Welcome to the World of Authentic Photography Narratives.
Hello, I'm Kevin Mullins, a storyteller behind the lens. Since 2007, I've been capturing the unspoken tales of love and commitment across the UK and beyond. This channel is a window into my world, where every click of the shutter tells a story, every frame a hidden whisper of joy, tears, laughter, and love.
I've come back to this book (and her video on it) countless times. Being in the United States, this book is impossibly difficult to get your hands on. I managed to borrow it for a few days from the Rochester Institute of Technology, but sadly had to give it back eventually. I've had a long career of many incredible weddings, but next to the magnitude of her project sometimes it makes me feel like I've never truly done anything that matters. Her work absolutely ripped my heart out.
All very reasonable, but about the BTS. don't see the problem, really. It's 2024. People take and share videos of what they do. And people want to see it. Being a photographer is not above all that. The amount of clients who prefer a mysterious photographer who is nowhere to be seen, is smaller than the ones who like to see the photographer at work. But of course, if all you post is BTS.... moderation is key. In that case, the frequency is a problem, not BTS at all. Secondly, what is the damage and to whom? It's not taking time or material away from the couple. Au contrair. Potential clients get to see how the photographer behaves on the job or directs a scene - and also: how he or she looks like. Which is a thing, let's not deny it. If you have a full option, high-end wedding where style and vibe is important, your couple is going to want to pick & choose not only based on price or portfolio, but also on your own personal style and dresscode. Even age and sex. It's never going to be number one, but it can give you the edge or miss on a wedding assignment. Just like being €100 more expensive than someone else, can make a difference. Some colleagues turn their personal style and how they look into a trademark. Either to stand out or to attract a certain genre of clients. I'm of an older generation so I don't feel the need nor feel super comfortable to show myself online constantly. But when I am at an amazing location, I'm going to make sure I can share this with my followers or maybe set up a paid ad on social media and boost it. Because it's beautiful and I'm happy to be there, but also because it could result in new clients. It's part of the game.
Good points, but I think you missed my point about the BTS stuff. Perhaps my message wasn't as clear as I meant it. So many photographers use it as some kind of platform to essentially just try to impress other photographers "look at me here", "look at my lovely food" - I'm a rock star. Its a bit narcissistic. Sure, there are people who use it very well, but a lot don't. That is no way to do forward marketing. I'd suggest a personal account for that kind of stuff (although, I've also seen photographers miss key moments because they are too busy uploading stuff to their phones etc because they are obsessed with "feeding Instagram").
Totally agree. I use two X-T4 for professional things but if i could i would like to use an new X-Pro 4 with the latest Xh2/T5 technologies. I still use for my private shots my X-Pro 2 and i still enjoy it. It's simply my camera. My best camera :)
@@kevin_mullins The late Jerry Pournelle often quoted Samuel Johnson: "men seldom need educating but they often need reminding". Any nonsensical comments claiming that is sexist will be treated with the ignore they deserve. That's the way people spoke in those days, when "men" embraced all of humanity.
My recommendation is that you also have a part-time day job the days of 7 to $10,000 weddings are gone in Australia. No one is paying that here. In fact what people are asking for is a very flexible arrangement where they get a photographer maybe for an hour or 2 to get the main shots and all of the other photos they get with phones which I actually support so if you want to make it as a wedding photographer here in Australia good luck because people can't pay their mortgage. They can't afford to spend $5000 or $10,000 on a wedding photographer like I said those days in Australia are dead and buried so I've moved with the times and I'm offering smaller packages which to be honest. I really like I don't want to be shooting for six hours and then editing for 20 to make the big dollars I just don't, I would rather use that time to be with my family or generate other income from Photography. I would strongly suggest if you are a wedding photographer that you learn to do some other work as well and don't just rely on weddings if you did 26 weddings a year you might make a profit. Good luck getting 26. You have to also remember most of the weddings are in a 6 to 8 week period post January when the weather is best so then you're looking at trying to run 26 weddings in an eight week period again again good luck with that...... The other thing I don't like about wedding photography even though I do it is that 75% of your images will end up deleted or in the bin because most marriages end in divorce so this is something else that people are now considering they're downplaying the significance of the day itself, which I actually like and I think the future of wedding photography here in Australia is looking rather bleak to be honest and I don't have a problem with why people are doing it that way when you given the realistic nature of how most marriages will end
Well, in the UK at least, it is absolutely possible to run a full time (and successful Wedding Photography business). I also know many photographers in Australia who are still running very successful Wedding Photography Businesses. Much like any business I guess - if you work at it, and do it well, it can be successful.
