Strange Year!!

This really is the strangest year I have had for Wedding Photography. What started out slow, I suddenly seem to be getting lots of last minute booking. What I consider last minute is people booking their wedding photography on the same year they actually get married.
I alway try to look for reasons why these things happen so I can recognize trends in following years. This year however just baffles me. Obviously I'm happy to accomodate these bookings, but I cant see why this year has been completely different from all my previous years. Remember I've been doing this for over 15 years now, but things just seem to change from year to year lately.
Is it my advertising? No, because I dont advertise. Is it my position on Google? No, because if you did a search on photographers in my area, you would still find me on page one million.
So what I am doing hasnt changed suddenly. I am going to stop overthinking these things and just accept each year as it comes. As it happens this year has now become a very busy year for me and I can only be happy about that.

Little Monster

My little girl, taken a few years ago with Canon F1 and Tri-x film

The Film Archive 3 (Took this with a Canon F1 as far as I remember)

The Film Archive 2

                                         

Some from the old Film Collection

I thought it may be time to upload a selection of some of my portraits from the days before digital took over my life. I'll upload more in following posts.

Alex Self Port

When my daughter is about I barely have my Iphone in my hands. If she isnt playing some silly games on it then she is taking random photo's of things. I came accross this little series of photo's she had taken of herself the other day which I thought was kind of cool!

Saturated Photography

We are in a time now which is very hard for well established photographers. I can see already that this year is not going to be very busy for me. The problem is that everyone is a photographer these days. The industry is completely saturated. Digital photography has made this the case. Anyone can set up a photography business now for less than £500.00. The fact that they do not have either the skills or experience doesnt seem to matter any more.
The recession then adds to this problem because everyone wants to save some money and hire the cheapest photographer. Hell, many people are just getting uncle Bill to do their photography because he is doing it for free.
So where does that leave the skilled photographer who gained their skills in the darkroom. Who had to carry 2 Medium format cameras and a couple of 35mm Slr's to a wedding.
I'm afraid that many who chose photography as their career choice 20 years ago may now regret it.
Many have had to take on what my father would call "A proper job" otherwise they would not be able to pay the bills.
I'm aproaching 38 and I have to admit it keeps crossing my mind to hang up my camera and call it a day.
Its not that I don't believe in my own abilities as a photographer. In fact I think I'm a little bit too arrogant to think that I am one of the best at what I do. Lately though I think I would have been better off being a Hairdresser!
For now anyway, until the digital tool comes out to allow people to cut their own hair.