Expert: Wedding Photographics - 7/1/2008

Question
Hello John,

I'm a serious photographer considering going pro as a wedding photographer in the Chattanooga Tennessee area. As a Chattanooga wedding photographer yourself, what do you look for in a photographer you would like to have for back-up and as a second shooter?

Answer
Hey Steve,

Thanks for your photography questions.  Since you describe yourself as a serious photographer, I would like to view your portfolio if considering you as a back up or 2nd shooter for weddings.  If you have no wedding experience at all, I would definitely want you to shoot a few weddings with me until you feel comfortable and are creating the kind of work which brides are booking us for.

Technical competence is one thing and there are a LOT of self-proclaimed "photographers" who are still learning photography 101 and already in business!  But besides technical competence and artistic abilities, we are actively seeking photographers who genuinely enjoy interacting with people; clients.  We want friendly and courteous photographers who stay that way even when the client or any of her family or friends are stressed out on the Wedding Day.  Wedding photographers have got to be socially mature or skilled people who can empathize with others around them and not allow stress to get the best of them.  I've even seen a surprising number of wedding planners and ceremony directors over the years who just simply "dropped the ball".  You've got to learn how to anticipate possible changes to the plan even up to the very last moment and act accordingly and appropriately to still get the shot.  We want photographers who smile, enjoy themselves and make others smile and laugh during the Wedding Day.  On top of all this, we must have photographers who are dependable.  If you are scheduled to shoot a wedding, you must either show up or you must make sure another professional photographer fills in for you if you just absolutely cannot make it.  (Brides who book a certain photographer with us receive a discount if the chosen photographer does not shoot the wedding).

While we are not the most expensive photographers in Chattanooga, we are certainly not the lowest priced either.  We provide a variety of wedding photography services and products as well as wedding videography at fair market prices.  We would love to hear from you if you would be interested in working for an established wedding photography studio in Chattanooga.

Wedding Photographer John Wilson
Chattanooga Tennessee
http://www.weddingphotographics.net