The "Photog Boom": Are Camera Companies Helping the Overflow of "Professional" Photographers?

So Brandy and I (Gronde Photography) have been in business since April of last year and we're starting to come up on our 1 year anniversary of the business.  One of the things that I've come to discover whether it be in photography school or while looking for job leads or shooting in the studio (We <3 Union 206), is that the wold is FULL of photographers.  Everybody thinks they're a photographer!  It's easy right?  Pick up the camera set it on auto and push the button.  If it doesn't do what you want you have that wonderful crutch known as Adobe Photoshop to fix all your mistakes.  Here's an analogy that will help show you how I feel about photography.

I don't know about any of you but I have two tattoos.  I'm not as proud of them as I was when I got them.  One of those reasons I won't disclose, but the other reason is because every one has them now.  15 year old girls are walking around with real tattoos!  1. Your mom needs slapped 2. I wish tattoos hurt more so that less people would get them!  While I was in the military I had been "hazed" several times and loved it because it separates the people who are serious from the people who just thought it was a good idea at the time.  This is how I feel about photography.  I want it to be hard so that less people will want to do it.  Unfortunately cameras, even DSLR's are getting easier to use and less expensive by the day.  Don't get me wrong I love Nikon, but lately they've begun to really bug me!  Since I started shooting Nikon DSLR's they have released the D90, D5000, the D3000, which was then almost immediately replaced by the D3100, then the D7000, and just recently the D5100 which will replace the already discontinued D5000.  These are all ENTRY level cameras.  Where's the D400, or the D800, or even the D4?  Where are the new mid and pro level cameras?!  Why don't they make these, you ask?  That's a great question!  Here's the answer: Because the people that shoot with these already OWN cameras and shoot well with those cameras.  The photographers!  I kind of relate this to auto insurance or cable.  You know how they are always offering deals to new customers or even bigger deals for switching from competitors, but they seem to ignore the loyal customers?  Camera companies are FEEDING the over population of "photographers" in this already over crowded business.  I can understand they're trying to make money by approaching new markets, but it's killing the photography business.  Every soccer mom out there is going out and buying one of these new fancy entry level DSLR's and shooting snap shots on Auto mode of their kids and then going "Hey this is easy!  I think I'll shoot weddings!"  This along with the devil (aka Craigslist) flooding clients with "free shoots to work on my portfolio" make it impossible to charge a decent price for photography.  It's hard to compete with free!  So, here I am trying to make our business separate from all the others by making lasting relationships with our previous clients, formalizing my training through my photography degree, networking with other photographers through our new membership to the Professional Photographers of America, and learning from my mentors at Union 206 and just being the best darned photographers Brandy and I can be!  Eventually I'm hoping the amount of photographers levels out and Gronde Photography will still be standing! 

If you want photographers who aren't trying to make a quick buck, but really have a passion for what we do and actually care about your wedding not just trying to get a good shot, but really capturing those moments you want to remember forever..... the please visit our website.  Look at what people have said about us on weddingwire!  Check out our facebook albums.  Email us.  We would love to talk to you! 

http://www.grondephotography.com/
www.facebook.com/grondephotography
www.twitter.com/grondephoto
www.weddingwire.com/grondephotography

"Too Legit to Quit!": Just Another Step in the Right Direction

So just trying to take as many steps in the right direction towards being respected members of this over populated photography business, we've debated about what sites to advertise on.  There's so many bride websites: weddingbee, weddingwire, theknot, etc, etc, etc.  The Knot contacts us all the time about different things but just to post on their site is $160 a month.  I don't know if I can really justify that, but at the same time if it brings in THAT much business than it would be worth it.  You gotta spend money to MAKE money right?  Well maybe not that much quite yet.  We only have a handful of weddings under our belt, but we have a twice as many booked for this year so far, so maybe at the end of the year we'll think about theknot.com.  Weddingwire on the other hand you can have a "free" posting on their site.  It doesn't get you much as far as advertising but if you follow up with it and keep it up to date and get reviews from your past clients you can become a "Rated Member".  This is something that I see ALL the time at trunk shows that vendors have posted their table.  It basically means you have experience and have been rated by other brides.  It means we're legit...in fact we're now too legit!  eh hem...*cough cough* too legit to quit!  The more reviews we get the higher rated member (i.e. gold, silver) and with enough GOOD reviews we can receive the "brides choice award".  That's the prize we're looking at, and we've been SO blessed with the most amazing brides!  One review that was left on wedding wire literally brought Brand and me to tears!  Even if we never make it huge in this business, if we keep getting reviews like that, I'll never stop doing this job.  We may not be able to charge 5,000 a wedding like some photographers, but I believe we give a great service and lasting memories to real everyday people just like us and THAT my friends is what really matters and what makes America great...not getting rich quick.  Well I think soon we'll pay the $90 a month to advertise on weddingwire.com now that we're "rated members for 2010", so keep an eye out.  I'm sure you'll hear about us soon!   Oh, here's the press release sent to us from www.weddingwire.com!

       

Gronde Photography is now WeddingWire Rated for 2010

 Washington, DC (February 20, 2011) - WeddingWire, the nation's leading site for wedding reviews, just announced that Gronde Photography is WeddingWire Rated 2010 for Photography. WeddingWire Rated is an annual award program for wedding professionals based on hundreds of thousands of recent wedding reviews.

WeddingWire Rated, the industry's first formalized review program, is the most recognized and trusted brand among engaged couples looking to locate wedding businesses. The award program recognizes wedding professionals across the country, like Gronde Photography, that have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to service.
Gronde Photography has several reviews on WeddingWire. These reviews have been written by past clients of Gronde Photography, and include detailed ratings and insightful descriptions of the newlyweds' experience. From quality of service to overall level of professionalism, these reviews showcase the high level of service newly engaged couples can expect from Gronde Photography.

"We are excited to unveil WeddingWire Rated, now in its fourth year, as a way to recognize wedding professionals for their commitment to service," said Timothy Chi, WeddingWire's CEO. "WeddingWire Rated allows wedding businesses to clearly differentiate themselves in their market, while providing engaged couples an easy way to find the best services for their wedding."

 Gronde Photography would like to thank their past clients for sharing reviews of their weddings on WeddingWire. Reviews for Gronde Photography can be found across the entire WeddingWire Network, which includes WeddingWire, Martha Stewart Weddings, Project Wedding and Weddingbee.

For more information, please visit Gronde Photography on WeddingWire at www.weddingwire.com/grondephotography.

About WeddingWire, Inc.
WeddingWire, the nation's leading technology company serving the $70 billion wedding industry, is the only online wedding planning resource designed to empower both engaged couples and wedding professionals. For engaged couples, WeddingWire offers the ability to search, compare and book over 100,000 local wedding vendors, from wedding venues to wedding photographers to wedding cakes. WeddingWire also offers an online community and a suite of cutting-edge planning tools for weddings, including wedding websites, all at no charge. For wedding professionals, WeddingWire provides free online management tools creating the only market opportunity that gives local businesses control over their clients, reviews, leads and performance. Businesses that join the WeddingWire Network appear on WeddingWire.com and other leading sites, including MarthaStewartWeddings.com, ProjectWedding.com and Weddingbee.com (both part of eHarmony), and Celebrations.com (part of the 1-800-Flowers family of brands).