[Karenl39]

Hi Guys,

I hope you don't mind me posting this, but I have nobody else to talk to. I am burned out. Yep, sick to death of photography.
I am really sick of weddings. I shot quite a few this summer and my daughter got married and my son is getting married this
weekend. No, I did not shoot their weddings.

Two of my brides have royally pissed me off. In my contract, it states that my assistant and I am the exclusive photographer.
Two of my brides had somebody else taking pictures. Usually, that hasn't bothered me in the past. However, theses two brides
had the person shadow me the whole time! During the 2nd wedding, I even had to tell her to "back off" because she was ordering
the bridal party around. It was irritating me to no end!

To make a long story short, within about 3 days, those other people had their wedding pics posted on facebook and they were my
poses, etc. Then, because they posted them so quickly, the brides started hounding me . . . when will they be done? Everybody
is waiting, etc. I was so ticked off after the first one that did this that I told her to make sure I get credit for the poses even if
somebody else took the pictures.

I have a feeling that the person who took pictures at the other wedding that did this, is trying to start a photography business
and using those pictures as advertising. I tried to friend her on facebook a while ago to see and she won't accept my request.

I have one more wedding to shoot on October 22 and then I'm done, I've gotten so I absolutely hate them and hate the bs.

Sorry for venting

On another note, I am back in school and excited about taking some photography courses at our university. These focus on
art and dark room stuff instead of people.

[Karenl39]

Another thing I am sick to death of is all my acquaintances starting photography businesses. It seems like they facebook friend me, then copy me,
then start businesses. They undercut me and all the other pros I know. I try to help them by pointing them to workshops, etc. and they
refuse to go. This never bothered me before that much either, but maybe I am noticing it more now. I'm sick of having to explain to people
why they should pay more to have me do their family portraits, etc. I'm sick of marketing, etc.

This is all a real shame because I attended a week long seminar this past June on marketing. I have been redoing my whole studio. I used to
project using a large tv and I bought a projector and now project using proselect.

Maybe I'm just tired because I have so much to do this week for my son's wedding this weekend . . . I don't know, lol.

[triedntru]

Sorry to hear about your rough patch, Karen.

I'm not a pro, and not interested in it at this point, but I can understand your frustrations. I would think doing the wedding thing would burn me out too.

I hope you find your inspiration quickly!

[photobuggie]

These 2 people who were taking photos...they were not pros. You still were the exclusive pro photographer. You can't stop other people, guests and family, from also taking photos. That is not realistic. This happens all the time. It isn't a reason to get upset. I have never heard of a pro asking a guest to give her credit for the poses. I think you are being overly sensitive and not realistic.

I understand the frustration about so many people thinking they can open a business just because they have taken some snap shots. That is another common reality but that doesn't mean you have to give them any advice.

[OneMoreShot]

Karen don't be sorry for venting. I'm sure there's a lot of people here that understand your frustation. And when it's in your contract with the bride and groom, do you remind them? What do people do (out of curiosity) is it your job to tell people that can't follow you around, or is it the Bride and Grooms? It is a tough spot because you don't want them to have to worry about things like that during their wedding day, but you don't want to come across as a downer at the wedding either. I see how frustrating it could be and it is a valid frustration. I just don't know how to stop it from happening.

I hope you find your passion again, it sounds like you are on the right track with the classes. Maybe you'll find a different type of photography that makes you happy again.

[Karenl39]

photobuggie, on 04 October 2011 - 07:48 AM, said:

These 2 people who were taking photos...they were not pros. You still were the exclusive pro photographer. You can't stop other people, guests and family, from also taking photos. That is not realistic. This happens all the time. It isn't a reason to get upset. I have never heard of a pro asking a guest to give her credit for the poses. I think you are being overly sensitive and not realistic.

I understand the frustration about so many people thinking they can open a business just because they have taken some snap shots. That is another common reality but that doesn't mean you have to give them any advice.

I know all this and honestly, it has never bothered me before. Maybe it's all in my head, LOL. Maybe I'll feel better once I quit shooting weddings. The one thing that did bother me was when the amateur was telling the bridal party how to pose for her own shots. At one point I had to tell her we were the photographers the bride hired and she needs to stand back out of our shots and let us do the posing . . .

[tlzimmerman]

Its easy to get burned out. Very easy. My advice? Take 2 days, get smashed, let it out, and then come back renewed having learned from your mistakes and the things that have upset you, and then work towards implementing procedures and ways to do things so it doesn't bother you in the future.

Hope things turn out well for you.

