oh no! i hired a hobbyist! NOT A PROFESSIONALWell if you are reading this you are probably considering on hiring a photographer or videographer who is cheaper than all the other videography and photography companies. Photographers and Videographers are a dime a dozen meaning that there is a BUTT LOAD of them in bigger cities. So the question is how do you determine the difference between an amateur aka Hobbyist vs a Certified Professional. Note that to be a vidoegrapher or photographer there are no required exams, tests, or certification programs to ensure that the wedding industry is overflowing with highly qualified artistic professionals. So what do you when the industry does nothing to weed out the amateurs from the pros. Well in all honesty your left to figure it all out for yourself by trial and error. Our team at Wedding Garage Studios has put together 3 different types of photographers and/or videographers you might come across while searching for a wedding videographer and/or photographer Casual photographer | videographerThe casual photographer and/or videographer is that friend, uncle, mom or someone who you might know who dabbles in photography/videography, but doesn't take it seriously. Casual photographers and/or videographers enjoy taking pictures and/or video of friends and family while capturing those amazing candid moments. This type of photographer and/or videographer has a tad bit more understanding of cameras and composition of video and/or photos then the average family member or friend. Casual photographers and/or videographers might occasionally film and/or photograph a friends or family members wedding for some extra money. Most of the time these types of photographers and/or videographers don't own or have access to multiple camera bodies and lenses. Although cheaper and affordable they are considered high risk for wedding films and photos. Enthusiast photographer | VideographerThe enthusiast photographer and/or videographer is someone who does more than just dabble in photography and/or videography. The enthusiast is a person who knows cameras, understands lenses and composition. They are fixed on images and/or videos that speaks to their love and passion for photography and/or videography. They are good at the art and craft of photography and/or videography but lack the discipline of staying focused on one project at a time. Enthusiast photographers and/or videographers own multiple camera bodies and have an array of lenses for weddings. However their pricing can substantially fluctuate depending on what they feel their worth is as an independent. Enthusiast are hard to reach and work with because they are fueled by the desire and need to do work that brings value to their passion. These types of photographers and/or videographers are more likely to be no shows on your wedding day. Professional photographer | VideographerThe professional photographer and/or videographer is someone who has made a career in the film and photo industry. A professional will have a resume and/or portfolio of work he/she has done as a professional photographer and/or videographer. Professionals have discipline and understand the art of photography and/or videography by knowing what is needed for a photo and/or film shoot. Professionals value pre-production which is known in the industry as photo and/or shooting schedule preparation. Professionals work towards gathering the right information about a film and/or photo project. Even though professionals are passionate about their work. Photographers and/or videographers who do this professionally understand that their passion can't interfere with the progress of their work. Professional photographers and/or videographers are less likely to end in a bad result. In conclusion be smart and well informed when hiring a photographer and/or videographer. Even though they might have a great portfolio and their artistic eye might capture your attention. Just also know that you must respond to the work ethic first and then art. Don't take the risk with your money. Research your choices in wedding photography and videography and ask questions about how they handle a typical wedding day. This will go a long way in helping you to filter the Hobbyist from the Pros.
Happy Shopping, Wedding Garage Studios
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Is There Such A Thing As BAD PRESS! ( A BAD REVIEW)With over 20 years of marketing and social analytics experience, the one thing I can truly speak on is how people/consumers value reviews. 93% of consumers read customer reviews before making a decision about a local business. When it only takes 1-3 reviews for 40% of potential customers to form an online decision about a brand.
The value of how ones experience with a company is vital and extremely crucial to someone else's buying decision. Yes, it is true that someone will buy based on a review and how much positive press a company gets from the public. But is the same to be expected with Bad Press! Can a company regardless of the 1 or 10 bad reviews given to one company still thrive and generate new customers. The answer is, YES! Companies rely strongly on various marketing strategies and sometimes even pay for positive reviews. Which most consumers are not completely aware of. Search engines like Google, Yahoo, Yelp and BING are against these types of practices. So is a bad review truly a bad review. So where one might see the BAD REVIEW as a disadvantage the other might see it as an opportunity. Bad Reviews are bad because 98% of the time these reviews are fueled with a high level of emotion and are mostly rants. Even though search engines will not admit and will refrain from taking down a review, based on it policy of the 1st Amendment right to freedom of speech. In the early years of press, journalists were given the responsibility to rate and review company/vendor experiences. But this information had to be printed which gave the writers/reviewer time to digest their experience and allow them to weigh the true pros and cons of the whole experience. Reviews are like butt holes everyone has one. Even though one good review can be beneficial to vendors the same review with a bad experience can also be extremely harmful. Who wouldn't want the sweet fluffy, happy review that makes every business glow and shine for all the world to see! So here is where the issue gets a little messy for the Vendor. Google, Yahoo, Yelp and BING allow customers under the 1st Amendment right to speak their mind about services rendered; However the customer is protected by the 1st Amendment to potentially falsely accuse and make claims about the work product and quality of the vendor that might not entirely be true. Meaning that the vendor can be falsely accused of something that was either a half truth or a flat out lie as a way to hurt and tarnish the vendors reputation. This review might of come about due to a small mishaps or misunderstanding between the customer and the vendor. Also if a claim about a vendor has been made to tarnish the reputation or value of the company without having proof of the accusation, if there is one and if it renders true this would be considered a presumption and not a fact about the companies/vendors services. So in short, Customers are protected by the 1st Amendment Right to condone and be condescending to the vendor while the vendor guidelines for response under goes a more filtered approach from Google, Yahoo, Yelp and BING. If a vendor were to respond to a customer in the same manner, the vendor would be penalized and they would be asked to reconstruct their response to relate more to the issues addressed. So this is probably not the hottest topic out there for Brides but this be should an issue to truly understand. Understand that customers are allowed to exploit reviews as a way to hurt a business versus using it as way to help a company/vendor improve their services. Reviews have become a place for customers to gain instant emotional satisfaction by raging out every emotion onto a review. Reviews are instantly view-able to new customers and can cause instant damage to a vendor who has no marketing background and social analytics understanding of how to handle this. Customers reviews are now just meant to voice your opinion versus helping the vendor to help grow their business. Reviews are truly meant to aid the vendor to address the issues you might have experienced as a customer and to help them correct this problem for future customers. All it takes for someone to make their decision is ONE BAD REVIEW! Reviews are like unexpected bombs that explode with each new customer that stumbles across a vendors website. So let's say you are Bride that likes a vendor but you are turned off by 1 or 3 bad reviews about this company. Do you just cancel them out because of the review or do you at least try to find a response to this review, so that you can hear the other side of the story. Statistics show that most vendors who respond to a customer review are more likely to be vendors you can trust. Happy Shopping, Wedding Garage Studios |
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