Comments on: Learn wedding photography in a weekend, I think not!

By: Mike Samuels

Mike Samuels — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 10:19:39 +0000

Experience is learned over time and by making mistakes, would you entrust your most important memories to someone who has just spent a weekend on a course?
David Bailey famously said there are millions of camera owners but very few photographers.
Anyone earning their living from photography will empathise with the difficulty, convincing customers, why they should refrain from using the local amateur or Uncle Fred.
A good wedding photographer earns every penny of their fee, true expertise must be paid for; we all know the adage about ‘paying peanuts’.
What next, a Saturday evening course on how to take architectural photographs on your 10 megapixel cameraphone?
Long live the professional.

By: Jim Millen

Jim Millen — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 23:00:25 +0000

I’d agree 100%. I’d like to do semi-professional photography at some point – strictly amateur at the moment – and I’d not dream of taking on paying clients without several years more practice. There’s so much that you only get through putting in the time to train yourself and make mistakes, whether it’s being able to spot a unique composition, avoiding unsightly backgrounds, or managing in difficult lighting conditions.

I’m sure there’s lots that a keen beginner could learn from a weekend taught well, but that should be the start of their journey to expertise, not the end.

My view is that “reportage” or “documentary” photography is badly misunderstood. It can be interpreted as you describe – capture everything in sight, regardless of it’s artistic or emotional value. Thus we often end up with dull, boring images that don’t do justice to the events they depict.

I’d argue quite the opposite, that the soul and true purpose of photojournalism is all about the capture of that emotion and feeling. That’s what I’d like to see as “reportage” shots, whether of a wedding, or of the more sombre events more normally the subject of photojournalists.

That was a bit more long-winded than I had expected – sorry! Thanks for the photos from Janis – they are incredible. One of my inspirations, in the more photojournalistic style, is Jeff Ascough – http://jeffascough.typepad.com/.

By: Tracey Jefferies

Tracey Jefferies — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 21:47:19 +0000

You make such good points and one’s that can transfer to other service industries as well.

By: Nigel Morgan - Morgan PR

Nigel Morgan - Morgan PR — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 20:47:01 +0000

You make an excellent point!

Anyone choosing a photographer for their wedding should ask to see how they have photographed other weddings. Preferably quite a few different weddings and a qualified photographer will happily put them in touch with happy clients.

Digital cameras have made everyone a photographer, but it doesn’t mean they are qualified or talented enough to take your wedding photographs.

I studied photography (back in the days of 35mm film!) and can take great photos myself, but when my business needs photos, or clients need photographs, when the budget allows (and it always should) I use a professional photographer.

There are weekend courses for people to learn journalism and yet after 25 years I am still learning new tricks!