So challenging, so fulfilling;
So challenging!
To be a wedding photographer.
Friday, March 29
Wednesday, March 20
I wish to be a wedding photographer
Not to make a living out of taking pictures, but to help people remember one of the happiest days of their lives.
This is not an easy role to play, I always feel nervous whenever I'm holding the camera at an important event whether or not I were one of the main photographers because people may be counting on you to come out with good pictures, many a time under challenging circumstances. Of course, on the brighter side, there are events at which I could just show up with a camera and not feel stressed about producing good or usable photos; when the organisers(or any other parties) are not expecting anything from my memory card. In such situations, I would, in turn, totally understand if I were not given privilege or access to certain locations. Nevertheless some practice space and photos for me to take home can be better than just sitting through the whole event, depending on the nature of the occasion.
Now talk about weddings, I have been to enough church weddings that "watching" a whole ceremony from the pews might just be a little boring now that I am too old to bring toys or colouring books to a church. During such times walking around with a camera can be so much more fun! However I cannot be certain of always preferring to take pictures at every wedding I attend; there might come a day when I may have a wife seated beside me, we could then witness the coming together of younger couples, and perhaps reminisce on our own big day. There might even come a day when I may get to walk my daughter down the aisle, that will be a day when I would most certainly choose to hold her hand rather than a camera. God-willing, those days would come in His perfect timing. However when it comes to wedding dinners, I am so far, not a big fan. I would very much prefer going around shooting instead of being stuck at the dinner table! Unless, of course, there is good company. Unfortunately, such banquets have not been treating me well, maybe I have yet to celebrate marriages of peoples close to myself. Hopefully I can have better experiences with wedding dinners when my own generation of friends starts getting married.
When you become one of the key photographers, your role at the wedding becomes different altogether. You may, at times, behave like a paparazzi; just try not to elbow the other photographers next to you, okay? From the experience(of less than five weddings) I have of being such a photographer, I never failed to feel anxious about covering the events and getting good pictures. The pressure sometimes disturbs pre-production preparations, but to overcome this I usually prepare a checklist to ease the process and make a point to meet in person and discuss details with the wedding planner(s) or newly-weds-to-be. The wedding day has proven to be most stressful, I often find myself sweating in a well air-conditioned environment. Stuff going on quickly and at times simultaneously, the number of guests, the presence of other photographers, the moments that do not wait, the limitations of my gear, etc. etc. etc. Today, I dare not claim to be worthy of shooting a wedding and charging the market rate, but with practice I do wish to be confident enough of help couples remember their big day by capturing moments of such a joyous occasion.
A good friend once made a statement,"practice doesn't make perfect, practice makes improvement, as nothing is perfect," and practise I shall.
I wish to be a wedding photographer.
This is not an easy role to play, I always feel nervous whenever I'm holding the camera at an important event whether or not I were one of the main photographers because people may be counting on you to come out with good pictures, many a time under challenging circumstances. Of course, on the brighter side, there are events at which I could just show up with a camera and not feel stressed about producing good or usable photos; when the organisers(or any other parties) are not expecting anything from my memory card. In such situations, I would, in turn, totally understand if I were not given privilege or access to certain locations. Nevertheless some practice space and photos for me to take home can be better than just sitting through the whole event, depending on the nature of the occasion.
Now talk about weddings, I have been to enough church weddings that "watching" a whole ceremony from the pews might just be a little boring now that I am too old to bring toys or colouring books to a church. During such times walking around with a camera can be so much more fun! However I cannot be certain of always preferring to take pictures at every wedding I attend; there might come a day when I may have a wife seated beside me, we could then witness the coming together of younger couples, and perhaps reminisce on our own big day. There might even come a day when I may get to walk my daughter down the aisle, that will be a day when I would most certainly choose to hold her hand rather than a camera. God-willing, those days would come in His perfect timing. However when it comes to wedding dinners, I am so far, not a big fan. I would very much prefer going around shooting instead of being stuck at the dinner table! Unless, of course, there is good company. Unfortunately, such banquets have not been treating me well, maybe I have yet to celebrate marriages of peoples close to myself. Hopefully I can have better experiences with wedding dinners when my own generation of friends starts getting married.
