RE: [Leica] wedding candids

[Paul Chefurka <Paul_Chefurka@pmc-sierra.com>]

I tried to go that direction back in the mid-70's, though I stayed in colour
and didn't eliminate the formal stuff, just upped the proportion of candids.
My clientele was interested in the work, but they didn't buy large numbers
of those prints.  To them they were "snaps", not "photographs", and very few
made it into albums or frames.  So basically I found that it only worked if
I was willing to sell the proof set.  Don't get me wrong, people loved it
because it had the feel of "their" wedding, not generic formula wedding
photos.  The hard truth is, though, that the reason there is a generic,
formula set of wedding photos is because that's what most clients want.  So
if you do this, you'll be severely limiting your potential customer base.

The other problem is that it's hard to count on getting good candids (even
with a Leica).  People are really picky about their expressions, and the
bland smiles of posed shots are more acceptable to them than the
crossed-eye, pursed-lip expressions you're likely to capture.  Doing at
least some formals means never having to say you're sorry, which is the kiss
of death for a career as a wedding photog.  I came to realize that in a
commercial transaction the customer is king, and the fact that I wanted to
shoot cool slice-of-life stuff at their weddings mattered not a whit to
them.

Sorry to come off sounding so negative - if you can find clients who are
interested in that approach, go for it, but I wouldn't count on making it a
staple offering.

Paul

>-----Original Message-----
>From: Simon Stevens [mailto:simon@camera-craftsman.com]
>Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2000 12:37 PM
>To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
>Subject: [Leica] wedding candids
>
>
>I'm thinking about changing the way I do weddings for my business. I
>really don't like doing all the dumb groups and it's 
>frustrating herding
>disinterested people around like a sheepdog while all the interesting
>photographic opportunities are elsewhere. I'm wondering what experience
>people on the list might have marketing candids-only wedding
>photography? I'd like to do it in black and white if possible, and
>hopefully take the marketing (and the pricing) a little upmarket to
>distinguish myself from the high street wedding crowd.
>
>Finally, maybe you might like to take a look at some pictures along
>these line which I took at a wedding reception last weekend. 
>The address
>for the quickie page I have placed them on is:
>http://www.camera-craftsman.com/wedding
>
>Thanks!
>
>Simon Stevens
>