Uncle Bob vs. A Professional Bar/Bat Mitzvah Photographer

Uncle Bob vs. A Professional Bar/Bat Mitzvah Photographer

We like Uncle Bob, we really do. He’s a great guy and everyone loves being around him. He tells great jokes and can even do a few magic tricks at parties. He’s the guy we all look forward to seeing at Thanksgiving. Uncle Bob rocks. But what do you say if he offers to photograph your kids bar mitzvah? It sounds pretty good. He has a really expensive camera, and he says that he won’t even charge you; it will be his bar mitzvah present! Awesome. It sounds too good to be true! And it’s totally understandable to consider it. After all, who wouldn’t like to shave a few thousand dollars off their mitzvah budget?

However…

The problem with this scenario is that many clients have the same expectations of Uncle Bob as they do with the professional images they see in the magazines. After all, anybody can be a photographer, right? And if that’s true, why not save the money and put it towards something else?

It’s true that anyone can press a shutter, but it’s a wholly different thing to have them deliver professional quality images at a bar mitzvah. Event photography is considered by many to be one of the most difficult, challenging, and high-pressure photography jobs. You have to be master of multiple photography disciplines, and you have no luxury of a re-shoot if things don’t turn out.

So what are the REAL differences between Uncle Bob and a professional? Why should you have much lower expectations from hiring Uncle Bob? What advantages does a professional have? We decided to outline, in a lighthearted way, the differences between what to expect from Uncle Bob vs. a Professional Bar Mitzvah Photographer:

Photography Experience

Uncle Bob:

Takes wonderful pictures of flowers and his kids at the playground.

Brings his camera on vacation.

Took a community college photography workshop about 5 years ago.

Favourite camera setting is “Auto.”

Enjoys discussing the comparative merits of various cameras on internet message boards.

Doesn’t see the need to spend $650 for an external flash because his camera has a pop-up flash.

Professional:

Averages 1,000 to 3,000 images every week.

Knows how to shoot in all situations: dark caves, sunny beaches, large or small synagogues, in the rain, and in the snow.

Can quickly adjust camera settings blindfolded.

Adept at using ambient light, bounced flash, fill flash, and off-camera lighting.

Understands the principles of photojournalism, portrait photography, creative posing, and composition.

Is up to date on modern wedding photography styles and techniques.

Enters photography contests.

Belongs to professional organizations.

Lives, breathes, and sleeps photography.

Mitzvah Experience

Uncle Bob:

Has attended a few family events and bar or bat mitzvahs.

Loves dancing to “We Are Family.”

Tends to takes snapshots only of friends and family that he knows.

If the pictures don’t turn out, oh well.

Professional:

Shoots 30 to 50 weddings or bar/bat mitzvahs per year.

Can show you multiple examples of galleries from past clients.

Has enough experience to help your whole day run smoothly.

Has dealt with a myriad of scenarios including synagogues, backyards, castles, ballrooms, beaches, and parks.

Has photographed many kinds of bar mitzvahs; small, large, traditional, modern, unconventional, offbeat, and everything in between.

Knows the flow of a day and the service, can anticipate where to be, what to capture, and can adjust to the unexpected.

Can provide valuable advice on your timetable and recommend family group shots.

Realizes future livelihood relies on delivering high quality images.

Equipment

Uncle Bob:

Oftentimes will have a new top of the line pro camera, but hasn’t fully explored (or understood) all of its features.

Has one or two consumer grade zoom lenses.

Might have a flash, but always uses it pointed straight ahead, set to Auto of course.

Has shot a couple of hundred images with it.

Professional:

Has invested $10’s of thousands of dollars in multiple pro camera bodies, an extensive collections of lenses, flashes, battery packs and other peripheral equipment.

Has shot hundreds of thousands of images and knows the equipment inside and out.

Refreshes all equipment on an ongoing basis. Has all equipment cleaned, adjusted, and calibrated on an annual basis.

Backup Equipment

Uncle Bob:

Cell phone camera.

Could borrow a point-and-shoot from another guest in a pinch.

Professional:

Carries at LEAST one complete pro-level backup kit (camera/lenses/flash) in case of equipment failure.

Most pros carry triple or more redundant systems because you just never know what could happen.

Post Production

Uncle Bob:

Uploads the images to his Flickr account.

Some of them are crooked or not exposed properly.

Burns the images to a CD.

Professional:

Has invested thousands of dollars in high end computers and image editing software.

Through years of experience has mastered the end-to-end workflow including capturing, downloading, culling, editing, uploading, burning, printing and album creation.

Attended workshops on perfecting the image, removing blemishes, adjusting exposure, enhancing colors and contrast, and final presentation.

Dedicated to creating heirloom quality images for your family to enjoy for generations.

Insurance

Uncle Bob:

Professional:

Carries the proper business insurance including liability insurance.

Some venues will not allow your photographer to shoot without a Certificate of Insurance. Even if they will, should a guest trip over a piece of the photographer’s equipment, without proper liability insurance you could be financially responsible.

Contract

Uncle Bob:

Contract?

Professional:

Provides a contract which outlines all relevant facts on the services and products provided, and at what cost to the client.

A good contract will help to reduce any misunderstandings between what the client thinks is included (8 hours, prints, album, etc.), and what the photographer promises to provide.

Prints & Albums

Uncle Bob:

Gets his prints from Costco or Walmart.

Unlikely to provide an album.

If he does, his selection is limited because most high quality album produces only work with professional photographers.

Professional:

Has access to the highest quality professional photo labs. These labs have professionally calibrated machines and use higher quality, thicker paper for their prints. They also offer more options for print finishes and surfaces.

Works with high-end album manufacturers who only sell to professional photographers.

Some Final Thoughts

There are NO re-dos in bar/bat mitzvah photography. None!! Despite the perceived ease of digital photography, there is no margin for error when shooting. You have to anticipate moments over and over in uncontrolled lighting situations. You cannot recreate moments after the fact. You have to be alert, react, know your gear inside and out, and be everywhere… and have it all in the bag by midnight, when everyone turns back into pumpkins. Period. Uncle Bob? He’s a nice guy with a good camera, but he’s not a professional photographer. Anyone can buy the most expensive cookware available, that doesn’t make them a Top Chef.

They say it takes 10,000 hours of doing something before you become world-class. If an average bar mitzvah party is 5 hours, that’s 2,000 mitzvah. Perhaps not many of us have photographed 2,000 mitzvah, but no matter how many, I’m pretty sure Uncle Bob lags way behind.

Based on his/her experience a professional can handle unexpected situations and can give the couple advice prior to their wedding day regarding timetable, recommended family photos, etc. Uncle Bob (if he’s a friend or relative) isn’t very objective. An “outsider” is able to capture the day in the best objective way. A professional photographer can interact with everybody – from the small child to grandparents – often sensibility is required.

We’ve all heard stories of couples scrambling to find last minute photographers with their simchas just weeks away. Why? Because they hired non-professional photographers who decided at the last minute they had better things to do that shoot their event. Professional photographers have contracts and agreements that protect BOTH parties. You are assured your photographer will actually show up for your simcha and not decide that because it’s a sunny weekend, they’d rather be hanging with their friends at a backyard BBQ.