PhotographySilo.com » Wedding Photographer

WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER INTERVIEW: SESHU

Lawrence — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 06:03:33 +0000

“Let me be frank and say that “the top” is an illusion. There is no “top”. One could and should keep on elevating their game. That’s what inspires me most. I want my next wedding or portrait session to be better than the one I completed yesterday.”

PAST

LAWRENCEATIENZA.COM: In your early years of high school, were you involved in the yearbook ? What sparked your interest in photography?

SESHU: Yes, I worked at my high school’s yearbook as one of its photographers. My first camera was a Pentax ME Super (which I still have). I shot film – mostly black & white – and had it processed and printed for me. I didn’t quite get into that other aspect of photography, which is finishing a print, until I was introduced to it by a friend in Japan. I had been studying at Waseda University as an exchange student when Robert Guarnieri who was also there and in a “camera club” invited me to shoot on the streets of Tokyo. The camera club had darkroom privileges and so I remember getting my hands wet in darkroom chemicals for the first time there. I was hooked, as I think a lot of people are when they see their first image come up magically in the tray. Ultimately, it was more the process of finding and making images that excited me about photography. As a somewhat shy child, photography was my license to inject myself into a scene. I don’t think I ever used the camera to hide behind it. It was and still remains a tool for me to connect with people and their ideas.

LAWRENCEATIENZA.COM: Do you still have photos taken from the early years when it all started? What were your subjects? Are the digital photography pictures online to share with everyone to compare with your photography work today?

SESHU: Oh, yes, I still have boxes of negatives carefully stored away. I just need a reliable scanner to get them all digitized. My early subjects as I mentioned to you were people on the street – doing their thing. Street photography was so exciting to me. These days it’s very hard to do that without getting stopped and questioned. When I was pursuing a graduate degree at Indiana University in journalism, I worked for the student paper there and shot a lot of concerts. Being in a small town like Bloomington, meant having a little better access to these musicians who would come through. I wanted to see what they were like backstage, so I usually went in and hung out with them. Sometimes they wouldn’t mind and sometimes they would. I learned back then that if you didn’t ask, you didn’t get. It was a valuable life-lesson in some regards.

LAWRENCEATIENZA.COM: What books did you read at the beginning of your wedding photography career that helped you prepare for today? Title of book, author and price of book please…just messing around, the title of the books should be fine thanks to google search. Do you recall any other resources that you referred to heavily to help you prepare for the wedding photography business? We want to know what the must have resources are to fully equip ourselves when and if we ever plan to take that leap of faith into wedding photography.

SESHU: I can’t say that I sought out any particular book to learn about wedding photography. As a documentary wedding photographer much of my approach is based on the kind of work I produced for newspapers and international magazines as a freelance photographer. I did very little directing then of my subjects and I do very little of it now. I feel I have remained true to what really moves me about photographing people as they are. Establishing rapport, gaining access and then immersing myself into a scene is my unique approach to weddings as it was photographing people like Keb’ Mo’ or Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown. I don’t think a book can teach you diplomacy. One thing I will say that is required of documentary wedding photographers such as myself is this constant state of being curious and patient – of your subjects, your environment, the abilities of your gear … whatever. Staying curious, to motivate you to photograph people’s unguarded and perhaps honest emotions, is key. And obviously patience is required because you can’t command the right elements to align themselves in the frame. You wait for it, then when you see it evolve, you trip the shutter.

LAWRENCEATIENZA.COM: What was your very first professional wedding photography job? Was this purely out of luck that you were at the right place at the right time? How did you get your first wedding photography job? Once you had your first job under your belt was it difficult to get another wedding photography job? What did you do to acquire more work besides providing awesome images?

SESHU: A friend of mine who is a journalist was getting married and he approached me to photograph his wedding. I can’t even recall if I charged him for it. He and I had been friends for some time and I suppose he had liked my work. I hadn’t thought of building a bridge between editorial photography and wedding photography and now I wished I had. The second gig came my way out of sheer desperation on my part. I was working at a community darkroom in Seattle and I saw a note on the board for a wedding photographer. The couple, getting married for the second time, were not really interested in anything ornate. My style and I suppose at that time my price was attractive to them. I charged them $300. And yes, I rocked those images too. Why not?

LAWRENCEATIENZA.COM: After your first photography job, What was the next photography gig you obtained and how did you go about your execution? Did you apply all that you’ve learned in all the photography books you’ve read ? Did you buy more photography books or accessed any more photography resources to help you jump to your next big step in the game of photography? What tools do you recommend that are a must have that helped you get to where you are present day?

SESHU: As an editorial photographer, I was dependent on newspapers. I attended as many journalism conventions as I could afford. Being seen and heard is so key to one’s marketing. It has all shifted online these days, but it is still very useful to connect with your peers face-to-face. So, the next set of gigs came through an editor I had met at the Neiman Conference on Narrative Journalism. I photographed for a magazine called India Today. The work was challenging and didn’t pay much at all. I figured back then that I had to make the jump to something that would sustain me. But I didn’t want to take up a genre of photography that wouldn’t move me. The fact that a wedding lends itself so well to being narrated as a story worked out in my favor. I am able to use the editorial aesthetic in a very different way for my wedding clients.

