I'm on my next-to-last semester at UNC Pembroke... hard to believe. And I think it's my toughest one yet. Not so much the workload, but the schedule. I have four classes that conflict with each other, so the time I'm not IN class has to be made up outside of class, in addition to my work. It's almost over... I only have 6 credits left and I will have a BA in Art. Then - off to work on my MFA in Virginia.
In photography related news, I will no longer be shooting weddings, except under VERY special circumstances. I love to be a part of someone's special day, but all the drama that revolves around it is not what I love anymore. Photography has become a commodity, shopping around for the best price - I totally get that. But sometimes, you get what you pay for. Fauxtographers are in abundance - those that bought a camera and suddenly think they're a photographer. And charging peanuts for working hard. Photographing a wedding is NOT easy. Then you have all the work after the event. And with the invent of digital, brides & grooms think their photos are ready the next day. Seriously? I'm good, but not that good. It's disheartening to me and this is why I've chosen to shift my focus from commercial and go back to what I did a long time ago. Art.
Brides and grooms, be careful - look at a photographer's portfolio. And I mean REALLY look at it. Is this what you want in remembrance of your big day? You may be able to get an excellent photographer for an excellent price. Great! But that's not always the case. I'm always here to offer advice, so if a bride or groom comes across this post or my website, please don't hesitate to contact me. I'll be more than happy to help, if I can. And please, don't put unrealistic expectations on your GREAT photographer. All that equipment they use? That costs A LOT OF MONEY. (They should have at least 2 cameras, 2 flashes and 2 lenses - at a minimum.) Shooting is wear and tear on that equipment. Then there's other costs, such as memory cards, wear/tear on the car, computer equipment, website, etc. There's a lot more to it than just a camera - it's a business with overhead costs, and they have to cover that AND pay themselves. Don't forget, going through the images, processing them, uploading them to a website, making an album - all AFTER your big day. You don't have to pay an arm and a leg for your photographer, but you need to be prepared to spend some money if you want quality. Remember: a picture is worth a thousand words.
In the coming months - as soon as I have a chance to breathe! - I'll be updating my website, shifting from the wedding/event focus to a more artistic focus, including some of the artworks I've created. I am now an internationally exhibited artist, having been part of a show this past August in Brighton, England. I'd like to share some of those things with you. But photography will still be my main focus. Eventually, I'll go back to shooting portraits and maybe an event here or there. But weddings are out of the picture for now... maybe someday I'll revisit the idea, or fall in love with it again.
