Portrait/wedding photographers. Do you you ever get tired of it?

[frydham]

I mean, like, does it ever get on your nerves? Always having to deal with people. -Don't get me wrong, I love people and learning about people. I guess I'm just not that great at relating to them- Especially doing a wedding, if you mess up, they're most likely going to be mad. That's why I'm getting more into landscapes and street stuff. No one's counting on you, you're taking pictures for your enjoyment, not cause someone is paying you too.

Anyway, that's how I see it. What about you guys? What are your thoughts/experiences?

[zona5101]

it's like alomst any new experience...at first it seems overwhelming then after a while it's no issue. Give you an example, the first time I was using a chainsaw I sliced into my pant leg...twice. That got my attention, now i don't make that mistake anymore.

[Niresangwa]

At this point in the season, ie towards the end, yes I get really tired of people. I'm not particularly a people person, but can put on a sh!t-eating grin and be charming.

However, people pay much better than trees, and thankfully I have a very firm line on exactly how much input the client gets; its made patently clear that it's my show, my creativity, right from the off.


Clients simply allow me to do what I want to do photographically, and touch wood I've had no problems... they've been a pleasureable part of the job, and if the biggest chore is still a pleasure, I consider myself damn lucky,

[Izzy]

As a wedding photographer who has been sued for breach of performance ( I was 3 days late with the product ) I did get sick of people in a big way. Coming off a 4 year hiatus since, I am getting back in the game and I am looking forward to it.

Interesting fact - ALL of my previous clients are now divorced

Kind of hard to get references that way

[candleman]

yes... its exhausting.
Especially whan you get e-mails afterwards like i got this week from a family member of the couple..

the couple is very happy.. this person who is not a client wants to edit my pics and i said "sorry, no... as per the contract"

here are a few extracts:

.... you have NO RIGHT to dictate how they can or cannot use thier property.(It's like buying a bottle of shampoo and not being able to use it in your private capasity to wash your hair.)

.

....you are an extremly unreasonable person who does not understand the copyright law.

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...(you) are not to use thier pictures that you have taken of them and paste it on your site to further improve your business or upload on any internet site for sale or for any other reason whatsoever

.

I will be recommending that the persons that you have restricted in using thier property take this issue up further with an attorney.

.

So, yes.. its exhausting putting up with BS like this and returning a reply that is curteous, that still says "umm.. no, but thanks for playing."

On the other hand its very rewarding seeing peoples eyes well up with tears when they look through the pics and they e-mail you several times saying thank you.

its not easy work... portraiture is more profitable on a "per hour" basis for me.
They are little to no prep' and theres always a reshoot possible.

However... I love shooting weddings.. i dont know why. I just do.
I've also met some wonderful people. Thankfully all my clients thus far have been really nice and reasonable people. I have nothing but respect for them.

but there are "moments"
Not to mention, As Niresangwa said, trees dont pay all that well.

[SusanH1970]

I'm not a wedding photographer at all (and don't plan to become one, no interest in that field at all). As a portrait photographer that specializes in kids, newborns, maternity and families, I'll say:

Sometimes certain people get on my nerves, but as a whole, I pretty much roll with it. This is a service business; you won't please all the people all the time, and I do what I can to compromise if there's a problem. If it was that difficult, I wouldn't be doing it. If it starts to affect me negatively, it'll be time to rethink my profession. You get a pain in the butt now and then. Who doesn't?

I have a strong background in sales, customer service, sales management and business, so I've learned a few things along the way in those departments. Probably not nearly enough, but I'm constantly researching and learning more every day. Didn't go to to college for it, and I have no degree, but twenty years of experience (in several fields) has taught me a lot. I'd probably be better off if I did in fact study business formally, and have seriously considered going back to school for it.

As you said, weddings are a one-time deal. If you screw up, there's no retakes. With portraiture, there's a bit more leeway (excepting maternity and newborn - I'm screwed if the mom has the baby the next day or so and I've screwed up her maternity photos; newborns are best photographed within the first fourteen days, so almost the same deal). Knock on wood, I've never had to do a retake. Knocking again on wood. And again. And again (where's Jim Bryant's wooden head when I need him???? lol smooches, Jim, you know I love you to pieces, my friend).

So........quite often, I do feel the urge to take pictures just for me. If they live forever on my hard drive and never get online or shown to anyone else, that's fine by me. Not everyone has to love every photograph I take. I don't love every photo I take. If my clients and I both love my work that I show them, and I more or less pleased with my own stuff that I do for myself, then I'm one happy photographer.

[Niresangwa]

Originally Posted by SusanH1970

So........quite often, I do feel the urge to take pictures just for me.

There's something... I haven't taken a set of work for myself since March. Tens of thousands of button pushes, thousands of dollars worth of equipment, countless of hours of work, and not one just for the pleasure of taking a photograph! I feel nauseous.

[deck]

I think were missing the point here, because the main point here isn't what kind of field you're in, but whether you are getting paid for what you're doing, now if switch the situation around and say you're being commissioned to take photographs of certain redwood trees, you'd probably be working with certain people who would be pressuring you about the deadline.
In my opinion, if photography is a hobby it's about pleasing yourself, but if it's a business it's about pleasing others.

[Photologyst]

I’ve done a few weddings as the back-up/second photographer. Often the people have said that my photos were better than those of the pros for which they paid big money.

I can’t imagine doing this for a living, dealing with the couple and the varying family members, who all too often have outrageous wishes and demands.

I never get tired of photographing the natural world or even manmade objects. Portraits might be OK, depending on the subject. I love interesting people.

[candleman]

Originally Posted by Photologyst

all too often have outrageous wishes and demands.

....yesterday i was with a couple and was asked if i could get there early to set the table up, and if i could supply the table and cloth.