I want to share with you my blog readers a little tidbit I received from one of my very talented colleagues. Nichol Krupp who is a photographer in Michigan.
We both belong to an internet forum with talented photographers from around the world. She shared her recent blog post with many of us photographers and gave us permission to show her informative post on our blogs.
Art and Accidents…
I heard a panel of speakers at my convention speaking about many different things but one thing that stuck in my mind and is yet to leave is this:
“CREATIVE PEOPLE HAVE TO SUFFER THE CLASSICS BECAUSE THAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ART AND ACCIDENTS.”
With the availability of digital cameras these days, there is such a trend right now to say, “oh, I am a photographer too.” I hear it all of the the time from people where ever I go. I think in a way it has affected the industry a bit. Anyone can eventually get a great picture if they take enough images but really knowing the technical aspects of photography, lighting, and how to really work your camera and what lenses to use WHEN is what sets a professional apart from an amateur.
These are the things that we as photographers do day in and day out that are consistent and well done each and every time. That is what makes someone a professional. Be sure that you look for these things when choosing YOUR photographer.
In the past year, I have had several clients commission me to do pictures that for them are a REDO. WHY? Because they wanted to spend less money by going elsewhere to someone who called themselves a PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER, but did not end up having the skills to back that title up. As a result, their pictures did not turn out and they were then coming to me after all to get their pictures redone. In the end, they are spending way more money than if they had gone to a REAL PROFESSIONAL to begin with.
Does it always pay to go the cheaper route? The answer is NO! When it comes to an OVERALL EXPERIENCE, SKILLS, and QUALITY…. I am a FIRM believer that you get what you pay for. Please keep this in mind when choosing your future photographer. Especially when you are needing images captured from a moment in time that you just cannot get back(ie. a newborn baby, your wedding day, and even high-school seniors).
Do your research. Analyze their work. What have you heard about them? Is it good? Is it bad? Look at the BIG pictures on their walls. Is the quality good? Are the images in FOCUS? Are there NO BIG PICTURES up in their studio(a huge red flag IMO). Are they affiliated with any professional photography organizations? Do they have a great website to showcase their style and work. These are all things that one should look at when making an investment in their photographer. Are their prices too good to be true? Then, they probably are. You simply cannot get exceptional quality work for next to NOTHING.
On average, my studio puts in approximately 10-15 hours per client from the very first session, to the proofing, post processing, the ordering appointment, retouching, final printing and actual delivery to the client. It is an investment.
I consider myself an artist. I consider the images I provide my clientelle with art for their walls. I consider it an investment in their future. I consider the images I create something that will be of good quality 80 years later as well as something that one will not be able to put a price on in the future because of its sentimental value alone.
Choose your artist wisely. Suffering the classics(knowing what you are doing) is what makes the difference between art and accidents.
Just a little food for thought.
Have a good one!
~Niki
In regards to this post, I want to say that I have spent countless hours trying to perfect my skills as a photographer over the years. I attend workshops and photography conferences as often as I can to continue to educate my self as a photographer. I am a member of both WPPI (wedding and portrait photographers international) and PPA (professional photographers of America).I have participated in international print competitions to challenge my self and to grow my skills. This and many other things I will continue to do to be able to do a good job of capturing my clients memories forever in photographs.
As an example, here are my boys trying to outdo each other with the little point and shoot camera vs a digital SLR. Neither of their photographs were that impressive from this session even though clearly one of them had a better camera to use then the other one.
