A longtime client of mine called to thank me for the wonderful photos of their newborn daughter that I just took the other day, and also to begin the ordering process of birth announcements, photographs for relatives and albums.  Rather than using any digital files for personal use to order things from ‘big-web’ mass merchandisers, she told me that her family is supporting local businesses in the area, and ordering everything through our studio.  What an fabulous comment! 

Small business makes up 70% of the nations economy and employs that much of the workforce.  According to the SBA, depending on the business, you are classified as small if you employ under 750-1,000 employees!  Those are still some pretty large businesses.  But, look at all the ‘local small businesses’ just in the Mentor and surrounding area.  There is almost any service or vendor available, for anything you need.

Our local economy in this upcoming year is going to make or break by the survival of local small business.   Use their services and order products through them. Please support them, and tell them you are directly supporting them.  I have begun the same!  They’ll appreciate it and spread the word just like I am.   Ordering online by mass merchandisers and importers is only taking money out of our local economy.  Think Lemonade!

This is the first of what may be a new category of posts.  The Knowledge Base.  Here you can get consumer educational information on how to invest in professional photography, what to look for, what to stay away from, etc. 

Our first post is on the Wedding Paparazzi.  They’re all over!  You go to any wedding anymore, and romantic candlelit services have a blue-green glow of LCD and cell phone screens, clicks, beeps, etc.  People running all over the church, dropping batteries on church pews, jumping up on the altar to get that close-up, hiding in the flowers, and the list goes on.  This is so rampant, that there’s even TV commercials depicting an actor that thinks he’s a wedding pro.   Still haven’t figured out ‘the why’ in this, because the bride and groom hire a professional to record thier images.

So, here is the consumer knowledge:  Being a professional photographer for over twenty years, it is my job to capture a couples wedding day…without retakes.  There is an enormous amount of pressure to do this weekly.  I make it a point, at every service, to meet with the priest or minister to go over ‘the church’s rules and policies for phototography’.   Most all churches have specific areas to be in, an not to be in.  Use flash at certain times, no flash for the others.  We ALWAYS respect the churches policies.  But, the guests with their pocket kutcher-cams just ‘have at it’ during a service without even knowing that they’re disrupting other guests, the couple, the officiant, and also…..your hired professional photographer (no matter who it is).  

This is the kind of photo that happens:

I bet Uncle Bob is glad he got his shot, because I missed, not mine, but YOURS.  I’m actually about 30 feet behind him shooting with a telephoto lens.  The couple was just presented with a ceremonial plaque from the church by the priest and after a few coughs and an ‘u-um’, he finally turned around and realized I was behind him where I was supposed to be.  For the record….I did get the shot before UB blocked the view, because I saw him coming.  Glad he was about 10 seconds late getting there.

So, we can’t change what people do anymore, but we can encourage them to enjoy themselves and leave the cameras for the reception.  Getting invited to a wedding is an honor…you shouldn’t have to work while you’re there.  That’s why couples hire professionals.  We’ll get it, don’t worry….just have fun and enjoy yourself.