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- Name
- Marcel
- Edit My Images
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We'd like to clarify our position on this situation.
Not all brides place the same importance on their wedding photos as they do other things from the day. Some brides will want to spend a hell of alot on their honeymoon, yet not alot on the photos.
Some brides want their photographs highly polished and something to really show off, yet don't care where they get married, or what food they eat.
The point is, everyone is different and all have different wants, needs and priorities, and ee as a friendly forum should be understanding towards that.
As a photography forum, we are here first and foremost to serve the interests of our members......the photographers. Some are professionals, some are amateurs.
Some amateurs are happy to remain as just that, and stay in full control of what and how they shoot...as a hobby. Some wish to one day turn professional. Some might not even know if they want to turn professional, but would like the chance to 'dip their toe'.
In amongst those may be amateurs who wish to break into the wedding photography business.
As a forum that serves its members it is right that we should be finding a way to assist them in doing that. There is clearly a market for amateur photographers to shoot weddings on a low budget basis, in order to gain further experience.
Yes, there are (sometimes costly) courses they can go on, and there are unpaid (or even paid) jobs as second assistants. These solutions do not always suit everyone, nor are they available for everyone.
Therefore, we are attempting to address the issue, and are possibly looking at introducing an area where potential brides can request the work of amateur photographers. However, we feel there should be clear rules and understandings laid out, for example.
* There should be some sort of consideration, however small. 'Your payment is getting to photograph me' isn't a fair request. Maybe cover expenses or offer a meal and drinks to the photographer.
* The bride has to have relevant expectations. They are getting an amateur photographer with little or no experience and as such should have relevant expectations of the outcome.
* The photographer should not be out of pocket (to a fair degree).
* A release form may be signed allowing the photographer full use of the images commercially.
* There should still be a written contract in place between the two parties.
* No claims of poverty from the bride if they are spending £3000 on a month in Mauritius for the honeymoon. Open and honest dialogue is the way forward.
(There are also legal implications to consider, for example...insurance).
We want a facility that helps a bride and amateur photographer to come to an agreement that suits both parties, where they both walk away with something.
However, we won't allow ourmembers community to be exploited as an easy avenue to get 'freebies' just for the sake of it.
Bear in mind this is not that much different from photographers and models working on a TFP (Time for Prints) or TFCD (Time for CD) basis.
Both parties have something to give, and both have something they want. We want to help facilitate that for our members.
This isn't about cheapening the skill of wedding photography either, it's about giving amateurs the chance of real-world experience, without all the pressure of being expected to do a professional job for professional pay.
Especially if they end up spooning it and walking away with nothing more than an out of focus slice of cake.
*That* would give the industry a bad name, and no pro-tog wants that for the industry do they?
Not all brides place the same importance on their wedding photos as they do other things from the day. Some brides will want to spend a hell of alot on their honeymoon, yet not alot on the photos.
Some brides want their photographs highly polished and something to really show off, yet don't care where they get married, or what food they eat.
The point is, everyone is different and all have different wants, needs and priorities, and ee as a friendly forum should be understanding towards that.
As a photography forum, we are here first and foremost to serve the interests of our members......the photographers. Some are professionals, some are amateurs.
Some amateurs are happy to remain as just that, and stay in full control of what and how they shoot...as a hobby. Some wish to one day turn professional. Some might not even know if they want to turn professional, but would like the chance to 'dip their toe'.
In amongst those may be amateurs who wish to break into the wedding photography business.
As a forum that serves its members it is right that we should be finding a way to assist them in doing that. There is clearly a market for amateur photographers to shoot weddings on a low budget basis, in order to gain further experience.
Yes, there are (sometimes costly) courses they can go on, and there are unpaid (or even paid) jobs as second assistants. These solutions do not always suit everyone, nor are they available for everyone.
Therefore, we are attempting to address the issue, and are possibly looking at introducing an area where potential brides can request the work of amateur photographers. However, we feel there should be clear rules and understandings laid out, for example.
* There should be some sort of consideration, however small. 'Your payment is getting to photograph me' isn't a fair request. Maybe cover expenses or offer a meal and drinks to the photographer.
* The bride has to have relevant expectations. They are getting an amateur photographer with little or no experience and as such should have relevant expectations of the outcome.
* The photographer should not be out of pocket (to a fair degree).
* A release form may be signed allowing the photographer full use of the images commercially.
* There should still be a written contract in place between the two parties.
* No claims of poverty from the bride if they are spending £3000 on a month in Mauritius for the honeymoon. Open and honest dialogue is the way forward.
(There are also legal implications to consider, for example...insurance).
We want a facility that helps a bride and amateur photographer to come to an agreement that suits both parties, where they both walk away with something.
However, we won't allow our
Bear in mind this is not that much different from photographers and models working on a TFP (Time for Prints) or TFCD (Time for CD) basis.
Both parties have something to give, and both have something they want. We want to help facilitate that for our members.
This isn't about cheapening the skill of wedding photography either, it's about giving amateurs the chance of real-world experience, without all the pressure of being expected to do a professional job for professional pay.
Especially if they end up spooning it and walking away with nothing more than an out of focus slice of cake.
*That* would give the industry a bad name, and no pro-tog wants that for the industry do they?
