The Price is Right...or is It?

Sometimes the lure of a good deal on eBay is just too irresistible.

In my search to simplify my location lighting gear I constantly watch eBay for unique tools. Well, I have to say I found a few very unique ones this past month.

If you search “flash” on eBay you will get tens of thousands of matches. Narrow it down to Camera and Photo, then Lighting and Studio Equipment, and you are in my search area.
You will find everything from top end lighting gear to things that look like milk jugs carved up to fit on flash head. I am not kidding. Some guy (actually a very wealthy photographer) named Gary Fong makes a killing selling exactly that on eBay.

Well one day a few months ago I was snooping around this area and noticed a company in China auctioning off light modifiers for my flash. Naturally, since they were coming from China, I knew these had to be of the finest build and quality in the industry.

I placed my bid on both items. To ensure the best possible odds I even used my Gixen account. This is an eBay sniper tool. Check it out at http://www.gixen.com/ . A couple days later I get notice that I had won. I eagerly sent off my payment. Five dollars for both items, shipping included. No kidding.

Three months later the packages arrived. The customs label was marked “Studio Lighting” which must have confused the customs agents a bit. The package was a 5x7-padded envelope. Studio lighting in an envelope? I tore into the envelope revealing my new lighting tools.
Well…..the old saying you get what you pay for comes to mind here. The first one was advertised as:

Flash straight on if without our diffuser causes the light to go forward only and creates a harsh shadow behind the subject. The flash with our diffuser installed and tilted at 45 degrees gives a nice soft wrap around of light with a soft shadow behind the subject. This fits cleanly over the head of your existing flash, no need for cumbersome attachments, hooks. Try us and see the difference. It disperses the light over a wider area for a softer, more balanced and natural effect than you didn't use before.The Flash Diffuser helps to reduce hard background shadows and eliminates the annoying red eye effect.

Well I understood MOST of that.

This is what the item looked like in the ad.

Looked good. So I open up the package and inflate (yes inflate!) the light modifier. Here is what I now had.

Couple of problems here. One, it is so “pumped up” that the is no way it can fit on my flash head without the actual “diffuser” material (plastic” resting right on the flash lens. Not a good thing. Think 150 watts and kaboom! The other is that it took me almost five minutes to inflate!

So now I have a beach ball for my flash. The upside is if I ever drop my flash in the lake with this on it, it will float! I am not going to go into detail about the other “ Light Modifier”. Let’s just say it resembles a golf driver head protector made out of heavy vinyl. Non-inflatable though. A good thing given the spent energy on the first one.

The lesson here , of course, is that if it seems to good to be true, it likely is. The same is true with pricing in Professional Photography. If a photographer quotes a ridiculously low price, question it. The lowest price is not the best value in most cases. Corners have to be cut for the photographer to make profit. Yes, Professional Photographers do want to make a profit and live off those earning.

I have no issues with discussing my expected earnings from my work. I have children and a home to support. It should be obvious that a livable wage is expected. Along with that, the client should expect true Professionalism from me as well. This is not only in the final product, but also in how I equip myself and, how I conduct myself on the day of the event.

Plastic inflatable flash diffusers are not professional. Honestly, I don’t even think they are amateur. Cheap is cheap. Period.

What if it Does Not Rain?

It was a scorcher here in the BC interior this past summer. Temperatures were 35-40 Celsius (over 100 F for our Southern friends). Forest fires blazed all around us. There was not much relief in sight.

So what do you do when your wedding is planned and it is so hot? Well take the same precautions you would anywhere in this kind of heat. Hydrate and seek shade. Make certain there is lots of water on hand for the wedding party , bride and groom, and yes the photographer as well,

Wedding photos can take an hour or two depending on the location and number of people. Plan to have them taken in an area where there is shade. Wedding gowns and tuxes are heat absorbers. Stay in the shade and be cool.

In BC the time of day can be critical. The heat builds throughout the day. The hottest time in summer is between 4 and 7 pm. If at all possible plan your event ahead of that time. You will be grateful!

If you can plan to have formal and family photos taken before the service. That way you can take advantage of the cooler time of day and again, keep cool.

When I shoot in these hot conditions I ditch the suit and tie. I wear dress shorts and a short sleeved dress shirt. An overheated photographer can not do the job to the best of ability. I also keep lots of cold water on hand. Hydration is extremely important in the heat.

A little planning can go a long way to making the day bearable when the mercury rises!

Please visit our website at http://www.shuswapphoto.ca .

What if it rains?

Here is a scenario I have seen happen quite often.

All the plans are in place for a beautiful outdoor wedding. Chairs for guests are in place, the alter is decorated with beautiful flower arrangements, everything looks bright and colorful. Until….the thunderclouds roll in and the sky opens up!

Most professional wedding consultants will have “Plan B’ in place just in case this happens. Unfortunately, most Brides and Grooms do not hire professional consultants. I have seen everything from umbrellas being held over the couple’s heads, to services moved to the family garage when the monsoons set in. We live in British Columbia, mainly rain forest. It rains almost every weekend in May and June. In fact, I have seen years where it rained every weekend through the entire summer. If you are getting married outdoors, make sure you have “Plan B” in place! It can be a tent, a room in a nearby building, (hopefully not the garage!) or even a gazebo.

Now, you have taken care of “Plan B”. What about your photographer? Trust me on this one; if you have not hired a professional photographer, then “plan B” can end up looking more like “Plan 9 from Outer Space:”!

When I book with a couple to photograph their wedding one of the first things I do is discuss where photographs can be taken in case of bad weather. This can be the Church building, a hall, a home or a meeting room at the banquet hall. It is very important that this be a place that is not going to be accessible to all the guests. There is nothing worse than turning a relaxing photo shoot into a paparazzi filled spectacle with well intentioned, but distracting guests taking away from the intimate atmosphere required for great portraits!

Having a plan in place is just one part of the job at hand when it rains. Will your photographer be properly equipped to professionally produce quality images? On camera flashes, or a single separate flash do not cut it in these situations. Proper professional lighting is a must, and in some cases backgrounds may be needed to cover unsightly elements in a room. When I arrive at a shoot I have a full portable studio with me. This includes proper lighting and backdrops, and more importantly, the expertise to use them.

Ask your photographer what their “Plan B “ is in case of bad weather. If their answer is to “play it by ear” or “wing it” then they are all wet….just as you will be on your wedding day if they have no plan!

Hiring a qualified professional photographer will ensure that, no matter what the weather, you will get great photos.