The Preferred Vendor Podcast
From Fire Service to Wedding Service: An Entrepreneurial Journey with Andrew of FireLens
When it comes to turning passion into a thriving business, no one knows it better than Andrew of FireLenz. Together with his wife, they embarked on an adventurous journey from the fire service and nursing to successful entrepreneurs. They even made a daring leap by relocating to Las Vegas to kick-start their business with the purchase of a photo booth. Join us as we dig deep into their inspiring narrative, and the precious lessons they've picked up along the way, including balancing entrepreneurship with raising a family.
So, ever found yourself lost in the labyrinth of wedding planning? Well, we've got your back! Drew, with his extensive experience in wedding photography, spills the beans on how to nail the perfect wedding. Discover why planning ahead, a good coordinator, the right wedding party, and matching your venue to your envisioned images can be game-changers. But that's not all; we also explore the advantages that come with a 'first look'.
But weddings are not just about the planning and the party - they're also about capturing those once-in-a-lifetime moments. Drew gives us a peek into the unique world of wedding photography and videography. Learn from his unique perspective on the pressures that come with shooting a wedding - it's not the same as a studio shoot, folks! And remember, it's not just about stunning pictures and videos - Drew emphasizes the importance of investing in a good DJ, venue, and food. Plus, the significance of capturing the memories on video cannot be overstated. So, gear up for an engaging conversation filled with invaluable insights and tips from Drew.
When it comes to turning passion into a thriving business, no one knows it better than Andrew of FireLenz. Together with his wife, they embarked on an adventurous journey from the fire service and nursing to successful entrepreneurs. They even made a daring leap by relocating to Las Vegas to kick-start their business with the purchase of a photo booth. Join us as we dig deep into their inspiring narrative, and the precious lessons they've picked up along the way, including balancing entrepreneurship with raising a family.
So, ever found yourself lost in the labyrinth of wedding planning? Well, we've got your back! Drew, with his extensive experience in wedding photography, spills the beans on how to nail the perfect wedding. Discover why planning ahead, a good coordinator, the right wedding party, and matching your venue to your envisioned images can be game-changers. But that's not all; we also explore the advantages that come with a 'first look'.
But weddings are not just about the planning and the party - they're also about capturing those once-in-a-lifetime moments. Drew gives us a peek into the unique world of wedding photography and videography. Learn from his unique perspective on the pressures that come with shooting a wedding - it's not the same as a studio shoot, folks! And remember, it's not just about stunning pictures and videos - Drew emphasizes the importance of investing in a good DJ, venue, and food. Plus, the significance of capturing the memories on video cannot be overstated. So, gear up for an engaging conversation filled with invaluable insights and tips from Drew.
What's up everybody. This is the preferred vendor podcast. You already know who it is it's your boy, kp, kparty. I got one of my good friends, my buddy, my homeboy, my partner. We've been cool. I don't even know how we met. I think I saw you. I know I saw you at an event, castle Hill, one time. You had the photo booth.
Speaker 2:Everything going.
Speaker 1:I'm like who this is over here man, you know it's funny how stuff works. We just end up, you know, changing information and stuff like that and stuff Just kind of start going from there. But I'm going to let you introduce yourself to the people you know.
Speaker 2:Well, I'm Drew Andrew. Would I go by Drew With FireLens photography, videography, photo booth.
Speaker 1:Hey, listen, whatever you need. One stop shop, you know this he got. Listen, you need the trees cut down, you need. You know anything done. You need photography, videography, wedding, commercial photo shoot. You know anything with a camera, any service. He might get it done for you, anything that you need. So you know this guy. One stop shop, man, you're a fireman. You know one thing I tell him all the time I like to give people their flowers.
Speaker 1:I respect your hustle man, I respect everything that you do and honestly, bro, you just a good person. Man, you can't really trust a lot of people. I don't found out the hard way, especially in this industry, and you know what we doing. It's hard to trust a lot of people, man, and you definitely got it. I trust you feel what I'm saying. You very trustworthy, you're a good person, you're a good man, good father, the whole nine bros. So that's why I brought with you man. Anytime I could, I would think about who I'm gonna have on here first. I'm like I'm gonna have Andrew on here first, of course, why not? We are studio partners, studio mates, so a lot of people come to the studio. They see Firelands, photography and stuff like that. So before we even get started. Just kind of how do you even come up with that?
