A lot of people get involved in their career to right a wrong, but few of them are artists. I am an exception. A wedding photography San Francisco debacle got me interested in the world of professional photography. You see, I was very much in love when I was getting married, and being in love makes you do stupid things. I'm not talking about the usual stupid things that people mention – staying out all night to watch the sun, driving across the country to meet up with your lover, leaving strange messages on the voice-mail. In my case, I'm talking about much more prosaic stupid things. You see, I was so busy being in love that I didn't bother to think enough about everyday matters. This can be a problem when you are acting as your own wedding planner!
I only looked at a few wedding photographers before I settled on one, and I mostly trusted my instincts. Sometimes, this is a good thing, but when you have the luxury of looking at other sources – say, for example, the portfolios and professional references of wedding photographers – you really should. The wedding photographer was a joke. He was pretending to be a wedding professional photographer, but most of the pictures he had taken had been for free at friends weddings. I could have sworn that he showed up drunk to take the wedding photos, and you could see the results. A lot of them were blurry, poorly lit, and taken from unflattering angles. It is as if he wanted the wedding photography to be poor! I won't even start to talk about the wedding video!
When me and my wife were complaining about the wedding photographers mistakes, I surprised her. I was quite specific about my criticisms. I knew exactly how each picture could be improved, and why you would expect a better job from a wedding photographer. Although I had little photographic experience, it appeared that I had a natural knack for it. After quite a bit of coaxing from my wife, I decided to be a professional photographer. I knew that it was tough for wedding photographers to make it, but I also knew that I had a previously undiscovered talent. I definitely took a risk and went out on a limb, but in the long run it was worth it. My clients have been much happier with my work than I was with my own wedding photos!
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