"PERSONAL VACATION PHOTOGRAPHER"

[bsizelove]

I need some input:



I am a Dad, Youth Leader, who has collected thousands of photos of family / group travels, and events and yet, I never see myself in ANY of the photos.



As a Dad, I especially empathize with the designated photographer, who, enjoys watching everyone else participate, while I strategically do the best I can to document the whole thing.

I sometimes would have liked to have been able to sit my gear down, and join in but, you can't leave stuff sitting and you can't haul it back to the car or room efficiently and come back out and expect everyone to still be doing what they were when you left....... so you get left out.



I have thought about this for a while, and, wonder how many others experience this. I wasn't even aware that I felt this way until this idea popped into my head from out of the blue....



Suppose I offered my services to people who are traveling to some of the more exotic destinations, to be their personal photographer, capturing the atmosphere and the WHOLE FAMILY, including dad or mom who normally would have been out of the pictures........

Is there a market for this type of service? Hollywood calls them paperatzi (spelling needs help I know) but their photos are never flattering, mostly due to the motivation behind the whole thing, and the lack of decent vantage points. I would be the "invited Paparatzi" who would be welcome to keep a respectful distance, but not constantly avoided.



I would set up some type of fee which would include my travel expenses (airline tickets, hotel, agreed upon meal allowance) etc... plus wages of some kind..... the reward would be two-fold/// The person who normally had the burden of taking pictures the whole time is now free to enjoy the activities and inter act with the loved ones while they are doing the same activities, not worrying about where the gear is and "I should be taking pictures" Secondly, the whole family / group is in the majority of all the photos. Of course I could accept only job opportunities that interested me... this is not for the family vacation to Disney world or Gatlinburg... I'm thinking more like Switzerland, Bermuda, Serengheti (sp)?





This pretty well outlines my idea, so, what do you all think? Would there be much of a call for this type of work from perhaps the more well-funded travelers?



Bryan

[MarkD]

I think that the cost would be prohibitive for most people.

[BobF]

Not only the cost issue but I certainly wouldn't want someone I don't

know, don't know whether I can trust, don't know whether they have a

criminal record or are a drug addict or whatever, accompanying me on a

vacation. Please, I'm not suggesting you are any of those things it's

just a generality. If the person taking the photo wants to be in the

shot badly enough then there are likely plenty of other people

wandering by who will take a snap for you. I've been asked numerous

times to snap a shot for tourists. Most cameras also have a self-timer

and can be placed either on a tripod or a table or ledge to allow the

person who normally takes the photos to be in some of them. I'm

thinking if you were to rely on this as your income source you'd be

going hungry. And your wife might be thinking about making other plans for her future and the future of your kids too. ;-)

[snofl8k]

Bryan I think this is a good idea, altho as others mentioned probably not a mass market service for the average family vacation. Believe this would be better aimed at ultra high end specialty travel market. Think tour company rather than individual families. A friend of mine has worked a few tours as a guide for TCS Expeditions . An amazing outfit, providing multi country trips via private 747 jet. Tours include, private guides, doctors, cooks, photogs, pilots, etc including special customs clearance into certain countries. Of course the average trip per person exceeds $40K. Check them out.

[Jack]

B: I think for many people the making of the photographs is part of the vacation experience.

[bsizelove]

Thank you all for your excellent points.... and understand that my intention would be that this definitely would be VERY VERY high end customer target.... I don't want to go to WallyWorld..... and yes there are folks a plenty who will snap a shot for ya here or there, and most won't try to run off with your equipment, but there again, you are having to lug it around between volunteers.



I fully agree that the photo making is a big part of some vacations, and I probably won't get to go on those.



Your comments are very useful and totally realistic... thank you!



Maybe I should target acqaintences locally (physicians / etc) and settle for Vail, and Cancun for a start... LOL



OR, I could move to a great location and advertise to do portraits, I saw a family on the beach at Siesta Key FL having a sunset family shoot done... it was really well orchestrated and there were many "casual" shots set up .... I think there were newlyweds in the bunch and they got some stunning sunset backdrop shots...





Thanks again!



Bryan

[Nearly]

Hi,

I am late in replying - I have seen photographers in up-scale Resorts taking photos of various people, group and even individuals. I believe, as on a ship, the photographer works thorogh the Resort that lets the clients know that he/she is available for photos as wanted by the clients. Remember: Many laughed when people started pet baby sitting and feeding. lol

[jdfonline]

I have thought about the exact same thing. One of my friends actually proposed I go along on his vacation as a photographer because he hates having to stop and take pics. I couldn't because my job would not give me the same days off he was going. The thing is that it can get very expensive for the "client". Plus I would imagine they would want to check your background, see some of your work, etc. That led me to think that because of privacy a lot of people wouldn't want you to use some of their pics in your portfolio, expecially where there are kids involved. But...wouldn't it be cool to have an agency with lots of photographers for people with enough money to hire as a personal photographer? Think of the money that agency would make....

[RDWILSON]

Well I have an idea along these lines and it is interesting that someone else is thinking like me or I like you.....

But my idea is a little more global, it can and will work!

[journeyphoto]

I love the idea. I've actually been dreaming of that exact thing for about 10 years. I think its definitely a niche that can be done, and done right. Its a matter of marketing, professinalism, providing them a product they can be proud of, and getting in with the right people. You have to create a demand. It's definitely a great idea. Keep working on it!