Welcome to LENSEL this week. We talk about photography news like your uncle talks about his 200-600mm - loud, proud and to everyone…

Here’s what we have for you today:

• Working for free and “Exposure Dollars from the BBC."

• The Netflix Photographer

• The f1.2 Game Changer Lens

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BUSINESS

Should you shoot weddings for free?

We once heard that "Being offered photo credit is like being offered a drink from your own fridge.” And we thought that was pretty spot on...

This week photographer Dina Litovsky received an email from the BBC asking to use two of her images in a new brand promo campaign. The email ended in a way we know all too well:

“I’m afraid we’re unable to offer any financial compensation, but we hope you might be happy to be included in….” blah, blah, blah. You all know the story too well.

But after calling the BBC out on social media and posting a long list of other amazingly callous asks for free photography on her blog, the BBC backed down and apologised. But it was too late, Instagram was incensed about companies and clients offering “exposure” in exchange for photography work, with story after story pouring in of photographers being asked in worse and worse ways to give their time and talent away for free.

This particular ask for a free wedding is just too good not to read.

We get it.
Many photographers starting out think that they need to shoot weddings for free or very cheap in order to build a portfolio. We get the logic. But think about this in a different way.

When you are starting out, you want two things: images for your portfolio and future clients. When you take on a wedding for free, the style of the wedding is set and you can do nothing to change it. The outfits of the couple, the venue, the timings are set. They are out of your control. And the resulting images… THAT IS YOUR PORTFOLIO.

A newer photographer might be much better served using their time and energy putting together a styled shoot where they can produce the kind of portfolio images that represent them, that they will be proud to show off and that can elevate their brand to the level of wedding that they want to book more of. Your future clients are couples that resonate with the style of weddings in your portfolio, so you want to be intentional and selective about what you show!

We know it’s not black and white when starting out, but there are alternatives to the ‘give away your photos and work for free at the beginning model’.

• Exposure dollars are not real.

• Only other photographers look for the photographers name in the caption.

• Free weddings tend to only lead to more free/or cheap weddings.

So consider an alternative. Go make a styled wedding shoot and make images you are proud of.

If you are Europe based, there are many upcoming editorials and content shoots to be a part of. Start here.

NEWS

Happening this Week

• A photographers constant conundrum. How to dress at weddings. The Wed just released an insightful guide for wedding attire in 2024 which could maybe help us blend in, stand out, be comfortable, stay nimble, look good, not sweat too much…

• Flash News. Godox just released an exciting new flash trigger, the X3. Updating their popular X triggers to a very nice looking touch screen we must say.

• Jump into the work and world of Netflix photographer Thomas Elliot Wood. If you are sly you might spot some Contax G series goodness.

• We’re voting for more pizza at weddings. How about custom pizza boxes? Sounds like a bit of us.

• Is it worth updating? Sony released a firmware update to a few of it’s cameras, including one of the best all rounders for weddings the A7IV. Here’s how to install it.

• Danilo and Sharon released their ‘Flash Masterclass” Get 20% off using the code “LENSEL20” here.

GEAR

The f1.2 Game Changer Lens

Not all new lenses are exciting.
But this new 50mm 1.2 from Sigma got us feeling hot. Never before have we seen a f1.2 lens in such a small and light form factor.

Only 745g? Yes, please.
And did someone say f1.2?
A 1.2 aperture opens up a whole new world of poppy, sharp yet soft, bokehful, portrait options. And this time it won’t break your back.

Available for Sony E-Mount, and L-Mount (Leica and Lumix/Panasonic).
The price will also be quite reasonable at $1399.

Two thumbs up.

PORTFOLIO

Curating your archive

Croatian wedding photographer, Marcijus Studio recently released an update to their Portfolio, their ‘archive’.

We’d highly encourage you to check it out for a masterclass in curation and selection.