PRESENT

LAWRENCEATIENZA.COM: What keeps the money rolling? Your brand and reputation in the wedding photography space is possibly a huge factor to your longevity? Am i right? Do you have any recommendations on brand building for weekend photographers trying to get into professional wedding photography?

SESHU: As someone said, branding doesn’t mean you go out and get a logo designed. That’s a logo, not a brand. Branding to me is about how you are perceived by people around you. Creating a brand takes time and you have to believe it is a process. Expect to have up’s and down’s. Learn from both of them. I feel building a personal brand has become a lot easier with a slew of online tools like Twitter Facebook and LinkedIn . I think the first thing I would say to people wanting to create a brand is – decide on how you are going to be valuable to someone else. Find your niche. Learn about it yourself, then teach others how to solve their problems. Give without the expectation of getting anything back in return.

LAWRENCEATIENZA.COM: What is currently in your photography bag? Please be as detailed as possible for those starting out photographers that want to be just like you. Are you mainly doing digital photography? From your photography equipment arsenal, what do you bring for your photography engagement sessions? What do you bring for your wedding photography sessions?

SESHU: I’ll repeat a mantra my friend David duChemin says all the time – “Gear is Good. Vision is Better.” Every few months, the camera manufacturers release new products into the world. It’s nearly impossible to keep up. If you are running a business, buying new gear as and when they come out is going to bankrupt you. So, I suggest you carefully evaluate your needs before you go shopping.

I am all digital now. If a client wanted me to shoot film, I can. I still have a Nikon F100 stored away. I now use a Nikon D300. I have had it now for nearly three years and it has served me really well. I bought the camera I needed, not the one I wanted. Finding myself photographing in darker venues these days, I am leaning towards a full sensor camera like the Nikon D700 or its upgrade, whatever that will be. For lenses, I use the Nikon 17-35mm a lot. I also like the look and feel of the Nikon 50mm f/1.4D and the 85mm f/1.4. Another must-have lens is the Nikon 7-200mm f/2.8 VRII. For strobes, I have upgraded to the Nikon SB-900 units. I bring these to an engagement session or a wedding.

LAWRENCEATIENZA.COM: What is your favorite image in your current photography portfolio and why? How did you approach the photographic execution? Give us a glimpse on how you construct an image from scratch.

SESHU: The image of Tushima being carried by her brothers, right before she is married is one of my favorite. There is such grace and beauty in it. There is also a little drama. If you notice, one of the bride’s cousins on the upper left has turned around and is looking at her. That kind of drama cannot be orchestrated. Or, it can be, but it will feel hollow and dishonest. I saw the entourage making its way out to the altar. I remember back-peddling and shooting at the same time. I saw a chair in the foyer and grabbed it and launched myself on top of it to get the perspective I did. This is perhaps the most poignant image from the series. As a former photo editor at ESPN, I understand how images must work on the page or on the screen. Selecting them, editing them and making them sing is what I love doing.

LAWRENCEATIENZA.COM: Do you have a photography studio? Is having your own photography studio space essential for a professional wedding photographer? Has any of your photography engagement sessions ever take place in a studio? If not, where do you mainly photograph the engagement sessions? Could you reveal to us 3 of your favorite locations and why?

SESHU: I work out of my “home-studio.” I have to put that in quotes because I share that space with my two kids and their toys! I prefer to photograph in an environment where my clients are going to be most comfortable – most likely their own home or a spot on the map that means a great deal to them. It can be Houston, Texas or Canton, Connecticut. It matters little to me where I go. It’s more important that my clients feel secure, open and relaxed.

LAWRENCEATIENZA.COM: What types of commercial gigs are you currently involved in now and how did they surface? What are your recommendations on how we photographers diversify our wedding photography offering to the marketplace?

SESHU: I haven’t pursued purely commercial assignments. If there is an agency out there looking to work with a photographer who can produce images with an editorial edge to them, I am it! Weddings are a seasonal business. In the off-season, November through March, this past year, I started working on my portraits website. While I knew full well that I could create portraits, I didn’t have a whole lot to show. So, I went on Twitter and found a few folks who I had known through TweetCrawls here in Connecticut, who would be willing to be photographed. The response has been great. I initially gave away 20 1/2 hour headshot sessions, all done in my “home-studio.” When people are able to see what you can produce, they are more likely to pay for it. It’s as simple as that. Starting in January, I decided I would charge $149 for a 1/2 hour session. My clients would receive one high-resolution file in exchange, with the remaining images available to them online for ordering through a gallery. They would have full rights to reuse that image in whatever way they wanted (except for purely commercial purposes). To see some examples, go here – Connecticut Headshots.

FUTURE

LAWRENCEATIENZA.COM: What are your immediate goals as a wedding photographer?

SESHU: I would love to photograph more destination weddings, especially in India. Having grown up there, I understand the culture. On a recent trip, I met with the editors of a magazine called Better Photography in Mumbai. They are currently wrapping up their first national contest to chose a wedding photographer of the year. Not being an Indian-citizen, I knew I couldn’t submit any of my work. So, they’ve asked me to be one of the judges! I also met with the folks who run a popular wedding resource online called WeddingSutra . So, it was a very successful trip.

