"Thumbtack" is an organization I work with that provides me with the opportunity to quote potential customers for photographic work. Occasionally, they select one person and spotlight their business.
Link to the original: http://www.thumbtack.com/fl/wimauma/photographers/photo-everything
Photo everything!
We offer photography and videography for your event: wedding, party, fundraiser, quinceanera, and pretty much everything else.
Our photo-editing service will restore your old pictures, or enhance new ones.
Our photo gifts offer a unique way to display your precious memories.
Location
Jonesborough, Tennessee
Question and answer
Q. Describe the most common types of jobs you do for your clients.
A. Mostly weddings, birthdays and other special events.
Q. Describe three recent jobs you've completed.
A. I just love the variety in my work.
#1. I photographed Heather and Jayro's wedding - a beautiful sunset wedding with the reception in a stunning room with windows all around. The Latin flavor of the wedding made it exceptionally special. The couple danced like pros!
#2. The full moon rose on May 5, huge and orange and backlit the riders and their horses on the second moonlight trail ride of the year. Since the sun is setting a little later at this time of year, I got some awesome portraits of horses and riders.
#1. Gena graduated from Florida Gulf Coast University with an Engineering degree. What a challenge! To portraying Gena successfully finishing school with four kids, a husband, a house and a full time job. I wanted this to be really special for her. What an accomplishment!
Q. What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A. Look at samples of their work. Does each event reflect the unique personality of the people involved? Or are they all basically the same? Is the photographer easy to work with? What do previous clients say about them? And also call early!
Q. If you were a customer, what do you wish you knew about your trade? Any inside secrets to share?
A. Pictures last a lifetime! Years ago, it was that one, perfect, picture of the bride and groom looking miserable. Now, thanks to technology, we have the ability to preserve many great shots and display them all. If it were my wedding or event, I would want creative and unique shots - and lots of them!! As I said above - trust me - you want and deserve the very best!!
Q. What questions should a consumer ask to hire the right service professional?
A. Experience, portfolio and price. Ask to see samples of the work.
Q. What important information should buyers have thought through before seeking you out?
A. Your pictures will last a lifetime. Choose someone who can do better than a snapshot. Look for creativity and dedication - someone who will stay longer and do whatever it takes to capture the perfect shot! Trust me... you want and deserve the best!
Q. Why does your work stand out from others who do what you do?
A. Creativity! And, I can do some awesome photo editing. I take a huge number of pictures at every event. If someone wasn't smiling, I'll find a smile somewhere and transpose it. Messy background - I'll zap that and put in whatever you like. This makes it easy to focus on capturing the moment and taking care of the background later.
Q. What do you like most about your job?
A. I LOVE my job!! There is a saying that if you find a job you love, you'll never work another day in your life. In that respect, my life is a permanent vacation!
Q. What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?
A. How long have you done this? When did you get started?
I've been at this for a LONG time. My dad bought me a small camera when I was 4 years old and I've been at it ever since. My first shot was a classic! We had just left on a vacation and suffered a flat tire. My picture was of the old car on the side of the road, luggage all over the place, having been pulled out from the trunk to get to the spare with dad standing there looking defeated.
My dad and grandmother were also photographers - going back to the depression era when film was so expensive, they would cut one frame in a dark closet, load it into the camera, take the shot and develop and print the one picture.
My dad was a senior engineer at Kodak for many years and sometimes I think I had the whole engineering team encouraging me!
Q. Do you have a favorite story from your work?
A. The wedding was set for 3pm. We arrived just before noon and no one was there. We waited, and waited. Soon the guests began to arrive. Finally at 2:30pm the bride and her attendants arrived, then she announced she was going to take a shower, then get ready. The hall was not decorated, the chairs not set up. My assistant and I quickly set up chairs, helped to decorate the hall and took pictures like mad.
I'm so glad we could help out. I think the photo crew was a little busier than the bride and groom!
Q. What do you wish customers knew about you or your profession?
A. I will work as hard as necessary to give you what you want. I've photographed people where other photographers would never think of going and spent many hours making changes and creating special effects that no one else would do without a huge fee.
Q. How did you decide to get in your line of work?
A. Work? It's not work, it's a passion. It's what I've wanted to do all my life!
Q. Tell us about a recent job you did that you are particularly proud of.
A. I was asked to take portraits of two very active children. The children were so photogenic, it was a real pleasure to take their pictures. I managed to capture the energy and exuberance in some, and the serious and pensive side in others. I was quite pleased that two such different facets of their personalities could be captured in one photo session.
Q. Do you do any sort of continuing education to stay up on the latest developments in your field?
A. Constantly! Nearly every day that I'm not taking a course or doing a day long shoot, I'm on line doing a self study. It's amazing how much information there is and how important it is to keep up with the latest in techniques and technology.
Q. What are the latest developments in your field? Are there any exciting things coming in the next few years or decade that will change your line of business?
A. Digital photography is the most exciting thing to happen to photography! Once a great picture is taken, we can do just about anything with it - turn it into fine art, use it on line or in printed form, even digital picture frames.
Q. Describe your most recent project, what it involved, how much it cost, and how long it took.
A. My most recent project required creativity beyond belief. I videotaped a car show. Normally there are 200 - 300 cars and 700-1000 visitors. Due to a change in date and an unfortunate location, they ended up with 6 cars and 2 visitors. I had to make it look like a 250 car show. I had to make sure I had video of EVERYTHING. Then put it together with no additional footage. It turned out great! The people loved it!
Q. If you have a complicated pricing system for your service, please give all the details here.
A. Our best quality is our flexability! If there is something you want, just ask! We can accomodate just about any request. We can work by the hour, by the job or by the day. If you have a non-profit fundraiser, we're here to help!
Q. If you were advising someone who wanted to get into your profession, what would you suggest?
A. You MUST love it! From the love of the job comes passion and creativity. If you find a job you love, you'll never work another day in your life. I feel as if I'm on a permanent vacation!
Q. What is your greatest strength?
A. My greatest strength by far is my creativity. Often I wake up at night with an idea and spend the next several hours at the computer. The pictures I take at your wedding or special event is only the beginning!
Q. What are you currently working on improving?
A. I have no problem doing the work, where I need improvement is with selling it. I'm not good at pushing myself forward unless it's to get the perfect shot.
Q. Write your own question and answer it.
A. What kind of jobs do you take?
The answer to that is I'll take just about anything. I love the unexpected and look at difficult jobs as a wonderful opportunity for a challenge!
The first call I got for videography was for a funeral. At first I thought it a bit of an odd request, so I looked on the internet to see what other photographers did and found nothing. So.... I would be the first! The family wanted to have the service taped so that disabled family members in New Jersey would be able to be a part of it. After finishing taping the service, I interviewed many friends of the deceased, even including a last voice mail, and I was told many times over how much comfort the video gave this grieving family.