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Home: Video University Forums: Digital Photography for Videographers:
Advertise your passion - "I will CRY at your wedding" - "I'm a hopeless romantic"

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Brackish
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Jun 15, 2007, 7:13 AM

Post #1 of 37 (1827 views)
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Advertise your passion - "I will CRY at your wedding" - "I'm a hopeless romantic"	Can't Post

This is more just an observation. If you'd like to comment
feel free.

I have happened to notice that very many photogs
advertise their "passion" and/or "love" of photography.

Are you on this bandwagon? Have you noticed this
in looking at others' ads? Personally, I have very
little interest in going this route of using these
words in my advertising.

----------------------------------------------
"We'll always show up at the wedding with a gift bag for the bride. Inside we have these incredible fuzzy slippers in the teal of our branding."

(This post was edited by Brackish on Jun 28, 2007, 10:42 PM)

Postal Boy
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Jun 15, 2007, 8:53 AM

Post #2 of 37 (1812 views)
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Re: [Brackish] Must you advertise your "passion"? [In reply to]	Can't Post

I don't...but then maybe it is because I am not "passionate" about it...I just really enjoy it. Not like I would go live on a corner to sell my "art" because I am so passionate about it. I don't know that the people that advertise that they are passionate about it really ARE passionate about it - they are just excited about it.

postal

DarrenS
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Jun 15, 2007, 9:42 AM

Post #3 of 37 (1809 views)
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Re: [Postal Boy] Must you advertise your "passion"? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Interesting question. I agree with Postal. I've always considered photography my first life passion (Women & Crown Royal being tied for second Laugh

, and a close third being computer science), but I don't go round actually advertising it. Pretty sure one's passions become tangible in how they work and play. If they have to actually articulate it - esp. in advertising - it's likely not real.

(This post was edited by DarrenS on Jun 15, 2007, 9:43 AM)

Brackish
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Jun 15, 2007, 5:47 PM

Post #4 of 37 (1765 views)
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Re: [DarrenS] Must you advertise your "passion"? [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

If they have to actually articulate it - esp. in advertising - it's likely not real.

Probably just some BS they're saying to try to get some business.
"I'M BOOKING FAST SO HURRY AND SECURE YOUR DATE - DON'T MISS OUT."

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"We'll always show up at the wedding with a gift bag for the bride. Inside we have these incredible fuzzy slippers in the teal of our branding."

(This post was edited by Brackish on Jun 15, 2007, 9:50 PM)

Brackish
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Jun 15, 2007, 5:50 PM

Post #5 of 37 (1764 views)
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Re: [Postal Boy] Must you advertise your "passion"? [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

I don't...but then maybe it is because I am not "passionate" about it...I just really enjoy it.

Personally, I'm not passionate about photography or videography per se.
The only time I touch the equipment is if someone is paying me. It's not
a hobby. I'm more passionate about making money.

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"We'll always show up at the wedding with a gift bag for the bride. Inside we have these incredible fuzzy slippers in the teal of our branding."

RustyB
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Jun 15, 2007, 6:48 PM

Post #6 of 37 (1758 views)
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Re: [Brackish] Must you advertise your "passion"? [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

I don't...but then maybe it is because I am not "passionate" about it...I just really enjoy it.

Personally, I'm not passionate about photography or videography per se.
The only time I touch the equipment is if someone is paying me. It's not
a hobby. I'm more passionate about making money.

Yeah, but haven't most of us put some sappy BS on our website...video or photo? I think it's one of those noob things...like posting pics of video cameras on your site, or saying you use "3-Chip" cameras. Tongue

I enjoyed making videos as a hobby, but now it's a job. I'd love to say that I have a passion for making wedding videos, and how "special" I think the bride's day is....but it's not true. But, as long as that check clears...I still give it 110%. (okay, maybe 65% Laugh

)

the People's Video Collective blog
wedding video and the means of production

Brackish
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Jun 15, 2007, 7:11 PM

Post #7 of 37 (1751 views)
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Re: [RustyB] Must you advertise your "passion"? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Here's another one I ran across that's laughable. The photog advertises
"On this most important day you need a photographer you can
trust completely to capture all those special moments - we are that
photographer". Only thing is ... he doesn't have a single sample
of his work. He hasn't even shot a single wedding - yet
he is "The Photographer You Can Trust Completely". Laugh

I think "trust" is built from a demonstrated past history of getting
results over and over again.

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"We'll always show up at the wedding with a gift bag for the bride. Inside we have these incredible fuzzy slippers in the teal of our branding."

eppievojt
User

Jun 15, 2007, 11:47 PM

Post #8 of 37 (1736 views)
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Re: [Brackish] Must you advertise your "passion"? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Brack - how'd you find my website? Wink

Brackish
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Jun 16, 2007, 4:47 AM

Post #9 of 37 (1717 views)
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Re: [eppievojt] Must you advertise your "passion"? [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

Brack - how'd you find my website?

Hey eppie ... that site was yours? Small world.

That huge still of your Digital Rebel on your Home
Page was pretty cool. It was really pixelated, though.
Maybe if you could get a better quality picture of the
Rebel it might help more to bring in the high-end clients.

