This is my first share of my thought for my beloved colleagues in wedding photography (or cinematography) industry. So I hope it’s more to come to share or rather for a reflection to consider. Remember this is my site, so I wish to tell how my mind works. 
If I offend you, I seriously never have any intention to hurt you personally. Just share my thought.
Before I jump to today’s thought, some of you may not know that I have created Wiki School Pedia (WSP) site mid last year. I honestly admit that the website is currently sort of stranded due to my wedding commissioned works. However, I definitely will visit and come back with the improved visions and structures that allow other photographers out there to share and to learn one another.
The failure of maintaining the wsp site in the first year was totally expected as I am still very much involved in shooting weddings and also leading Foto Expression team. It’s one hell works to do. This year, I am trying to clear up my calendar as much as I do this year. I reduce almost half of my wedding jobs I shot from the previous years. Thus, I hope I have more free hands later after this February. It’s after all one big wish to do.
As mention in what I shared previously of why I started WSP, somebody has to do it. I want to inspire others of what beautiful life I see. And I definitely see myself to have that kind of passion. Wish me luck for that!
WSP is my media to help or inspire others too using my knowledge and previous experience as an IT professional. Talking how being for others, today is Australian day. As you know, I am not native Australian but I love to call this adopted country to be my home.
Obviously, I may not know much being of Australian as I grew up more in Indonesia but I know how Australia is called ‘Down Under’ with reasons. Being Australian, we are pretty much separated among the rest of the world. For example, only lately, the Socceroo (Australian soccer team) was considered to be part of Asian. Btw, well done. We are on the final. yayyyy!! What I am trying to say it’s never easy for us to be recognised among others. We even called Oprah to come here. So that’s to give idea of how hard it is to be a recognisable figure with such a big disadvantage like us, down under geographically.
You must be wondering what it’s got something to do with my thought in photography. Hopefully you got my drift after reading the whole article
I remember I started my photography career because I naively thought I only need personality and passion of wedding photography was all that mattered. My definition of professional wedding photography was that if the images has blur background then it must be professional ones. Yes, you can laugh me now. But I tell you there are sooooo many photographers out there who only know how to make the blur background called themselves professional photographers. If that is the case, Jamie my 4 years’ old son is a professional photographer. He shot Ryan, my other boy, with my camera with a nice piece of lens. For couples who looks for wedding photographers, if you are seriously falling in love with your prospective photographer just because the blur image, then you should consider hire the camera and lens and get your uncle to follow you around. I give a quick 1 hour tutorial of how he can become a photographer whom you wish to book. You should look more just the blurry photo, but the big question is whether you can see your wedding day are captured like what’s in their portfolio photo are what the matters the most. Not because the wedding is held in the same location/venue or time, but how the photographers can capture the memories.
yeah this is just a random shot by Jamie on Ryan, my youngest son, with only one minute holding my camera. Well, it’s professional enough, dont you think?
Well, I guess I was lucky to start my career based on how I thought the professional images should be because back then, the trend of being wedding photographers was not popular yet. Nowadays, I believe everyone can call themselves a professional photographer. I saw one of the recent weddings that Ilona and Aswin shot, one guest came to the ceremony with three professional cameras in his hands. I am serious. I guess I am trying to speak up about the challenge or disadvantage of being a wedding photographer right now. With nice websites or blogs, It’s easy to be a professional wedding photographer. I should say there will be emerged trend of being a wedding cinematographer too because the technology becomes so affordable now.
I am not sure I saw how many wedding photographers out there are known not because of their images, but with something else. It’s kind of sad to know that honestly. A photo artist is known not because of his/her artistic photo. That just like a popular actor/actress known because of their look only. I hope you get my drift.
The today’s message? It’s easy to be drawn to copy some success story of somebody. Inspired is what you need to be, not copy. Let’s believe in yourself that you are unique and don’t stop learning. I am sure you heard that a lot. But it is very true that being unique is the most important to survive in the disadvantaged competition. I will share more details of how I stand among crowds later in the future. But now, let’s learn from the Oz. Australian must be proud to talk and to act like oz. We turn the multicultural diversity into their uniqueness. Well, I am not trying to criticize Indonesian. But I reckon Australian shows that they are proud with their own country because they are different, and they are unique. They have their identity to stop being influenced too much by some success stories from other countries. Yes, I am proud to call Australia to be my home.
Happy Australia Day, guys!