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

By Ryan Graham


Everyone stands up as the organist begins playing Here Comes the Bride. Letting everyone know exactly who the focus of the occasion is, in case they did not already. The guests turn their heads, straining their necks to see the vision of elegant radiance shimmering up the aisle and leaving a procession of bridesmaids, an entourage of angels, floating in her wake. It is your job to eternalize this moment. As the photographer, you feel the pressure mounting. Because it is her big day, and she is expecting a professional wedding portrait photographer Nanaimo.

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.

Getting work in this field requires recognition. But if you are not working, how are you supposed to get recognized and ever acknowledged for your abilities? It is a standard catch 22. There is no simple solution to this situation. And why every artist knows that unrewarded talent is virtually a proverb. Oftentimes, one will work for years just building up the courage to finally put their work out there. Only for critics to take a savage dump on it from a dizzy height. But, take heed, it happens to everyone. Being criticized does not make you special, just pretty average. Being able to keep bouncing back from the criticism though, that is a sure sign of being on the fast track to success.

All one can do is keep developing their skills. And one day you will get lucky, with luck defined as opportunity meets preparation. It all starts with being prepared. If you are truly passionate about your craft, and make no mistake, photography is a craft, you will be taking every opportunity to bring your A game to the table. It is all about show and prove, so showmanship counts. It is not just about what you do, but how you do it.

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.

Despite the financial implications, one should be wary of booking every person interested in one s services. It is typical for a cameraperson to only accept half the jobs they are offered. The nature of the beast is primarily relationship based. So, delivering clients a consistently high standard of service places some massive commitments on one s time. That is why the pros raise their rates. Overbooking, and therefore overworking, is a rookie mistake.

It still requires conscientious scheduling keeping everything on track. Apart from the time consuming work that post production entails, a photographer has to be available to respond to impromptu queries, managing expectations, punctually arriving at shoot locations, then editing and arranging the images into the specific packages as requested, before finally forwarding the polished product off to the new bride and groom and all other relevant parties. Whew! That was already a mouthful. Just imagine actually having to do all that legwork.

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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