Why is it frowned upon to offer a cheaper service?

[Mike_e]

Originally Posted by SpeedGraphicMan

Can we stick to what BlackRose89 intended for this thread to be about!

Forget about who said what and answer the damn question!

I'm guessing you haven't been through all nineteen pages.












Of this thread alone.

[Mark McCall]

I was a little late responding to this.

Originally Posted by focus.pocus

$30 - $100 for studio work... Weddings i do for $300 -$500... and I will put my work up against anyones.

I'm going to give you a golden opportunity to put me in my place.
Post your best wedding work.

[Sketch]

Somehow I doubt we will ever hear from FocusPocus again.

[RV]

Originally Posted by Mark McCall

I was a little late responding to this.


I'm going to give you a golden opportunity to put me in my place.
Post your best wedding work.

Childish

[Onslow]

Originally Posted by RV

Childish

I don't see how this is childish. Mark has an established reputation here on the camel. Mark has posted examples of his work. All that was asked was for Focus.pocus to post examples of his work so we can all compare and make a judgement....

Focus.pocus may indeed be a superb photographer, I hope he is but he made the statement that " most photogrpahers in the U.S. are arrogant and aren't as good as they think they are ".

This is simply a request for further information and to establish his bona fides.

[Mike_e]

Following a goat is fine if you're looking for BBQ material.

Not so much if you're a sheep.

There are all kinds reading these forums, keeping things obvious is needful.

[Mark McCall]

Onslow:
Exactly. I'm giving him the floor.
If he can't back it up, my guess is that he's a "wanna be".


The internet gives people the outlet to "be who they want to be".
But in the real world, that respect is earned. Not given by a keyboard and mouse.

RV
I feel the need to remind you that your on a short rope yourself.

[Sambarino]

I may be a bit late to this thread, but it shouldn't matter. It seems to be a tad astray anyhow. Let me offer my 2 cents about cheap wedding photographers. I had an offer from my bride-to-be's-sisters friend. This was 20 years ago, so forgive me if I have forgotten the numbers. So, we hired this guy. Rehearsal, rehearsal dinner, wedding, reception. He shows up at the rehearsal. With one camera, one lens, and one flash. I told my wife to ask her friends with P&S to take as many shots as possible. This guy was a putz. Indoors - all direct flash. Outdoors - no flash ever. No staging, no assistants, no nothing. I suppose one guy with some talent could have pulled off some reasonable shots. This guy forgot to bring some talent. Most of the indoor pictures are 'deer-in-the-headlights' flash with way underexposed background. All of the outdoor shots are just terrible. In the church, after the ceremony are some of my most prized shots. I love the one where both my new wife and I have really large candles growing out of our heads. The harsh flash shadows against the wall are appealing, too. Our package included small prints of everything he thought was 'worthy'. They bring us a few laughs every time we look at them. The photog was actually pissed-off that we wouldn't buy any larger prints from him. I told him to his face that he sucked at photography and that everyone one of his pictures could be used in the "Don't do this" portion of a photography class. He was indignant! Told me I didn't know what I was talking about and that I had wasted his time. I told him to get lost. He told me that he was burning the negatives (yes, film) so that we could NEVER have copy of any of them. I told him that destroying evidence was illegal. He asked, "Evidence of what?" Way too tempting! "Of your obvious lack of any talent!" I never saw the guy again.
My wife is a good-natured soul and we have made the best of not having any real wedding photographs. I got what I paid for.

On the other hand I went to a wedding about a year ago where the photographer was top-notch and so was her equipment. At the church I counted 5 5DII cameras, 3 70-200 f/2.8s, 17-40L, 24-105L. Plus 2 60Ds doing just video. Strategically mounted, radio controlled flash units. The lady was a professional in every sense of the word. She had a crew of 10 or so roaming the reception hall, two to a camera. One on the camera, the other holding a radio controlled OC flash. They used mics and ear-pieces so as not to have to shout at each other. All were better dressed than the wedding party. They were a real class act, and discreet, too. I bet most people never saw them. I was blown away. I told my wife that I bet whoever was paying them dropped $5,000 just on the shoot. We found out later: $1500, +prints. That was a steal! I have seen the photos. She could have gotten three times that.

The moral of the story is. The is no substitute for talent. And talent is not cheap. I have been asked to do several weddings. Never. I don't have the equipment or the talent, to do it right. I always offer to give them the name of the lady who amazed me with her equipment, her professionalism, and her talent. You don't get THAT for $300.

A professional deserves more than $300 for a well-done wedding. A wedding can not be done well, for $300. Anyone who would do a wedding (properly) for $300 is NOT a professional. If you want professional photographs, hire a professional. If you want $300 photographs, by all means, keep those guys working, too. Just don't complain when your wife/daughter/sister has a giant candle growing out of her head.

[Rain Lily]

Originally Posted by Sambarino

Let me offer my 2 cents about cheap wedding photographers. I had an offer from my bride-to-be's-sisters friend. This was 20 years ago, so forgive me if I have forgotten the numbers. So, we hired this guy.

I know I'm making an assumption, but the way you've told the story is like you hired the guy just based on what someone else said or on the offer that he made you. So, the moral of this story could also be to check out the actual work of the photographers before you hire them. These days, with prices all over the place, I don't think it's wise to hire anyone without seeing actual proof that they can do the job.

[RV]

Originally Posted by Mark McCall

RV
I feel the need to remind you that your on a short rope yourself.

I'm on a short list? What did I do now? State the obvious? Your getting into a piss's match with another photographer. I think it's childish to do so as there is not positive outcome due to many factors in preferences.

So now your threatening me because my views differ from yours or I point out some silly behavior you got sucked into? I dont think that is someth an admin such as yourself should be involved in.