Hey Luke! I rarely comment on KZread, but I wanted to say that watching your videos has helped me immensely recently, as I have just started going into wedding photography (I just shot my first wedding about a week ago). As such, you can imagine that I've been kind of binging on your content, and I wanted to say that both the way in which you explain and go through different concepts and possible pitfalls and the photography examples of yours that you provide are both just fucking amazing. As an outsider (up to this point) I always considered wedding photography to be a kind of "mystical" space. Some of the most beautiful images I've ever seen came from within the field, and some of the most inspiring people I follow online also work within the industry. I've always been amazed at the potential that weddings provide in terms of photography, not only because of its (usually) lavish backgrounds and situations but also the general electricity and thrill of the day for all the people involved. I also think that the whole industry may have gone through an artistic reinterpretation throughout the last 10 to 20 years (as historically, wedding photography was socially interpreted as this kind of static thing, where its focus was mostly put on the couple, the families, group pictures, etc.) towards a more artistic, documentary, free-flowing state, where black and white, movement, detail, ornaments and so on have taken a more prominent role. I've recently been (and most surely will continue to) rummaging on a particular question: apart from straight-up bad pictures (bad exposure, incorrect subject, and so on), I'm of the impression that wedding photography usually produces two kinds of pictures: "good" or "useful" pictures (let's imagine, a pose of the couple) that serve as a "product" or memory which the client may usually want, and "artistic" pictures (let's say, a blurry picture of a girl dancing) that may speak to the energy of the moment, or your artistic vision as a creative, but which may not fit so nicely into the client's "expectations". And so, I have a question - do you agree with this classification, and how do you balance between the two when shooting on the field?

Majority of what you mentioned are the reasons I avoided Event/Wedding photography for YEARS. But I came to the same conclusions: • If I have very clear boundaries & clarity on the scope of what I want to/can offer to clients, it lifts many burdens. For myself, I knew I never desired making most of my income from Events/Weddings. If I book 3-8 weddings on my own & then take contracted 2nd/3rd shooter jobs (when I want to), THAT'S my ideal. It keeps spirits/passions high AND best of all, it funds my other photographic passions (Travel/UW/Wildlife Conservation projects).

I ditoo, all of what you say, having shot weddings for almost 15 years and pushing on almost 1000 weddings, I BURNT OUT, had a breakdown and stopped, dead or I would be. 7 years on and not shooting weddings for that amount of time and taking a job shooting construction and engineering projects to pay the bills and feel at peace. BUT then I started looking at my work again, the images made me smile, I started to remember those amazing brides who were so dam happy, BUT I hated the way I used to have to be that camera MONKEY so if I could do it in another way should I come back?! so 7 years on I'm starting to make a plan, a new brand, sifting through my back catalog to find images that portray this new style and its a big shift from having a very hands-on approach to having a totally hands-off approach. Time will tell if te plan works but I totally get where you were and are coming from, weddings can suck away your soul, we give so much and get very little back as the couples and families don't realise how hard it is to create something out of nothing... SO now I will be taking images of what I used to think was nothing and see the day evolve. The job I actually took was from a groom I photographed, He heard from his wife (the bride) whom I was teaching at my workshops that I was quitting and taking a job at a DIY store, called me up and offered me a part time gig. Time will tell but if I don't feel at peace then I won't do it, and it's my way or NO way.

@lukewtcleland

4 ай бұрын

That’s great! Keep at it!

Hi Luke, having shot a number of weddings I can totally relate to your comments and thoughts. I have this love/ hate relationship with wedding photography. If I could always be the second shooter and capture the emotion and beauty of the day with the artistic and cinematic look of film I would be all in and very happy. Unfortunately, that's not been the case with most weddings. Thanks so much for your thoughts and stimulating content. Wishing you and your wife great success with your artistic approach to wedding photography. Your beautifully artistic images and approach remind me of high end wedding photographers like Jose Villa.

9:43 hysterical and so true LOL!!

@lukewtcleland

4 ай бұрын

Lol

Nice video I’ve take a lot from it keep up the good work.

@lukewtcleland

4 ай бұрын

So great to hear! Glad you enjoyed it!

Awesome vid Luke - your enthusiasm in infections. You are very lucky to have an 'Ally'- those of use who don't, it's much harder being a 'one-man band'!

@lukewtcleland

4 ай бұрын

Thanks so much ! I’m incredibly lucky to have her!

Life is too short to be miserable. Good on you and your wife! Think outside the Box, and Keep the Joy in the Journey.

@lukewtcleland

4 ай бұрын

Soo true!! Thank you! You too!

Killer vid!

@lukewtcleland

4 ай бұрын

Thanks man!!

Have you ever worked for a Walmart making 15 dollars an hour as a cashier. That’s what I remember everytime I complain about being a photographer making 3-400 dollars an hour.

@karlbratby4349

4 ай бұрын

I quit photography after 15 years of weddings suffered a breakdown, burnout, anxiety, and depression. envied those who could get up, take a shower, go to work, come home, laugh, eat chill out and have no stress leave the job at the JOB and have a life. MONEY does not make you happy.

@lukewtcleland

4 ай бұрын

I’ve actually worked jobs much less than 15. Ha. I get where you’re coming from. But money isn’t the biggest motivator for me. Of course it’s a motivator, but when I feel like I’m useful and doing good things in the world, that gets me fired up to work hard.

Exactly what I needed to hear today! Subscribed ❤

@lukewtcleland

4 ай бұрын

Love that! Glad it was helpful!!