LAWRENCEATIENZA.COM: A lot of professional wedding photographers are starting to run workshops. Will you start offering workshops in the future?

SESHU: I would love to offer workshops on photographing multicultural weddings. I know what to expect of workshops and how to approach them. Each is of course unique, but there are things that are common amongst them, too. Having attended a lot of workshops, I know how valuable or useless they can be. Structuring one isn’t easy but I do want to teach and you’ll know when the first workshop comes together.

LAWRENCEATIENZA.COM: I am sure you’ve read many articles discussing how in the future videography and photography will be one? What are your thoughts on that and how will you evolve to the new morphed medium?

SESHU: I am not really sure. I think visually. Every single time I’ve picked up a video camera I have enjoyed it, but I’ve always wished I had photographed the same subject with a still camera. I suspect, though, to keep abreast of technology and trends, there will be a day when I will jump out of this shell and shoot video. It’s the editing that’s a real challenge. Few know how to do it well. I have been tempted to sign up for Final Cut Pro classes just to check it out. It’s on my radar, but I am not seeking it out actively at the moment.

LAWRENCEATIENZA.COM: Ok so thinking about the future and how it is very important in any endeavor especially the professional wedding photography business. What do you suggest wedding photographers do in the future to solidify their presence in the photography industry? What will you do to ensure that you remain on top, not taking into account your photography niche?

SESHU: Let me be frank and say that “the top” is an illusion. There is no “top”. One could and should keep on elevating their game. That’s what inspires me most. I want my next wedding or portrait session to be better than the one I completed yesterday.

What I will do and have done for the last 10 years is to continue to learn from my peers, share with my peers and perhaps teach those who are just starting out. I suggest photographers identify what kind of photography they like pursuing. It took me a while to get to weddings. But the trip has been worth it. One could fall in love instantly or the love could grow over time. I also recommend they start networking and doing so for the right reasons. There is tremendous strength in numbers. It’s a cliché, no doubt, but it is true. The synergies you will find by working together is going to propel you and “your competition” upwards. I believe this wholeheartedly, if we are all on the same page about helping each other out.

LAWRENCEATIENZA.COM: Thank you again for your time and giving back. What would you like to leave for us photographers to think about when moving forward with wedding photography for the future? If you have any words of wisdom will be appreciated.

SESHU: Photography is a gift exchange. They give, we take. We give, they take. Remember, it’s not always about money. Think of ways of giving/sharing your skill with someone or a community, without expecting anything in return. You’ll be pleasantly surprised how things come back to you in different ways.

Here are some links that might be of interest to your readers:

Tiffinbox – http://www.tiffinbox.org
OpenShade – http://www.openshade.org

WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER INTERVIEW: Erich Chen

Lawrence — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 06:46:41 +0000

“Going beyond the expectations. Also, actively shooting, and making sure that you get the work done on time and done well. ”

PAST

LAWRENCEATIENZA.COM: In your early years of high school, were you involved in the yearbook ? What sparked your interest in photography?

ERICH CHEN: I wasn’t involved in yearbook, however I was involved in the journalism. But in journalism I wasn’t a photographer I was a really crappy art editor, which meant I drew bad illustrations to go with articles. I didn’t really touch photography formally until my second year in college. In high school I just had a point and shoot film camera and took photos of me and my friends doing ridiculous things. Think Borat plus Jackass. If that wasn’t bad enough I stored that camera in a fanny pack that I wore almost everyday. I was a crazy kid in high school.

ERICH CHEN: Yes of course, for both my film and digital photos. My subjects were everything and everyone. Just like everyone with a new camera, I headed instinctively head straight to flowers and rocks to photography. I remember being proud of those shots because I was in awe of the bokeh provided by this dslr phenomenon. The photos are not online, I never put them up, but I can tell you now I’ve improved a lot since then.

ERICH CHEN: For Wedding photography, it was just one book that held me over for a long time. The title is called “Digital Wedding Photography – Capturing Beautiful Memories” by Glen Johnson. It goes over a little bit of everything including: equipment, business models, styles of photography, what to do during the different parts of the wedding, and work flow etc etc. It was easy to read and had a lot of photos (which are important to me.) Online forums were a big help too, I use fredmiranda.com, but there are other ones like dwf that I hear over and over again.

ERICH CHEN: I think I was just at the right place and right time. As a photographer I’m not sure how much I really believe in luck. But basically, my friend gives me a call and tells me her cousins wedding was that weekend and if I wanted to shoot it. Of course I said yes. I was ecstatic, and really excited. I was only maybe 21 at that time, and I have only been to one, maybe two weddings. Then I started to think about how I didn’t really know how to shoot one, let alone I didn’t really know what they were like. I started to panic a little bit, then a lot. I figured if I brought every piece of equipment I brought I would be alright.
I don’t remember it being difficult to get another wedding. There was always that friend who had a low budget wedding and would pretty much let anyone shoot their wedding and naturally I stepped in and took the initiative. I took very little pay, but I didn’t care it was fun, new, and I was in college so any money was good money.
I acquired more weddings by making sure every client I met with was treated very, very well. In the beginning I didn’t meet very many clients, so every single one was extremely important to me (and they still are.)

