A Little About Rusty's Wedding Photography Philosophy
I wanted to take a moment to really introduce myself. Until recently, I'd not really hung out my shingle to provide my creative services to the North Carolina area and so, while I have extensive experience running creative companies like this one, I've never done it in North Carolina so my reputation from the San Francisco Bay Area may not have followed me (however a Google search of my name should clear up any concerns).
I've been working in a creative space since 1997. My experience includes photography and videography which spans multiple client types. I've created content for corporate training and learning, technical documentation, marketing engineering and sales. On top of that, I also have extensive experience in weddings and other personal events, occasions and family portraiture, including kids (hey, I have three of them so why not?).
And so, here I am now. In Cary North Carolina with a new shingle out because, frankly, I missed being a wedding and personal event professional. There is something to be said about being able to provide the level of quality major corporations expect (and pay for) to everyday people in a way that caters to their needs.
For example - this whole artistic copyright thing has always confused me deeply. I can understand maintaining the copyright for a major corporation's project. I mean, residuals for usage not originally agreed to are the bread and butter of the creative industry. With that said, why maintain such tight control over the photographs and video of a couples wedding day?
Maybe I'm a softy here, but to me the sanctity of marriage has been thrown aside by the wedding services industry.
Not with me. The day is about the couple and their family. So, when I photograph a wedding, the bride and groom own the copyright of the images I capture and they can do whatever they like with them.
I also do not charge by the hour. Too often I have seen a wedding reception hurried along because the photographer was going to go into "overtime" if they didn't hurry the cake cutting, garter and bouquet toss. First off, In the six years I have been providing wedding services I have NEVER seen a wedding 100% on time. So, the best plans of the bride and groom end up costing them money because they are paying a photographer by the hour.
That never really sat well with me. So, I am hired by the day. Most people reasonably do not ask me to spend 24 straight hours with them, however, I have done an 18 hour day and that is fine with me... I slept REALLY well that night.
I read a book some time ago called Positively Outrageous Customer Service by Scott T. Gross and it really resonated with me. The basic premise being - if you always do something unexpected and pleasant for every customer you get, it is THEY who will continue to talk about you and bring you business for years.
While that sounds like an act that could potentially be selfishly motivated, here is the truth. If you truly love what you do, it is incredibly easy because it is a sincere act. You love what you do, you are happy doing it, adding some personal flair and flavor to the customer experience... priceless ;-)
I've been working in a creative space since 1997. My experience includes photography and videography which spans multiple client types. I've created content for corporate training and learning, technical documentation, marketing engineering and sales. On top of that, I also have extensive experience in weddings and other personal events, occasions and family portraiture, including kids (hey, I have three of them so why not?).
And so, here I am now. In Cary North Carolina with a new shingle out because, frankly, I missed being a wedding and personal event professional. There is something to be said about being able to provide the level of quality major corporations expect (and pay for) to everyday people in a way that caters to their needs.
For example - this whole artistic copyright thing has always confused me deeply. I can understand maintaining the copyright for a major corporation's project. I mean, residuals for usage not originally agreed to are the bread and butter of the creative industry. With that said, why maintain such tight control over the photographs and video of a couples wedding day?
Maybe I'm a softy here, but to me the sanctity of marriage has been thrown aside by the wedding services industry.
Not with me. The day is about the couple and their family. So, when I photograph a wedding, the bride and groom own the copyright of the images I capture and they can do whatever they like with them.
I also do not charge by the hour. Too often I have seen a wedding reception hurried along because the photographer was going to go into "overtime" if they didn't hurry the cake cutting, garter and bouquet toss. First off, In the six years I have been providing wedding services I have NEVER seen a wedding 100% on time. So, the best plans of the bride and groom end up costing them money because they are paying a photographer by the hour.
That never really sat well with me. So, I am hired by the day. Most people reasonably do not ask me to spend 24 straight hours with them, however, I have done an 18 hour day and that is fine with me... I slept REALLY well that night.
I read a book some time ago called Positively Outrageous Customer Service by Scott T. Gross and it really resonated with me. The basic premise being - if you always do something unexpected and pleasant for every customer you get, it is THEY who will continue to talk about you and bring you business for years.
While that sounds like an act that could potentially be selfishly motivated, here is the truth. If you truly love what you do, it is incredibly easy because it is a sincere act. You love what you do, you are happy doing it, adding some personal flair and flavor to the customer experience... priceless ;-)
posted by Rusty Worden at
3:10 PM
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