Posted May 14, 2019 10:48:20 The new state law to legalize same-sex marriage in Florida was met with mixed reactions from wedding photographers in Orlando, who said they were disappointed but not surprised.
Alyssa Burchill said she was happy with the new policy.
“I don’t think it’s going to change anything in my profession,” she said.
“There are a lot of things I’m still going to do that I’ve always done.
The thing that’s exciting about this is that I’m not a traditional photographer.”
In recent years, she has worked as a wedding photographer for weddings in Atlanta and Indianapolis.
But the new bill in Florida has opened her eyes to a new way to be a photographer, Burchil said.
It allows her to use a cellphone to record the ceremony without having to take out a license.
“It’s definitely going to be much more convenient,” she added.
“If you’re a wedding planner, it’s really going to help me get into the right place.”
In her experience, wedding photographers say that many traditional photographers have taken their skills in photography and wedding planning and are working with the same agencies that they used to.
“We’re seeing more and more of a change,” said photographer Brian Dolan, a former president of the American Wedding Photographers Association.
“They’re finding new ways to use their skills.”
While the state law will not affect traditional photographers in Florida, Dolan said that the new state policy is an opportunity for more traditional photographers to make more money.
“The big thing for us now is that we can really do this with our clients,” he said.
For many traditional wedding photographers who have worked for years to establish themselves, the new rule will give them an edge.
“This will be a new opportunity for me to do weddings that I really wanted to do years ago,” said Burchiller, who is planning to marry her fiancé this summer.
“A lot of people are looking for ways to make a living in the industry now.”
But some photographers are concerned that the law will hurt their career prospects, especially as more photographers are moving into the traditional wedding industry.
“Many of the photographers in my industry are getting out of the traditional photographer profession,” said Dolan.
“These are the people who are going to see the most change.”
The new policy will affect only those photographers who are licensed by the state.
Burchills, who does not hold a license, said she expects she will still be a wedding photography professional.
“At this point, I have no problem being a wedding photojournalist,” she laughed.
“But I’m sure we’ll see that there will be some photographers that will have to change jobs.”
For some photographers, the changes may be beneficial, because they are no longer required to be licensed by a particular agency.
“Being a wedding and photojournalism photographer is the dream job,” said Matthew McDaniel, a wedding director in Atlanta.
“To be a traditional wedding photographer is a very difficult and stressful job.”
Burchilling said that as a photographer who has worked for more than 25 years, the benefits of the new change are clear.
“You can take photos with a mobile phone, which is awesome,” she joked.
“In terms of a career change, it feels really good to be able to be in the wedding industry, and the money is great.
It will be very convenient.”
For others, the change is not so easy.
“As a photographer with 25 years of experience, I’m probably not going to make any money,” said Ryan McCall, a photographer in Nashville.
“Because of the licensing, it will probably be hard to get into.
But I’m really excited to see where the industry goes from here.”
Bunkers, the photographer who is the only member of his family who works for a traditional agency, said that even though the law is a welcome change, he believes the law has hurt traditional photographers and that the state will do its best to help them continue their career.
“My clients are all really supportive of me, so it’s nice that they’re seeing it and being supportive of what I do,” he added.
In the meantime, Bunkill said that she is planning a wedding with her fiancée.
“Hopefully it will be fun and we’ll be able get married in a nice place and have a great time,” she concluded.
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