Speaker 2:name a little bit. Well, like you said, I'm in the fireman 13 years now Firefighter Paramedic, and I was working. I wanted to pick up someone aside and I was trying to think you know, I always liked photography, so came up with the name Firefighter, firelands, photography, kind of put together, santa Perth, I went with.
Speaker 1:that's what's up. That's what's up. So how long you been in fireman, you?
Speaker 2:say about 13 going on 14.
Speaker 1:So what made you think I'm gonna go be a fireman? What made you even come up with that?
Speaker 2:I wish I had like an inspirational type story for it, but I don't. Simply, I needed a job at the time. That's what's up, man Straight up high school Didn't know what I wanted to do. But it might say, hey, why don't you go try the fire problem? Because I was in shaping the time. I was like, All right, we can try it out and try it out.
Speaker 1:You said you was in shape at the time. So like as in like you don't got out of shape. You feel that I was trying to get to where you at right now.
Speaker 2:I used to be a lot better shape. Kind of got a little dad by going right now man listen listen.
Speaker 1:If I had kids, I could look like you. I'm doing something right. I'll try to look like you without kids. But now, that's what's up man, so kind of you know. Explain to me how you kind of got into photography.
Speaker 2:Well, actually my backbone, my wife. People see my face, but it's really me and my wife and she actually was doing photography. When I met her she was going weddings and you know, on a smaller scale, not as big as we were now, but she was doing weddings here and there and so she got out of it. I guess we got serious. She got out of it and then I like said I was looking for a job, I mean thinking, trying to think of something I could do my own. I was like, hey, let's, let's pick back up photography. And she wasn't really. I guess you got burned out on whatever. She wouldn't really want to do it. But she did become interested in photo booth. She's seen it actually like a spam hand.
Speaker 2:Come on Email about a photo booth in Expo out in Las Vegas. Of course she's traveled. So she's like, hey, you want to go to Vegas and look at some photo booth, yeah. So, we flew out there actually bought a photo booth. So when we came back to, the business was going to be photo booth. Then I learned the photo booth. I got interested in photography, you know, because I was always. If I wasn't.
Speaker 1:Once I got into I wanted to run full speed here with photography and that's what became like a second oh man, this was so this, if, if I'm understanding right this, both of y'all kind of second thing, photography, because she got a job, yeah, so she's a nurse, she's a registered nurse.
Speaker 2:She's been doing that probably about 11 years 12 years.
Speaker 1:So y'all do so many weddings and you know, coming from you know I kind of been able to see your growth a little bit and you know I love it and everything, because every time I hit you know I got way, I got way. It'd be so funny. Now I hit you, I like I know you probably got away, I just I still just, you know, suited anyway, like me, you got something, this thing. But seeing y'all growth, but kind of explaining to me like how y'all because y'all do have two beautiful kids and right, I got one on the way and everything, so it's kind of explain like how do you get to balance? That's that'd be my main question to you Like how do you balance everything, man, that you got going on man?
Speaker 2:uh scheduling.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's big If it's not in my calendar.
Speaker 2:it has to be in my calendar. It has to be blocked off my whole life is blocked off. Unfortunately, everything I do, like I said I got to do it, I got to do it. I feel like I'm in the hustle and years, yeah, my 30s. So I mean I get to my 40s, late 40s and 50s. I'm chilling, I'm gonna be relaxing man, I'm with y'all now. So these are my grind years. So like I, said we got some plans in mind.
Speaker 2:Yeah, just scheduling man, just keeping somewhat of an organized schedule about the things I have to do. I don't do anything.
Speaker 1:That's what's up, man, that's what's up. So, man, that's kind of cracking to this wedding thing. So of course the podcast is called the Preferred Vendor podcast, absolutely, and I know you will probably prefer Vendor at a few places. So just give me your thoughts on just in general, like what do you think about, what do you love about weddings?
