Photographer Nightmare

Unfortunately my very first blog submission is going to be on a negative topic that I really wanted to address.

Just a few moments ago I came across this news report about a wedding photographer based in Socal who delivered a select amount of images, but refused to deliver the entire gallery. Upon more research on said photographer, it turns out she’s done this to many clients.

The report doesn’t forwardly state the photographer’s aliases, but if you look hard enough, her name is easily visible in the documentation. Which I won’t put out there, as that’s not the reason for this entry.

Now, it’s really unfortunate that bad apples like this photographer tend to exist in the world, but the reality is - they do. And the most frustrating part (at least for me), is trying to find the reasoning behind why she won’t just deliver the entire gallery as promised? Of course, I don’t know all that is going on behind the scenes, but it’s common practice to send ALL of the important moments of the wedding day, not just the photos the photographer is proud of.

With every new client I have the pleasure of speaking to, one of the first questions I ask immediately is “what are some of your must-have moments you absolutely want captured that you’d want to look back on 10 years from now?”. I don’t ask this because I only plan to capture those moments. I ask this question to get a feel for what’s most meaningful to you, the client. Some clients want me to focus more on the love between them, some want the focus to be more on family, or the events happening throughout the day. Some clients feel the first look is the most meaningful since it's the first time they’ll see each other in their wedding attire, or down the aisle.

What it doesn’t mean is, “ok great, I’m only going to capture those moments, and that’s all I’m going to deliver”. And that’s likely the reason one of the most common questions I get asked in return is, “how many images will I receive in the gallery?”. The honest answer is, there is no set amount of images I deliver. It really depends on how many hours I am booked for the event, and how much is actually happening during the event.

I’m always scanning the room to see if I can capture any candid expressions or moments that others might not notice. Kids running around and having fun, tears falling during the ceremony or emotional speeches, or laughs when the groom blurts out something hilarious.

These candids aren’t the most cinematic or the grandest of elegant images. What they are, are unscripted raw moments that fly under the radar. And, as a documentarian, I live for these moments.

All of these photojournalistic moments are edited and delivered along with the first look, ring exchange, cake cutting, parent dances, speeches, family formals - I could go on and on. Why? Because these moments matter just as much as the primary events.

As time passes, so will life. Unfortunately - little ones will grow up, and the elderly will have passed on. These images will last for generations. That’s why I try to capture each and every face that attends the event. Every little moment I can find, that a client can look back on and feel the energy and emotions of that day.

I wasn’t planning on my first blog entry to be this lengthy, but it definitely is something I’m passionate about, and want my future clients to know that your memories are indeed safe with me, and WILL be delivered as promised!