Garrett Nudd
February 15 2007, 09:44 AM
Hey guys, you might find this interesting... we were tipped off a few weeks back and it just became public information a couple days ago.
American Photo Magazine's ten best wedding photographers in the world.
(In no particular order)
Jeff Ascough
David Beckstead
Stephen and Jennifer Bebb
Joe Buissink
Bambi Cantrell
Jerry Ghionis
Kevin Kubota
Christian Oth
Alisha and Brook Todd
Dennis Reggie
Quite an impressive list!
Anne
February 15 2007, 09:46 AM
Very cool!! Are there any non-Americans on that list?
MattA
February 15 2007, 09:47 AM
Quick question but what are they using as a guideline to determine such? I have barely heard of 3 of those people and I don't see Mike Colon, Jeff & Julia Woods or any of our esteemed OSP crew (DJ, Becker, JC, Gino) OR Jeff Hawkins? Yikes. Tough crowd. lol
They also forgot Yervant, Marcus Bell. Maybe because it's "American Photo"
Phil P
February 15 2007, 09:48 AM
I'm puzzled that my name isn't on that list. Surely I'm better known...
Anne
February 15 2007, 09:50 AM
QUOTE(Matt Antonino @ February 15 2007, 09:47 AM) [snapback]78683[/snapback]
They also forgot Yervant, Marcus Bell & Jerry Ghionis. Maybe because it's "American Photo"
Yeah... I have a little thing about people using the word "WORLD" when it's really just "U.S."
Jasont
February 15 2007, 09:51 AM
Yea, Colon and Becker should be on the list. I also wasn't familier with some of them. I will check them out though. Could you imagine what being on a list like this would do to your pricing? Wow!
Garrett Nudd
February 15 2007, 09:53 AM
QUOTE(Matt Antonino @ February 15 2007, 12:47 PM) [snapback]78683[/snapback]
Quick question but what are they using as a guideline to determine such? I have barely heard of 3 of those people and I don't see Mike Colon, Jeff & Julia Woods or any of our esteemed OSP crew (DJ, Becker, JC, Gino) OR Jeff Hawkins? Yikes. Tough crowd. lol
They also forgot Yervant, Marcus Bell & Jerry Ghionis. Maybe because it's "American Photo"
Happy Birthday, Matt!!!!!!
Maybe since it's your birthday, we should let you create a top 10 list...LOL!
FWIW, I think American Photo's list is pretty good, though I do miss Yervant and Marcus.
Lori Evelyn
February 15 2007, 09:53 AM
Not a shabby list, I think they misspelled my name or something.
Or maybe they thought I was too intimidating?
stephen seward
February 15 2007, 09:53 AM
sounds like it was based on popularity mostly
Joy Nudd
February 15 2007, 09:53 AM
QUOTE(Anne @ February 15 2007, 12:46 PM) [snapback]78680[/snapback]
Very cool!! Are there any non-Americans on that list?
Jeff Ascough, (UK)
Jerry Ghionis, (Australia)
Steve and Jen Bebb (Canada, but technically Americans?) and OSPers
Lori Evelyn
February 15 2007, 09:57 AM
i miss you Joy.
Joy Nudd
February 15 2007, 10:02 AM
The Bebbs are out of this world amazing

Photo by haute Jim Cook.
Joe and his precious family!

Photo by haute Charles Bordner.
Congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

QUOTE(Lori Evelyn @ February 15 2007, 12:57 PM) [snapback]78708[/snapback]
i miss you Joy.

