Having been in the industry for 28 years from LA to London in various industries, I’ve never before seen more change that has been detrimental to the industry as a whole. From bottom to top & top to bottom – everyone is affected, there isn’t one thing that is to blame, and one industry responsible for what is happening.

But, with that said I do want to add (And I’ve been shirked for saying this for the past two years) that the sooner the new & old photographers in the industry realize that they are a HUUUUUUUUGE contributor to why the bottom is falling out of the industry – we will continue to see an exponentially increasing downward trend of money, quality and longevity.

I raise a virtual pint of Newcastle in your name for embracing the ever changing industry and doing what you need to do to stay alive & keep your business thriving.

It’s companies like Zookbinders, leaders like you and a zealous staff that shouldn’t apologize for passion of quality, job security and change in the industry that will have the strength to last, grow and adapt.

I haven’t seen the other post that your email and note is referring to, but in defense of your colleague I present the question to those that opposed your staff member; why aren’t YOU changing, growing and adapting to the times.

The playing field has changed and with all the actions, presets and every effin photographer inflating their ego to basically prop themselves up like an expert in their field showing how they run their business, do their editing and have a transparent operation – I say; “Are you out of your FREAKIN MIND?!?!?!?!”

What other successful business that has had staying power in their industry shares all their secrets on how to do not just a few things – but EVERYTHING. Please tell me, I want to know.

Does BMW sleep with Mercedes? Does Coke Sleep with Pepsi? Does Canon sleep with Nikon? I’m gonna sayyyyyyy…. uhmmmmmm… probably not.

So climb off your cross, use the wood from your cross, build a bridge and get over yourselves. Start today by STOPPING sharing how you do everything in your business and start running your business.

Brides are reacting to many factors in the industry today. Budget constraints, uneducated and unqualified photographers propping themselves up as “pros” and even worse – a flat lining of photography.

What do I mean by flatlining? Quiet simply put; “Actions & Presets.” If that’s all a photographer can do, guess what – photographer A looks juuuuuuuuuuust like photographer B. Actions & Presets prove a couple things about a photographer that leans on those; Laziness and/or lack of creativity.

You know what’s even WORSE? ALL photographers that rely on actions & presets produce a product that is nothing more than a shade of someone else’s creativity. I don’t know for sure, but my guess is; Leibovitz, Ritts, LaChapelle, Lagerfeld, and many more MASTERS OF THEIR CRAFT probably don’t use them. In fact, they developed their STYLE inside the camera and developing (post production) was merely done to bring out their vision. And their vision was unique to them – not to another photographer that bought an action pack or a set of presets.

So in closing, I raise my virtual pint of Newcastle for Mark & his team for embracing change, adapting their business model to the new client and tilting towards an ever increasingly challenging industry that is the windmill and thrusting forward keeping their vision alive.

If you do or don’t agree, it’s really of no consequence to me, because it’s my opinion.

But my opinion comes with nearly three decades of experience behind it, thousands of satisfied clients and I’ve been in weddings, portraits, commercial, high fashion, editorial, extreme sports, traditional sports, and probably every imaginable arena for photography. That combined with having had some incredible successes and monumental losses – but I will still continue to change & grow and keep my family’s business alive. And I will do with passion, conviction, zeal for quality, and more importantly with an open mind to changes in the industry.

I encourage others to do the same and while you’re at it – stop using copyrighted intellectual property in your slideshows and on your websites.

Thanks for your time – cheers!

David

Also I bent over backwards to give a client their images in 2 weeks, of which I culled 1500 down to 600, and even then it took them a year to choose their images and the bride’s parents haven’t done it yet and we’re going on 15 months.

Maybe it would help to recommend a color correction service as well from other photographers. I know of fotofafa.com