Nobody actually says this to me, but I'm sure they think it. I know I did before I got into wedding photography...heck, that was one of the enticing elements that led me to where I am today.
But man, oh man, was I wrong!
When I first started my photography business in 2009 I was thirsty for knowledge. I wanted to absorb everything photography related as quickly as I could because I was in a rush to get to the top. It's in my nature to want to be the best first time around...I've got no patience for perfecting anything. I just want perfect all the time.
In hindsight I can't say if that was the right or wrong attitude to have, after all, if I didn't strive to be the best, then I probably wouldn't have had any desire to learn from my mistakes. I would have just kept on making the same mistakes over and over.
Learning is extremely time consuming...especially when you're doing it on your own. Countless hours on photography forums and blogs. Google was (and still is) my best friend. I researched photographers from all over my area and the world searching for inspirational photographs that spoke to me, then dissected them to decide what exactly it was that I liked about it. The color? The composition? The emotion? How can I get that kind of connection? What equipment did they use?
It is a process that I continue even today. I hope that I never know everything there is to know about photography, because the learning something new is what keeps me going! From lens selection to off camera lighting (my new love) it has all been a part of the journey that led me to the point I'm at now. My career.
That word is so foreign on my tongue - career - but alas, I have actually built my business up to the point that it is now quite successful and paying my bills.
So...to the title of my post....yes, I arrive at a wedding, take photos then go home, and get paid a significant amount of money to do that. However the investment that my clients make is not in "my nice camera that takes nice pictures" - it is in the countless hours I've spent educating myself in preparation to be able to handle something as precious and delicate as a wedding day. The value can be found in the experience that I have from shooting over 70 weddings - providing me with the ability to anticipate moments, be flexible in undesirable (or nearly non-existent) lighting conditions, to handle large groups of children or family for beautiful formal portraits.
My clients sometimes come to me a year or more before their wedding day and I want them to feel important to me for the duration of that year. They are not just a paycheck to me - they are trusting me with memories and there is value in that!
Following the wedding day, as most people probably know by now, there is a great deal of time that goes into preparing the images for viewing. I go through each and every one to make sure they meet the quality I expect from myself.
Lastly, there is something to be said about creativity. I am a huge proponent of other photographers. I have made some wonderful connections with local photographers whom I can call upon to help me in a pinch. I am a fan of their work and LOVE looking at others photos. The point at which I felt like I "made it" was when I realized that my photos were distinguishable from other people's work. This is a personal accomplishment, but one that I think just adds to the value of what I have to offer my clients. When I see photos pop up in my news feed on facebook, I love it when I can recognize the artist before even looking to see who posted it. THAT is incredible...and I feel like looking through my own portfolio, I've managed to sync myself into that beautiful place of "me-ness" that I've admired in others for many years.
Happy shooting!!
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