ERICH CHEN: I don’t remember what next gig I had after my first wedding. It’s been a while, and I had a good number of gigs and some of them were pretty good. I had the opportunities to shoot celebrities and big concerts, and those I got through knowing the right people.
I’m a book lover. I love buying books even though I don’t read all of them. Books helped me a substantial amount, but I feel I learned faster by actually shooting and asking questions to those who were better than me. Really, the only ‘tools’ I recommend are your camera, your lens, and your passion to want to go out and shoot.

PRESENT

LAWRENCEATIENZA.COM: What keeps the money rolling? Your brand and reputation in the wedding photography space is possibly a huge factor to your longevity? Am I right? Do you have any recommendations on brand building for weekend photographers trying to get into professional wedding photography?

ERICH CHEN: Going beyond the expectations. Also, actively shooting, and making sure that you get the work done on time and done well. In this industry I believe the brand is you. It’s your personality and your work. It’s cliché, but be true to yourself and others. I believe if you’re funny, then you should be funny. If you’re creative, then be creative. Bring out your strengths, and your confidence. It lets people know they’re in good hands.

ERICH CHEN:
Canon 5D II (still being shipped to me)
Canon 5D  Canon 40D Canon 24-70 f2.8 Canon 70-200 f2.8 Canon 17-40 f4 Canon 50mm f2.5 macro
Canon 50mm 1.4 (favorite all around lens) Canon 85mm 1.8 (favorite portrait lens)

Canon 580 EX
Canon 430 EX  Video Light Omni Bounce

All digital baby.

For engagement sessions I like to carry light. I actually hate being boggled down by heavy equipment. It’s usually a 5d, a 24-70 2.8L and a 85mm 1.8. For wedding photography it’s usually all of the above.

ERICH CHEN: My entire photography portfolio is actually really vast, so I’m going to make this easy on myself and just pick one out of my wedding photography. My favorite shot would probably be a recent one of a bride and groom walking down a hill with really dramatic overcast. A lot of people think overcast isn’t good, but I think it’s fantastic. Anytime I see any kind of clouds in Los Angeles I get excited because most of the time it’s just smog. So this photo is really simple actually, but it’s so beautiful to me.

ERICH CHEN: The world is my studio. I love shooting in natural light, in rain, in the dark, and whatever nature wants to throw at me. I think it’s a lot more interesting, challenging, and rewarding then shooting in an indoor studio all the time. None of my engagement shoots have taken place in a studio, yet. I recently had the request for one. All my engagement sessions have been outdoor, and it’s been great. I think people are more comfortable out in the open whether it be a beach, downtown, or in nature.

ERICH CHEN: I shoot a few events, concerts and fashion. One of my more current and exciting projects is a shoot with papayaclothing.com which is a company that is both nationwide and worldwide. In fact, there’s a papaya store in my local mall, and it’s kind of cool just walking in and seeing my work in the store.
Find what you’re good at and expand on that to diversify your offerings to the marketplace. Then find out what kind of brides and grooms like and then target them.

FUTURE

LAWRENCEATIENZA.COM: What are your immediate goals as a wedding photographer? Are you planning on releasing any how-to books? What are your recommendations to people thinking about starting a photography book?

ERICH CHEN: My immediate goals are to book 50 percent amount of weddings I booked last year, I think it’s a challenging yet realistic goal even though I raised my prices. I don’t think I’ll be releasing any how-to books, at least not in the near future. Quite frankly, I don’t know if I have the patience to write something like that. If I write anything it will probably be short tutorials.

LAWRENCEATIENZA.COM: A lot of professional wedding photographers are starting to run workshops. Will you start offering workshops in the future?

ERICH CHEN: I’ve actually taught three workshops already, and I’ve taught two years of middle school photography. I definitely will be offering more workshops in the future, they’re a lot of fun for me and for the people who attend them. And even I learn a thing or two at my own workshops, because there’s always something that I can learn.

ERICH CHEN: I actually haven’t read that many articles about that, but my dad will tell me about it. He tells me I should learn videography, but I am uncertain about it, mainly because I haven’t tried it and my 5d II hasn’t shipped in yet. If I’m comfortable shooting shooting photo and video at the same time, I could probably see myself doing some fusion. When I look at a scene with a bride and groom, I actually think of the scene as if it were a movie. Recently I saw this business card of a videographer that says “If a photo is worth a thousand words, how much do you think 30 frames a second is worth?’

ERICH CHEN: You don’t have to be the best photographer, you just have to be better than your last shoot.

WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER INTERVIEW: Candice Cunningham

Lawrence — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 06:11:17 +0000

“I was not in photography in high school, I actually was in video production class. I was really ahead on credits so I was able to take video production 4 hours of my day. Now if I could just remember that for the fusion video editing. LOL!”

PAST

LAWRENCEATIENZA.COM: In your early years of high school, were you involved in the yearbook ? What sparked your interest in photography?

CANDICE CUNNINGHAM: Photography was an outlet for me. I was diagnosed with severe dyslexia in the third grade, the doctor described it as “Pure Word Blindness.” Photography was a visual journal and record of my life.

I was not in photography in high school, I actually was in video production class. I was really ahead on credits so I was able to take video production 4 hours of my day. Now if I could just remember that for the fusion video editing. LOL!