Vegas, girl...Vegas
jasongroupp
February 15 2007, 10:05 AM
QUOTE(stephen seward @ February 15 2007, 12:53 PM) [snapback]78702[/snapback]
sounds like it was based on popularity mostly
I have to agree here too. I think the list is pretty good with the exception of Christian Oth - not to disrespect him (or my NYC), but for real? - if they are going to pick somone in NYC what about Jules Skarett? Goes to show you what good marketing and PR can do.
And - Becker really needs to be on that list.
Jillian Kay
February 15 2007, 10:07 AM
QUOTE(Garrett Nudd @ February 15 2007, 09:44 AM) [snapback]78675[/snapback]
Hey guys, you might find this interesting... we were tipped off a few weeks back and it just became public information a couple days ago.
American Photo Magazine's ten best wedding photographers in the world.
(In no particular order)
Jeff Ascough
David Beckstead
Stephen and Jennifer Bebb
Joe Buissink
Bambi Cantrell
Jerry Ghionis
Kevin Kubota
Christian Oth
Alisha and Brook Todd
Dennis Reggie
Quite an impressive list!
very nice list!! How often do they put this out? And how could they forget this person:
http://bestweddingphotographerintheworld.com(hahah, j/k, just got work that in for a few laughs every once in a while to get my moola's worth)
QUOTE(Lori Evelyn @ February 15 2007, 09:53 AM) [snapback]78701[/snapback]
Not a shabby list, I think they misspelled my name or something.
Or maybe they thought I was too intimidating?

obviously misspelled. do you thik they'll run a reprint? how embarrassing for them.
QUOTE(stephen seward @ February 15 2007, 09:53 AM) [snapback]78702[/snapback]
sounds like it was based on popularity mostly
well....depends on their criteria. are they just looking artistically, or from a "whole-business" standpoint (like clients have to). if it's the "whole-business" standpoint, then technically it IS a popularity contest, that's just kind of the business we're in.
Garrett Nudd
February 15 2007, 10:11 AM
Popularity contest...perhaps. Those who are the best are often the most popular.
Juliet
February 15 2007, 10:11 AM
Good for them!
jasongroupp
February 15 2007, 10:16 AM
QUOTE(Garrett Nudd @ February 15 2007, 01:11 PM) [snapback]78727[/snapback]
Popularity contest...perhaps. Those who are the best are often the most popular.

Garrett - I cannot diagree with this more. You're the best and I dont see your name on that list. For real.
allan z.
February 15 2007, 10:21 AM
[quote name='Jillian Kay' date='February 15 2007, 01:07 PM' post='78721']
very nice list!! How often do they put this out? And how could they forget this person:
http://bestweddingphotographerintheworld.comhahahaha GOOD ONE!!!
lol
SaraH
February 15 2007, 10:26 AM
Interesting how few women made that list, too.
Anybody know the ratio of male to female wedding photogs? I feel like it used to be a male dominated field (like all photography) but that the tide is turning. Wonder where I could find those numbers?
turtle nate
February 15 2007, 10:32 AM
QUOTE(Garrett Nudd @ February 15 2007, 12:44 PM) [snapback]78675[/snapback]
The top 10 Wedding Photographers in the World (American PHOTO),
where are you? :-)
#11 or 12. apparently
eadwine
February 15 2007, 10:40 AM
think i'll be ranked 1088438321954797th . close enuff for me =)
jen bebb
February 15 2007, 10:43 AM
A popularity contest? Maybe. But then again, maybe not.
Steve and I are incredibly honored to be among this group of photographers and we are just thrilled that American PHOTO included us.
As the most unexpected of the top 10 I wanted to add a couple of thoughts. We didn't lobby for this spot, in fact we didn't know anything about the list until the time came for the interview. Several people contributed names to a larger list of photographers - that list was then narrowed down to 25, and from the 25 the editors at American PHOTO chose the 10.
According to Tony Corbell who wrote the article, while we don't have the industry recognition that some of the folks do, we have created a body of consistently good work that has not gone unnoticed. I don't say this to pat myself on the back, but rather to drive home a point that Tony made to Steve and I: if you do great work, you will eventually get noticed and rewarded.
So, while there are some folks that maybe should have made the final list, I think it's pretty cool that someone like us, without a "name" has made it. And I also think that speaks volumes about the editors at American PHOTO that they chose to go outside the expected list of wedding photographers and find a studio like ours - that's what makes this especially rewarding for us. It was our body of work that got us here and not our status in the industry - that's the biggest honour of all for me.
So...popularity contest? Not for us.
turtle nate
February 15 2007, 10:48 AM
Excellent points Jen. It seems like there is a lot of effort poured in to just getting a name out there. It's nice to hear how important it is to pour effort into their clients