[lphoto]

Karenl39, on 04 October 2011 - 11:45 AM, said:

I know all this and honestly, it has never bothered me before. Maybe it's all in my head, LOL. Maybe I'll feel better once I quit shooting weddings. The one thing that did bother me was when the amateur was telling the bridal party how to pose for her own shots. At one point I had to tell her we were the photographers the bride hired and she needs to stand back out of our shots and let us do the posing . . .

Honestly.... and you know me, I can sometimes be too honest......but hear me out....

The problem here is two fold -

First, you are letting the brides tell you how the photos are going to proceed. Regardless of contract, it is your responsibility to remain in control of the situation. Some will not agree with me but when I shoot weddings, it is understood up front that I am the sole photographer and that others are allowed at MY discretion. You have to remain in full control regardless of the situation.

Second, it sounds like you are overloaded and whether it is intentional or not, this can and will cause the feelings you are having. Everything in your personal life begins to collide with your business and then the fireworks begin.

How do I know this? Because I have been there before....

Now, I would suggest that you not stop shooting weddings but cut back on the number of weddings you shoot. You will find that you like them a lot more, especially when you aren't doing them every single weekend all summer long. Add to that, the processing of the images becomes more enjoyable because you don't have 3 or 4 doing at one time.

One of the hardest things that most photographers are guilty of and have trouble overcoming is that they become apathetic about getting things done on time. As a result, the client's patience is tested which only adds exponentially to your stress. How do you deal with this?

Well, the way I do it is I refuse to let things build up on me. If I have a deadline approaching, I am going to be done ahead of time. In the case of a wedding, I would shoot it on Saturday, take a rest on Sunday and then do basic processing on the images first thing Monday morning after my body and mind has had time to rest. Most brides don't want to see fully processed images but having just a few to view would keep them happy. Imagine what happens when while they are on their honeymoon, they check their FB page on Monday and there is a peek of their images.....

It is very easy in this business to become overwhelmed with everything. If you let one order get behind that just adds to the stress because it makes other orders late.

Take a short break and then figure out how you can work less but make the same amount of money.

[Traz]

Tough one. I have only done a couple weddings, they are not my thing. I did make it very clear & it was in my contract that during the ceremony I did not have a problem with others shooting as long as they were not in my way, but afterward no one could take photos while I was posing & shooting. I would have stopped shooting long enough to tell the other people they could do as they pleased when I was finished but send them away while shooting. I did have to tell a few point & shooters that while I was doing one of the weddings.

I don't like weddings, that is why I have done so few. I don't like the stress of a wedding. Hopefully after a break you will come back refreshed & maybe decide there are other areas you like better.

[LWalsh]

I couldn't have said it better myself.

lphoto, on 04 October 2011 - 12:43 PM, said:

Honestly.... and you know me, I can sometimes be too honest......but hear me out....

The problem here is two fold -

First, you are letting the brides tell you how the photos are going to proceed. Regardless of contract, it is your responsibility to remain in control of the situation. Some will not agree with me but when I shoot weddings, it is understood up front that I am the sole photographer and that others are allowed at MY discretion. You have to remain in full control regardless of the situation.

Second, it sounds like you are overloaded and whether it is intentional or not, this can and will cause the feelings you are having. Everything in your personal life begins to collide with your business and then the fireworks begin.

How do I know this? Because I have been there before....

Now, I would suggest that you not stop shooting weddings but cut back on the number of weddings you shoot. You will find that you like them a lot more, especially when you aren't doing them every single weekend all summer long. Add to that, the processing of the images becomes more enjoyable because you don't have 3 or 4 doing at one time.

One of the hardest things that most photographers are guilty of and have trouble overcoming is that they become apathetic about getting things done on time. As a result, the client's patience is tested which only adds exponentially to your stress. How do you deal with this?

Well, the way I do it is I refuse to let things build up on me. If I have a deadline approaching, I am going to be done ahead of time. In the case of a wedding, I would shoot it on Saturday, take a rest on Sunday and then do basic processing on the images first thing Monday morning after my body and mind has had time to rest. Most brides don't want to see fully processed images but having just a few to view would keep them happy. Imagine what happens when while they are on their honeymoon, they check their FB page on Monday and there is a peek of their images.....

It is very easy in this business to become overwhelmed with everything. If you let one order get behind that just adds to the stress because it makes other orders late.

Take a short break and then figure out how you can work less but make the same amount of money.

[Karenl39]

lphoto, on 04 October 2011 - 12:43 PM, said:

Honestly.... and you know me, I can sometimes be too honest......but hear me out....

