I”m posting a picture of this kid, because he’s awesome. We found him on the dance floor at Melanie and Casey’s wedding. I have no idea why he is screaming at the camera, but I love the picture.
His expression also reminds me of the times I hear people convinced they need a specific # of photographers at their wedding.
In the interest of full disclosure, I work almost every wedding with an assistant/2nd photographer. 90% of the time, that person is my awesome and talented wife Kristen. (I sometimes do smaller weddings alone, and though I have to work a little harder, the pictures are just as good) Sometimes less is actually more, especially for lower key events.
The mild rant I want to go off on, is everyone has their own way of working. Many of my favorite photographers (worldwide, as well as in Seattle) shoot weddings completely solo. I also have a few favorites that are married couples, and also some that use a “2nd shooter” at every wedding.
The point I want to drive home is that the pictures are what should sell you on a photographer. It bothers me to no end to see people use “2 photographers” as a selling point. If the pictures aren’t great, why in the world would you want double the amount of boring pictures?
The thing that should sell you on the photographer is the pictures they show you. If they can show you a lot of work that you like, they will probably produce the same kind of work at your wedding. The # of great pictures they take is what is important, not how many people are taking them.
Okay, rant over 🙂
Your rant made me laugh! It’s spot on, though!
Cory
Your rant is right on and made me chuckle! I agree whole heartedly, but, if I didn’t have the two photographers at my wedding I would have been left with boring photos from the other guy and not have the pictures you did for me. Emily loves the pictures you did. She always asks why you didn’t color them. 😀
Is going to a wedding and NOT being the photographer totally ruined for you now? Like the Seahawks, it just isn’t the same without being to walk around wherever you want and get great shots!!??
Yeah, kind of. When I’m at a wedding I tend to critique what the other photographer is doing in my head. It’s hard not to. It’s actually been a while since I’ve been to a wedding that I was not photographing though. Probably a few years at least.
Being a sideline sports photographer definitely ruins you as a fan. It’s really hard to sit in the cheap seats after you’ve seen the action up close.
The other thing is that taking pictures is just my favorite thing to do. So whether I’m watching a movie, a sporting event, at the park, I’m usually thinking about what would make a good picture, even if I’m not actually shooting. Taking “mental pictures” as they say……