SAN JOSE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHERS - SECOND PHOTOGRAPHER

Second Shooter - The Ugly Truth - Wedding Photography - San Jose

February 5, 2009 by BENIPAYO

Second Shooters: The Ugly Truth

I was a second shooter sometime ago with another fellow wedding photographer. It was my second time being a second shooter for a wedding since it was very slow month. It was different experience since I just show up and hand him over the files after the wedding without worrying about deadlines. I really enjoyed that part and I got to eat some of the best food.

San Jose Wedding Photographer

At the time, the wedding photographer I was working with did not really trust me and wanted a try-out. So, did two wedding with him for free which he charged the bride and groom $$$. At the second wedding, he stated that there are plenty of brides who want second shooters and he said, “you can get a bum of the street and just give him a camera. You then charge the bride $500 for that services”. Basically, I found out that he did not really want a steady (me) second shooter at his wedding gigs but wanted someone for free. Furthermore, I thought that his idea, which is not new, is very deceptive. Charging a bride for something that the wedding photographer is not paying for in the first place is stealing. How would you feel if you paid $500 to $900 for a second shooter that was not a professional photographer?

San Jose Wedding Photographer

Perhaps, you (bride and the groom) should check into this scam prior to hiring a wedding photographer. Many sell their services as a “husband and wife team” or call their second photographer “associates” but you do not know what you are getting. You are basically getting someone who is not a professional wedding professional but someone who is just starting out which is not as knowledgeable as a real professional wedding photographer.

San Jose Wedding Photographer

Since many photographers have started offering second shooters, I too have to offer professional second shooters to get bride / groom to hire me. It truly is unfair since I have to pay real professional wedding photographer money while most of my competitions do not.

Next to come - Wedding photographers who do not pay their stinking taxes.

San Jose wedding photographer - second shooter.

WWW.BENIPAYO.COM

Michael Benipayo
Benipayo Photography: Wedding and Portrait Photographer
email: michael@benipayo.com
website: http://www.benipayo.com

SAN JOSE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHERS

As a legitimate wedding photography business, I have a business license with the City of San Jose. As a legitimate wedding photography business in San Jose, I have to pay taxes. These taxes reflect on the package pricing that I charge my clients, which I then pay the City, State, and Federal.

So what is the big deal? The big deal is that there are so many wedding photographers who are not paying their taxes and could afford to charge less than a legitimate business like mine.

If you are a bride and groom (or the parents), please ask for their business license number. You’ll need this anyways if you should need to complain to the Better Business Bureau.



Michael Benipayo
Benipayo Photography: Wedding and Portrait Photographer
email: michael@benipayo.com
website: http://www.benipayo.com

Brooke & Jimmy: Wedding Photograph

Brooke and Jimmy:
Jimmy and Brooke was both easy going and fantastic couple who loved to be photograph. It was a joy shooting their wedding. Their wedding was at Hiddenbrooke Golf Club in Vallejo, California. The gold course had fantastic views and it is a nice location for a wedding.












Michael Benipayo
Benipayo Photography: Wedding and Portrait Photographer
email: michael@benipayo.com
website: http://www.benipayo.com

Portrait of Fernando

Portrait of Fernando:

Fernando is another great guy for this shoot. This portrait photograph was taken in San Jose.

He had a very interesting skin tone. His photos looked better in black and white than in color. So here, most of the photos are in black and white to show off his good looks :)

Fernando was awesome dude to work with.

Michael Benipayo
Benipayo Photography
email: michael@benipayo.com
website: http://www.benipayo.com

Portrait of Vidal

This portrait photo was taken in San Jose, California Japanese Garden. Vidal wanted several photos of himself in different outfits. To the left is the traditional Cameroonian outfit. He is a nice fella and I just found out that he is a big daddy. He named his son Barrack. Congratulation BIG DADDY VIDAL!

It was a pleasure shooting Vidal, a friendly easy going dude. He was a great model for this shoot.

Michael Benipayo
Benipayo Photography
email: michael@benipayo.com
website: http://www.benipayo.com

हवाई Hawaii Vacation

थिस वास ओउर एइघ्त विसित तो हवाई। वे'वे बीन तो अल थे इस्लान्ड्स एक्स्सप्त मोलाकई। इ थिंक ठाट थिस वास ओउर लास्ट वाकेशन तेरे सिंस वे'वे बीन तेरे सो मानी टाईम्स। पेर्हप्स, ओंस ओउर पासपोर्ट इस उप्दतेद, वे विल गो तो मेक्सिको और अ क्रुइसे।



I don't speak a word in Hindi and had the translation on but don't know why it writes it in Hindi vs English so I turned it off. Here is the translation:

We were in Maui about two months ago and it was our eight visit to Hawaii. We've been to all the island except Molokai. This was probably our last vacation there since we might move to the island in the next two years. If we don't, we will be going somewhere else for vacation.

Since this might be our last vacation, I took my camera / flashes with me for this shot. Camera was a 40d and 580 off camera with a pocket wizard.

I hope you like it.


Michael Benipayo
Benipayo Photography
email: michael@benipayo.com
website: http://www.benipayo.com

Wedding Album

I got back from visiting my new custom album maker:  Leather Craftsmen (http://www.leathercraftsmen.com/).

They have been around since 1942 and I heard NO complaint from other photographers.

Dan and Chris are nice guys to show the album making process.  Leather Craftsmen (it should be named Leather Craftswomen; 4 men and the rest were women) process everything by hand. Everything was eyeballed to make sure there are no flaws on the photos and in the album being made.    I'm happy to say that the album covers has a lifetime warranty :)   I am looking forward ordering my  custom made leather wedding album from them.

Michael Benipayo
Benipayo Photography
email: michael@benipayo.com
website: http://www.benipayo.com