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Friend has hired a "pro" photographer ...
So my friend is getting married in like 2 weeks and called me yesterday to ask about food etiquette for photographers (should he provide a meal for the photographer or not ... so on so forth) so I answered his question and asked who he had hired ... I went to the guys website and I was underwhelmed. I'm not sure if I should say anything about this ... I'm certainly not the best photographer in the world ... http://flic.kr/p/cqc5h9 http://flic.kr/p/bBCp7Z ... but this guys photographic style is SOOOO dated. His website ... Am I being overly critical? Is his work really as bad as I think it is and if it is as bad as I perceive it to be, should I say anything? Jul 26 12 12:32 pm Link I would assume that your friend has looked at his work and rates and decided it was a good fit. Maybe the other, better wedding photographers were already booked for that weekend. Maybe this photographer has some more recent work that he showed them that does not appear on his website. Who knows. If it is a close friend I would opine. But if it is not a close friend, I would leave it alone. Jul 26 12 12:39 pm Link This is not the place to be critical of other peoples work. If the other photographer is a MM member its even worse. You should remove the link to his website if for no other reason than not being a jerk. It doesn't matter what you think of his work. Your friend hired him. Actually, I suspect your friends bride or her family hired him. It is a terrible idea to photograph weddings of family and friends. It's worse to call them out about it. Jul 26 12 12:41 pm Link Unless asked for an opinion, I would just stay out of it. Like when I see a bad play (that I didn't direct) of an actor friend, I just offer "Well you did it!" Congratulate him on the wedding. Jul 26 12 12:44 pm Link Unless you are planning to pay the bill for a photographer that you deem acceptable, then I'd keep your opinions to yourself. I'm about a week and a half out from my wedding and if there's one thing that's pissing me off and stressing me out, it's everyone and their mother trying to give me their opinion on how things should be done, what I should change, what I should do, what I shouldn't do etc etc. I'm betting your friend is in a similar boat with everyone around them trying to play wedding planner. Leave it be. Jul 26 12 12:44 pm Link Eric Lefebvre wrote: Right, you're not..... Jul 26 12 12:46 pm Link Be glad he didn't ask you to shoot his wedding! That never ends well. Jul 26 12 12:46 pm Link I'm not sure why it's your place to point out the quality of the photographer's work, when you were asked a question about the etiquette of providing a meal.... Sounds like you're a bit jealous to me. Jul 26 12 12:47 pm Link Eric Lefebvre wrote: You are a jerk. I think his pics are just fine. Maybe you just wanted the gig for yourself. sour grapes huh? Jul 26 12 12:50 pm Link If you weren't a photographer would you have a) spent that much time researching said photographer, b) been so critical and c) cared who they chose? You may think the style is dated. And it may be. That's also irrelevant. The people who matter selected that photographer for whatever reason. If you say anything about their choice you are the only one who will look foolish. Your critique of the photographer will translate to "Oh my God, I am SUCH a better photographer than that." I can only assume since you're friends with these people, they know you are a photographer. And they still chose not to use you. Whether it's to keep friendship separate from business (smart) or an issue they had with your particular style. Jul 26 12 12:51 pm Link i mean obviously ur friend liked the work from that guy. so just leave it if hes not asking u about ur opinion. its his wedding, n he will watch the pics for the rest of his life. regards karsten Jul 26 12 12:51 pm Link Unless you can provide the photography that is of a much higher standard than the work in question, and im not sure you would be able to, i would keep your affairs to yourself. Just because you do not like the guys work does not make him a bad photographer. You did not go into detail about cost. Maybe the cost of the shoot reflects the quality of the photographer they hired. If the couple in question liked YOUR work so much would they not of hired YOU ? Jul 26 12 12:52 pm Link Eric Lefebvre wrote: It's funny. Your profile suggests you mainly do weddings. Yet 'your friend' called you to ask about food etiquette? Perhaps your friend thinks of your work in the same fashion as you do the photographer to which you (inappropriately) called out? Just sayin'..... Jul 26 12 12:52 pm Link Eric Lefebvre wrote: Let it go. Your friend hired him. Maybe that's all he could afford. I don't know. If you think