When you become one of the key photographers, your role at the wedding becomes different altogether. You may, at times, behave like a paparazzi; just try not to elbow the other photographers next to you, okay? From the experience(of less than five weddings) I have of being such a photographer, I never failed to feel anxious about covering the events and getting good pictures. The pressure sometimes disturbs pre-production preparations, but to overcome this I usually prepare a checklist to ease the process and make a point to meet in person and discuss details with the wedding planner(s) or newly-weds-to-be. The wedding day has proven to be most stressful, I often find myself sweating in a well air-conditioned environment. Stuff going on quickly and at times simultaneously, the number of guests, the presence of other photographers, the moments that do not wait, the limitations of my gear, etc. etc. etc. Today, I dare not claim to be worthy of shooting a wedding and charging the market rate, but with practice I do wish to be confident enough of help couples remember their big day by capturing moments of such a joyous occasion.
A good friend once made a statement,"practice doesn't make perfect, practice makes improvement, as nothing is perfect," and practise I shall.
I wish to be a wedding photographer.
Sunday, March 17
Handwriting
Mine needs improvement.
In primary school, I remember being spoken to by numerous teachers regarding my handwriting. In Year 3, there was this teacher who even went to the lengths of summoning me to her office during recess, just to practise writing more neatly. It was only half of the recess time, she had a heart. Many years had passed now, unfortunately my handwriting remains just as terrible if it did not become more worse. Writing this, I recall a clinical instructor back in the hospital who once said to me, "you can make a good nurse, but your handwriting sucks!" Hehe! I did not argue with her but took note of her words with a smile. May God bless these good people and anyone else who warned or tried doing something about my penmanship!
This evening at this moment, I am sitting at a local cafe near where I live; here not for the food but rather access to the Internet. Do you know that in some places you just write down your order on a piece of paper, usually in codes, and the waitresses will collect that paper and key in what you want and soon bring your food to your table? Where I am practises just that; and I just received the wrong beverage because the waitress mistook what I wrote - "607" for a "601" and thereby served me white coffee instead of tea, which I had been craving for all weekend. On the brighter side, the manager agreed to replace my order and I am now awaiting to enjoy that cup of tea. As a grateful customer, of course, I intend to apologise to the waitress on my way out later. So glad for not having to suffer the consequences of not-so-good handwriting tonight.
Turning 22 this year, if I do not die in a terrible car accident or get caught in the middle of a gunfight. Is there still a possibility to make improvements in penmanship?
In primary school, I remember being spoken to by numerous teachers regarding my handwriting. In Year 3, there was this teacher who even went to the lengths of summoning me to her office during recess, just to practise writing more neatly. It was only half of the recess time, she had a heart. Many years had passed now, unfortunately my handwriting remains just as terrible if it did not become more worse. Writing this, I recall a clinical instructor back in the hospital who once said to me, "you can make a good nurse, but your handwriting sucks!" Hehe! I did not argue with her but took note of her words with a smile. May God bless these good people and anyone else who warned or tried doing something about my penmanship!
This evening at this moment, I am sitting at a local cafe near where I live; here not for the food but rather access to the Internet. Do you know that in some places you just write down your order on a piece of paper, usually in codes, and the waitresses will collect that paper and key in what you want and soon bring your food to your table? Where I am practises just that; and I just received the wrong beverage because the waitress mistook what I wrote - "607" for a "601" and thereby served me white coffee instead of tea, which I had been craving for all weekend. On the brighter side, the manager agreed to replace my order and I am now awaiting to enjoy that cup of tea. As a grateful customer, of course, I intend to apologise to the waitress on my way out later. So glad for not having to suffer the consequences of not-so-good handwriting tonight.
Turning 22 this year, if I do not die in a terrible car accident or get caught in the middle of a gunfight. Is there still a possibility to make improvements in penmanship?
Friday, March 15
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)