Herb, You may surprise yourself.
I have done my share of weddings for friends. Only stiffed once ... but that is another tale. I must say that I was humbled when I agreed to shoot a friend's wedding. She eventually got engaged and the wedding was to be in New Hampshire. She still wanted me to do the wedding - they would pay whatever it would take! Talk about surprised. I live in Florida. We still keep in touch - she still talks of the photos I took. Same thing with another friend that flew me to Augusta, Georgia when I told her that I really did not look forward to all that driving... Another couple, whose wedding I shot, I happened to visit while in San Antonio, Texas. I was gobsmacked when I entered their living room and saw a 'bridal' portrait I had taken under a tree in a poster-sized enlargement above their mantle. Likewise the latest friend's wedding I did - only the informals. She has told me that the b&w of them coming down the aisle - shot from the balcony - will be prominently displayed in their new home. I can readily pick apart an image I have taken, and I think we all can, I am still learning to appreciate my shots more though. I believe I mentioned on this list that as an added thank you for shooting the informals at the above mentioned wedding, Jen decided to have an image I took with my 645n in New Orleans enlarged, matted, and framed by her to present to me. I still look at it on occasion and have to remind myself that I took it... C�sar Panama City, Florida in Baltimore, Maryland -- -----Original Message----- -- From: Herb Chong [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] -- Sent: Monday, January 05, 2004 7:19 PM -- -- that was the reasoning behind why a friend of mine asked me -- to be backup -- photographer for her wedding, although i feel i am a rotten people -- photographer. her uncle, who used to do weddings part time, -- was who did the -- most important photos. she reasoned that having someone who -- knew something -- about composition and photography to catch informal slightly -- more than -- snapshots was important and that was what i did. she wasn't -- expecting shots -- to display like paintings on a wall, she wanted decent shots -- that would -- bring back memories. my brother asked me to take some photos -- at his wedding -- too, for much the same reasons. he paid for a good pro -- photographer for the -- formal shots and the wedding ceremony. of course, my mother -- could only -- imagine posed formal shots as the only kind that ought to be -- taken. luckily, -- she had no say in the matter. i still think i am a rotten wedding -- photographer and i am not going to let any of you offer a -- second opinion. -- -- Herb... -- ----- Original Message ----- -- From: "Len Paris" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> -- To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> -- Sent: Monday, January 05, 2004 12:12 PM -- Subject: RE: Down off my "high-horse"... with a thump. -- -- -- > The only thing it proves is that a lot of people are -- shopping more for -- > best price than for best quality. It's always that way. -- You're going -- > to have to get used to that. Shoot what you can and let -- your reputation -- > grow. There is no substitute for word of mouth -- advertising. You will -- > begin to get the couples that really want your style of -- shooting and -- > will not mind paying fairly for it. Meanwhile, there will -- always be -- > friends and relatives with cameras that are willing to do -- the job free -- > or very cheap. Sometimes they have talent and ability, -- many times they -- > don't. Let your portfolio and your website speak for you. -- --
