snegron
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 Can I be a wedding photographer? | |
mirek wrote:
Ha! Good grief. What a different place to other forums. Maybe this is good - one can get tumbled a bit once in a while 
How do I reply to all this? It's the same question as "how do you eat an elephant? - one piece at a time".
No, I'm not a wedding photographer. And no, I don't want to become one. I shoot landscapes, nature & wildlife, and people (candid portraits). None of these are to make money, anyway. I post a little bit in other forums every now and then. I've had a good degree of success, if not showing in the selection in the forums (as some shots are on display there to experiment, or stir, or get constructive C&C rather make it a showcase). I've had two major photography exhibitions in Tokyo, and one in Sydney, though.
Do i know the basics of photography? I tend to think so.
I wasn't a wedding photographer on that shoot. There was an appointed Japanese "pro" photographer. I was visiting Tokyo at the time and got invited to a friend's wedding. The venue was Tokyo Disneyland - hence the Disney theme/surroundings. Clearly not a traditional Japanese wedding. I took opportunity to take some shots, as the B asked me - as a backup. They are more candid shots than wedding shots. I was working hard and fast I remember, following B&G and the other photographer. It was crazy I remember, and I should have slowed down and focussed on what I like doing the best. But I guess I thought that the B was serious about the "backup". It wasn't the best way to shoot a wedding - trying to avoid being in the way of the official photographer, and B&G. So - enough of the background. BTW - I shared all my shots with the B&G and their family (sent a DVD, and put together a website) and they enjoyed them a lot more than the shots produced by the official wedding photographer. For free
I have the feeling that this forum is different because wedding photography is such a competitive business. It shows here as well. In other forums, people just enjoy photography, enjoy the C&C, as most of folks frequenting those forums are enthusiasts, not necesserily making a lot of money from shooting. Well - I may as well be wrong.
I take all your criticism about my lack of skills without any offence. It wasn't a showcase of what I can do, it was more a pretext for a discussion here.
cheers,
-mirek
I too have noticed that there seems to be a tougher crowd here in the wedding forum than in other gear related forums. My guess is that it is probably the Alpha Male syndrome, everyone wants to be top dog and will nip at the tail of any upcoming competitor! 
As others have probably mentioned (sorry, I didn't get a chance to read every response), you can be anything you set your mind to, but it requires plenty of work and sacrafice. No one here was born a wedding photographer, so I have absolutely no respect for for people who bash newcomers. Everyone had to start somewhere. If you really want to be a wedding photographer, try to go in as a second shooter and try to go to several weddings and observe the photographer in action. Get as many books as you can on the subject as well. The only reason I would suggest posting images here in the wedding forum is if you want to develop very thick skin. No matter what you post here it will be torn to pieces!
On the flip side, I was trying to remember where I had seen those outfits before, and yes, it was Beauty and the Beast!
p.s., you will probably get more helpful advice here regarding the business aspect of wedding photography, not so much the artistic aspect of wedding photography.
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Can I be a wedding photographer?