5:30 best advice ever kevin! stop spending time for reading seo guides or pay for seo guys. write some blogs on your page, bring some new stuff up, show, that your website is well curated, like also your socials. and people will find you 🙂
7:40 100% agree. BTS reels are the bane of my existence. We're the hired help, plain and simple, not the main characters as many of my contemporaries make themselves out to be.
That said, 99% of wedding photographer websites and Instagram profiles are devoid of any personality. Lots of pretty photos of course, but put ten side by side cover the name and you won't know who's who. It's why I advocate to showing who YOU are but not to the point where it becomes a personal profile. Unfortunately, many just resort to posting said BTS the same as everyone else. Zero personality.
It was very interesting and helpful to listen to your opinion on those important topics. It fits to many self-employed workers/artists/craftsmen I would think. Especially the comparison part is very destructive in a way. As the husband to my photographer-better-half it's always on the "Talking-Menue"... (not satisfied with the results, not shure at selections, to much time in editing...) Those words are inspiring and wise with a lot of experience in them. Thank you.
What a great post Kevin , I’ve never understood when wedding photographers take 6-8 weeks to deliver . Can’t see any reason why weddings can’t be done and dusted and on the cloud within 2/3 days of shooting.
Decent advice from one of the high quality photographers out there. Nowadays the wedding photography game is pretty saturated with most just regurgitating pictures another photographer has taken Yervant for example. I think many wedding photographers out there now don’t have much style and reply on marketing a decent website, the many ‘wedding awards” that have zero credibility. The art of actually getting bookings is something to talk about and that’s usually down to your friendly wedding venue and all that goes on there! There are a small handful of great wedding photographers who charge a high price (and so they should) then you have the rest doing the wedding fairs, the set up courses and grind their way whilst doing the 9-5 in the week, charge £995 or less all in and that’s a lot of what it is nowadays. Sad thing is nowadays you don’t have to be a good photographer or know anything about photography to make a living from wedding photography. Remember P on your camera means Professional👍 as a wedding photographer told me🤔😵💫
"It's not going to be pleasant for some of you."🤣Well yes but most of it was indeed very pleasant and helpful and everything you talk relevant and inspiring for wedding photographers new and not so new. And may I salute you for not mentioning 'wedding photographers and mental health' because that is not a thing lol. Instead you focus on the business and heart. Spot on and thank you!
Such a refreshing and helpful video! Thank you! 🙏 Always love your take on the business and operations side of the creative business. Everyone should watch this video who is interested in practically any creative freelance job!
You do have a little control over P Mode with program shift it was Joe Buissink who was talking about how he uses P Mode and if he needs all the photos to look the same maybe for posing or formals he holds down the AEL button so he can shoot a bunch of images and the exposure with all those frames are the same. And when he releases the AEL button the camera is back in auto mode. Program Shift you can move the dial and change the aperture and shutter all at ounces. Also Joe Buissink does not use dial compensation he'll get close to some ones face or zoom in or if there is something gray he'll get a reading off of that. The reason he came up with this way of shooting was to avoid mistakes. I've heard even from the best photographers that they have made mistakes at weddings. Now with mirrorless there are more safety nets to avoid mistakes. I shoot Olympus OMD E-M1ii and I have my cameras set up to display the image I just took for 0.3 seconds and even if the 0.3 seconds is not over and I'm half pressed I can still take another photo. One time I was dragging the shutter trying to get some cool photos and forgot to change the shutter back to a faster shutter. Because of this feature I saw my mistake and fixed it before it became a big problem.
Kev, this is all excellent advise (which I know I now actually need to apply). Brilliant. Thank you for sharing your experience and telling it how it is.
Know what you are doing and why. Do it the right way and a smart way. Try to improve your own craft, and have fun with it. The rest will take care of itself, as long as you remain honest with yourself 🙂 That's my approach in a nutshell. Thank you for some great tips. Really enjoyed your video 👌
Very wise words Kevin. Luckily I'm coming to the end of wedding photography days and spend most of my time these days drinking cider, doing diy jobs and playing golf (I know how much you love golf 😩). The one thing you didn't mention is how awful, at least in my case, some of the clients and their friends have become over the years. I see very little respect or appreciation for all the time and effort we have put into mastering our trade with it seems money, being the main factor when booking. Anyway, good luck to anyone taking up the career, it's a slog at first but taking Kevins advice will get you there.
Top advice! And you could change wedding with any other photography genre, playing music etc. It is so nice to watch someone actually telling the truth without any bullshit. Well done!
Great advice Kevin, and I am not a wedding photographer. I'm a 77 year old bloke with some time but lacking motivation. This video resonated with me. Thanks, Terry
