Bridal Show last weekend, I am not surprized by the video of the woman falling into a fountain while texting. I am surprized it doesn't happen more often. The cell phone is the opiate of the masses for the 21st century.
Come and visit us at Springlake Party Center on Sunday from 1-4. They are having an open house. Springlake is one of our favorite places to work a reception. Great views of the lake, Great food, Nice people. What else can you ask for.
We are busy scheduling appointments and booking weddings for the upcoming year. If anyone needs a quality wedding photographer, let me know!
It is a beautiful day outside....as long as you do not have to go outside!
Canon cameras really are better!
I am trying to buy a bass amp. If you have one to sell....let me know.
Our new location is working out great! We are so close to the park, it's like having an outdoor studio. We make great portraits there!
More coming soon!
Here are a couple of photos from Nicole and Joe's wedding on Saturday. They are a really nice couple with great families.
The rest of their pictures will be ready in a couple of weeks.
I couldn't let the Browns game go by without a comment.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
I laughed all the way through it. I can't believe how bad the Browns beat up the Pats. i guess there is hope for Cleveland sports after all! I Just feel sorry for my friend Sean. He is a big Patriot fan and actually got to go to the game. I hope he didn't wear his Tom Brady jersey.
If you are looking for a professional to photograph an event for you, we are booking into 2011. Call 330-0724-8225 to schedule your appointment now.
We will be exhibiting in the Today's Bride bridal show on January 9th 2011 at the Knight Center and at Belden Village Mall on the weekend of January 15th,2011.
We hope to see you there!
Questions you should ask your wedding photographer:
1. How much experience do you have?
2. Do you use pro level equipment?
3. Do you have at least two of everything you will need to photograph my wedding?
4. Do you use pro processing? Not Walmart or Sam's Club
5. Do you provide me with a professional custom Album? Not Picaboo or Snapfish.
6. Do you have insurance?
7. Do you have a vendors license?
8. Are you full time?
9. Do you have a real studio?
10. Do you have many samples of many weddings? Not just a few.
Questions to ask yourself:
Can I afford not to use a professional photographer for my wedding?
I do not mean to say that a negative answer to any of these questions should disqualify someone from being able to do a good job. However is a good job all you are looking for? Professionals are more expensive than your friend or friend's friend. There is a reason for that. Look at the questions above.
Do you want a photographer that has only photographed a few weddings?
Do you want to worry that their only camera will make it through your day?
Do you want an album that will last for a lifetime?
Do you want to wonder if your photographer knows about your ceremony? Where to be and what to photograph?
Do they know how to pose group shots? Do they even take group shots?
I am afraid that in the "Kodak" inspired world of photography today, people are accustomed to mediocre photography. They are accustomed to poorly exposed and composed photographs. They are used to bad processing and printing. When they see something great they automatically assume that it will be way too expensive. Professionals do usually cost more. Would you trust just anyone to record something that hopefully will happen to you only once?
The Kovach Family
Here are some photos from our weddings from last weekend.
First we have Rachel and Christopher. They had a great baseball themed wedding complete with photos at Progressive Field.
And here is Katie and Harrison and some photos from their wedding at Portage Country Club.
We get to work with great couples and families. it is one of the great things about my job.
Everyone have a great July 4th holiday!
Happy belated Father's Day to all you dads out there. I hope you had a great day.
Today Nancy and I celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary. It has gone by so fast. I would do it all again in a heartbeat. She makes my life great.
We had three wonderful weddings this past weekend. angella and James, April and Blake and Rebecca and Clint. Interesting venues and great couples.
Angella and James
April and Blake
Rebecca & Clint