Speaker 2:Man weddings are definitely my favorite when it comes to like the photography that we do. I just love the challenge. I love to create the memories of what I call them. I love to help create them. Days are special to the brides and grooms. I want to catch them in a way that's just gonna be timeless. Yeah. I'm just gonna put some thought into it. I don't just go there just as an app of camera. I go there to capture the memories in the most perfect way we can possibly do that.
Speaker 1:That's what's up. That's what's up.
Speaker 2:So, yeah, that's definitely gonna be my favorite, but yeah.
Speaker 1:That's what's up, man. So how many weddings you think you have done? I know you ain't got a number in your head, but you had to kind of guess how many weddings you think you have done, man, I don't know. That's a good. I know over a hundred.
Speaker 2:I'm sure I was definitely saying over a hundred yeah.
Speaker 1:So we're doing that many weddings. I know you go to a wedding and you can kind of I know for me, you can kind of tell like, oh, I can see where this wedding's gonna go, and stuff like that. But if you have to, if a bride and groom come in here right now and they say, hey, andrew, tell us what we need to do to have the best wedding possible, what are some tips you think you could give some bride and grooms just on making they day just go smooth? Okay, I got a few things.
Speaker 2:Yeah, for one, pick your wedding party accordingly. Yes, I mean obviously your best friends. Everybody does not have to be in your wedding. Agreed, they can come to your wedding, but they don't have to be in the wedding, in the wedding Gotcha. A lot of times I feel like people look on social media and other outlets to see things that they may want with the organization for themselves to have, but the organization and planning might not coincide with one Gotcha. So I would definitely say first plan, have a good coordinator, have an understanding between the coordinator and a photographer, and you know, in all the ventures that matter yes.
Speaker 2:Very important. Understand that if you want images to look a certain way, you have to get married at a place that looks like that. Looks like that, yes.
Speaker 1:Don't be sending me pictures like after Coastal Friends and you get married and you know a lot, you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 2:Come on man, exactly, exactly. So I mean yeah, but also I would say, just to first, you good. Just to definitely have the organization in mind, have a modest wedding party.
Speaker 2:Like don't come in with me with 30, 40 people, because what it does is it waters down your images. So now, instead of focusing on creativity and beautiful images, I'm focusing on trying to get a snap of it. Everybody, yeah, I mean. So that's definitely a big thing in mind. Also, you know to have a wedding coordinator that understands that. You know you're probably going to pay a good amount of money for your pictures, important pictures, so to a lot of time for the photographer to be creative.
Speaker 2:Yes, yes, people sometimes think that we all. He just snapped the camera.
Speaker 1:No, it's not More go into it. Yeah, just snapping the camera.
Speaker 2:So give the photographer time to be creative. I understand that your location whether you get married at church or venue outside A lot of time for portraits. Yeah, I have to come up with a wedding portrait because I like the portrait side. Yeah, definitely Definitely A lot of time for those things. You know, you're going to have to plan out your day and big things Be on time man. Because you can plan all these things, but you know, show up on time.
Speaker 1:I don't time. Everything is out the window, exactly so that you think be on time would probably be your number one. Yeah, yeah, because time is, I mean, if we're going to have it all scheduled out.
Speaker 2:We have to stick to schedule, you know and four things to flow smoothly. Remember, you planned it ahead, so the plan is for it to go smoothly. Stick to the plan. I feel that. I feel that.
Speaker 1:That's what's up, man. So all couples, you hear that coming from a veteran wedding photographer himself. I agree to everything that he just said, especially the timing part, because y'all could come at me with this whole list of what y'all may want to do. You know, we want to try to get this shot, we're going to do this at this time and stuff like that, and, if I'm positive, shoot the bride at 2pm and the bride they even say that in the makeup chair and we probably doing brighter portraits at 2pm.
Speaker 1:Now everything's thrown off. Now you know what I'm saying. Now I got to, I'm not trying to just sit around, wait on you. So now I got to go OK, let me go do this deal and let me go do this deal and everything, and not just everything just out of sorts and out of whack. So that's why I do say and I say one thing too was I've been trying to push my brides and it's harder, especially with our color brides and stuff like that. They want stuff to be so traditional. But like, like, go out the way with tradition. You know what I'm saying. Like tradition is a tradition for a reason, like you know, you don't have to go about it. Exactly, yeah, exactly.