One other quick hint for a fellow VUer ... When you
post some samples of your work, make sure the B&G
are all tilted way over at ridiculous angles, as if they're
on the Titanic going down. I know ... it looks really
gimmicky and queer and stupid to offer up photos like
this ... but some of the big names do it so it's "in".
The greater the percentage of your shots that are tilted, the
more you can charge. A sucker born every day. LOL.
Like this one I took of an engagement session:

This above pic goes for $5 if it's taken normally but if you

offer it tilted over like I did here it goes for $12 - and you laugh

all the way to the bank. LOL.

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"We'll always show up at the wedding with a gift bag for the bride. Inside we have these incredible fuzzy slippers in the teal of our branding."

DarrenS
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Jun 16, 2007, 9:31 PM

Post #10 of 37 (1690 views)
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Re: [Brackish] Must you advertise your "passion"? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Brack, it might be hard to accept art for art when you're focused on the money predominately. People 'tilt' photographs because it makes a more pleasing image sometimes, yours included (it looks nice like that...if it was 'straight' it would look like real life, and real life + photographs sucks...photography ain't video).

StillMotion
User

Jun 17, 2007, 6:18 PM

Post #11 of 37 (1657 views)
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Re: [DarrenS] Must you advertise your "passion"? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi Brack,

We don't advertise our passion but I do understand why people do it. We meet with so many coupes who want photography to be fun and don't want to work on their day, and countless coupes have mentioned how they love how passionate we are about what we do and how that makes they whole experience that much better.

On the other hand, I don't think many photographers really think through what they put on their site. I read the other day on a photographers wwebsite that they are unique because they like to stand on chairs and shoot from really low. To me, that sounded much worse than just saying we are passionate, but apparently it works for them as their work-prices really don't line up.

Brackish
Veteran

Jun 18, 2007, 2:39 AM

Post #12 of 37 (1639 views)
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Re: [DarrenS] Must you advertise your "passion"? [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

...if it was 'straight' it would look like real life, and real life + photographs sucks...

Thanks, Darren. I hope no one took offense at what I said about
dutch angles. I was just wanting to hear some folks thoughts
about it. I know everyone has their own style so ...

Times seem to have changed a lot with wedding photography.
Years ago you didn't see any dutch angles but now I've seen
where it seems like the majority of some photog's shots are
dutch. I'm just wondering if granny may look at these photog's
shots of her granddaughter's wedding and wonder if the photog
was cuttin' into the sauce, so that he couldn't keep his level.

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"We'll always show up at the wedding with a gift bag for the bride. Inside we have these incredible fuzzy slippers in the teal of our branding."

RustyB
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Jun 18, 2007, 2:56 AM

Post #13 of 37 (1636 views)
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Re: [Brackish] Must you advertise your "passion"? [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

...if it was 'straight' it would look like real life, and real life + photographs sucks...

....shoot it crooked and call it art...that way you don't have to worry about getting the horizon straight in all of your photos. I'm sure that's helpful with the new style of PJ machine-gunning/hold the camera high in the air and hold down the release/6000 pic wedding photographers. Tongue

the People's Video Collective blog
wedding video and the means of production

Brackish
Veteran

Jun 18, 2007, 3:53 AM

Post #14 of 37 (1626 views)
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Re: [RustyB] Must you advertise your "passion"? [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

....shoot it crooked and call it art...that way you don't have to worry about getting the horizon straight in all of your photos.

You know what, Rusty. I just happened to see some pics from
a photog where I shot the video. A lot of them - especially the
ones that were shot portrait (as opposed to landscape) - were
noticeably not level. But I don't really think they were meant to
be dutch angle shots. They were just sloppy shooting I think.
But the photog got paid $3000 for the shoot!
I suppose if the client (or the client's family) asked about
it the photog could say that's their style.

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"We'll always show up at the wedding with a gift bag for the bride. Inside we have these incredible fuzzy slippers in the teal of our branding."

DarrenS
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Jun 18, 2007, 8:17 AM

Post #15 of 37 (1619 views)
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Re: [Brackish] Must you advertise your "passion"? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Yes that's the kicker...a crooked shot doesn't necessarily mean a dutch shot or that it's even intentional. It takes a lot of practice (or luck, or both) to get tilted-angle shots of various subjects to look proper. And some subjects it just don't work with, either (like wildlife). Usually tilting doesn't look 'right' to me in any case, but that's just because they're poorly composed most of the time, or inappropriate subject matter. The camera must move when it tilts. Simply tilting an already-proper composition does not work. It's not that simple.

The dutch angle was executed properly and definately works with your picture above, I think. It's just looks cool like that; could be an album cover. Plus nobody's goign to tell me those subjects aren't a little bit 'tilted' IRL. Smile

That's another reason it works so well. In fact a nice squared-off composition of those particular subjects (especially with all the straight lines in the background) would probably smack of boring newspaper work and be quite uninteresting.

