PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY IN THE DIGITAL AGE
Why owning a digital camera doesn't transform a novice into a pro

by Terry Kamalan
CamLen Studio

Here are a few things to know and think about when it comes to choosing a photographer.

This may sound like a ridiculous comparison, but would you hire a carpet layer to perform heart surgery? Probably not. So why would you want to hire someone who is NOT a Professional Photographer to photograph your wedding or your family's portraits?

I started my career many years ago as a true photojournalist. I have owned my studio for 25 years and I have photographed close to a thousand weddings and thousands of portraits. We have photographed wedding and portraits with European Princes and Princesses. European Presidents, Generals, movie stars, political figures and television personalities. This is my profession, my focus and I do nothing else. We have received more photographic awards given by the Professional Photographers Association than any other studio in the Central Valley.

These days, couples & families alike get fooled by people who 'want' to be a professional photographer -- but aren’t. They're a novice at best, but aren't about to tell YOU the customer that - and they know you really have no way of knowing what their skill level actually is.

Being fooled by a person who has just spent a thousand dollars on a digital camera and one lens, and now thinks they are a professional photographer is happening to more and more consumers. This camera did not come with a degree, knowledge, or years of experience. A camera is only a tool for a professional. How many cameras do they own? Cameras can and do break. What if their only camera broke on your wedding day?

What is your amateur photographer going to do now -- apologize to you?

Don’t be fooled by a fraud that tells you they are “shooting your wedding with the photo journalistic look for the digital age”. They have no formal photographic training or maybe they took a class in high school or junior college. The truth is these wanna-be picture takers do not know the first thing about formal and dramatic posing and lighting. They do not know a thing about using multiple studio lighting equipment or how to do anything with their digital camera without camera flash when it is not set on automatic mode.

They know nothing about outdoor lighting, and how to best make use of it. How many wedding and portraits have they done? Do they know how to make a schedule of your wedding day events? An amateur just likes using their new digital toy. Is photography actually their livelihood? There are so many things to consider, the list could just go on and on.

A professional cares about the quality of their images, how they are used and reproduced and usually won’t relinquish the copyrights or the CD into untrained, unprofessional hands. Their reputation is important to them.

Regardless of the photographer you choose, make a wise decision and ask the right questions. You'll be glad you did.