Ventura County Wedding Photographer - California photographer, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, CA

About John Park, Philosophy, Business Plan

Copy of Liability Insurance - Click Here
I use professional equipment - Currently used photography equipment
I have a good personality - Customer testimonials
I am reliable, and I get the job done
I have the best price in town - Price List
I am an active photographer - Clients only area
I enjoy photography 24/7 - My hobby web site

Wedding Photography as a Profession

A lot of wedding photographers work alone as a weekend job. This is even more common for DJ's and Musicians. This not only makes sense, but it is the only way to do it.

FYI: In 2002, average salary for photographers was $24,040 [External Link]

It's a well known fact among photographers that you cannot be rich being a photographer alone. If you do 25 weddings a year, then you have to charge $4,000.00 a wedding just to survive.

It's only logical for us to be employed during the weekdays. I believe this benefits both photographers and the clients.

Conclusion: Photographers are just another sales people trying to sell you something. Don't let the photographers lecture you about "What is Photography" or "How to find a right photographer". You wouldn't let the car salesman lecture you about "how to buy a car"

At least I don't tell you "I care about you" and charge you $5k.

It's OK if you want to spend extra money. It's OK if you want to save money. I am here as just another option. Some people will find me too cheap. Some people will think I'm too expensive. It's only a business. Take your time, have fun, and purchase what's suitable to you. Good luck~!

How I Keep My Price Low

• I have two college degrees and an IT career. I don't take pictures for survival.
  • This doesn't mean I am not serious about photography. Photography is my life force. I enjoy photography, I practice photography, photography is my best friend.
• My package doesn't contain leather albums. ($1,000 saving)
• I perform minor retouching - and all retouching jobs are being done in-house.
  • It is every photographer's goal to take technically sound photographs so we don't have to retouch them.
• Using my computer background, I have a system which saves me a lot of time on everything I do. I work full time job but I am able to take 30-50 weddings a year without hiring anyone.
• I keep everything in-house. I don't contract out any jobs.
• Both Photography and Computer are my favorite hobbies.
  

About John Park

Every single one of my family has both college degree and career in artistic field. I have enjoyed photography since I was a boy. After my AS degree in Photography, I spent five years in Hollywood entertainment industry as a professional photo printer. During that five years I learned to read negative and learn to see the depth of photography. In the mid 90's I started my personal music web site (recently re-launched). I photographed countless musicians in Hollywood. Some of my photographs were published in magazines such as Billboard (picture I took at Al Jarreau's house).

I moved to Camarillo (Ventura County) in 1999. I went back to school and earned BS degree in Computer Information System. Realizing music cannot be my career, I stopped going to Hollywood. I turned my attention to wedding photography in 2003.

With my Photography and Computer background, I am very comfortable with cameras & lighting systems. Wedding photography keeps me working overtime (I am love it).

This is my favorite song 'Wave' by Gal Costa

Even more personal information of the photographer

Philosophy

• My current target market is people in Ventura County, Santa Barbara, and Los Angeles who want good pictures without leather albums.
• I believe $1,000.00 is a lot of money. The industry will tell you $1k is a joke. I do not agree. Most people slave to save $1k. I will work just as hard to earn your business.
• I believe my biggest asset is my personality (customers' comments).
• I come to you as a friendly distant relative who happens to know how to take pictures. I do NOT have a snotty artist's attitude.
• I take mixture of candid and posed photographs.
• I don't mind people giving me input and telling me what they want. If you are not sure what kind of pictures you want, I can instruct you for proper posed pictures.
• My personality will make people to relax and have more fun.
• I know when to be quiet, I know when to speak up.
• My presence at your wedding will be a plus to your wedding day. Please refer to my customers' comments. I am very proud of them.

Business Plan

• I am considering a few options on selling leather albums.
• Spanish web site is under construction at VenturaFoto.com I do a good number of Spanish weddings and quinceañeras (Mexican version of sweet 16). My Spanish is getting better all the time.