PHOTOGRAPHY EXPERIENCES BETWEEN UNCLE BOB DOING YOUR PHOTOS AND A PROFESSIONAL!

We like Uncle Bob. We really do. He's a great guy and everyone loves being around him. He tells great jokes and can even do a few magic tricks at parties. He's the guy we all look forward to seeing at birthday parties.

Uncle Bob rocks.

But what do you say if he offers to photograph your wedding?

It sounds pretty good. He has a really expensive camera, and he says that he won't even charge you. It will be his wedding present!

Awesome. It sounds too good to be true! And it's totally understandable to consider it. After all, who wouldn't like to shave a few thousand dollars off their wedding budget?

  Uncle Bob: Professional:
 EXPERIENCE
  • Takes wonderful pictures of flowers and his kids at the playground.
  • Brings his camera on holiday
  • Took a community college photography workshop about 5 years ago.
  • Favourite camera setting is "Auto."
  • Enjoys discussing the comparative merits of various cameras on internet message boards.
  • Doesn't see the need to spend $1000 for an external flash because his camera has a pop-up flash.
  • Averages 3,000 to 10,000 images every week.
  • Knows how to shoot in all situations: dark caves, sunny beaches, large churches, in the rain, and in the snow.
  • Can quickly adjust camera settings blindfolded.
  • Adept at using ambient light, bounced flash, fill flash, and off-camera lighting.
  • Understands the principles of photojournalism, portrait photography, creative posing, and composition.
  • Is up to date on modern wedding photography styles and techniques.
  • Belongs to professional photographic organisations like the Royal photographic society
  • Lives, breathes, and sleeps wedding photography.
WEDDING EXPERIENCE
  • Has attended a few family weddings.
  • Loves dancing to "We Are Family."
  • Tends to takes snapshots only of friends and family that he knows
  • If the wedding pictures don't turn out, oh well.
  • Shoots 30 to 50 (or more) weddings per year.
  • Can show you multiple examples of wedding galleries from past clients.
  • Has enough experience to help your whole wedding day run smoothly.
  • Has dealt with a myriad of wedding scenarios including churches, backyards, castles, ballrooms, beaches, and parks.
  • Has shot small weddings, large weddings, traditional, modern, unconventional, offbeat, and everything in between.
  • Knows the flow of a wedding day and can anticipate where to be, what to capture, and can adjust to the unexpected.
  • Can provide valuable advice on your timetable and recommend family group shots.
  • Realizes future livelihood relies on delivering high quality images.
EQUIPMENT
  • Often at times will have a "REALLY FASH CAMERA", but hasn't fully explored (or understood) all of its features.
  • Has one or two consumer grade zoom lenses.
  • Might have a flash, but always uses it pointed straight ahead, set to Auto of course.
  • Has shot a couple of hundred images with it.
  • Has invested $10′s of thousands of dollars in multiple pro camera bodies, an extensive collections of lenses, flashes, battery packs and other peripheral equipment.
  • Has shot hundreds of thousands of images and knows the equipment inside and out.
  • Refreshes all equipment on an ongoing basis. Has all equipment cleaned, adjusted, and calibrated on an annual basis.
BACKUP EQUIPMENT
  • Cell phone camera.
  • Could borrow a point-and-shoot from another guest in a pinch.
  • Carries at LEAST one complete pro-level backup kit (camera/lenses/flash) in case of equipment failure.
  • Most pros carry 3 complete systems because THEY KNOW THAT S***T HAPPENS!
POST PRODUCTION
  • Uploads the images to his Facebook account.
  • Some of them are crooked or not exposed properly.
  • Burns the images to a CD.
  • Has invested thousands of dollars in high end computers and image editing software.
  • Through years of experience has mastered the end-to-end workflow including capturing, downloading, culling, editing, uploading, burning and album creation.
  • Attended workshops on perfecting the image, removing blemishes, adjusting exposure, enhancing colors and contrast, and final presentation.
  • Dedicated to creating heirloom quality images for your family to enjoy for generations.
CONSULTATION
  • consultation?
  • Provides a consultation which outlines all relevant facts on the services and products provided, and at what cost to the client.
  • A good consultation will help to reduce any misunderstandings between what the client thinks is included (8 hours, prints, album, etc.), and what the photographer promises to provide.
PHOTOBOOKS/ PHOTOSTORY
  • Gets his prints from The Warehouse.
  • Unlikely to provide a book.
  • Has access to the highest quality professional photo labs. They also offer more options for print finishes and surfaces.

 

I could get a guest to take some photos - why should I pay you?

Good point! Of course, some couples do get a guest to photograph their wedding, and I'd be lying if I said they were all disasters. However I have spoken to & heard of quite a few couples who, having gone down this route, wished they hadn't! The reason for this is not primarily that the quality of the pictures is awful (although I'd like to suppose that the quality of mine were better of course!), but if you're a guest asked to "take a few photos" you have a conflict of interest. A "guest is a guest" and is invited to your wedding to do "guest stuff". A professional photographer attends just as that - a professional photographer. My sole purpose is to take photographs - that's it, nothing else, just photos! Also, a professional photographer has the acquired ability to interact with people to get the best shots, as well as detailed knowledge of the local venues.

 

Andrew and Suzanne

When do I pay?

To secure a booking we will require a non-refundable deposit of $500 ($800 for South Pacific weddings) Balance of payment is made IN FULL one week prior to your wedding. Pencilled bookings will be held for 10 days until the deposit is received. Then prices are subject to change.

 

Will Jackie work alone as a celebrant, if we don't need you as a photographer?

Yes- needless to say, working as a team is preferable as both know each other's idiosyncrasies, we both know how we perform, therefore she will operate with me and will even help out organising the group photo's.

 

What do I do next?

Give me a call on (+64) 7 548 1004, (if within NZ 07 548 1004 or 021378261) or e-mail me on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.