You can divide the kinds of wedding enquiries that I get into two categories. Those that have seen my website, love the photos and must have me as their photographer. They just want to know whether their date is available and what the price is. I love working with them, I know that they get what I do and I’m going to give them a wedding album that they will cherish and that really is the best feeling.

The second kind comes with a list of questions. Do you have spare equipment, are you accredited to a photographic association (the answer is yes to both btw), etc. I love working with them as well. They have done their research and they know what they want, but this is probably the first time that they have ever hired a professional photographer and they have heard horror stories. I understand the hesitation, you’re putting the documenting of a day you have thought about for a long time in the hands of a stranger. Never mind emailing questions, where is the polygraph machine!

I’m generally happy to answer any questions, show highlights of my latest weddings and a couple of full weddings which aren’t on the website. I’d rather not shoot the wedding if we don’t see eye to eye and you are not totally happy with what I do. The one question, which I always dread, is the why-should-I-go-with-you-rather-than-another-photographer? It’s the tell-me-what-you-see-as-your-weaknesses job interview question of wedding photography. I got one of those yesterday.

The obvious route to go would be to point out my portfolio and style of photography. I don’t think that is what she was after. I eventually settled on I photograph for couples who are terrified of spending their day being told to smile, say cheese, stand here, pretend to X. I photograph for couples who want to open their albums 20 years from now and see the genuine smile they had on their face when he or she said I do rather than the smile they had on their face when the photographer told them to say cheese. It’s a bit formal, but it’s the truth. Check out any wedding photographer’s portfolio and then look at mine. Its real moments being captured and I think those are the moments that are worth remembering years from now. Not some over contrived moment clubbed to death by a Photoshop effect.

This entry was posted Tuesday, May 23rd, 2006 at 3:32 pm and is filed under Opinion, Photography.