So I am typically a pretty open girl.
If you have a question, and I can answer it, I will do so.
If you want some information from me on how I did something, props, whatever! I will share it with you.
Lately, I have been feeling like I shouldn't share my "knowlege" and should hold things closer to my vest. Does that make sense? I have found that man (not all) are generally unwilling to share even the smallest of answers for fear that there work is going to be stolen...well, I've got news for you...King Solomon said it best, "There is nothing new under the sun." For example, I stumbled across a photog from another geographical location than I and I thought her work was nice. She had one particular photo that I was interested in just knowing what lens she used to shoot it with, so I said something like, "Hey this is a great photo. What lens did you use to shoot this one?" I got back, "I don't have time to give a photo lesson." UM....???
I just don't think it needs to be like this. I wonder if its a woman thing (and yes, its the women photogs) that this has been a problem with.
Its a struggle for me. I still share because its in my nature, but there is that split second where I stop and think about it first. And I still ask because I am hoping that I have encountered a photog who is willing to share their knowlege/experience/expertise....
I hope that I never become so full of what I am doing that I stop sharing or even asking, but no one likes to be shut down or ignored either.
I have been blessed to be a part of some wonderful forums with photographers who are willing to share their knowledge and expertise. I am also blessed to have a group of local friends who don't feel threatened to encourage and help either.
I am just finding that on a one to one basis, sharing isn't encouraged but we all want the encouragement though. Its okay to leave a "like" on your FB page or on the blog and leave a comment, but when it comes down to it, "like" is all you will get. Needless to say, I unfriended that photographer and have moved on, but with much greater caution for sure.
The biggest argument is that photographers are afraid of having someone steal their stuff, their pose, their location...whatever...and yes it stinks to have people steal your stuff (I actually had someone steal photos). I think that its okay to kinda look at what other people packages (in your area are) and then do your own leg work and number crunching! After all, its still a business and you need to do what works for you.
I don't even know if sharing exact editing tips is good either. we all have our own style, but I would tell you if I used a certain action or texture and from where I purchased/got them.
So I guess its just to say that I don't mean anything "by it" when I ask you where you got that basket or that particular prop, or what lens you used. Its really a form of flattery [for you] I would think if I say, "Hey loved that! Where? When? How?!!) with all of my exclamation marks!!!!!.
I think how I responded to that photographers rudeness was to say something like, "well, I wasn't asking for a photography lesson, just the name of the lens used. And its pretty unprofessional of you to respond in this way...too bad, you just lost a customer or at the very least a referral." I probably wouldn't have responded in this way except that for some reason I clicked on her page too and saw that she had started a discussion about how she didn't have time to give lessons or something like that and then got everyone (who responded) whipped into a frenzy about it. Little did they know that I was about to respond...
I am generally a person who says HEY that's awesome! When its awesome and when its not? Well, I just keep my mouth shut. I think it can be difficult for any of us to balance what to share, what not to share and with whom. Like I said, I haven't had a whole lot of folks asking me questions (yet) so I am not on that end of the table...I am on my end of the table and when I ask you a question (not you you [here reading this blog post] but you you [out there in the greater photography world] its not that I am trying to steal it. I just like it and in some cases, would like to have it [prop] to add to the countless other prop options I already have. I say, Why re-invent the wheel?
I was asked to travel to Utah to photograph the wedding of a friend of mines, daughter to her fiance, Justin. Let me just start off by saying that it was a little cold in Utah. But it was a welcome change from Arizona's heat.
Another favorite of the guys. I just like their facial expressions, their positions and their attitudes.
Terri and her sister decorated these vans last night. Super cute. This bride wanted to be comfortable on her wedding day.
Gown details.
Love this pic of the flowers and then all the girls. 
Just before Terri came down the aisle.
Justin's first look. They did not want to see each other prior to the wedding, so this is his first glimpse as Terri comes around the corner and down the aisle.
