Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2004/02/22

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Subject: RE: [Leica] OT...But camera related..
From: "B. D. Colen" <bdcolen@earthlink.net>
Date: Sun, 22 Feb 2004 12:05:13 -0500

After everyone has gone home, after The Couple returns from the
honeymoon, after the $5000 to $500,000 in wedding bills have been paid,
only two things remain:
The marriage; and the wedding photos. And approximately 10 years later,
in about 50% of cases, the marriage is over, and only the photos remain.

Wedding photos are the only lasting thing a couple pays for - other than
the marriage license - in connection with their wedding. When you think
about it, they are worth far more than the dinner, the hall, the band,
the dress, the booze.

As to shooting wedding photos - I love shooting weddings; weddings are
tribal rituals, religious services, family reunions, open sores,
glorious parties, disgusting drunks, all at once. The real trick to
shooting weddings and having fun doing it is simply deciding ahead what
you will and won't shoot, and how you will and won't shoot it, and
making that crystal clear BEFORE the couple decides whether or not to
hire you. Then, if they hire you, you can spend the days - or days -
shooting things the way you want to shoot them.

So - only a few informal/formal group shots; no table shots; no dopey
posed kisses; no lovey dovey on the dock at sunset crap - just
documentary photos of the most important day in the life of the young
couple (until the day the first child arrives!)

B. D.

- -----Original Message-----
From: owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
[mailto:owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us] On Behalf Of Don Dory
Sent: Sunday, February 22, 2004 11:30 AM
To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
Subject: RE: [Leica] OT...But camera related..


C'mon Ted,
To paraphrase you, wouldn't you like to get $10,000 U.S. to shoot a
wedding from the dark side?  :) :o(

Don
dorysrus@mindspring.com

- -----Original Message-----
From: owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
[mailto:owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us] On Behalf Of Ted Grant
Sent: Sunday, February 22, 2004 11:27 AM
To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
Subject: Re: [Leica] OT...But camera related..

Weddings!!!!!!!!!! aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! ;-) ted
- ----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mark Rabiner" <mark@rabinergroup.com>
To: "leica-users" <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
Sent: Sunday, February 22, 2004 3:40 AM
Subject: Re: [Leica] OT...But camera related..


> On 2/21/04 5:38 AM, "Gerry Walden" <gwpics@aol.com> wrote:
>
> > Mark
> >
> > You are getting too cynical for your own good! I have done hundreds
of
> > weddings (got up to 70 in one year once) and I still really enjoy
most
of
> > them, although one or two can be hard work. It is not that bad if
you go
> > into it with a positive attitude from the word 'Go'. I remember
getting
> > married once (only once, and still with her after 34 years) and I
couldn't
> > afford my wedding photos either. In those days they were in b&w and
the
> > photographer took about 3 rolls of 120 and, if he really liked you,
he
may
> > break into the fourth. But then, from what I hear, you Americans go
a
bit
> > over the top with your posing against the sunset etc. etc. Here in
the
UK if
> > we even see the sun we gaze in wonderment too transfixed to
photograph
it.
> >
> > Gerry
> >
> > Gerry Walden LRPS
> > www.gwpics.com <http://www.gwpics.com>
> > Tel: +44 (0)23 8046 3076
> >
> >
> >
> I did approach most of my weddings with a positive attitude as I donšt

> believe it's ever worth it to do something you donšt like and be
begrudging
> in some negative way about it. I hate that when I see that. Why not
just
not
> do it? You don't have to be "rich" just get another job or another 
> specialty. Wedding were an added thing for me and represented money I
could
> not say no to. Besides I loved the deviled eggs and the bridesmaids
leaning
> over in their low cut polyester dresses.
> They kept me in shape. When I was in shape to do weddings just about
any
> other job was less stressful because I'd mainly have my act in gear.
>
> My clients in the last 10 years of my wedding career got mostly 8x10's
and
> printed by me. I reminded them that traditionally a wedding book
consisted
> of about a dozen 8x10's. (taken with a speed graphic) that was my
ideal. A
> book filled with hundreds of cheap snapshots offended me and it was
easy
for
> me to sell them on that idea. Usually I was presold as they'd seen my
work
> or seen me in action.
> At 10 or 12 bucks a piece they'd order quite a bit more 8x10's then a
dozen
> and 5x7's cost the same so it was amazing sometimes when they'd also
order
> those. I'd make thousands but it often took me more than a week to
print.
> That burnt me out.
> Also in the last 10 years I left my Nikon system at home and only shot
with
> the Hasselblad, both formals and candid. One less system.
>
> So I'm with you more than you think Gerry!
>
>
>
> Mark Rabiner
> Photography
> Portland, Oregon
> http://rabinergroup.com/
>
>
>
> --
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Replies: Reply from "Christopher Williams" <leicachris@worldnet.att.net> (Re: [Leica] OT...But camera related..)
Reply from Ted Grant <tedgrant@shaw.ca> (Re: [Leica] OT...But camera related..)