Through the Lens - CLOSED

Licensed Cowboys by Dominic Lee

 

I hear rumblings about introducing a licence to photographers. I would be instantly in favour of such a move if a licence number after their name would show that the Revenue Commissioners has them on record. And anyone doing nixers or advertising their services without a valid number would have their details passed to the tax man by the licensing body.

The Revenue Commissioner does not send out letters saying “when you have a moment to spare would you be so kind to let us know if you made a profit last year?” He sends out a payment demand for €50,000+ in unpaid VAT & TAX and it’s up to you to prove he got it all wrong.

I think every professional photographer in the country has had a visit from the taxman at this stage and in spite of the adverts which proclaim tax inspectors to be a friendly bunch; I would be less stressed if an Aids ridden Dracula told me he was coming for a visit. So if the tax man turned his attention to the cowboy photographers for a change it would help them focus their minds on what they charge for their services. Because they don’t pay VAT or TAX they can charge 1/3^rd that of a professional photographer’s fee and still make more profit than the professional.

And if they are already in full time employment they are not only depriving the country of much needed tax they are depriving professional photographers of a living.

Dominic Lee

 

 

 

 

Wedding Photography - Pro or Amateur? by Dominic Lee

In days of film, many would-be photographers couldn’t cope with the long sleepless weekend waiting to see if the “Photos came out” and gave up on the career before they even got started.

The Digital camera was probably invented by a wedding photographer. Seeing the results instantly he or she can head home knowing they’ve got the job covered.

Suddenly there are thousands of wedding photographers where there used to be dozens.

As a result, a whole new style of wedding photography has emerged. I’m not talking about fancy words like “Reportage” which in fact has been around for decades, in the 70s & 80s it was called “Off the Cuff”.

And I’m not referring to the photographer turning the camera at an angle to make the image look “artistic”. Nor does taking thousands of photographs on motor drive constitute a job well done if they are just a bunch of “happy snaps” taken by a photographer who thinks your wedding is a fashion shoot.

 

I’m referring to a style which makes your jaw drop, takes your breath away, captures passion, love, emotion and includes the surroundings like it was all put together by a designer with you in the frame. And yet the photographer remains a subsidiary as opposed to the centre of attention on the wedding day.

It’s the kind of photography which makes couples who got married previously but messed up on their photography, want to do it all again.

 

So how do you find such a photographer?

 

www:

Study several websites on wedding photography- American, Russian, British, Irish, everywhere & anywhere..  You will eventually find a style that excites you and then narrow your search to a local supplier who has that style.

Be prepared to pay for Experience, a keen amateur may cope well on a nice warm day with all the guests enjoying Champagne on the lawn but a true Pro will still produce stunning images even if your wedding is visited by a Hurricane. So ask your photographer to produce samples of work taken on dreadful days as well as gorgeous sunny ones.

 

The Recession: 

Don’t be fooled by offers of a DVD with all the images so you can print them yourself. Any photographer who lets their work out to be “home printed” is more interested in Quick Cash than Quality Control. And while couples have great intensions of making their own album, they usually get as far as uploading their top 10 photos on Facebook, giving a few dreadfully printed copies to their parents and the rest end up lost amongst their CD collection.

 

Album:

Your parents wedding album probably looks as beautiful today as it did 30 years ago. And this proves that “simple” is the key.

Digital Magazine Style Albums have been around for over 10 years now and while many are spoiled by tacky special effects and cheap photography. This style of album really suits Digital; it can look absolutely amazing if it’s loaded with high quality photographs which are skilfully designed in a simple layout.

So if you are excited about photography, put the time into your choice and don’t skimp on the price. Remember when you wake up the next morning, your wedding album is the only thing you will have to show for all the money you spent on the big day, everything else will have been eaten, died, returned to the hire shop or destined for eBay.

 

Dominic Lee, AMPA

www.priorystudios.ie

Ooops selling the digital files didnt help!

This photo studio made it onto the news, but a lot more idiot photographers have gone bust because they took advise from customers on how best to to run their business!

  Click on the link or copy & paste it into your browser: http://www.azfamily.com/news/consumer/Picture-perfect-moment-ruined-after-photography-chain-closes-81790577.html

Dominic

The Price of Wedding Photography

More ranting and whining about price’s charged for wedding photography (some things never change).

But anyone thinking of taking it up as a career or a nixer should find this blog interesting: http://photocritic.org/why-is-wedding-photography-so-expensive/#comment-314513

My heart was stolen this week....

Picture the scene:

You are at a top fashion show and all the super models are there.  Claudia, Kate and Naomi...They are making eyes at you and you are embarrassed.   You know they don't really fancy you but you play along.  Really they are after your money - what little you have left.  You don't know where to look - your eyes dart around the room flicking from one image to another.  But then you spot her - small, petite even - but perfectly formed.  She is reserved, sitting quietly but confident you will see her and when you do - you will fall madly in love with her, and even through you still can't afford to - you ask here out.....

Well it happened to me this week in the London Design Centre.  Canon had invited me to attend to see their latest cameras, projectors and printers.  The new EOS 1D IV was trust into my hand to fondle and play with - to admire it's 16.1 megapixels, it's new focusing system and it's beautifully formed clear view screen.  I admired the Canon range of projectors and the prints produced by their latest printers - but then I saw the Powershot S90 .  I fell in love immediately and ordered one on the spot.  A cracker of a camera we will hopefully travel far and wide over the coming years.

