Benchernif wrote:
And to be honest - please DO NOT TAKE THIS THE WRONG WAY - but wow I've seen so much crap work from female wedding photographers who actually use their gender to sell their work. It's such a sell-out.
Haven't we all seen it? The ones who flaunt their female-ness all over their website but produce absolute crap?!
Ben
Yep...and personally, I've had interested clients end up booking " a girl" to shoot their wedding because ........she's a "girl'.....and she was more affordable ( cheaper)........their words, not mine. It seems that the bookings that I do get, the clients are more interested in "professional, classic work and not bubble gum stuff"........
"
JanetG wrote:
i read a blogpost from a female photographer, and i counted the following:
super cute, cute, cutest - 4 times
beautiful 6 times
love - 12 times
heavenly dream (1 time was enough)
amazing - 7 times
gorgeous - 3 times
lovely 3 times
incredible - 2 times
I see alot of women trying to get into the industry but not many succeeding, at least no more than men. In my area there is a lot of stay home/soccer mom types who are pro photographers 3 months after they buy dslr or after visiting wppi. It's also pushed a lot in the photo magazines because their purpose is to sell as much stufff to the up and coming.
teebat wrote:
I see alot of women trying to get into the industry but not many succeeding, at least no more than men. In my area there is a lot of stay home/soccer mom types who are pro photographers 3 months after they buy dslr or after visiting wppi. It's also pushed a lot in the photo magazines because their purpose is to sell as much stufff to the up and coming.
I see that also with the photography magazines in that they promote a lot of their advertising of products to females and so many of the labs use females in their ads.....why ? How about promoting the established males or up and coming males.........i guess it's like anything in the advertising world, sex sells....having a cute girl attracts attention..........demeaning in my opinion.
Benchernif wrote:
And to be honest - please DO NOT TAKE THIS THE WRONG WAY - but wow I've seen so much crap work from female wedding photographers who actually use their gender to sell their work. It's such a sell-out.
Haven't we all seen it? The ones who flaunt their female-ness all over their website but produce absolute crap?!
Ben
In all seriousness, how does a female "flaunt" her gender on a website?
facingthelens wrote:
In all seriousness, how does a female "flaunt" her gender on a website?
Pastel colours, "zomg SO CUTE!" everywhere, pics of shoes, puppies, how amazing her kids are etc. I thought more women would feel patronised by this but unfortunately this seems to sell.
It seems to work though as brides "connect" with the female as they can "feel" what the bride is going through....has nothing to do with photography, but more about the "connection".
Maybe males should be posting photos of muscle cars, liquor and beer, bikini clad babes and cigars. We feel ya grooms......we know how much stuff you have to put up with....
marti.g3 wrote:
It seems to work though as brides "connect" with the female as they can "feel" what the bride is going through....has nothing to do with photography, but more about the "connection".
Maybe males should be posting photos of muscle cars, liquor and beer, bikini clad babes and cigars. We feel ya grooms......we know how much stuff you have to put up with....
but we all know who makes the wedding buying decisions...
At the risk of generalizing, I wonder what leads males and females to photograph weddings. I imagine women who love photography are drawn to the sharing of the experience of the wedding day, while men tend to think "boy, if I did some wedding gigs I could justify and pay for the 70-200 f2.8 IS L I really want!".
Sadly, in these tough times, enthusiasts who are struggling see wedding photography as low hanging fruit. I teach digital workshops every quarter or so and there's at least two or three there who plan to go into business, almost always wedding photography. One (female) already had a web site and was at the workshop to learn what the letters on the dial meant.
Mark_L wrote:
Slight OT but interesting: David Hobby did a breakdown by gender of strobist readers (multiple polls) and came out 94% male.
Not entirely OT. I've been doing a lot of wedding blog surfing, and I seldom run across one by a woman photographer where the overwhelming majority of photos aren't natural/ambient light only. In general, I hate to over-generalize, but the success of women photographers may be strongly related as much to style and approach to wedding photography as it is about their ability to relate to brides.
And now, after reading most of the comments, I'll add this and slink away: a lot of the comments seem to be disdaining the way women photogs connect with brides ("the bubble gum" blog comments, etc.). While superficiality abounds, I'm much the same can be said about a lot of what appears in male blogs and other promotional venues. Don't mistake this, however, for the ability to forge a personal, emotional connection with your clients. If there's one type of photography were personal, emotional connections rule it is wedding photography. The extent in which we tend to focus primarily on that content of a wedding day, instead resting on technical excellence or proficiency, will dictate whether our clients "get us" and we "get them."
eNoBlog wrote:
The extent in which we tend to focus primarily on that content of a wedding day, instead resting on technical excellence or proficiency, will dictate whether our clients "get us" and we "get them."
Yes.
When I did a consultation, I would have the bride step me through her wedding day. I got her to be very specific, what the flowers will be, a description of the wedding cake, etc. I learned a lot about their wedding and about them. I also had them bring the wedding day into their mind's eye. I then said things that would have them place me in that vision, using "we" a lot, painting scenarios of capturing wonderful images. I also peppered my discussion with tips and tricks. Brides want things to be right, it's nice when they see you as an experienced, confident ally that will be at their side to help make their day a dream come true.
I had a great time shooting weddings. I saw my primary job as capturing their wedding in professional quality images, but I also did everything I could to help the day be a wonderful experience.
Sergio Mottola wrote:
should gay people be able to marry? should women photographers be allowed to dominate?
The question is not whether gay people should be able to marry, but will you photograph their big day and do a great job?
It's not a question of "should" here either. It's simply a fact. Accept it, just as you accept gays marrying.
i think it is because women much less talk on internet, even less on technical forums.
from all my friends i have, few use email or the most techy ones facebook
i am exception, i am way too much time on the internet.
dmacmillan wrote:
One (female) already had a web site and was at the workshop to learn what the letters on the dial meant.
I think there are some that are followers of successful female wedding photographers and really like the image/idea of it and wish to emulate rather than actually being die hard photographers.
eNoBlog wrote:
Not entirely OT. I've been doing a lot of wedding blog surfing, and I seldom run across one by a woman photographer where the overwhelming majority of photos aren't natural/ambient light only. In general, I hate to over-generalize, but the success of women photographers may be strongly related as much to style and approach to wedding photography as it is about their ability to relate to brides.
you make it sound like art of available light photography is any easier (so easy even woman can understand) work then strobing. i know, there is customer for everyone but i must say that i came across much more blogs or website where flash is overused.
i use flash and artificial fog and have two diesel generators for shoots when needed, but in wedding photography, i want to keep the documentary, showing the day as it was, first and showcasing my flash skills on last place .
I know i can light the church better then those crappy halogen lights can, but that doesn't mean i have to.
but we all know who makes the wedding buying decisions...
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