CANDICE CUNNINGHAM: In the early days I rocked it out the way most untrained and unguided photo enthusiasts do. In my early years I took photos of my friends, family, horses, and dogs. My early days were all about my car so, I would drive to the streets of Beverly Hills and set my car up for mini photo shoots. LOL It was not until the birth of my first daughter Madison, that I really got the ball rolling. I remember looking through the pages of Anne Geddes Images, and thinking WOW what lens does she have. LOL! It was Anne who made me research the technical side of photography. “Who would have known a world without P mode”. I got pretty good at taking photos of my children and began submitting them to online Stock houses and to date my children’s works is still being bought and published.

LAWRENCEATIENZA.COM: We want to know what the must have resources are to fully equip ourselves when and if we ever plan to take that leap of faith into wedding photography.

CANDICE CUNNINGHAM: Ummm. Well the most important thing I can give you for advise is not camera related! Be honest with yourself and your potential clients and friends. There is nothing wrong with being where you are at. Actually I think there is a huge market for weekend warriors and “Uncle Bob” type market place. Think of the benefits to being in such a position. You get on the job training, the expectations are very low. In most cases your clients know they are not hiring the elite brand name photographer. So your ability to really learn and play and for goodness sakes make mistakes, it comes with a much lower risk. Everyone of you that are new to this market and are spending your nights on Google researching how to reach high end clients, with only a couple of weddings under your belt. You need to stop! Take it down a notch. Take full advantage of your inexperience. And yes it is an advantage if you leverage it properly. I remember in the early day, I was like a child with my camera, my freedom of creative allowed me to take greater risks. I had time to play. Like a child I didn’t know any different. I had a stable income that paid the bills and weddings simply paid for gear. So if you are a weekend warrior. Take the time to learn your craft before you go all in. Don’t get caught up in what the competition is charging. We fall prey to this blog stalking world. “how are they getting these prices when there work sucks, mine is so much better” Yea, know you do it …… WE ALL DO!.

That raises me to my second point. If you think your work is so much better why are they booked every weekend of the year and you cant get a wedding on CL?

You have to separate your business from your photography. I know its nutz. Really! If you are like most of us were when we were starting out it was all about the art. OK if you want to sell art, be a fine art photographer. But if you are wanting to be a wedding photographer. It is so much more than the images, your clients want an experienced photographer, they want personally. Learn your camera, take your manual out of the box read it. After that learn how to run a business. Take a small business class, take a marketing class. You cant bitch about the uncle bobs that are “want-a-bee” when you are being a wannabe web designer, wannabe logo designer, wannabe marketing person, wannabe account (totally guilty on that one till last year). Use some of your wedding money and invest in your business not just your glass. It will save your ….. moving on =)

Photographymentor.com You will find no better community of people willing to help you in your business and photography. When I first started going to PM, I didn’t really belong to any community and the more I got involved with this community, the more I became business focused, I had a supportive core group to keep me inspired. Before I found this site I felt alone locked in my office in the late night hours editing away. I quickly began using the live chat and found their photographers in the same boat as me up late editing. So we began editing together 100’s or even 1000’s of miles away. Suddenly I didn’t feel alone and I was learning and laughing at the same time. After some time I began as a moderator and now a partner in the site. It is something I truly believe in and I think it is the best community out there.

SMUGs Once a month I attend a local SMUG meeting. Great way to stay involved, meet new people face to face, learn new things. I love them!! www.smugmug.com/smugs

Books: With out a shadow of a doubt Fast Track photographer was the best book I have ever read. Dane Sanders book changed my life. I honestly would not be were I am at today with out Dane. Danes book was the missing link. I dont even think you should be legally allowed to ask another photographer for help with your business until you read this book!

CANDICE CUNNINGHAM: I am truly a believer that you go out and get what you want out of life. I decided I wanted to be a wedding photographer after “uncle bob’ing” it at a friends wedding.

After that day I was hooked. I emailed and contacted every single wedding photographer I could find, begging to work for free 3 months went by and not a single taker. I decided that I would do it myself. I took out a CL ad may of 2002. That say this. “great children’s Photographer with no wedding experience would be honored to photograph your wedding”. I met a really nice couple online and explained to them I have ZERO experience in wedding photography and we agreed on 35.00 to cover gas and the cost to mail them a CD. I showed up to the wedding with a D100, a flash, a 70-200 2.8 and a one gig micro drive card. Only to show up to a bar lit room at the Santa Barbara Court house, with no flash allowed and no monopod. Truth be told I blew it. I got 3 good images. BUT because I was 100% honest with my clients. There was no backlash. I made it up to them by photographing them outside in the gardens. As of today I have received 13 wedding bookings from these “clients”. Honesty goes a long way. There is nothing wrong with being where you are at. Just make sure you know where your going!

I bought a monopod and my next crigstlist wedding was for 100.00 I shot 4 weddings that year all for under 500.00. I truly believe my drive and my honest approach is why I am not burned out and still shooting weddings today. I worked my way up from 35.00 to a price point to where I am today. So I say build yourself honestly, to many photographers “Want It” to happen yesterday and try to skip alot of steps in between. Relax there are people getting married every year… I promise!

