vendredi 30 mars 2018

Is Not A Professional Portrait Photographer Nanaimo Supposed To Be Glamorous?

By Ryan Graham


Everyone s rather pensive relative to the festive atmosphere but moments prior. Soaked to the bone, he wiggles them hoping to shake the numbness taking hold of his fingers. Resigned to play on, reminiscent of musicians on the sinking Titanic, the organist gradually retakes his seat at the instrument. Thumbs through the sheet music for the appropriate organ score, and gently lays his trembling fingers on the keys. He looks over, and once the groom makes eye contact, he raises his eyebrows. The gesture requesting permission to start his rendition of Here Comes the Bride. Nothing s going as planned! But when operating a portrait photographer Nanaimo, you have to learn to prepare for the unexpected.

With the massive uptrend of people wishing to join the ranks of wedding photographers, the profession s garnered a somewhat glamorous mystique. Aspirants lose sight of it being work, until they start getting booked, that is. They find themselves commuting to, sometimes, foreign locations at odd hours. In a business built on referrals, reputation is everything. So, catering to unusual requests from clients simply comes with the territory. In a sense, it is like working in the service industry.

When it comes to capturing momentous occasions meant as keepsakes for future generations, photos, especially in imperishable digital format, tend to stand the test of time. So being tasked with capturing said images carries with it a certain burden of responsibility. More so if one is actually being paid to do it. It is understandable then why most couples are very particular when it comes to selecting a photographer for something as life changing as their wedding. Should you offer your services and they do not let you down gently, try and remember that it is not about you. It is always going to be all about them.

With business booming, and the competition heating up, it is invaluable that one s skills be distinguishable from the rest of the pack s. To that end, downtime should be spent in developing one s craft, learning the latest cutting edge techniques, applying them religiously until they become second nature and can be relied upon at a whim s notice. The goal is not only to please, but to impress.

In Japan it is said, The nail that sticks out gets hammered. But as a photographer, an artist, the success of one s trade is largely dependent on public exposure. Getting hammered simply comes with the territory. Hopefully, it does not come to that though. By meticulously catering to the needs of clients and, thereby, building relationships based on trust, they are usually glad to recommend you should anyone they know need a cameraperson in future.

Once the business starts rolling in though, the urge to take on every couple due to trade nuptials must be strongly resisted. Every client expects that personal touch, and all the legwork involved is no small feat. Being fully booked, while an appealing proposition at the beginning of your career, does not allow for any flexibility should unforeseen circumstances arise. And as any wedding planner can attest, things do not always go as planned.

So, when a shoot scheduled for 5 hours becomes 10 hours because your clients insisted on your services at the after party, or an unplanned night shoot, scheduling conflicts are bound to happen. Especially since the most time consuming aspect of the work does not even happen at the photoshoot. Bear in mind, all their pictures will still need to be edited, processed, packaged, and, as per their request, transferred to a personalized photo album or flash drive. All this accomplished on your own time, of course.

Which is why health is wealth. One s not only expected to, but required to go that extra mile in providing consistently value added service to all their clients. That is key to building a profitable reputation. Which takes time. It takes energy. But instead of developing tunnel vision, it is just as important for one to take some time out for themselves occasionally. A little R&R helps one reassess their goals, getting back in touch with family and friends, and remembering why they decided to become professional capturers of moments in the first place.




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