The problem here is two fold -

First, you are letting the brides tell you how the photos are going to proceed. Regardless of contract, it is your responsibility to remain in control of the situation. Some will not agree with me but when I shoot weddings, it is understood up front that I am the sole photographer and that others are allowed at MY discretion. You have to remain in full control regardless of the situation.

Second, it sounds like you are overloaded and whether it is intentional or not, this can and will cause the feelings you are having. Everything in your personal life begins to collide with your business and then the fireworks begin.

How do I know this? Because I have been there before....

Now, I would suggest that you not stop shooting weddings but cut back on the number of weddings you shoot. You will find that you like them a lot more, especially when you aren't doing them every single weekend all summer long. Add to that, the processing of the images becomes more enjoyable because you don't have 3 or 4 doing at one time.

One of the hardest things that most photographers are guilty of and have trouble overcoming is that they become apathetic about getting things done on time. As a result, the client's patience is tested which only adds exponentially to your stress. How do you deal with this?

Well, the way I do it is I refuse to let things build up on me. If I have a deadline approaching, I am going to be done ahead of time. In the case of a wedding, I would shoot it on Saturday, take a rest on Sunday and then do basic processing on the images first thing Monday morning after my body and mind has had time to rest. Most brides don't want to see fully processed images but having just a few to view would keep them happy. Imagine what happens when while they are on their honeymoon, they check their FB page on Monday and there is a peek of their images.....

It is very easy in this business to become overwhelmed with everything. If you let one order get behind that just adds to the stress because it makes other orders late.

Take a short break and then figure out how you can work less but make the same amount of money.

Thank you so much! You are absolutely right in everything you have said. It think this summer my personal life has been colliding big time with my business. I am usually ahead of time with my brides and I do post images on facebook, but this summer things have gotten away from me. I haven't even edited my daughter's wedding photos yet and her wedding was July 30th. I did already raise my prices for next year, but honestly, I haven't called any brides back . . . I just don't feel like dealing with them.

Maybe I need a vacation or something and maybe it's the emotional factor of 2 of my kids getting married within a few months of eachother, I don't know.

[Siri]

Wow Karen...that's a lot to be carrying around:( It's good that you can vent here and we understand. Sometimes I try to talk about photo-nerd stuff with non-nerds and I'm always disappointed because they don't "get" it!
I totally agree with Lowry! You sound overwhelmed and frusterated about things that are just sort of normal for the business. You are basically immersed in weddings 24/7 between your kids and clients...I mean, a gal needs a break now and again! I think it would be wise of you to step back from doing so many weddings so that you can get excited about them instead of feeling like you are on a treadmill running much too fast.
And then, I have to say it, maybe you should decide if you really still love doing weddings at all. It always amazes me that some photographers hate shooting weddings since it is my passion and favorite thing to do. I shoot about 20 a year (plus seniors/family/business/etc) and although I am getting a little tired of editing at this point in my season, I can't imagine doing anything else. Someday I may have to evaluate if I still have the drive but for now, my love of what I do makes the little stuff roll off my back. It sounds like the little stuff for you is like a thousand chickens pecking you to death...lol!
As for your "photographers shadowing you" issue...hmmmm. How shall I say this delicately? I suspect that's all you my darling. Did the my darling help soften the blow of my opinion? I can't imagine having someone underfoot all day and getting in the way of my photo juju. Am a friendly during formals where time is not an issue and let family shoot my family setups? Heck yeah! (My business model is not reliant on print orders). But I would never let another photographer get in on my creative shots...that's why they hired me and those are my shots. OK, I might have gotten ideas from some other photographers and then tweaked the shots to make them mine but it is up to every photog to do their own work.
Geesh I have lots to say about this! Hahaha! Good luck to you and please know that exhaustion is normal and now you have so many options to take your business into another phase. These feelings you are having are just helping you to shape where you will go next. Like Dr Seuss said..."Oh, the places you'll go!"

[Dave W]

There is no change without pain.... Take your time, get some rest, then decide whats best for you, and do that.

[Siri]

Dave...that's what I said! If you look at my post using one of those decoding things that come in Cracker Jacks that only shows some of the letters, you will see that I wrote EXACTLY what you wrote...spooky! lol!

[Dave W]

Siri, on 05 October 2011 - 01:46 PM, said:

Dave...that's what I said! If you look at my post using one of those decoding things that come in Cracker Jacks that only shows some of the letters, you will see that I wrote EXACTLY what you wrote...spooky! lol!

dododododoo