Speaker 2:That's a big thing for me, because people don't take into consideration why that tradition even existed in the first place. Yes, right there, right there. When the big one for me is, you know my way of photography, I always push the brides and do a first look.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:It gives the photographer more time to get more intimate images. Capture those, you know, that special moment just between you two, those pictures. But you have the brides and want to stick to tradition about not seeing the girls. Yes, the wedding. Nobody can ever explain to me why that secret.
Speaker 1:I don't even know. I was like I don't understand, Like you know what I'm saying and it don't make sense. But what's funny? And not saying it's funny? But you know I've done a few different races, weddings and things like that, Like what, and they do first, look, get it out the way. You know what I'm saying, Do all of that. We'll not have the pictures out, you know.
Speaker 2:Then, what I always try to push the bride in room to see is if you do a first look, that takes away the factor of not seeing each other, yep, and then it gives you more time to, because a lot of times if you're on time, you have more time before the wedding, to get all these images that you need. So if we can get the more images we can knock out before the wedding even start, after the wedding, everything flows even smoother.
Speaker 2:Like I said, I did a wedding up and they did the first look and I had a two hour break and I was working like I'm forgetting something, some things.
Speaker 1:I'm forgetting something, you know like why do I have so much time on my hand right now?
Speaker 2:You know we took all the pictures before the wedding, like every all of them except the family pictures because they weren't there yet. Yeah, got you so literally after the wedding, we snap the family pictures and go to the reception, really get it started. It's part of the time, everything was already done. That's it. I knew that. Like I said, it's always us who wants to do so closer to the decision. Yeah, not even having to understand why it even exists, yep.
Speaker 1:Yep, true that. And then even back then, you, when you think about you know your parents wedding and their parents wedding. I guarantee they wasn't paying a photographer three, four thousand dollars to come. You know what I'm saying so you might can do traditional stuff then, because they wasn't paying. They didn't even have cameras like that. I remember watching my mom wedding video on a, you know, a regular. You know I'm like bro. They had it so easy back then like wedding vendors back then like whatever you give them, that's what you got.
Speaker 2:You feel what I'm saying.
Speaker 1:And it wasn't social media to go bad speak my own stuff like that and everything but now we have to create movies.
Speaker 2:You got to create a movie.
Speaker 1:You know what I'm saying. Like you literally going into it with no strip. You know what I'm saying. You know we got in our head like, okay, I know I'm gonna get this shot. No, I'm gonna get this shot, but then that's what you say. Another thing on time because we want to do, we won't listen, and that's what I try to tell couples. We wanted to look better than y'all wanted to look. You know what I'm saying. Like trust me when I say this, because we're taking this and we're marketing this to other couples. You feel what I'm saying? We wanted to be in the magazine. We want to give you magazine quality images and stuff like that. But it's hard to be creative, like you said, when the timing is already dawned off.
Speaker 2:You know so definitely. Another thing I would say I tell my brides as well to all right, usually what happens is the bride and bridesmaids will be at a particular location. That's where the dress is, sometimes where the flowers are. They want the detail shots but they don't have all the things that they need. They don't have the details. Where's your dress? It's on my leg. Where's his ring? He has it. Why does he have it? Come on.
Speaker 1:Come on.
Speaker 2:I had a bride that asked me once she got her pictures back hey, did you get any pictures of the groom's ring? I was like I asked you for the groom's ring, you said he had it. He didn't get there till it was time to take his picture. So just a forethought and planning. Maybe it's something that we don't think about, but again, that's why we're doing a podcast.
Speaker 1:So right there, right there, and that's honestly when I was thinking I was like bro, I really want to do a podcast where I could speak with people in the industry that does this. So couples and even photographers, beginning photographers, videographers, whatever could kind of have a guide to go by, to kind of what to expect, what to ask from your photographer, what you think we may need. You know what I'm saying. So definitely, man. So, like I said, the biggest thing with me is definitely how you said the timing and definitely the first look. I've been pushing all my couples for first looks because when I tell them that moment, just between y'all two, it means more. You feel what I'm saying, like just y'all had it. I know you want to see. You know, because you got to think about guys, you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 1:I've maybe been to, I've done over a hundred weddings, for sure, you know, and like I may be into maybe three to four of them, you know you see the. You see on Instagram and stuff where the groom's bust down crying and stuff like that. It is rare that that happens, I know. For me personally, like you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 1:I've had it once. One guy might settle up here or something like that, whatever, but like the crying and crying, you know.
