Photographers Opinions Needed!

[gathertherosebuds]

I'm an aspiring photographer trying to get my feet off of the ground. I wanted some pictures done, and my friend, who is a mediocre photographer, asked to do them and I said yes because she was basically all I could afford. The locations, attire, and poses were all my idea. Literally, it was like I was the photographer but the camera was in someone elses' hands. The ideas she did come up with were so stupid that I didn't even bother putting them on my facebook! I felt like the shoot would have been a disaster if it weren't for all my own ideas.

But since I'm her friend, I was around for everyone giving her all the credit, saying how good she's getting and that the shoot was the best she'd ever done, etcetera. That's all well and fine, I wasn't going to make her look bad or rain on her parade even though my husband and I both knew that technically I was the reason for this particular success.
No big deal.

Until a friend of mine was looking for a photographer to do her wedding. Long story short, she chose my mediocre-photographer friend over me based off of the awesome photo shoot that she did -- you remember, the one that was my artistic brainchild?

WHAT DO YOU THINK? Do I have a right to be upset? Should I stand up and take some credit, or was it my own stupidity for sharing my ideas and taking control of the shoot? Or is all the credit really hers because technically she was behind the camera? I mean she was nothing but a warm body without two artistic bones to rub together, but behind the camera nonetheless.

So?

[junglebear]

I think you should quit your whining and knuckle down.

[vomviersen]

You asked for photographers' opinions. I am not an actual photographer, just a dog owner and biker chick with a couple of cheap cameras that I really have no clue about... yet.

But I definitely have an opinion. If you think it is ok to say such derogatory things about someone you call a "friend" as:

"...mediocre photographer..."
"basically all I could afford"
"[her] ideas were so stupid..."
"nothing but a warm body without two artistic bones to rub together"

...then your definition of friendship is well and truly screwed up.

That is all.

[NicoleScraps]

Nothing you can do. He or she who clicks the shutter owns the copyright and gets the credit.

[corvus2606]

Originally Posted by NicoleScraps

Nothing you can do. He or she who clicks the shutter owns the copyright and gets the credit.

Agreed, s/he who takes the photos takes the credit. you had the idea, but the technical aspects of the photo make the complete picture. If you want the credit, get out there and do the hard yards and build a portfolio to blow your 'friend's' socks off

[gathertherosebuds]

Originally Posted by gathertherosebuds

your definition of friendship is well and truly screwed up.

That is all.

First of all I explicitly asked for a photographer's opinion. But on the contrary, I've kept my mouth shut even while her business flourished and mine struggled BECAUSE I didn't want to be a bad friend. Just because she's not a talented photographer does not mean I'm not a good friend who simply calls it like I see it. I know you could not possibly grasp this concept, but it's not personal, it's business.

[gathertherosebuds]

Corvus and NicoleScraps...

Mature opinions from actual photographers... thank you... this is all I wanted to know.

[gathertherosebuds]

Also, vomviersen:

You are a biker chick

I am a photographer with a degree in business

Thanks but you well and truly don't belong on this post.

[gathertherosebuds]

Originally Posted by junglebear

I think you should quit your whining and knuckle down.

Junglebear,
Fair and square!

[el_vago32]

Originally Posted by gathertherosebuds

On the contrary, I've kept my mouth shut even while her business flourished and mine struggled BECAUSE I'm a good friend. Just because she's not a talented photographer does not mean I'm not a good friend.

This is unfair and I asked for a photographer's opinion, as it is related to those dealing within the business world of photography.

A truly honest friend would ask her to drop that wedding job since she lacks the skills to do it. Are you up to that? No need to answer...


On the other hand, do you consider yourself ready enough and with the proper equipment to shoot a wedding or is this just a personal fight? This is a honest question as I don't really know how good are you.