[Alyssa Lang]

Saw THIS this morning, almost threw a fit. haha I hate when people undervalue what we do. And this guy's a photographer nonetheless!

[Elena]

Too funny. I just posted something about the topic (see my last thread). After reading this, I could not help myself to to add a comment. The guy is a joke, and apparently knows nothing about the topic.

[rowena]

HA!!! Getting the couple to sign on the dotted line is the easiest thing to do too!!! Love your new avatar girl.

[MattA]

I may have commented.

[Hope]

Wedding photographers can make as much as doctors without the years of school, long hours clocked in the ER for the first few years and extremely high cost of keeping a practice. They can make as much as or more than miners without working twelve or fifteen hour shifts in a mine where they are putting their life at risk. Wedding photographers make more than nurses and nurses' aids, who get paid only slightly more than minimum wage to wipe people's butts, wipe up vomit and watch people die on a regular basis. Wedding photographers make more than prison guards, who on a regular basis are assaulted, stabbed, pelted with feces, sexually molested or even raped, and through it all have to worry about being sued/fired for so much as laying a hand on said prisoners who revile them so much.

Tell a cop to "outsource" being in the line of fire. Tell a waitress she should demand higher tips because her time is valuable and she should refuse customers who give her a hard time. Tell someone in the military just back from two tours in Iraq that wedding photography is not easy money.

Let's be honest here. You set your own hours. You decide what clients you work with and when. You don't have to answer to anyone but yourself and to some extent the specific person you're working for. A "hellish day of work" would consist of poor lighting conditions and rowdy or rude wedding guests. Does wedding photography take talent, good business sense, etc.? Yes. Is it "easy" in the sense that any untrained person could, with fortitude, randomly decide to get into it and plausibly make a good living for themselves with a small investment? YES.

There are jobs that are easier than wedding photography. And there are jobs that garner more money. But no one can convince me that all things considered, wedding photography is anywhere NEAR the bottom of the pyramid. When people say, "OMG, I could be a wedding photographer and it'd be easy money!" often times they are comparing wedding photography to the jobs they have had or the jobs their loved ones have had -- and you know what, in that respect, they are absolutely right.

[Mike*Wise]

Hope, on April 21 2008, 11:04 AM, said:

Wedding photographers can make as much as doctors without the years of school, long hours clocked in the ER for the first few years and extremely high cost of keeping a practice. They can make as much as or more than miners without working twelve or fifteen hour shifts in a mine where they are putting their life at risk. Wedding photographers make more than nurses and nurses' aids, who get paid only slightly more than minimum wage to wipe people's butts, wipe up vomit and watch people die on a regular basis. Wedding photographers make more than prison guards, who on a regular basis are assaulted, stabbed, pelted with feces, sexually molested or even raped, and through it all have to worry about being sued/fired for so much as laying a hand on said prisoners who revile them so much.

Tell a cop to "outsource" being in the line of fire. Tell a waitress she should demand higher tips because her time is valuable and she should refuse customers who give her a hard time. Tell someone in the military just back from two tours in Iraq that wedding photography is not easy money.

Let's be honest here. You set your own hours. You decide what clients you work with and when. You don't have to answer to anyone but yourself and to some extent the specific person you're working for. A "hellish day of work" would consist of poor lighting conditions and rowdy or rude wedding guests. Does wedding photography take talent, good business sense, etc.? Yes. Is it "easy" in the sense that any untrained person could, with fortitude, randomly decide to get into it and plausibly make a good living for themselves with a small investment? YES.

There are jobs that are easier than wedding photography. And there are jobs that garner more money. But no one can convince me that all things considered, wedding photography is anywhere NEAR the bottom of the pyramid. When people say, "OMG, I could be a wedding photographer and it'd be easy money!" often times they are comparing wedding photography to the jobs they have had or the jobs their loved ones have had -- and you know what, in that respect, they are absolutely right.

I guess that is why we all make choices in our lives. I don't think anybody is forced to be a policeman. I don't think they force you to become a nurse/prison guard/whatever else you mentioned that I found rather funny. What was the comparison of all those jobs in relation to being a wedding photographer?

I do agree that wedding photography is not dealing with the types of things that you mentioned (again that were pretty interesting) that some jobs have day to day. So how is it that people stay in these jobs if they are so miserable and hate their decision to do this?

People will always think that they could become a wedding photographer as long as they have never tried. Are they able to do it...sure! But will they ever do it again...probably not. Will they choose to put in the time and effort that 99% of the people on here do to become the best that they can possibly become? I guess that depends on the person and their eye for seeing things.

[Jillian Kay]

no one is claiming that our jobs are dangerous, gross, or thankless. yes, it's a good job.

but when people say "easy money" they aren't comparing it to doctors, prison gaurds, nurses, or other industries that, yes, deserve higher pay.

they are saying it's "easy money" compared to getting a degree or working at a bank or being a real estate agent. most people think that "easy money" means you can jump in with no experience and immediately charge top dollar - not true. "easy money" means there is little competition and you don't have to work to get the best clients - not true. "easy money" means there is little investment - almost not true (there is less than many businesses yes, but a lot more than what others perceive). "easy money" means you don't work 10 hour days 7 days a week - not true (unless you really work on it, and understand your business). "easy money" means you don't have to learn all the technical details - not true. "easy money" means you don't have to learn about finance, marketing, organization, and photography law - not true. "easy money" means you don't have to deal with angry clients - not true. "easy money" means the business is handed to you on a silver platter - far from true.

i agree, it's not the hardest money, and compared to the professions you mentioned, it's very safe. so are most professions. but I don't consider software engineering to be easy money either.

