San Diego Wedding Photographer

We always stress to our clients professionalism as one of our traits.  Part of being professional is being prepared.  In wedding photography, being prepared is more than just the boy scouts motto!   Alison and I ALWAYS have back up equipment, for those just in case moments  when  Uncle Ned knocks one of us over on the dance floor, or for the common but unexpected twists that happen at every special event.

We were photographing a corporate event a few weeks ago  and as we were scouting around for new and interesting places to photograph we noticed there was a wedding in a near by ballroom.  Later on in the evening, the wedding couples’  hired photographer approached us, as pale as a ghost.  He had broken his ONLY flash and was wondering if we could lend him one of ours.  He didn’t have any back up equipment. Just one camera, one lens, and one flash.  At the time I remember saying to myself, I don’t go to the zoo with that little equipment, let along an event that we are hired for!

Make sure that you know what your getting when you hire a photographer.  There are times when things do not work out and the unexpected happens.  I feel sorry for those clients.  Their wedding reception had barely begun. I bring this up not as a go us for helping out, but to talk about photography as not just pushing the shutter button on the camera.   When a perspective client interviews us, they should not only be looking at the beautful portraits and captured moments on our walls but they should be asking the questions that show we know how to deal with the situations that come up at any event.  Family members show up late.  Little kids fall and dirty their clothes.  Things happen.   We need to be ready to know how to move this family group ahead so Aunt Ida has time to touch up her makeup.  We need to be able to pose a 5 year old that has just skinned their knee in a way that it doesn’t show in the photos.  Our photography skill is usually mixed with parts of family therapist to smooth over family squabbles, part drill seargent to keep everyone moving ahead, and a large does of comedian to make everyone smile and laugh at the right moment.