Baring My Soul…My Unique Selling Points

Like many of you, I am closely watching the testimony of Geithner and Bernanke on Capitol Hill and cannot help but be affected. Of the brides and grooms I recently photographed, one member of the couple has been either laid off or had a salary reduction. We are all touched by the times.

Which pulls me into contemplating my own place in the system. We still smile. We still laugh. Life goes on. But everyone needs to look before they leap with their expenses. And that brings me to the Unique Selling Points (USPs) that I have incorporated into my wedding photography efforts and my commitment to the families whom I serve.

To this end, I refuse to schedule more than two or three weddings in a single month. There are many reasons, which I’ll elaborate as I go along, but the most significant reason is, so I can ensure I have the time to fulfill my commitments to the best of my ability and satisfy the happy couples’ expectations.

My USP #1

I’m not just a vendor! As I see and experience my work, the position I hold in a wedding is as a member of the wedding party. The slide shows and wedding albums I create are legacies for families to pass along to their progeny and extended families. This is a responsibility I take seriously, and it takes a lot of time. The brides and grooms I work with meet with me in my own home; for a time, they become part of my personal life. This is one of several reasons I cannot schedule more than three weddings in a single month. Working as teams, the brides-and grooms-to-be strategize with me the mementos we will create together. This is another reason I limit my monthly commitments. I remember these conversations. During the weddings, I remember my interactions with Grandmother, Cousin, Uncle—and I try hard to use images representative of what I learned from these individuals at the time I’m snapping shots. I am integral to the wedding events I photograph, and my goal is to assemble a permanent glimpse into the emotions and joy of very, very happy days in the histories of the wedding families and their friends.

Sometimes I have to pinch myself, because I really love my job.