Wedding Photography - Business Transaction Or Affair of the Heart?

Choosing a wedding photographer is usually done in				boring if you are not careful) is to simply take the
one of two ways. Either it is a decision based entirely				shot, the second however is to get down to the
on cost and another item to be ticked off the "to				kiddies level and take the shot from their angle - it
do" list or it is a totally emotional decision. You know				makes a great shot and well worth the effort. That
that these photographs are going to be the only				same principle can be applied to photographing kids
remaining record of one of the best days of your life				anytime at a wedding. Get down on their level - see
so you want to find someone who you believe will				the world as they see it - you will be rewarded with
reflect that way in an artistic style you love.				some interesting pictures.
So that was what I was contemplating whilst thinking				These are just two examples from the many
of my title. As I was writing the title I thought about				moments that go to make a wedding day. I'm a
how we sell our wedding photography or perhaps				romantic at heart and I very much shoot for
more accurately how people buy from us. It may				expression - specifically the expressions of love and
surprise some of you to learn that for us it's also				affection between two people. Now that isn't just
very much an affair of the heart and not a business				limited to the bride and groom. I love the moment
transaction. That's not to say that we don't have a				when the Father of the bride sees his daughter for
minimum price below which we are unlikely to book -				the first time on the wedding day for example.
of course we do - we have to make a living and we				Nearly always tough men soften and you can see
have to cover the costs of the excellent products				the love in their eyes. Nearly always the bride looks
and albums we offer. Second best simply isn't good				expectantly at her father as if almost seeking
enough for us.				approval for one last time but the shot that many
In order for us to in many instances stand out in the				photographers miss is the mother of the bride
rain, deal with cheeky, often worse for wear guests				watching all this going on. She loves them both dearly.
sometimes difficult family relationships with tact and				She's probably been a party to the bride choosing
diplomacy, look after and almost pamper not just the				the dress and helping her to get dressed on the
bride but those around her all day long and then at				wedding morning. She's as excited about her
the end of the day still produce our best work ever				husband's reaction to his daughter as the bride is. This
(because we are only ever as good as our last				is mums' moment too.
wedding) there has to be something more in it for us				So now I've talked a little about why wedding
than money alone. I suppose what I am referring to				photography is an affair of the heart for us what
is job satisfaction in its broadest sense.				about you? What makes you consider a particular
So we start off with four people - the couple and us.				photographer over another? Is it a cost thing or is it
The relationship between us needs to be pretty				a passion for what they do and offer? Without
equal in order for it to work on the day - i.e. we				knowing the photographer can you envisage them at
need to want to photograph their wedding as much,				your wedding and imagine the pictures they may
if not more, as they want us to photograph it for				take of you and your family for you? Or is the album
them. Think about it. Does the most amazing, special				manufacturer more important to you than the
day of your entire life want to be just another mark				pictures within the album? They remain faceless until
on the photographer's year planner until they have				after the day because it's simply another box ticked
their quota filled for the year? Of course not! Ideally				on the long list of things you have "to do" before the
you want your photographers to be looking forward				day. It's not a reality even in your imagination.
to photographing your wedding and spending the day				Do you think that you might be able to "barter
with you because, believe me, if they are not then it				down" your photographer in price to photograph your
will, no matter how hard they try on the day be				day for you, sometimes to the point that, as in other
reflected in some way in the pictures. The number of				wedding services you have bought in, it becomes a
times we go just that little bit further, stay just a				game of wills to see who will give the most before
few moments longer, watch a little more carefully				walking away? If you love the work of the
because we suspect something a little special is about				photographer you are trying to negotiate with let me
to happen and are rewarded with some beautiful				tell you this is a very risky game to play. You might
moments and expressions is high. Not everything				end up with a real bargain but there's also a great
happens just when you expect it to on a wedding				chance that you will end up with all of nothing.
day or just how you are expecting it to happen.				Conversely do you simply love what they offer and
Take the signing of the register picture for example.				if your budget will allow you're going to have them?
One never to be missed at every wedding - with the				If you do this will come across to your photographer
increase in civil ceremonies and peculiar registrars it's				and there is a chance that even if they are slightly
also one of the shots which is getting more and				above your budget if they have any room to
more regimented and unemotional to shoot. It's a set				maneuver on what is included - say by decreasing
up. One of the "must have"pictures for the album.				the album size or number of pictures initially included
But do you know that virtually every time the couple				then your photographer may be willing to try to
kiss after signing the register as a set up shot as the				compromise to an affordable price for you.
photographer stands down and the guests are				John Ruskin - a much more intelligent person than I
invited up to take their shotsthe couples nearly				once famously said:
always 99/100 times have another moment when				"It is unwise to pay too much, but it is worse to pay
they kiss? They can't help themselves. This is a				too little. When you pay too much you lose a little
private moment between two people who are so				money. That is all. When you pay too little, you
lost in each other they become the only two people				sometimes lose everything because the thing that
in a crowded room. It's one not to be missed.				you bought was incapable of doing the thing that you
Another exmaple of this is the confetti picture. We				bought it to do! The common law of business balance
get some great shots of this. But what happens				prohibits paying a little and getting a lot. It cannot be
immediately after the confetti has been thrown?				done.... And if you deal with the lowest bidder, it is
Either one of two things - if not both - firstly some				well to add something for the risk that you run. And
people will try to stuff the confetti down the front				if you do that, you will have enough to pay for
of the brides dress - this makes a good "fun" picture				something better. There is hardly anything in the
with great expressions. Secondly flower girls and little				world that someone cannot make a little worse and
children from the wedding will start gathering up the				sell a little cheaper. And the people, who consider
confetti. They are drawn to it like a magnet. Now				price alone, are this man's lawful prey."
there's two ways to capture this second photo				I know I'm biased but he could have been talking
opportunity if you are going to - the first (rather				about wedding photography.