Weddings; misc. ramblings (long)

[P3D Alan Lewis <dlewis@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

There have been previous threads on stereo weddings where George and I
have extolled the virtues of our respective formats (slides vs. prints),
that can be found in the archives.  We addressed the business
philosophies of doing stereo weddings, as well as how the general public
reacts to stereo wedding marketing too.  A search of the archives would
locate the wedding threads.

The current discussion got onto the topic of unwanted amateur photog's
at weddings (not the original topic, but somehow it got there anyway).

I have not had any problem with this.  In fact, the last wedding I did
the bride and groom had the Kodak Wedding Disposables at each reception
table.  Talk about flashes going off while you are trying to take
pictures! 

Did it bother me?  No.
Did I lose sales?  Not that I know of. (no one knew to tape two of them
together for stereo  :-)) )  sshhh.... don't let this out.
Did the amatuer photog's serve any purpose?  In my case, they were able
to salvage a picture of the "memories" table (old family photo's on
display) that I lost when my flash malfunctioned.  I was glad to have
other photog's around.

I don't think any good wedding photog. is going to lose a great amount
of business to point and shoot/disposable camera's.  Now if someone
shows up with a Hassy......!

We have to discern between stereo and conventional photog. when talking
about this topic, as well as shooting styles.

If I were a conventional wedding photog. I would be more concerned with
amateur photog's interfering.
Conventional wedding photog's are very competive in pricing, so
sometimes they price a package low in expectations of making it up later
with reprints.  This is one reason why they are sensitive to this topic.

A conventional wedding photog. can possibly control unauthorized shots
coming out too good by making sure that he has the best location for the
shot, and that other photog's are kept to the sides and behind.  The
amateur shots will suffer from bad perspective, clutter in the photo,
and peoples eyes not looking at the camera.  They will get the amateur
shots they want, and you will get the pro shots that you need.

Additionally, my personal shooting style reduces my concern with amateur
photog's.  I shoot mainly candid/journalistic photo's.  I very rarely
shoot posed/set up shots.  The only posed shots I do are the alter
shots, and they don't usually make for good stereo anyway.  But I can
control where the amateurs stand for there shots, as stated above. 

Besides, I shoot stereo and they shoot mono.  No problem as I see it
here.

How weddings are shot professioanlly (for hire) and the effect of
amateurs:

1.) If you are shooting a wedding in slides then you have no problem as
I see it. It is unlikely that you encounter another person using slide
film nowdays, and even more unlikely that the slide film will be in a
stereo camera.

2.) If you shoot prints then you may have a concern.  But you have some
control.

	2a) An all stereo wedding print wedding will not have a problem with
amateur competition.  You are supplying all of your wedding photo's in
stereo print form, and you have charged accordingly for it.  You are not
expecting to make it up later by charging a lower rate in the
beginning.  Any additional mono reprints from you stereo negs. are icing
on the cake.  You are then happy, not sad.  

Lesson #1: Do not undercharge for a stereo wedding.  Make your price
reflect a profit for the basic package, treat reprints as happy money.

After all, where else is the customer going to get a price for a stereo
package?  You are probably the only game in town.  The customer is
coming to you because you offer a unique product ,and they will be
willing to pay for it if they really want it.

	2b) A stereo print wedding, but as a mixture of mono and stereo. This
version can have problems with amateur photo's, but just make sure that
you follow rule #1. 

I have done stereo weddings in all of the variations: As a gift; As the
second hired weddding photog.; and as the only hired wedding
photographer.

I have never had any conflicts with other photog's, either pro or
amateur.  I make sure that I talk to any other photog. about what I am
doing, how it interacts with what they are doing, and what etiquette to
use. 

There is so much stress to photographing a stereo wedding for hire that
I try to avoid any additional stress by addressing this issue up front.

I am presently not doing any more weddings for hire because I want to
market the concept to the established wedding photog., so I need to do
the R&D and manufacturing work for the stereo viewers and display items.

My latest wedding package idea will use the Freeviewer's Assistant and
conventional wedding albums.

As some of the conventional wedding photographers have told me after
seeing my website:  "It's the first new idea in wedding photography in
20 years!"

As I state it: "Stereo Wedding Photography: a great idea waiting for a
market to happen" 
 
-- 
_______________________________________________________________
Alan Lewis
mailto:dlewis@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Home of the stereo wedding package, and weekend stereo projects
http://www.arlington.net/homes/dlewis


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