Posts Tagged Angela Gaeto

From time to time I know I have been guilty of using my blog as an unchallenged forum for voicing my own opinions and maybe sometimes my opinions are not always popular.  In my own defense I would have to argue that the purpose of having a blog is to voice one’s own opinions.  Well in any case something happened that has motivated me to speak once more.  

While attending a gathering of local wedding vendors earlier today I was quite literally shocked beyond words when another professional in my field decided to speak up and encourage all of us to “lower the bar” because (in their words) “this generation of brides does not care about quality”.  Following on the heels of that was “it’s better to have inferior work up (like on your website) than no work at all”.   Honestly, I nearly choked on my lunch and I could see others sitting around me also glowering in disapproval.   

It is my opinion that perpetuating the notion that brides don’t care about quality is very literally the kiss of death to the wedding industry as a whole.  My studio, Dry Heat Photography, is from the school of thought that says “come big or stay home”.  I know for a fact, beyond any shadow of a doubt, that brides and grooms, in all budgets,  most certainly care about quality!  I know something else to be true as well; people respond to the way you treat them, you get what you give.  If I approached my clients with an “I know you don’t really care about this” attitude, I would certainly bet that they would respond in kind by doing exactly what I expected – not caring.  Well folks, let me tell you Rick, Angela, Kristina and I all care very passionately about what we do.  Our goal is to be the best.  What does it mean to be the best?  To us it means to do everything that is necessary to facilitate the best possible experience for our clients and, of course, to create the fantastic, once in a life time, photographs that people come to us for.  I have no doubt, because they tell me directly, that our clients care about quality.

The wedding industry is very specialized and highly competitive.  There are many talented people who earn their living by pursuing their passion, (working their butts off) and giving 100% to the special couples we all care so much about.  There is no room in this field for the disenchanted.

-DeAnna Dimmitt

Dry Heat Photography

Professionalism In Wedding Photography

As a photographer one of the most worrisome things I hear people say is “my so-and-so (fill in the blank – brother, uncle, etc) just got a new camera for Christmas and is going to shoot my wedding”.  Admittedly,  I cringe just a little bit probably like a doctor would if they heard someone say “my brother just got a new scalpel for Christmas and is going to perform my heart surgery”.   The fact of the matter is that wedding photography is a highly specialized field and having a fancy camera does not qualify the user as a professional.  So what qualities define professionalism in photography?  I’ve listed a few below:

#1 Business License – a business license in and of itself does not qualify someone to photograph a wedding, however the lack of a business license would indicate that the person in question is not operating a professional, full time business.

#2 Extensive Portfolio  – The proof, as they say, is in the pudding.  An experienced professional photographer should be able to show you several weddings that they themselves have photographed, ideally in some of the locations you might be considering having your wedding.

#3 Past Client/Vendor Referrals – Anyone can buy an ad in a magazine, put a commercial on TV, or stick a sign in the ground in front of a convenience store trumpeting their virtues, but what you hear from other wedding vendors and past clients is really what you should take to heart.  Since wedding vendors rely on one another to do their jobs correctly they are unlikely to refer someone, especially a photographer, who has caused them problems.  Referrals from other wedding vendors are a good indication of the professional quality of a photographer.  Referrals from past clients are even more important.

#4 Price – There is not necessarily a right or wrong price for photographic services but I would caution you to really do your homework on anyone who is priced significantly below the market average.  Running a photography studio is not an inexpensive endeavor. There is a good deal of overhead involved in operating the business.  A full time photographer relies on their business for their livelihood and that means, in order to be successful, that they are fully committed to their craft.  This is good news for a perspective client because when a wedding photographer is committed to their craft that means they are also committed to you!  A hobbyist, by definition, does not have the same type of vested interest in their photography, is likely to have another job during the week, and can therefore get by with charging very little for their services.

This concludes my thoughts on professionalism.  I hope this information will prove to be insightful and helpful as you are planning your spectacular, once in a lifetime wedding.

Sincerely,

DeAnna Dimmitt

Dry Heat Photography

Wow, three blog posts in one day. I like that!  Here is one more Engagement Session from Angela Gaeto.  This session is at Elena Gallegos Open Space.  Amy and Mark will be tieing the knot in June at the Inn At Rio Rancho and, of course, Angela will shooting the wedding too.

Now, that’s our slogan, but what does it really mean? Is it some fancy sounding jibber jabber that we just made up to sound cool?  No, it’s not.  It seems to me that with the current economic climate many brides are left not knowing what to do.  They are trying to plan a wedding on an uncertain budget, everywhere they turn wedding vendors are having sales and specials and deals and doing everything short of back flips to command the attention of the stressed out consumer.  I can’t help but feel the need to make a statement.

What I have to say is actually not meant to come off as a sales pitch, or a critique of any other business, rather it is meant to calm the waters and to remind everyone that somethings will always be true regardless of the economy.

Some important, and universally true things, to keep in mind while planning a wedding:

#1 – Price should absolutely not be the primary determining factor in your decision making process.

In my many years as a wedding photographer I have found that the most expensive is not always the best nor is the least expensive necessarily the worst.  Your best bet as a consumer is to find the best value. The thing that gives value to the money you spend and the service a photographer provides is, in the end, your happiness.  While it may seem to be over simplifying things, the bottom line is that if you are happy with your images then you spent your money well and, if you weren’t, then it was money down the drain.  This is true across the board with all photographers in all price ranges.   Selecting one photographer over another based on a nominal price difference is unlikely to increase your happiness with the final product when all is said and done.

#2 -  No substitute for experience.

I can’t speak for everyone but at Dry Heat Photography, we want to help you and we take our obligation to our clients seriously.  Your photographer is, with the possible exception of a wedding coordinator, the only vendor that is actually with you all day on the day of the wedding.  Therefore, it is vital and I can’t stress this enough, vital that the photographer you select has the skillz to pay the billz as it were.  What I mean by that is that your photographer absolutely must be sensitive to your needs, have a game plan, maintain a time line and be mentally organized at all times during the wedding.  This person must have the technical skills and the creativity to deliver the goods, the decision making skills to figure out what to do if something goes awry, and the people skills to bring it all together.  Most of all they must possess a passion for their craft that drives them forward.  Everyone has to start somewhere, and we’ve all had a first day, but in the end there is just no substitution for experience.  At Dry Heat Photography we absolutely do not take on inexperienced amateurs and attempt to pass them off as professionals in the name of high volume. We take pride in ourselves and in the photographers that work with us.

#3 - Make your decisions with a calm mind

There is no doubt that planning a wedding can become very stressful.  All the decisions can be overwhelming and especially so if budget limitations are looming in your mind.  My best advice is to resist the urge to just go and hide under the bed, or to blindly make decisions just for the sake of getting it done.  Your wedding deserves the best and you owe it to your self to make sound decisions when selecting your wedding vendors.  Don’t let anyone pressure you, this includes well intentioned family members who may be helping you do the planning and it also includes vendors.  A high pressure sales pitch is the first sign of desperation and a major symptom of things to come.  Take several deep breaths, clear your mind, and follow your heart.  Make the decisions that feel right to you.  Remember, your gut is usually right.

We at Dry Heat Photography wish all of you the best of everything for your spectacular, once in a lifetime, wedding!

We’re here to help, give us a call at 505.730.8576.

Congratulations Caroline and Michael! See you guys on the big day!!
Angela