LAWRENCEATIENZA.COM: What did you do to acquire more work besides providing awesome images?

CANDICE CUNNINGHAM: I treated my clients like royals even though most of them were on a “budget”. I truly appreciated being at each and every single one of their weddings. I treated my clients as if there were my only clients. Even though my first batches of brides had little money for photography. I treated them better than any other vendor they hired. Which lead to referral after referral!

PRESENT

CANDICE CUNNINGHAM: What keeps the wedding photography money rolling in? Me. I think I am pretty good at what I do, but I do think there are a lot of other photographers that are better than me in a lot of different areas, my clients book me for me. I think my personality and my super sexy wedding style attracts my clients. But I am the one that gets them to sign. My level of customer service is super high. When I first meet with a client on the phone, I get general notes as to their wedding day, time location, colors ETC. Then before our meeting I gather information. I look up the time of sunset. I custom make them a welcome package in their wedding colors with their names on the folders along with their date. My clients know I pay attention to them. I request them as a Friend on Facebook. I built a brand not just a photography business.

Have a professional looking site and blog, update your blog on a regular basics. Have professional business cards made. Use the power of having two streams of income to make sure you have enough gear to make it though a wedding. It doesn’t have to be “flagship” bodies and lens. But make sure you can shoot in a low light church with no flash. Have back up gear and insurance. Take the time to learn the business side of running a business and paying taxes. Use your day job as advantage to learn before jumping off the deep end.

CANDICE CUNNINGHAM:

In my bag

100% digital

1DsMarkII

5D Mark II

70-200mm IS L

20MM 1.8

85 1.8mm

28-70mm 2.8 L My fave

Just ordered my 15mm Fish

50mm 1:1 macro

2 580’s

2 550’s

4 Pocket wizards

power pack

230gigs in cards

mic for the 5DMII

Mono/tripod

Glide Cam pro 2000 for the 5D

and of course THE CAMERA SLINGER =)

I keep a “oh Crap!” bag in the car, if for some reason my bag gets stolen during a wedding I have an XTI a 50mm 1.8 70-200mm and a 550 flash I keep in the car as a third back up.

For the E-session I keep it lite

I ALWAYS just roll with my Camera Slinger.

Mark II and the 70-200 on one side and the 5DMII with the 28-70 on the other side extra set of batteries in my pocket, and my card holders attaches to my Camera Slingers. So I am pretty feel to move around during the e-sessions.

One wedding day I have an assistant Susan (she is amazing!) I keep pretty much the same set up and Susan is right there if I need to change out a lens.

CANDICE CUNNINGHAM: I have two favorite images. The first is the first photo that comes up on my site. It is of the tear rolling down her face. I think that image is so powerful. I can “feel” that photo. Every time I see it I can remember the wedding like it was yesterday. I am going to have a hard time giving you the construction of the image. The composition has become second nature at this point. But I do remember manually focusing that image. I try to follow the rules of composition as much as possible.

CANDICE CUNNINGHAM: I do not have a studio. I love to take my couples out to the city or to the beach or the best a place that means the most to them. My favorite places to shoot is El Madador beach in Malibu Ca, Montaceito downtown, and West Hollywood.

FUTURE

CANDICE CUNNINGHAM: I think one day I will do a book, because this has all been one wild crazy ride. With Camera Slinger’s overwhelming success and the insane backstory behind it. I think one day I have an amazing story that will inspire people. But for now I am busy enough with my weddings, cameraslingers, Photography Mentor, The Photo Fusion Tour, SMUG’s and a couple of other side project not to mention my children. But maybe some day =)

LAWRENCEATIENZA.COM: A lot of professional wedding photographers are starting to run workshops. Will you start offering workshops in the future?

CANDICE CUNNINGHAM: Yes I am. After Romancing the Storm, I will be running a storm chasing shoot in Tornado Alley! Each May.

CANDICE CUNNINGHAM: “Fusion” is here and it is not going away. I think this is the same argument that once was with film and digital. I think we have to embrace new technology. I think this is an amazing new technology to embrace. Should we as photographers try to replace videographers? NO. But add video to showcase the photos absolutely! The problem I am having and I am sure TONS of others who rushed out in November to pick up their Mark IIs is the editing and understanding of Video itself. I am the coordinator for the Photo Fusion Tour. www.photofusiontour.com The tour is being lead by the superstar Team and my good friends Curt Apanovich and Robert Evans sponsored by Smug Mug. We are going to 9 cities around the country, holding a intensive fusion workshop of editing the footage and the process of creating a Fusion Video. No matter how you feel about it, for it or against it, it is here and it is not going away and I firmly believe that you will either embrace it or fight it. I think the ones who learn it now will have a BIG advantage as more and more of the general public becomes exposed to the concept.

CANDICE CUNNINGHAM: Keep yourself involved in a community, let that community feed your natural competitiveness to push yourself! Think outside the box, try new things, get a dress and a friend and go out one afternoon and just go play!. I think of how I would photograph a wedding any and everywhere. I know how I would ROCK! a wedding at Costco.

That is how Romancing the Storm project came about! Go to www.romancingthestorm.com to see images and details from the crazy shoot!