QUOTE(Nate Turtle Reynolds @ February 15 2007, 01:32 PM) [snapback]78759[/snapback]
#11 or 12. apparently

boy, i hope people know I am a kidder. we didn't even make the top 25.
Jillian Kay
February 15 2007, 10:52 AM
QUOTE(jen bebb @ February 15 2007, 10:43 AM) [snapback]78770[/snapback]
A popularity contest? Maybe. But then again, maybe not.
Steve and I are incredibly honored to be among this group of photographers and we are just thrilled that American PHOTO included us.
As the most unexpected of the top 10 I wanted to add a couple of thoughts. We didn't lobby for this spot, in fact we didn't know anything about the list until the time came for the interview. Several people contributed names to a larger list of photographers - that list was then narrowed down to 25, and from the 25 the editors at American PHOTO chose the 10.
According to Tony Corbell who wrote the article, while we don't have the industry recognition that some of the folks do, we have created a body of consistently good work that has not gone unnoticed. I don't say this to pat myself on the back, but rather to drive home a point that Tony made to Steve and I: if you do great work, you will eventually get noticed and rewarded.
So, while there are some folks that maybe should have made the final list, I think it's pretty cool that someone like us, without a "name" has made it. And I also think that speaks volumes about the editors at American PHOTO that they chose to go outside the expected list of wedding photographers and find a studio like ours - that's what makes this especially rewarding for us. It was our body of work that got us here and not our status in the industry - that's the biggest honour of all for me.
So...popularity contest? Not for us.
Good to hear!! Congratulations, it was well earned.

but to clarify, i don't mean popularity in the "my car is cooler so people like me" high-school kind of way. i mean popularity to mean well recognized in (and outside of) the industry for having consistently awesome images, creativity, reputation, personality, and business practices. but i'm also glad to hear they went out of their way to find photographers who are consistent in all of that, but just haven't risen to untold fame....yet.
colleen
February 15 2007, 11:07 AM
QUOTE(philpereira @ February 15 2007, 09:48 AM) [snapback]78687[/snapback]
I'm puzzled that my name isn't on that list. Surely I'm better known...
Me too!!
jasongroupp
February 15 2007, 11:12 AM
QUOTE(jen bebb @ February 15 2007, 01:43 PM) [snapback]78770[/snapback]
A popularity contest? Maybe. But then again, maybe not.
Steve and I are incredibly honored to be among this group of photographers and we are just thrilled that American PHOTO included us.
As the most unexpected of the top 10 I wanted to add a couple of thoughts. We didn't lobby for this spot, in fact we didn't know anything about the list until the time came for the interview. Several people contributed names to a larger list of photographers - that list was then narrowed down to 25, and from the 25 the editors at American PHOTO chose the 10.
According to Tony Corbell who wrote the article, while we don't have the industry recognition that some of the folks do, we have created a body of consistently good work that has not gone unnoticed. I don't say this to pat myself on the back, but rather to drive home a point that Tony made to Steve and I: if you do great work, you will eventually get noticed and rewarded.
So, while there are some folks that maybe should have made the final list, I think it's pretty cool that someone like us, without a "name" has made it. And I also think that speaks volumes about the editors at American PHOTO that they chose to go outside the expected list of wedding photographers and find a studio like ours - that's what makes this especially rewarding for us. It was our body of work that got us here and not our status in the industry - that's the biggest honour of all for me.
So...popularity contest? Not for us.
Jen - if I offended you in any way please accept my apologies. YOU guys are one of the most derserving on that list. If it wasnt for your marketing and consistently getting your name out there no one would have ever heard of you. Personally, there a few on there besides you guys I feel it's time to move on with...
Doing great work without putting yourself out there on a regular basis will get you no where. Therefore in a way does make it a little bit of a popularity contest....For those of you who know the NY/LA market know there are quite a few photographers that do amazing work, but they dont have websites or advertise or market themselves. They have no interest in being "popular" to the public and make a great living in their little microcosm. My 2 cents.
stephen seward
February 15 2007, 11:20 AM
when I said it was based on popularity I didn't mean in a bad way...you can't get anywhere without it, it's what makes you a successful studio. Most of the best photographers I know would never make that list.
jen bebb
February 15 2007, 11:23 AM
Hey Jason - not offended at all. And I completely understand your point. If you don't get your name out there yourself, no one else will do it for you. So yes, to a certain degree, it is a popularity contest.
When I look at the names on the list, I see a lot of people that are fairly "big" in the photography world - they offer seminars, endorse products, have big sponsors, etc. And the ones that aren't doing that have shot celebrities, appeared on (or been mentioned on) shows like Oprah. And others run fairly big studios.
Steve and I are just that - Steve and I. We quietly go about our photography up here in Canada and don't really go out of our way to publicize what we do. We don't have sponsors, we haven't announced any seminars (yet

