Demystifying the Photographer- the Photographer and the Haircut

Hi everyone! This is a blog for photographers, photo enthusiasts and anybody who has ever hired a professional photographer. With the age of the digital camera making anyone and everyone with a DSLR a 'photographer' the lines between professional and amateur are blurred. Normally that wouldn't be a problem except for when it comes to hiring a photographer. My aim with this blog is to clear up any confusion about the photographer/ client relationship and to explain to those who aren't photographers what really goes on behind the lens, so that the next time you are looking for a photographer for whatever type of session, you will have a better understanding of the world of the professional photographer

People often ask 'Why are photographers so expensive? How hard is it to point a camera and push a button? Uncle Larry can do that!' Of course nobody wants to feel that they are getting ripped off when paying for a service, particularly wedding photography, but what people don't consider is that the photographer has had years of training and experience, so the reasons that you like their work is what makes the prices higher than those of the local college student looking to make a little extra cash.

One of the biggest pieces of advice I can give is this: With photography, you get what you pay for. If you are only willing to pay $500 (or less) for a full day of wedding photography, you are not going to be happy with the images. Odds are, the person offering photography services for that little doesn't value their own time and skill, so you should feel uncomfortable about the low prices rather than thinking you have scored a bargain. Photographers price their packages according to what their time and skills are worth, so price alone should be an indicator of the quality of images you will receive.

I once read this analogy regarding professional photography and I think that it is one that everyone can relate to. (If you know where this is from, please let me know!) A pair of scissors may cost you $5, but most people would not use those scissors to cut their own hair. Instead, they would happily pay $50 or more to go to a salon and have their hair done by someone who has the equipment and training to make them look and feel their best. In the same way, just because you or a friend of yours has a camera doesn't mean that you would necessarily entrust them with your wedding photos (and botched wedding photographs last forever, whereas a bad haircut grows out over time!). Instead, you should put your trust in the hands of a photographer with the eye, equipment and training to make you look and feel your best, leaving you free to enjoy the day rather than wondering if the shot turned out.

This is just a short introduction into my thoughts and the ideas behind this blog. Yes, I am very pro- photographer and believe that photography should be valued as an art rather than as mindless technology. When George Eastman launched the first Kodak camera in 1888 with the slogan 'You push the button- we do the rest' photography became convenient for the common man. However, convenience does not make for great photographs. Lucky ones, yes, but not great. I hope that any non-photographers who are reading this will have a new appreciation for the art of photography and the work that goes in to making thoughtful, creative, evocative images rather than casual snapshots.