Traditional or Photojournalistic Wedding Photography
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!
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