CANDICE CUNNINGHAM: Get involved with a supportive community

Pick just one of your photography projects that you have been thinking about doing for goodness knows for only how long and make it happen.

Read one branding or marketing book, even if you get it from the public library or “borrow” it.

Take a good hard look at your website and logo, does it reflect you.

Take the time this week to help just one other photographer, even if you don’t think you’re good enough to help anyone.

Practice one act of random kindness. I practice random acts of kindness just about everyday.

Set your dreams high and if you don’t think you can reach them, build a ladder.

WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER INTERVIEW: Sara Smith

Lawrence — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 08:14:37 +0000

PAST

LAWRENCEATIENZA.COM: In your early years of high school, were you involved in the yearbook ? What sparked your interest in photography?

SARAH SMITH: Actually, in high school the only involvement I had with photography was a class I took in the spring of my Junior year. At the time I was involved with art and theater more so than photography, but the seed was definitely planted at the time, I just didn’t nurture it until about 10 years later. Since then it has blossomed into a career that I adore – I can’t imagine doing anything else.

SARAH SMITH: Oh goodness, I still have all the photos from when I started out. The birth of my daughter is what really sparked my interest in photography back in 2005. At the time, none of my friends were very interested in becoming my subjects to practice on, so I took self portraits and went on “photo safaris” to different towns and locations around my home to learn how to shoot. The self portraits really taught me about my camera, finding good light, and posing to flatter your subject. The photo safaris helped me learn about shooting in different lighting scenarios, and scouting interesting locations for shoots. I am pretty sure my old Flickr site is still up here http://www.flickr.com/photos/rusticrelics/

SARA H SMITH: There were a few books that helped me prepare for shooting weddings:

Understanding Exposure – Bryan Peterson
This book really helped me learn about my camera settings and how to get the right exposure in various lighting situations. A MUST to know if you decide to shoot weddings!

Mastering Digital Wedding Photography – James Karney
This was my go to book if I had any questions at all regarding shooting a wedding. This book is really comprehensive and covers (almost) everything you will need to prepare yourself for shooting weddings.

Contemporary Wedding Photography – Julie Oswin and Steve Walton
Another great informative and inspirational wedding photography book. This was another go to book when I first started my buinsness.

Fast Track Photographer – A MUST HAVE…enough said!

I think, though you can learn quite a bit from reading books like the one’s I listed above, getting out there in the field and shooting will teach you so much more. My best resource when getting into the business of wedding photography was finding a local established photographer to shadow on a few jobs. It took a bit to find someone who was willing to share what they knew, so don’t get discouraged if you hear a bunch of ‘no’s before you get a yes. I basically followed the photographer around for the day, stopping to ask questions about camera settings if there was a lull in the action, carefully watching how he posed his couples and their wedding party, what light he was using both on and off camera – natural and artificial. You also learn what the flow of a wedding day is like so you can properly prepare for what a typical day in the life of a wedding photographer is – and making sure that you are up for the demand, time and pressure that this line of work entails.

SARAH SMITH: My first professional wedding photography job was for an old high school friend that I found again on Facebook. I swore that I would never shoot weddings because of the pressure involved, but when he asked if I would be interested in shooting their wedding, I decided to challenge myself, break out of my comfort zone and shoot their wedding. I am so glad that I did! After that I had images to put on my portfolio, I set up a blog for my business and at the same time word of mouth had begun to get my name out there. I had also networked with a few local photographers and we would refer business to each other if we were already booked on a certain day. My first year shooting weddings I booked seven weddings, my second I have booked 30 thus far. I don’t pay for advertising or attend bridal fairs at this time, but I may in the future. All of my bookings come from three sources: word of mouth, Google/internet portfolio and vendor referrals. I also like to think that my photos have something to do with it ϑ

SARAH SMITH: After my first wedding job, I ended up booking several other weddings and some portrait and family sessions. I am CONSTANTLY in the process of researching and learning more things to enhance my work, hone my skills and become more productive and efficient with my workflow and business. I research photographs, search online forums for tips and tricks, network and share info with other photographers on sites like Photographymentor.com, where I am a moderator and featured member.

I would say that the tool that got me where I am today is my artistic background and drive to use my creativity in a way that is meaningful and profitable. I say profitable as I am also a stay at home mom during the week, so having a job where I can use my creative talents in a way that can allow me to stay home and raise my children is a huge motivation to push myself to create a successful business.

PRESENT

LAWRENCEATIENZA.COM: What keeps the money rolling? Your brand and reputation in the wedding photography space is possibly a huge factor to your longevity? Am i right? Do you have any recommendations on brand building for weekend photographers trying to get into professional wedding photography?

SARAH SMITH: Be consistent. Work with a logo or graphic designer to come up with a logo and/or branding plan that best reflects you and your business. Find your style, YOUR style, not someone else’s and run with it. Create a persona for yourself on your site, how do you want to be pericieved? – bubbly and fun, contemporary, traditional – how do you want the public coming to your site to view you and your work? Not only are you selling your photographs to a potential client you are selling YOU. Make sure that your brand is reflected in your photography, personality, print and presentation material and on your website/portfolio.