Thanks to all at Canon for bringing us together.

Only in Dublin by Dominic Lee

Two Skangers chatting while looking out a bus window:

(1)   Look there’s one of dem new rent-a-bike places.

(2)   What’s dat abou?

(1)   If yer outa yer head some night an cant get home, ye cud take one o’dem

(2)   Jasus, me bak garden id have 10 o’dem after a week (they both laugh).

(1)   Naa, ye have to register and pay a deposit to get the lock off

(2)   Ah fuck, der must be some way roun dat.

 

Dominic

Anger on The Altar by Dominic Lee

I have deleted the priests name as I suspect that he may have mental health issues.

The reply I received from him was typed on a church compliment slip but unsigned saying “This is a masterpiece you should publish it”

So here it is, published:-

 

Dear Fr X,

I recently photographed a wedding which you officiated at. As I entered the church you identified me as the professional photographer and abruptly instructed me to make sure not to stand on the area around the Altar which was marked out by red carpet.

 

As the Altar Servers squeezed past me, I placed one foot on “The Red Zone” to allow them to pass; you loudly barked at me saying “that is the red carpet I told you about”. Your ability to display your anger in church, oblivious to the celebration which was taking place is not only unchristian but downright rude, arrogant and was totally unnecessary.

I have been a wedding photographer for over 25 years, I have the upmost respect for the sanctity of the Altar and I’m often praised by the priest for my unobtrusive discretion as I go about my job of recording the Sacrament of marriage.

 

During the exchanging of the vows and in spite of the fact that you alone were conducting the ceremony, you looked over your shoulder at my feet on three occasions to check if I was in breach of your rule as I attempted to photograph the rings being exchanged.

Your initial display could be dismissed as the ranting of a grumpy old man but the fact that you would allow your paranoia to take precedence over the Wedding Vows is a clear indication of the hate which exists in your heart.

 

I should add that I also attended a Christening performed by you and I found on that occasion as with the wedding that your Homily was quite scary, you are a religious fanatic and combined with your obnoxious behaviour, I think you are a wholly unsuitable character to be representing God.

 

I await your reply before forwarding this letter to the Bishop.

 

Yours Sincerely,

Dominic Lee

 

PS. I did forward it to his Bishop but never received a response.

3 good reasons to vote YES by Dominic Lee

(1)   The party of ex Bank Robbers, Murderers and Drug Dealers want you to vote NO

(2)   All the parties who have ever held office since the foundation of The State are “YES” united

(3)   Imagine having a client who has been throwing money at you for the past 30 years, now they want you to sign up to their new regulations. Do you think they will continue to do business with you if you tell them to stick it where the sun dont shine?

 

Vote YES this Friday.

 

Dominic

The scam artists are as busy as ever! By Dominic Lee

The words in brackets are my only additions:

Good day,
I`m miss Melisa, further to our wedding preparations between i and my fiancé Jim in GLASGOW, in the month of December. We are looking for a good photographer who will come and snapshot (Snapshots- that's me out for a start!) our proposed event. We were highly impressed on your web page and we hope to have the best of your services. At this time, we are leaving for Cardiff on a pre wedding honeymoon (ye dirty jezebel, I wouldnt take your snap if ye paid me!).
We would require to have the list of your available dates between 18th-19th of December 2009 (Sorry I'm booked out bewteen the 18th & 19th Dec. I sleep at night!).

Let me know your charges for your services if you are to work for at most Six Hours on that day. We require the below.

: 200 copies of photographs
: All colored (I wonder if it's ok that the photographer is White!)
: 5 x 7 in size
: Albums required

The 200 copies covers the bride and the bridegroom, their parents, the officiating ministers and our guests. If you can out, we will pay the transportation charges to and from the party venue. Please indicate in 
your email if you out, what it will costs either via Plane or through Car transport to 180 Hope Street, Glasgow G2 2UE, GLASGOW, SCOTLAND (Google search shows this as a students res which costs £80 a week) wedding venue and what amount you will receive working for the budgeted hours at the occasion.
More so, should you be out of state (or out of your mind to reply!), the Hotel accommodation will be provided for by us, call my husband number. (And there was me thinking she was getting married next December!)
Best regards,
Melisa and Jim husband +44(0)7011163984 (Beware of 070 numbers, this one starts in 0701, it appears to be a mobile number but it may link into an extremely high cost telephone systems costing the caller hundreds of Euro per minute).

 

 

I'm not actually sure how the scam works, but it sure is a scam.

Dominic

 

 

Cops selling advertising!

An Garda Siochana here asking you for a favour, Dominic - would you show your support to the lads in uniform and in appreciation of the good work they do by taking an advert in the Christmas issue of the Garda magazine.

I told the guy that that was a pathetic sales pitch and clearly he was not a member of An Garda Siochana as he implied, he immediately hung up. 

Perhaps next year he will be honest and tell me he is an ad salesman selling slots in the Garda magazine on behalf of the publishers and that the support he refers to is his commission, which I would have no trouble with!

 

Dominic