Nate Update

Hey, I’m a hybrid, and I love it. I was a graphic designer first and a photographer second, and I know I’m not alone. The reality is – the industry has evolved to where there’s really fuzzy boundaries between sub-industries. We’re all digital artists when you get to the nuts and bolts of it, so I’m not going to waste your time on that topic, but if you want to buy me a Heineken sometime I’ll be glad to give it a go.

There’s several factors contributing to this shift in the ever-expanding photography industry, the primary reason being the evolution of the “prosumer” creative industry. It’s a cheesy techy term I first heard a few years ago when the Canon 10D DSLR was introduced. Basically, it refers to traditional professional-grade gear sold at an affordable price. Old-schoolers hate it, new-schoolers love it. (I dabble in both schools, and I’m even teaching school this fall). At first, newbies will shoot 1500 photos and weed them out, photoshop the heck out of them, ultimately keeping – who knows – 5-10% of them, burn a disc or upload them, send the bill, and voila! Pro photographer.

When you’re choosing a photographer, folks, there are three basic principles that are tried and true that work for almost any service industry:  Quality vs. Budget vs. Turnaround Time. It’s pretty tough to get a 5-star dinner from the dollar menu. (I realize this sounds snobbish, but it’s true). On the client-side, it’s a great bargain to score that newbie photographer for $X that I spoke of earlier, for sure, but it’s going to take him or her a while to process those 1500 photos to get to the 12 you requested, especially using that Dell laptop from freshman year as a graphics station.

Best case scenario for those of you shopping for a photographer: Find a seasoned pro with the gear (nicer than the one Uncle Joe got for Christmas last year) that can deliver quality shots on time for a reasonable price.

There are more of us than you would think. Remember, though – pro gear is expensive, and when you come across a rate is higher than you think is fair, go price out a Metz Battery Pack, or a Canon 70-200mm USM IS lens.

Want to shock a photographer? Ask what percentage of their photos are deemed selections. Obviously, the prime number here is 100%, but even Gisele blinks sometimes. Personally, my keeper rate at events is around 60-80%, and in the studio it’s much closer to 90-100% (I cheat – I shoot a lot of products).