Original Email

Why do Lethbridge photographers seem to have so little creativity.  I see photos on a website then a month or so down the road other photographers have the exact photos on their site (different subjects, same concept).  Where is the creativity?

My Response

Hi Xxxx,
I think many photographers in Lethbridge are very creative, but let me give you my spin on things.

Wedding photography is very commercial, and most photographers branch out into one of three categories:

1. Traditional
2. Modern
3. Photojournalistic

Usually the bride sees a set of shots in a magazine or a style from another photographer and requests similar locations, poses, etc.

Most photographers try and put a personal spin in things, but in the end – it’s all about the client.

Another factor is trends in the industry. Most of us belong to WPPI, a national group of wedding photographers, and attend their conference. Too many return drinking the same kool-aid.

Other times, photographers will collaborate on the same shoot. I often second shoot for other photographers in town, and they for me. Both of us will post photos from the same wedding.

If you would like to evaluate the creative potential of a photographer, ask to see a wider portfolio to see work past the constraints of weddings. As an example, I shoot music, models and cars – none of which follow the wedding “formula”.

Most photographers would love to collaborate with a client on new and fresh concepts and styles. With risk comes reward, finding a client who will give the freedom to create is often a challenge.

Where does your comment stem from? Can I help at all?

M
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I think this sender makes some valid arguments that relate to other discussions we’ve been having in the industry as of late. The current economic situation is generating many new and part-time photographers into the market, trying to supplement their income, or generate a career change. This flood of new talent is bringing varying degrees of quality into the market, and the common reference for the majority of them is the portfolios of other photographers.

With many new photographers chasing quick dollars, emulating the style of other photographers, and generating a similar post production look – with just a few clicks in Photoshop (many photographers use Photoshop “actions” or recorded moves by more experienced hands to generate certain tones, textures or other visual styles) the landscape is too “watered down”. The overuse of these “actions” and “me too” poses, backgrounds and compositions tends to make things quite generic. If creativity truly is “the art of concealing your sources” – the internet is making things harder to hide.

A wedding photographer is a special breed, she is one part counsellor, photographer, project manager, technician and salesperson. The pressures of the wedding day bring out the best (and the worst) in a photographer, and those who can handle the heat excel over the long term. Some argue that the intensity of the wedding day, and the risk of experimental photography keep things looking the same.

I personally believe that if photographers stick to a consistent style, they will get work in that style – feeding more originality in the portfolio. Many discussions around locations, style and incorporating the personalities of your subjects into the resulting photos will keep things looking fresh, and let the new ones sort things out a level below.

What do you think?

If you’ve not visited Hotel Arts or any of its dining options I urge you to do so next trip in. The amount of fine detail and displayed work is phenomenal, and one must remind themselves that they are not in a gallery – but a commercial hotel. The creative energy in the hotel helped to fuel some of my best frames to date.

A giant thank you to my other shooters Tanya Plonka and Eric Au for such a seamless shoot. Assistants Melissa Belter and Torin Segstro were indispensible, and often running back to the suite for forgotten gear, or light change ups. Makeup Artist Kada Issa did such a phenomenal job on the bodypaint that I had no reservations posing model Cayley Turnbull topless in public (no one even blinked – camoflage at its finest).

Dallen Flexhaug, Guest Services Manager and Fraser Abbott, Director of Sales & Marketing were instrumental in securing the location, as well as ensuring our shoot ran seamlessly, thank you so much!

After our shoot, we ate in Calgary and discussed the next opportunity. I think there was mention of exotic cars in High River…stay tuned.

M.

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This time ’round I spent two days with 12 other shooters from various areas of B.C. learning long exposure, high dynamic range (HDR), extended dynamic range (XDR), panoramics, street shooting, studio lighting, ambient lighting, working with models and post processing workflow. As you can imagine, the pace was intense – my crew from Alberta turned up the heat by scheduling model shoots into the evening to augment the day’s training.

I can’t recommend the training from VPW enough. I’ve grown tired of the usual “learn to use your Christmas Camera” or “basic composition” workshops found in Calgary and Southern Alberta. Once you conquer the intial learning curve of photography, you need to work with professionals who understand exactly how to extend the craft into another tool supporting your creativity. VPW does just that.

Here are a few shots from the workshop, I’ve not retouched these frames yet – so consider them raw.

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