) and we don't have a lot of big names behind us. So that fact that we were chosen based, in a large part, on our work is extremely gratifying.
And I don't mean to take away from the other people on the list at all...they are there for their work as well. I just think it's really cool and encouraging to know that you can be rewarded for your work without all those other things being part of it. I hope that makes sense.
genevep
February 15 2007, 11:29 AM
QUOTE(philpereira @ February 15 2007, 12:48 PM) [snapback]78687[/snapback]
I'm puzzled that my name isn't on that list. Surely I'm better known...
hehehe...yeah, me too. LOL.
I agree with parts of that list for sure...Denis Reggie, Joe Buissink, Bambi Cantrell are more like icons and definitely deserve to be on that list. Go David Beckstead too! That is AWESOME! Don't know the others I hate to say it...I'll have to look them up. I've heard of Kevin Kubota, but only know him from his workflow seminars and actions. Too bad Monte Zucker & Elizabeth Messina & Cheryl Richards didn't make the list...just to name a few.
But like any list it's anybodies call and VERY SUBJECTIVE. I just saw a list of the 100 Most Important Americans
100 Most Important Americans(period--any American in history) and I thought some of them were odd choices. Hello..John or Abigail Adams should have been Top 10 instead of Alexander Hamilton! And no women until #30--helllloooo...Alice Paul, Margaret Mead, Margaret Sanger, Betty Friedan, Gloria Steinham, Abigail Adams, Emily Dickinson (Walt Whitman is top 30!) etc...but I digress.
Thanks for giving us a sneak peak though!
jasongroupp
February 15 2007, 11:35 AM
QUOTE(jen bebb @ February 15 2007, 02:23 PM) [snapback]78805[/snapback]
Hey Jason - not offended at all. And I completely understand your point. If you don't get your name out there yourself, no one else will do it for you. So yes, to a certain degree, it is a popularity contest.
And I don't mean to take away from the other people on the list at all...they are there for their work as well. I just think it's really cool and encouraging to know that you can be rewarded for your work without all those other things being part of it. I hope that makes sense.
Jen -
Whew. I am glad you understand. I could not agree with you more - yes, all those people have major support behind them. I think that's what I meant by "time to move on"...
I do think you guys may be the most deserved to be on that list just because you do great work - period.

But - can i disagree with you when you say you do work hard getting your name out there? Maybe not as hard as others, nothing shameful in that.