they can do better on their budget, then tell him and give him some referrals. Jul 26 12 12:54 pm Link Seems like you're being more the snarky photographer thats butthurt your friend didn't hire you. It's tough to call the guy's style outdated when its mostly out of camera, i've come across more stylistic wedding photog's whose site now looks like an instagram portfolio. The less you do in post the less outdated it will look 10 years from now Jul 26 12 12:58 pm Link Never mind. *leaves room* Jul 26 12 12:58 pm Link His 'dated' work is what attracts and brings in his clients and what probably attracted your friend. Just because his style is not your choice does not mean it is not that of anyone else. Bad and style reflect two very different things. Be professional, accept differences and remove the link in your post! Jul 26 12 01:03 pm Link Every wedding I've attended, the photographer and assistant(s) were fed. I would recommend staying out of the photographer critique and be happy that you are not shooting a friend's wedding. As for outdated style... We paid $8000 for our wedding photography 25 years ago. Our images still blow away the images produced by the Big Guns of today's wedding photography. Jul 26 12 01:05 pm Link Tim Little Photography wrote: +1 Jul 26 12 01:08 pm Link This should be interesting when the photographer reviews his traffic logs. Jul 26 12 01:08 pm Link where did the OP go? Jul 26 12 01:08 pm Link Love how aggressive this "community" is ... all I wanted to know was: "Am I being overly critical of the photographers work". I wasn't calling him out, I was bashing him (ok, maybe a little) ... I was truly wondering if his work was as poor as I thought it was. Apparently it's not. I thank you all for your answers on this subject ... I'll go remove the link to his website from my original post. Jul 26 12 01:11 pm Link Mark Laubenheimer wrote: The OP went to the a reptile zoo with his daughter. Jul 26 12 01:11 pm Link Eric Lefebvre wrote: and i thought i was in the reptile zoo.... Jul 26 12 01:13 pm Link Eric Lefebvre wrote: You'd be wise to keep your mouth shut. Simply because there are few ways of doing so w/o being a jealous douchebag cause they went w/ someone else. Jul 26 12 01:15 pm Link Mark Laubenheimer wrote: Jul 26 12 01:17 pm Link Jul 26 12 01:18 pm Link Eric Lefebvre wrote: I believe you are being overly critical, yes. Jul 26 12 01:18 pm Link I think the photographer whose work you feel is "dated" looks fine. Nothing wrong with it at all. As far as photographers go, I'd at least give him credit for the fact that he didn't make a post on a web forum coming across as a little child that got his ego bruised. Is that the conduct of a professional to you? Jul 26 12 01:22 pm Link Toss a couple of YOUR "wedding" pics in the critique forum and you'll find out right away if you're being overly critical. Jul 26 12 01:23 pm Link glofoto wrote: +1 Richie Rich B wrote: +1 Jul 26 12 01:24 pm Link glofoto wrote: Love how you assume I'm insulted for not having been asked to do my friends wedding ... I don't mix business with family/friends, it's just a bad idea in general. Jul 26 12 01:25 pm Link Richie Rich B wrote: Already said I wasn't the greatest ... you know what ... fuck this. I'm out of here. Jul 26 12 01:26 pm Link Eric Lefebvre wrote: Bye. Jul 26 12 01:27 pm Link I think the wedding photography business on a small budget has more to do with one's marketing skills then photography skills. Not to say anything bad about said photographer, just a generalization of my opinion. If you think its that bad, bring your camera when you attend, and take a few for yourself. (Just don't get in the paid photographers way). Edit: Wow, a lot happened from when I finished reading to mine posted. Seems silly to say anything now. Jul 26 12 01:28 pm Link His pictures look okay to me. He's using a hi-res sensor, and there's nice bokeh from his prime lens. The standard 'romantic' approach to wedding photography... see nothing out of the ordinary or anything particularly bad. He could have better light by augmenting with a speed light or two or a reflector. Jul 26 12 02:03 pm Link Eric Lefebvre wrote: Yes, you are being overly critical, evidently your friend likes the "outdated" style. Jul 26 12 02:26 pm Link Eric Lefebvre wrote: It's in our nature to be critical of others who dare to pick up a camera in our presence. Jul 26 12 02:30 pm Link Yeah the photographs aren't amazing but your friend hired him. So they are kind of stuck. As a photographer and a friend I would hope my friends that are getting married and looking to hire a photographer would ask for my opinion since I would be able to help them a little more on what is good photography etc.  Jul 26 12 02:30 pm Link Eric Lefebvre wrote: I'm sure he speaks highly of you too. Jul 26 12 02:41 pm Link |
