I have noticed a trend over the last five years or so in the photography industry. With the start of digital cameras, it seems that almost everyone is now a photographer. Everywhere I go I meet someone who is a budding "shooter" or knows someone who is. It seems to me that about every third person you meet is getting into the business.

When I started in photography over 25 years ago, it was not quite the same. There were technical challenges and financial conditions that made it difficult to get into the business. That has changed a lot with the coming of digital photography. It is easier than ever before to get a camera that will take a nicely exposed image with little or no effort on the operator. However, being a photographer is about more than a good exposure. I have known technically challenged photographers who shoot beautiful images. I have also know those who can quote all of the technical data that you could ever want to know and still turn out mediocre images at best.

Being a good photographer takes someone with a good "eye". Someone who can see the way the light falls on a subject and capture that emotion in a photo. It takes experience in dealing with people, so that you are able to get them to relax in front of the camera. It takes experience to know where to be and when to be there in order to create the right mood or get the perfect shot.

Plus, the business has a lot of unusual accounting and operational situations that you don't find in many other jobs. This is probably why there are many studios that pop up and dissappear within a short period of time. This is not good for someone who might want their images a few years down the road.

I have been very hesitant in writing this post, beacuse I don't want readers to get the idea that I am just some bitter guy that is mad about having competitors take away my business. Maybe I am, but I don't think so. Even if I am, I think the point here is still valid. Check out who you plan to use to photograph those important events. It will make a big difference in the end.