I am sorry it took 3 posts to say this. Congratulations!!
Alisha
February 15 2007, 11:35 AM
I got half my name on that list. Does that count?
genevep
February 15 2007, 11:39 AM
QUOTE(JasonTench @ February 15 2007, 12:51 PM) [snapback]78699[/snapback]
Yea, Colon and Becker should be on the list.
I'll probably get in trouble for this as usual...but I disagree.

That's why it's SO subjective to just list the Top 10--everybodies list will be different for different reasons.
jen bebb
February 15 2007, 11:42 AM
QUOTE
But - can i disagree with you when you say you do work hard getting your name out there? Maybe not as hard as others, nothing shameful in that
Fair enough...I would have to agree with you on that.
genevep
February 15 2007, 11:42 AM
BTW--Congrats to Jen Bebb! I just checked out your website--love your approach. YAY that an OSPer made the list!!!!!!
jasongroupp
February 15 2007, 11:59 AM
QUOTE(jen bebb @ February 15 2007, 02:42 PM) [snapback]78831[/snapback]
Fair enough...I would have to agree with you on that.
Cool. Well congrats again - you guys definitely deserve it!
cameron
February 15 2007, 12:16 PM
QUOTE(JasonTench @ February 15 2007, 10:51 AM) [snapback]78699[/snapback]
Yea, Colon and Becker should be on the list.
I have all the respect in the world for Mike Colon and Becker, and I think would hope that they would both agree that, with the exception of a couple of peeps on that list, they aren't on the same level.... YET!
danwatkins
February 15 2007, 12:20 PM
Colon is a damn fine photographer. Top 10? Not sure about that...
Kevin Kubota is also a damn fine photographer...also...not sure about top 10.
I think I would have Huy Nguyen above Colon and Kubota.
But nobody asked me...
I think I'd also have G$ over Colon.
Again, nobody asked me...
EDIT:
But, since you asked me where I am, I'd say I'm probably in the top 250,000. And I like to tink that my star is on the rise. Hoping to crack the top 100,000 before June 1st...that's my plan.
Joy Nudd
February 15 2007, 12:43 PM
QUOTE(danwatkins @ February 15 2007, 03:20 PM) [snapback]78883[/snapback]
Colon is a damn fine photographer. Top 10? Not sure about that...
Kevin Kubota is also a damn fine photographer...also...not sure about top 10.
I think I would have Huy Nguyen above Colon and Kubota.
But nobody asked me...
I think I'd also have G$ over Colon.
Again, nobody asked me...
EDIT:
But, since you asked me where I am, I'd say I'm probably in the top 250,000. And I like to tink that my star is on the rise. Hoping to crack the top 100,000 before June 1st...that's my plan.
G$= Gary Fong ??
Scarlett Lillian
February 15 2007, 12:57 PM
QUOTE(Jillian Kay @ February 15 2007, 01:07 PM) [snapback]78721[/snapback]
very nice list!! How often do they put this out? And how could they forget this person:
http://bestweddingphotographerintheworld.comHA HA HA HA! I love you Jillian Kay!! That was awesome.
huy
February 15 2007, 12:58 PM
QUOTE(danwatkins @ February 15 2007, 02:20 PM) [snapback]78883[/snapback]
Colon is a damn fine photographer. Top 10? Not sure about that...
Kevin Kubota is also a damn fine photographer...also...not sure about top 10.
I think I would have Huy Nguyen above Colon and Kubota.
But nobody asked me...
I think I'd also have G$ over Colon.
Again, nobody asked me...
EDIT:
But, since you asked me where I am, I'd say I'm probably in the top 250,000. And I like to tink that my star is on the rise. Hoping to crack the top 100,000 before June 1st...that's my plan.
I'm not even among the ten best photographers in my zip code

But thanks!
Huy
danwatkins
February 15 2007, 01:06 PM
QUOTE(huy @ February 15 2007, 02:58 PM) [snapback]78931[/snapback]
I'm not even among the ten best photographers in my zip code

But thanks!
Huy
no
WONDER my DFW # isn't getting any calls!
QUOTE(Joy Nudd @ February 15 2007, 02:43 PM) [snapback]78914[/snapback]
G$= Gary Fong ??

