This is a great podcast from Getty Images that greatly explains not only why images are licensed and copyrighted, but why pictures are not free. Please give this a listen in order to better understand all that goes into an image:
Podcast
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Now listed on WeddingWire.com as a vendor!
Calling all clients!
We need your help......
Please follow this link and leave a review on our services:
http://www.weddingwire.com/shared/Rate?vid=f7bfd76dbf68ff6d
You don't have to be a wedding client to comment - all clients comments are welcome!
We need your help......
Please follow this link and leave a review on our services:
http://www.weddingwire.com/shared/Rate?vid=f7bfd76dbf68ff6d
You don't have to be a wedding client to comment - all clients comments are welcome!
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Beware of scams and ameteurs!
It is truly disheartening to see reports of bridal scams and amateurs who ruin wedding days with their lack of education and quality equipment.
Every day, I log onto Craigslist.com to look for some work and every day I find amateurs who claim to be professional but will work TFCD (Time for CD)/TFP (Time for Prints) A.K.A. Free. This is the equivalent of illegal immigrants working under the table and taking jobs from Americans - I know, blame the hiring party, not the immigrant, right? Well, the consumer IS the hiring party and makes the decision as to whether they want cheap labor or professional knowledge.
How is a hardworking person supposed to compete with someone who gives away their talents for free...especially when the general public hasn't realized that you truly do get what you pay for and if you pay $0, you get disappointed.
One bride took her photographer to court on Judge Joe Brown:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=js7RzcdDcMs&feature=sub
The next question that comes to mind is: how do you know that you're not getting ripped off when you elect to pay $1300 for a wedding photographer? If you don't know much about photography, you probably won't be able to tell the difference; most people just know a pretty picture when they see one. Here is what I was able to tell from the segment (even in the compressed low-quality video that YouTube offers):
-The images were very pixelated. I've worked with many levels of digital cameras and can comfortably say there is a HUGE difference between the entry level and professional cameras. While it is true that a really good photographer can get good shots even on a box camera, not every shot will be gold; consistent quality work demands consistent quality equipment. For this, I refer to the old adage: "Crap in, crap out." When you start with a pixelated image at 5x7, it only decreases in quality the larger you get.
Here is a little info on what the judge is talking about with camera models:
Canon camera models are as follows:
-> 300D (three # series like the Rebel XTi) = not professional/ consumer level
-> 30D (two # series) = Semipro/ "prosumer" level
-> 5D (single # series) = Professional level
System guide: http://downloads.canon.com/cpr/software/camera/eos_sys_bro1208.pdf
Another good bit of info is knowledge about lenses. This photographer should have used a "faster" lens with better glass. The lens that comes with the Digital Rebel is the one she used for the wedding - this lens is regarded by knowledgeable photographers as a waste of money and pretty much disposable because it offers so much distortion and poor glass quality (think about looking through the bottom of a coke bottle vs prescription glasses). A lens is considered fast when it opens up to a larger aperture (opening that allows light in to the processor chip). The lens she was using did not have the capability to shoot in low-light conditions (as she tried to do) and not only did she not comprehend that little fact, but she also failed to understand the church rules (which any pro would know ahead of time and have either packed the right equipment or rented it).
Now that I have sufficiently vented about the amateur in the video, now I'd like to turn your attention to scams centering around brides and bridal vendors......
It was recently reported that thousands of brides and vendors paid money in hopes of either participating in or being admitted to a bridal show in Boston. The bridal show turned out to be a hoax that was perpetrated by a Facebook promotion and false phone number. Here is the full story link:
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/22710108/detail.html
I guess my point here is to not only bring it to your attention so that you know such scams exist, but to also educate the masses so that less people should fall victim to these things. While it was almost impossible to spot the scam before it was too late, please take heed: only pre-register for events that allow more than 1 way to pay and only attend such events that have been backed/planned/produced by reputable sources. I know in Denver, we have two major bridal shows every year....I would be leery of any new ones that just happened to enter onto the scene. Attend a new show first before becoming a vendor or paying customer the second time around - this way you know what to expect for your money.
The more you know....
Every day, I log onto Craigslist.com to look for some work and every day I find amateurs who claim to be professional but will work TFCD (Time for CD)/TFP (Time for Prints) A.K.A. Free. This is the equivalent of illegal immigrants working under the table and taking jobs from Americans - I know, blame the hiring party, not the immigrant, right? Well, the consumer IS the hiring party and makes the decision as to whether they want cheap labor or professional knowledge.
How is a hardworking person supposed to compete with someone who gives away their talents for free...especially when the general public hasn't realized that you truly do get what you pay for and if you pay $0, you get disappointed.
One bride took her photographer to court on Judge Joe Brown:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=js7RzcdDcMs&feature=sub
The next question that comes to mind is: how do you know that you're not getting ripped off when you elect to pay $1300 for a wedding photographer? If you don't know much about photography, you probably won't be able to tell the difference; most people just know a pretty picture when they see one. Here is what I was able to tell from the segment (even in the compressed low-quality video that YouTube offers):
-The images were very pixelated. I've worked with many levels of digital cameras and can comfortably say there is a HUGE difference between the entry level and professional cameras. While it is true that a really good photographer can get good shots even on a box camera, not every shot will be gold; consistent quality work demands consistent quality equipment. For this, I refer to the old adage: "Crap in, crap out." When you start with a pixelated image at 5x7, it only decreases in quality the larger you get.
Here is a little info on what the judge is talking about with camera models:
Canon camera models are as follows:
-> 300D (three # series like the Rebel XTi) = not professional/ consumer level
-> 30D (two # series) = Semipro/ "prosumer" level
-> 5D (single # series) = Professional level
System guide: http://downloads.canon.com/cpr/software/camera/eos_sys_bro1208.pdf
Another good bit of info is knowledge about lenses. This photographer should have used a "faster" lens with better glass. The lens that comes with the Digital Rebel is the one she used for the wedding - this lens is regarded by knowledgeable photographers as a waste of money and pretty much disposable because it offers so much distortion and poor glass quality (think about looking through the bottom of a coke bottle vs prescription glasses). A lens is considered fast when it opens up to a larger aperture (opening that allows light in to the processor chip). The lens she was using did not have the capability to shoot in low-light conditions (as she tried to do) and not only did she not comprehend that little fact, but she also failed to understand the church rules (which any pro would know ahead of time and have either packed the right equipment or rented it).
Now that I have sufficiently vented about the amateur in the video, now I'd like to turn your attention to scams centering around brides and bridal vendors......
It was recently reported that thousands of brides and vendors paid money in hopes of either participating in or being admitted to a bridal show in Boston. The bridal show turned out to be a hoax that was perpetrated by a Facebook promotion and false phone number. Here is the full story link:
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/22710108/detail.html
I guess my point here is to not only bring it to your attention so that you know such scams exist, but to also educate the masses so that less people should fall victim to these things. While it was almost impossible to spot the scam before it was too late, please take heed: only pre-register for events that allow more than 1 way to pay and only attend such events that have been backed/planned/produced by reputable sources. I know in Denver, we have two major bridal shows every year....I would be leery of any new ones that just happened to enter onto the scene. Attend a new show first before becoming a vendor or paying customer the second time around - this way you know what to expect for your money.
The more you know....
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