Dusting Off The Degree

So I am shooting a wedding this weekend and next. I assure you, I am properly terrified. Because a) I'm using a borrowed camera (the relationship between photographer and camera cannot be rushed) b) I am unfamiliar with the location, and lastly c) I have not done a wedding- or any other professional photo job- in 8+ years.

You see, while I was in college I had a weekend job (aside from my part time day job) a job that is "very Vegas." I was a wedding photographer for a Las Vegas wedding chapel on the strip. Naturally. What better job for a young student taking photo courses? (as part of an Art Degree) I learned a lot at that job. I did a ton of weddings each day- something like 10-15? What was tough about the job was that I never got to see the finished product- the couples would pick up their pictures from the photo lab on Sunday( I never worked Sundays) I hope the newlyweds were always pleased!

"Technically" I am supposed to have all the skills I need to take perfectly lovely pictures of this couple. Except that, well... I mostly forgot everything I ever learned. It is not like riding a bike- I have become VERY rusty. I have forgotten entirely what the Fstop does, or ISO means... something? I know it's important. But my brain just refuses to cough up the information. (yes, I know- I will eventually Google it and hope it sets in) Still. It's like trying to remember the exact pair of socks you wore on your first day of 6th grade; it just isn't gonna happen.

Before you start freaking out with me- I am not charging for my services on this wedding. Mostly because I do not want this sweet couple to have ANY expectations WHATSOEVER. I could not accept compensation of any sort for something I'm not entirely sure I can pull out of my very dusty hat of tricks. I'm a last minute pinch-hitter anyway. If all else fails, I may just whip out the tiny point-and-shoot from my purse that I can pry gorgeous images out of on a daily basis.

This has all lead me to a rather depressing conclusion; I spent inordinate amounts of time and money attaining this college degree- and I have very little to show for it other than the piece of paper it's printed on and the student loans I'm still paying off.

IRONY! 


The lesson of this story, kids: Do not get a degree in an industry that changes quickly.

(My entire education was built around cameras that used actual film, and one of the first versions of Photoshop. The Mac I used was the huge bubble monitor that came in all sorts of colors- mine was blue, and yes I had to get that link from a site called "Vintage Computing & Gaming")

Wish me luck!