Thanks for this comment and story. Absolutely brutal.

Andy

Just this September I was shooting a wedding at one of the beautiful churches in downtown Chicago. My crew were just coming in the church with our equipment, when the photographer shooting altar photos of the previous wedding came up to me and asked if she could barrow one of my cameras. She was carrying a Nikon D70 (hardly a professional camera). I asked her where her backup camera was. The answer was she did not have one.

Since I carry 2- Cannon 1Ds Mark III and 3- 1D Mark III with backup flashes, lenses, cords,etc., I had ZERO sympathy for her or her bride and groom. Guess who she worked for? Bella Pictures.

The moral or the story bring your own iPhone and shoot your own wedding!

Harold

It’s disgusting that some self appointed “expert” really believes they don’t need anyone else, and will actually try to convince unsuspecting couples that it is true. I only hope people are smart enough to see this for what it is. A trash talking egomaniac.

I left a comment earlier in regards to the former Bella photographer who started a blog against Bella. (I saw that post first, now I am seeing this post).

My comment then was that I personally practice this mantra: “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all”. I hope the comment was not misunderstood. I sitll believe in this for myself and the way I conduct business. Here in the Bay Area at least, the wedding industry is VERY small, and word gets around fast. I would never publicly lambast another business. I follow this practice because I feel it would not make me look good.

However, I also would never discredit anyone’s job, such as this interivew allowed the rep from Bella to do.

I am very disheartened to see a fellow wedding professional devaluing the wedding industry as a whole. The fact that this was shown on TV nationally, to our potential clients everywhere is discouraging. For a wedding vendor to go on TV and “represent” the industry, while dispensing this type advice is indeed irresponsible. Discrediting jobs in the wedding industry, and worse, telling people the only vendor that matters is a photographer. That’s pretty terrible!

I recommend independent photographers to my clients, so I have never had the experience of working with Bella.

An important part of my job as a wedding consultant, means supporting one another, by letting my clients know that each type of wedding vendor is a valuable asset to the TEAM of wedding vendors. For clients looking to save money, I never recommend cutting out someone who makes the team function well. There are plenty of other ways to save money.

However, in this case, I can certainly see why people are upset with Bella. My apologies go out to Michael Slattery (if you are reading this) for the way he was treated by this company. I hope he is able to resolve his disputes with them reasonably and fairly.

Another thing I believe in is KARMA: What comes around goes around.

One photographers beef with Bella Pictures

Mik

But without all the other professional vendors doing their job, what am I photographing? Awful flower ‘arrangements’ and guests sitting in their seats? Weddings are a lot of work, and you just can’t be an expert at everything.

When I got married, I designed my own wedding invitations. Of course, I have a BS in Graphic Design. But I hired a DJ. Who has time to take several flower arranging courses, and the money to build up the equipment a professional DJ has (not to mention their experience).

It’s ridiculous to think that one person could do all this, on top of everything else you’re already preparing.

Caroline

Since you seem to know the inner-workings well, it would be nice to you have leave a longer comment.

Andy

They got rid of talent and opted for guy and gal that are just getting in to the business instead of experienced folks!

Biff

I thank you for the link, and must say, I’m very disappointed.

I plan to investigate this piece, further.

Andy