I’ve just had a pretty whirlwind couple of weeks. Having not been to a wedding for about 10 years, last week saw me at not one, but two. Six days apart and both in the south. So I’ve been eating up the miles recently. My carbon footprint is more like a large wellie. I was also forced by Mrs JB to don a tie, which is most unlike me.
However, I proved a theory this week so I thought I’d tell you about it.
It was during conversations over the past couple of weeks that I realised whenever I said “I’m off to a wedding” the general retort would be “get some good shots!”. There was an almost instantaneous inference that as a photographer, naturally I would shoot weddings.
Actually, I’m about as anti-wedding photographer as you could get. I’ve never been even remotely tempted to shoot a wedding. The mere thought of it sends shivers down my spine. I suppose its the formulaic structure of the formal shots and the need to go poke your camera into very drunk people’s faces at the reception. Its just not me.
At the weddings in question, upon meeting other guests I didn’t know, I would be asked what I did to earn a crust.
“I’m a photographer” I would say.
“A photographer?” they would say, “you must shoot weddings - why aren’t you shooting this?”.
I would then explain that no, actually, the work I do is editorial for magazine features and advertising. Quite often (and I can’t work out whether this was as a result of the liberal amounts of free Pimms or not) my explanation would be met with a blank stare. As if I must be a wedding photographer, because, that’s what photographers do right?
Having two weddings to attend it happened at both. So there you have it. Despite 99% of the world’s printed and online media having nothing to do with weddings at all.
Photographer = wedding photographer in the eyes of a non photographer or someone not connected within this industry. That’s true, I think, for about 90% of responses. The other 10% reckon I’m a paparazzi photographer. “Do you hang about in bushes waiting for celebrities” they say with a nudge nudge wink wink that would put Eric Idle to shame.
Say no more indeed.
On the image making front I’ve had a very successful stock shoot and a really nice editorial feature shoot over the past couple of weeks (in between the weddings) which I want to share with you once I get round to attacking the files..!
But first I must go and make an appointment with my optometrist, my feet are killing me………..well they’re doctors aren’t they…its all the human body… 
Until later…
J