No, Fong isn't even a wedding photographer anymore...
G$ = Garrett Nudd...you know him...the guy who's always asking for more Mexican food???
Joy Nudd
February 15 2007, 01:10 PM
QUOTE(danwatkins @ February 15 2007, 04:06 PM) [snapback]78936[/snapback]
no WONDER my DFW # isn't getting any calls!
No, Fong isn't even a wedding photographer anymore...
G$ = Garrett Nudd...you know him...the guy who's always asking for more Mexican food???
LOL!

Just kidding Dan, you're so great, you're on our top ten Photographer FRIENDS list

...oh and yes...we had mexican food today...AGAIN...
Except yesterday for V-Day, Italian my fave!
Jan Garcia
February 15 2007, 01:27 PM
QUOTE(Jillian Kay @ February 15 2007, 10:07 AM) [snapback]78721[/snapback]
very nice list!! How often do they put this out? And how could they forget this person:
http://bestweddingphotographerintheworld.comJillian, that is freaking awesome!!! I'm just sad I didn't think of it first
jkantor
February 15 2007, 01:44 PM
Most of them are best known for their self-promotion.
As for Colon, he's pretty much pure PJ for weddings, and that will always hurt in a listing like this (just like it often hurts most of us with booking clients).
And one thing no one should be talking about in a field like this is "best."
genevep
February 15 2007, 01:48 PM
QUOTE(huy @ February 15 2007, 03:58 PM) [snapback]78931[/snapback]
I'm not even among the ten best photographers in my zip code

But thanks!
Huy
Humble makes pure!
QUOTE(jkantor @ February 15 2007, 04:44 PM) [snapback]78993[/snapback]
Most of them are best known for their self-promotion.
Doesn't that go hand in hand though? Aren't all the best in any industry also great at branding & marketing? You could be the best photographer in the world, but if you don't publish or get the word out...I guarantee you won't be on any top ten lists.
Annie Leibovitz is great at self promotion too...hmmm...doesn't take anything away from her status.
Gotta play to win!!!!
danwatkins
February 15 2007, 01:56 PM
Self promotion works a LOT better than nay-saying. At least that's what I have to constantly remind myself when I let my unbridled opinions fly...
colinmichael
February 15 2007, 01:57 PM
Congratulations Jen! I hope I get a chance to meet with you guys sometime, your work is amazing. Chris+Lynn told me about you and I can't stop looking at your website! I love that you made the list, so cool that the non-workshop, non-product selling crowd can be recognized (not that there is anything wrong with doing those things). Proves that amazing art can be appreciated for being just that.
Beckstead making it is really cool too, congratulations David!
jen bebb
February 15 2007, 02:09 PM
QUOTE
Congratulations Jen! I hope I get a chance to meet with you guys sometime, your work is amazing. Chris+Lynn told me about you and I can't stop looking at your website!
Colin, thank you SO much! Chris and Lynn are great to have in our market - their work pushes everyone to be better.
We'll be in Vegas next month...maybe we'll see you then?
colinmichael
February 15 2007, 02:15 PM
QUOTE(jen bebb @ February 15 2007, 02:09 PM) [snapback]79023[/snapback]
Colin, thank you SO much! Chris and Lynn are great to have in our market - their work pushes everyone to be better.
We'll be in Vegas next month...maybe we'll see you then?
I hope so! Sadly WPPI only, no DWF for me...a guy can only take so much Vegas
Ginger
February 15 2007, 02:17 PM
Hi Jen,
We haven't met, but I want to say "Congratulations"!
Very impressive. And to think you didn't know until the interview...what a nice surprise.

Way to go!

I like your attitude about it all, too.
Hope we meet in the future!
Ginger
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