Wedding Photog In NE Pennsylvania?

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

04/29/2009 02:12:12 PM · #1

Hi guys,
A friend of mine is starting to plan her wedding for July 2010 (no definite date yet). She has started to look for photographers & I told her I'd post on here to see if there's anyone around the area just for some more options for her. I know she's looking for copyright-free digital files, not necessarily prints from the photog. The wedding & reception are planned for the same place, in the Stroudsburg, PA area. I'm not making any of the decisions here, I just thought I'd try to get her a few more options to choose from. If anyone is interested & would like to post a link to your portfolio or website, I will most definitely pass it along to them.
Thanks!! :)

Prof_Fate

04/29/2009 03:15:01 PM · #2

GET PRINTS! Or better yet, an album. Not just files!
Prints and albums last forever, or close enough. Check any museum or library and you'll find 100-150 year old items that look and work just fine.
Ask someone married in the early 80s if they can watch their wedding video - you know, the one done on betamax! Or any tape for that matter - i've not had a vcr for 5+ years now.

And computer files and media turns over even more rapidly and is less durable. I never had a vcr tape die on me, but i've had bad DVD, cds, HDs that fail, etc.

I'm on the other side of PA so I'm not in her market, but in this economy have her pick an established full time pro. I've seen too many part timers of late lose their main job and move or be transferred (my BIL has moved 3 times in 3 years with GM -been with them in management for 22 years). You don't want her booking a photog now that may not be around next july let alone 6 months after that when she wants an album. And there are TONS of people popping up on CL looking for some 'quick cash' shooting weddings when they've likely never even attended one.

alanfreed

Nikon Z9

04/29/2009 03:35:10 PM · #3

I know that Prof and I will never agree on this topic (although I do respect him, and live in the same area he does), but I thought I'd post the counter viewpoint on the "get prints" subject...

I've been shooting "just files" weddings for several years now, and I'm very happy that I've gone in this direction. I expected this to be more of a "niche" form of wedding photography, but interestingly I have not ONCE had a potential bride say, "Well, I am really looking for someone who will put the album together." With all of the options available to people -- Snapfish, etc. -- it's easier than ever for brides to put their own albums together with the high-resolution files in hand.

Prof argues that people won't be able to view the files in some number of years... well, that's obviously debatable and nobody can say one way or the other if a DVD/JPG will be something that can be widely viewed in 20 years like it is now. But like those folks who have videotapes from the early 80s, the media can be updated with technology. People can easily get beta/VHS tapes converted to DVDs if they wish, and I would bet that JPGs will be viewable in some manner down the road.

Further, what's the first thing my brides do when they get the files? They put an album together! The only difference is that I'm not the one putting it together. I have no desire to do that part of wedding photography, frankly. Once I hand over the DVDs, I'm done!

Anyway... none of this addresses your question in the first place... if she isn't able to find someone local, let me know. I may be interested. After all, I've been making the trip out your way the last couple years for the fun of it, so I wouldn't be totally against driving out there to be paid for it :)

Olympus 12-45mm f/4.0 Pro

04/29/2009 04:07:54 PM · #4

Thank you both for your opinions/info/etc :) I have fwded the thread link to the Bride-To-Be :)

OdysseyF22

Panasonic DC-G9

04/29/2009 04:13:29 PM · #5

Go ahead and pass along my website - www.brentpennington.com

Stroudsburg is about 45 minutes away from me and I'm always interested in adding more weddings to my portfolio. I have some bookings for this summer, but none for next, yet. I have options for prints and/or digital images, so whatever way she decides to go could work out.

Thanks :-)

04/29/2009 04:26:19 PM · #6

Passed it along :) Thanks!

04/29/2009 06:08:52 PM · #7

After work *bump* :)