Postal Boy
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Jun 18, 2007, 8:52 AM

Post #16 of 37 (1614 views)
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Re: [DarrenS] Must you advertise your "passion"? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Works because the tall subject has his feet in the bottom corner, head towards opposite top corner, meaning the tallest subject is crossing the largest part of the frame. Smaller subject fits proportionally into the shorter space that is left. At least that is my take on it. That is what is tricky about it. The subjects have to fill/balance a crooked shot. I wonder what the "rule of thirds" says about a photo like this, where the subject crosses the image?

-Postal

AbracadabraTV
User

Jun 20, 2007, 7:37 PM

Post #17 of 37 (1560 views)
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Re: [Brackish] Must you advertise your "passion"? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi Brackish...I agree with you entirely! Even worse are those couples who shoot weddings and profess their love for each other and how they hope to be a positive influence for the bride and groom. My wife an I have been married for 32 years (no kids...only yorkies) and it would be a sad day when we had to rely on wedding photography and videography for our life passion let alone be a beacon of love. Give me a break! We do professional work and deliver a professional product and leave the passion and couple guidance to the $200 hr therapists.
Best, Craig

RustyB
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Jun 20, 2007, 7:48 PM

Post #18 of 37 (1559 views)
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Re: [Brackish] Must you advertise your "passion"? [In reply to]	Can't Post

If you really want to convey your passion for photography on your website, you must also list the model number of the first 35mm SLR you were given as a kid. Laugh

the People's Video Collective blog
wedding video and the means of production

Postal Boy
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Jun 20, 2007, 9:21 PM

Post #19 of 37 (1549 views)
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Re: [RustyB] Must you advertise your "passion"? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Wait...if it was GIVEN to you then you didn't care enough to work your fingers to the bone to buy one YOURSELF!!!! Poser!!!

RustyB
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Jun 20, 2007, 9:28 PM

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Re: [Postal Boy] Must you advertise your "passion"? [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

Wait...if it was GIVEN to you then you didn't care enough to work your fingers to the bone to buy one YOURSELF!!!! Poser!!!

In that case, I guess my passion was beer. I bought my first camera with credit cards. Laugh

the People's Video Collective blog
wedding video and the means of production

Sandy B
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Jun 21, 2007, 1:40 AM

Post #21 of 37 (1535 views)
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Re: [RustyB] Must you advertise your "passion"? [In reply to]	Can't Post

So it would help to list that my first SLR was a Leica M4 that my momma gave me when I was in high school just to piss off the other photographer's momma that bought her a Canon A1.

Sandy B
SSPBLOG

"Good luck seldom comes in pairs, but bad things never walk alone" Chinese proverb

Brackish
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Jun 21, 2007, 5:35 AM

Post #22 of 37 (1518 views)
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Re: [Sandy B] Must you advertise your "passion"? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi, Sandy.

I have noticed that often the advertising will list that
they started at a young age - such as one I just
saw who said she started into photography at 10 - so
don't hesitate to mention that first cam as a youngster.

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"We'll always show up at the wedding with a gift bag for the bride. Inside we have these incredible fuzzy slippers in the teal of our branding."

Brackish
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Jun 21, 2007, 5:42 AM

Post #23 of 37 (1516 views)
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Re: [AbracadabraTV] Must you advertise your "passion"? [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

Even worse are those couples who shoot weddings and profess their love for each other and how they hope to be a positive influence for the bride and groom.

Never-ending creativity in advertising.

Here's one I just ran across today:
"I bring tissues with me because
I will most likely cry at your wedding".

Anyone here tried this one out yet? Does it
help bookings?

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"We'll always show up at the wedding with a gift bag for the bride. Inside we have these incredible fuzzy slippers in the teal of our branding."

(This post was edited by Brackish on Jun 21, 2007, 8:01 AM)

RustyB
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Jun 21, 2007, 12:21 PM

Post #24 of 37 (1494 views)
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Re: [Brackish] Must you advertise your "passion"? [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

Even worse are those couples who shoot weddings and profess their love for each other and how they hope to be a positive influence for the bride and groom.

That one is great! Laugh

Maybe I should put that on my video website. I'm usually fighting the urge to cry...about half way through the YMCA. By the end of the Chicken Dance, I'm usually praying one of the DJ's speakers will crash down on my head and bring me sweet relief.

the People's Video Collective blog
wedding video and the means of production

eppievojt
User

Jun 21, 2007, 5:52 PM

Post #25 of 37 (1480 views)
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Re: [Brackish] Must you advertise your "passion"? [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

Even worse are those couples who shoot weddings and profess their love for each other and how they hope to be a positive influence for the bride and groom.

I bring tissues because I will cry... far superior to these alternatives (also considered):

- I bring condoms to your wedding because I will most likely score with a bridesmaid.

- I bring Pepto to your wedding because the dinner will most likely give me the runs.

- I bring sweatpants to your wedding because fixed-waist pants most likely won't do after I make my 8th trip through your buffet.

- I bring beer to your wedding because otherwise I'd most likely leave early.

- I bring a gun to your wedding because someone will most likely try to stand in front of my cameras.

I can say, with certainty, that none of these will help increase bookings. Maybe I should try the crying one. Any other suggestions??

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