Hope, on April 21 2008, 12:04 PM, said:

Wedding photographers can make as much as doctors without the years of school, long hours clocked in the ER for the first few years and extremely high cost of keeping a practice. They can make as much as or more than miners without working twelve or fifteen hour shifts in a mine where they are putting their life at risk. Wedding photographers make more than nurses and nurses' aids, who get paid only slightly more than minimum wage to wipe people's butts, wipe up vomit and watch people die on a regular basis. Wedding photographers make more than prison guards, who on a regular basis are assaulted, stabbed, pelted with feces, sexually molested or even raped, and through it all have to worry about being sued/fired for so much as laying a hand on said prisoners who revile them so much.

Tell a cop to "outsource" being in the line of fire. Tell a waitress she should demand higher tips because her time is valuable and she should refuse customers who give her a hard time. Tell someone in the military just back from two tours in Iraq that wedding photography is not easy money.

Let's be honest here. You set your own hours. You decide what clients you work with and when. You don't have to answer to anyone but yourself and to some extent the specific person you're working for. A "hellish day of work" would consist of poor lighting conditions and rowdy or rude wedding guests. Does wedding photography take talent, good business sense, etc.? Yes. Is it "easy" in the sense that any untrained person could, with fortitude, randomly decide to get into it and plausibly make a good living for themselves with a small investment? YES.

There are jobs that are easier than wedding photography. And there are jobs that garner more money. But no one can convince me that all things considered, wedding photography is anywhere NEAR the bottom of the pyramid. When people say, "OMG, I could be a wedding photographer and it'd be easy money!" often times they are comparing wedding photography to the jobs they have had or the jobs their loved ones have had -- and you know what, in that respect, they are absolutely right.

[Cory Parris]

I am not going to say being a wedding photographer is easy. Nor am I going to say that anyone could do well owning their own business. However, in the grand scheme of things, being a wedding photographer is definitely at the "Life does not suck," end of the spectrum.

[Scottie Chanson]

Matt Antonino, on April 21 2008, 11:49 AM, said:

I may have commented.

I loved your comment on his blog.
I have to admit though, Wedding Photography is very easy. I put in a bout 50 hours a week in my business and love about 90% of it. The hard thing for me is to turn off my computer and walk away, I love what I do.

[Elena]

Did you all read this comment by Barlow? Quote" What are you smoking and where I can buy some from?" I was drinking a smoothie and it almost came out of my nostrils... my abdominals hurt from laughing now

[Paul@lauraeatonphoto]

I had a professor tell me once he works 24/7. 24 hours a week, 7 months a year. Thats the job we all should be looking for.

[Fletcher]

Elena, on April 21 2008, 04:11 PM, said:

Did you all read this comment by Barlow? Quote" What are you smoking and where I can buy some from?" I was drinking a smoothie and it almost came out of my nostrils... my abdominals hurt from laughing now

I choked on my coffee when I read about the "fart in the wind."

[Bellissima]

he accomplished exactly what he wanted... from the blog - if you read is update...
so he's getting lots of site traffic.

UPDATE

Apparently, if you want to get a lot of people to visit your blog, all you have to do is write a post about how wedding photography is easy money. But you have to put up with a lot of nasty comments.

[Alyssa Lang]

Dude, Brady, your comment rocked!

[pjwarneka]

With his logic Lasic ( eye) surgery is over priced also. it is done in a lunch hour and Costs about $2,000-3,000 dollars.

that is $120,000 a week.

[Josh Wood]

Paul@lauraeatonphoto, on April 22 2008, 10:30 AM, said:

I had a professor tell me once he works 24/7. 24 hours a week, 7 months a year. Thats the job we all should be looking for.

Actually that is the job I want, but I will have another 6 years of school after I get my Bachelors....is that a normal mix? College prof and photographer?

[JAC]

I was a nurse. I make way less as a wedding photographer, but I do LOVE my job. He's just jelous!

[Brady]

Alyssa Lang, on April 22 2008, 12:41 PM, said:

Dude, Brady, your comment rocked!

thanks

[Parris]

Alyssa Lang, on April 21 2008, 11:36 AM, said:

Saw THIS this morning, almost threw a fit. haha I hate when people undervalue what we do. And this guy's a photographer nonetheless!

I like that these types of articles create conversation. Unfortunately, they are very misleading. Anyone with a bit of common sense can tell you that real estate, banking and currency trading is where the BIG money is. If you think you're gonna make a quick EZ million as a wedding photographer...think again...than thin some more and call Citi group.

[Chelo]

He's disgruntled- possibly. And now he's on OSP!