Professional Wedding Photography

Q. Describe the most common types of jobs you do for your clients.

A. Most common are weddings because people always are looking for one. I also do portraits and web photography which can involve advertising or product photography as well. If some one needs a photo taken I am always ready to help out.

Q. What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A. Advise I give people is to meet their photographer face to face, in order to get a feeling of their personality. A photographer may have the best photos, nicest website and have great prices, but their attitude isn't the best. Remember, this is the person who is going to be next to you most of your day and talking with your family and friends too. You want to make sure he/she is very personable, professional and likes what they do.

Q. If you were a customer, what do you wish you knew about your trade? Any inside secrets to share?

A. If I was a customer, I wish I knew how important photography is for a wedding. One secret I tell people is after all the cake is gone, the DJ moves on and the tux is returned, the photographs are the lasting element which can bring you back to your one special day. It takes a certain talent and skill to capture candid moments, and yet orchestrate creative and unique poses with people you never photographed before.

Q. What important information should buyers have thought through before seeking you out?

A. Clients should have a location, date and time established before seeking out a photographer. Depending on time of the season and time of day, will determine the best time for photos. Also knowing the location before the event, gives the photographer a chance to scout the location and plot out possible photography ideas.

Q. Why does your work stand out from others who do what you do?

A. The work produced through furtagraphy.com is unique because of my photojournalism background. After a decade working as a full-time photographer, the experience has taught me how to capture that one split-second moment that nobody else captured. Through my full-time job I meet a lot of people and very comfortable directing and meeting new people.

Q. What do you like most about your job?

A. What I like most about my job is there is no limit to being creative and having subjects pose in ways never done before. Seeing the photographs after the event gives me a sense of pride knowing that the bride and groom will have quality images they will cherish for a life time.

Q. What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

A. Questions that clients ask me the most, is how long I have been a photographer. My answer is, mostly all my life. As a child growing up I always took photographs with my mother's camera and had a fascination with photography and video. After graduating college I started working professionally as a photojournalist and people would ask me if I shoot weddings. The first wedding i shot, I did for free, and shortly after that started charging for my services.

Q. Do you have a favorite story from your work?

A. I don't have a story from a wedding. I have been fortunate to shoot weddings that have gone smooth and stress free. From my day job at a newspaper, we covered a story of a man who claimed to re-open a popular bar and restaurant in town. After photographing him at the business and writing the story, we later found out he was a fugitive and in no way shape or form he was the new owner. During his time as the "owner" he served drinks from behind the bar and told people his ideas for running the establishment. The next day he was arrested and put in jail for his stunt.

Q. What do you wish customers knew about you or your profession?

A. I wish customers knew how hard photographers work during an event. A lot of people think that being a photographer is easy work by simply pushing a button. It takes years for a photographer to build an "eye" and confidence in order to handle an event like a wedding. Expectations are high because we are charging money for something most people know how to do, work a camera. What sets us apart is the experience, passion and talent to pull off a successful wedding shoot and create work that nobody else has.

Q. How did you decide to get in your line of work?

A. i have always liked photography but didn't think I would do it for a living until after college. Once I started working as a pro I knew that I wanted to continue because it was something I really enjoyed. Photographing a wedding is really fun and people seem to enjoy the style of work I bring into their event.

Q. Tell us about a recent job you did that you are particularly proud of.

A. Recently I photographed a wedding at the bride and groom's home in the local area. They hired me one week before their big day and they were looking for good photography at an affordable price. With the help of thumbtack.com they were able to see my professional profile and view my website. We met at the studio and talked about their wedding details. Their wedding took place at the home they just moved into and they put on a beautiful day with their closest friends and family. Even though it wasn't a typical venue setting the photos were more personal to them and they were very happy with the results.

Q. Do you do any sort of continuing education to stay up on the latest developments in your field?

A. I always look at what other photographers are doing and what they are charging. Photography is a very competitive profession and in order to be the one that clients choose, I have to see what others are doing.

Q. What are the latest developments in your field? Are there any exciting things coming in the next few years or decade that will change your line of business?

A. Latest developments in my field is technology changing for digital formats. Higher megapixels, faster processors and lower prices help the professional photographer work more efficiently. I think in the next decade cameras will change how photographers actually capture images. With the use of sensors a photographer can trigger his camera with a blink of an eye, literally. Developments are being made so that photographs are captured instantly as you see them happening in front of you. The split second it takes to lift the camera to your eye and push the button, the moment has passed.

Q. Describe your most recent project, what it involved, how much it cost, and how long it took.

A. My most recent project is running my photography business in Auburn, CA. Building my brand is part of the marketing and advertising strategy I'm working on right now. As we all know, advertising can be a very costly investment, but through the use of social networking I'm able to promote my photography service for free and reach out to endless people. Find me on facebook and twitter. Making personal appearances at Auburn Chamber Mixers and speaking to other business owners helps spread the word too.

Q. If you have a complicated pricing system for your service, please give all the details here.

A. I try not to make my pricing complicated. Keeping it simple make clients feel more comfortable when seeking my services. Most weddings and portrait sittings are priced easy enough to understand with few questions. With the use of digital photography and websites, clients have more control over which photos they like to reprint and show to others.

Q. If you were advising someone who wanted to get into your profession, what would you suggest?

A. I would suggest getting a formal college education or attending an art college. Clients are more prone to seek your services if you have a college education and have knowledge of the trade you are selling. Photographers looking to make a career in photography need to find out what kind of photography they want to do and pursuit it to the fullest. Having talent will get you so far, but being passionate and business savvy will make a photographer successful.

Q. Write your own question and answer it.

A. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Expanding and growing my business from where it is today, to a bigger studio accommodating bigger jobs. I hope that professional photography is still viewed as an important commodity for businesses and people. I feel that strong photography produced by professionals helps publications and businesses improve their products. With out great photography people are forced to conjure up their own image, which may not be as accurate as seeing a professional photograph.