Congratulations... You just got your new shiny expensive camera made by __________.
That thing sure is nice... and complicated. But it's a Christmas gift you really wanted... I'm sure it can't be that hard to take nice pictures with it. Boy, look at all those buttons and dials on it. Let's see... the owners manual - oh my, it's 400 pages long... yeah... well... There's an AUTO setting - we'll leave it there...
- Ok -
So all joking aside. With the Christmas season here I am sure there are more than one or two people who will be getting new digital cameras under that pine tree! And good for you! It's a great hobby and a great way to capture moments in time!
Chances are though - if you are one of the unlucky few to get one of those fancy cameras - DSLR (whatever that means right?). You know, the one with the big lens on it! You're going to be suckered into something...
Yeah... Now we're talking!
So after a few parties with family and friends you'll be busting that thing out! Snapping away... Uncle Melvin drinking a beer - snap, got it! Your buddy Jim dancing the Chicken Dance - snap, got it! Oh look, a flower alone in a vase on the table, black and white - snap, got it!
But there's a nasty problem looming in the negative space of digital photography... that empty black void that sucks pixels to their timeless death... WEDDINGS!
See - someone will get this bright idea that you have a "nice new expensive" camera. And because you have found this new art form and expression you will be PERFECT for their sisters / kids / neighbors / etc... wedding.
So what do you charge to do a wedding? Oh yeah... that's right, you're an amateur - you just happened to be better at managing your credit card than most Americans, hence the nice camera!
Is $100 enough? Is $500 too much? $1000? $10,000?? You'll probably just do it for free - hey, you like taking pictures right?
Run from this idea! Let me say that again in all caps so it'll soak in... RUN!!!! (even italicized for effect).
See here's the thing, you'll be in charge of a lot more than you bargained for. Do you really want to be responsible for someone's wedding? Think about it for a second. Does anyone remember their wedding cake? Does anyone remember the dinner? Does anyone remember what style the tuxedo was???
- No -
They remember the pictures - why? Because they last (typically). I guarantee anyone who is happily married has wedding pictures in their house - usually on display! Do you want that pressure? I sure don't!
Oh, so you've got one camera with the kit lens (a nice little 18mm - 135mm zoom that stops down to f3.5 at 18mm)... Good luck! What, you only shoot natural light? Hope the weddings outside during the "right" hours. Did you just drop your camera during the beginning of the ceremony? I'm sure the bride / groom didn't want the rest of the wedding recorded. They'll be understanding too I'm sure ;-)
A lengthy post - but the point I am trying to make - leave the "professional" work to... here it comes... the professionals. When I need surgery a few years ago - guess who I had do it??? A surgeon. Wow... crazy huh? I could have saved a few bucks having one of my buddies do it - sure - but I also didn't want to end up with a wrist watch somewhere in my abdomen.
Just sayin'...
- jermz
Don't be upset, like this guy, with bad wedding pictures - avoid them!
No comments:
Post a Comment