SARAH SMITH: I shoot 100% all the time using Canon equipment. Here is a rundown of what is in my bag. I’ll be posting about this soon on my blog as well, so stay tuned ϑ

Bag: Tamrac 694 LP4 Rolling Strongbox, Lowepro Nova 5
Bodies: Canon 5D, Canon 40D, Canon 400D, Canon 500D
Memory Cards: Sandisc/Lexar (4) 4G , (10) 2 G …I never shoot with any cards above 4G
Flashes: Canon 580, Canon 580 EX, additional off camera strobes – Metz 60-ct
Pocket Wizard remote triggers
Photoflex Medium/Small Dome Softboxes
Lenses: Canon 50mm f/1.2 L
Canon 17-40mm f/4.0 L
Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 L
Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 IS L
Canon 35mm f/2.0
Canon 100mm Macro
Polaroid Camera, sometimes a Kodak SLR for Through the Lens shots

Wish List: Canon TS 45mm, Canon 30 mm f/1.4 and Canon 85 f/1.8

SARAH SMITH: I think that my favorite image is that of some groomsmen from a wedding last year I shot at the Saratoga Springs Polo Club. The image is a casual shot of the groom and his guys in front of the bar, but what I like about the shot is the personality that shines through in each of the men. When I shoot my group shots I aim for casual, and the mantra that runs through my head is “what would Abercrombie do?” Sounds a bit silly, but when I arrange my group shots I picture a relaxed, fashion style shoot – something with a little drama, flare and sass. In regards to my photographic execution, whenever I am shooting I am always visualizing how the shot will look after being post processed, I shoot with a particular look in mind, and that changes with each couple, event and session.

SARAH SMITH: I do not have a studio (yet). All of my sessions take place on location – weddings, engagements, boudoir, portraits, etc. If a session is local I usually get a feel for the type of session my client is looking for and scout a location based on their input. If the session is out of town, I rely on my client to research locations, and coach them through what they should be looking for depending on the look and feel they would like for their finished product. I am in the Saratoga Springs area of New York, and my three favorite local spots to shoot is downtown Saratoga – there are some great side streets and secret nooks that make for fun photographs, Empire State Plaza – dramatic architecture, colors and artistic interior should the weather not agree with me that day and downtown Troy – great streets, beautiful brownstones, the Approach, EMPAC…all unique and interesting locations that can either be used for a more “urban” shoot or more relaxed and romantic shoot.

SARAHSMITH: Currently I have no commercial gigs lines up, but I hope that changes soon. I would love to shoot more commercial photography for wedding magazines and vendors both locally and nationally. I think shooting outside of the typical wedding setting allows you to experiment a bit more and find new ways to keep your work fresh. Plus for a potential client, seeing your work published in local or national publication helps build confidence in your work and brand.

FUTURE

SARAH SMITH: My goals as a photographer in general is to come up with a signature style that is all my own and that will be recognized among clients and my peers alike. Being that I am still very new to the business, I am constantly learning and evolving while creating my own personal style.

I do have a book idea in my head, though I feel that before I take that road I need to have more weddings under my belt. As much as I feel some of my ideas may be helpful, it is also important to have enough experience in order to have credibility for those ideas. I’ll keep you posted on this one!

LAWRENCEATIENZA.COM: A lot of professional wedding photographers are starting to run workshops. Will you start offering workshops in the future?

SARAH SMITH: I would love to do a workshop if there was a demand for it, we’ll see what the future holds.

SARAH SMITH: I feel that evolving as a photographer means learning what you can about the fast paced changes in our business and equipment. With the constant influx of new photographers, staying on top of trends is important in order to create or maintain a strong foothold in your market. The release of the 5DMKII opened a new realm of possibilities for the still photographer, and I think knowing how to use and incorporate the video medium can be a potential avenue of profitability. Take a workshop like the PhotoFusion Tour so you can learn how to , or if you want to, utilize this new technology to your advantage.

However, I feel strongly that one should really stick with their core compentancy…if you are a photographer, stick with what you know best and hone that talent. If video is something you want to incorporate into your business, find someone who knows the video aspect and partner up with them, or hire someone into your business who focuses just on video. Just my two cents ϑ

SARAH SMITH: I may start to sound like a broken record, but constantly research trends, technology, reach out to potential clients via social networking tools like Facebook, Blogs and Twitter, know your market and competition and find ways to truly differentiate yourself from the hundred other photographers in your area.

SARAH SMITH: As a photographer I think it is important to focus on one particular genre of photography, learn what you can and become the best you can be at it. A photographer who is great at photographing children and family’s should focus on that particular area of photography and market themselves as such – occasionally taking on a wedding or other type of session if something comes along and they are able to handle the task. I am all about exploring different avenues, but I feel that having that core competency will not only make you a better photographer in your field, but will also be an element that helps build confidence in your work with potential clients. Wedding photography is not something that should be stepped into lightly -you are responsible for being there (in sickness and in health) capturing and creating images for one of the most important day’s in someone’s life.

Please know that these answers are just my opinion based on my somewhat limited experiences in the field thus far. I don’t claim to know everything about wedding photography, but have based these answers on my personal observations and what has worked for me and my business. I hope that what I have shared here may help you in some way. Thank you for taking the time to read my interview!