Speaker 2:I think that the moment itself would make that emotion come, and not that he just probably seen you last night.
Speaker 1:You know what I'm saying Just seen you last night. Just seen you.
Speaker 2:So I think the moment of you walking out of the aisle is what's really the most of it. I've ever seen you.
Speaker 1:Definitely, definitely, definitely like that moment. But I tell people like, well, first looks not only just thinking about you know our side of things, that's like all right, yeah, we get to go ahead and get these shots out of the way. I mean, that's how we're thinking. You know, I read like man, we get these shots, but like, so, I'm thinking about just the moment in general, as in okay, these two get a chance to kind of just see each other for the first time To me that's more intimate and more special, because you see her, everybody else sees her.
Speaker 2:You see her before everybody else Long time, I think it's like that's more special.
Speaker 1:I think it's beautiful and I tell people because that's another thing I can relate to you on as in, you know we both do photography and videography and that's kind of as the more you see, that's kind of rare, that you know it's a one stop shot, like you have company that does it, but it's not a lot of company that does it to a high level, you know so. So you know we're thinking about the picture side of it, but we're also thinking about the movie side of this too, you know.
Speaker 2:So you have to capture that emotional moment.
Speaker 1:That's the most emotional moment. You know. It's beautiful. It's beautiful, it's beautiful. I know what I have started doing. I tell a couple, a couple couple of days, I like, all right, we can just fake it out. We can fake the first look out there. But listen, and this, this is another thing for couples, like a lot of things, especially if time is of the essence, I tell them we just have to fake that, we had to fake that. Fake your brush. I'm not going to be in there while you get your whole makeup done. I'm not going to do that. I coming at the end, really I coming at you done. You sit back down in the chair. All right, let me get five seconds. That's five seconds of the video, that's. You don't want a hundred pictures of you getting your makeup done.
Speaker 2:You know what I'm saying? I do the same thing. When you're about 10 minutes before I come in, I'll snap a picture.
Speaker 1:Right there.
Speaker 2:Do a quick video clip of her brushing your face Right there.
Speaker 1:Just like that, and we go on to the next thing. You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 2:She doesn't want to see her. It's half made up.
Speaker 1:Yeah, right there, right there.
Speaker 2:You got the contour lines Right there.
Speaker 1:You don't want to see that You're not going to post that picture on Facebook.
Speaker 2:So I'm not even trying to take it. She doesn't want that picture.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so definitely I have to tell couples, like you know we do this and you know I love the couples that let you do your thing, Let you be the professional. You know what I'm saying and I have to tell couples all the time like, hey, you got to let the professionals do their job. You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 2:Like I said, they're in the normal person that's been through over 100. Come on now. Come on, Come on now. So obviously you know talk first. They know we're talking, Come on.
Speaker 1:You know we do this. I got another one tomorrow probably. You know what I'm saying. Like you do this. Definitely coming to your wedding probably got no one to mind.
Speaker 2:You know what I'm saying Like, come on, we do this. I've seen it, seen it. Done it Like definitely.
Speaker 1:Just listen, just trust me. Definitely definitely, man. So so, just talking about weddings and stuff, so we talked about especially you, a wedding portrait photographer. But tell me a little bit of what do you get out the videography side? So when you go into, you got to do pictures and video. Let's just slowly talk about video for a minute. So, like, what are you looking for? Like, what kind of shots are you looking for?
Speaker 2:for your video. I'm trying to. So, like I said, it's a duo, me and my wife. She shoots primary video, Like when we're doing, but when we're doing photo and video, she shoots primary video and basically she is there to capture what's happening. You know, I'm there to, I take pictures and I do the cinematic, the creative shots. So I'll do the creative shots and so when I'm there, video-wise, while I'm taking pictures, I'm looking for any creative angle, any creative effect I can do to add to that video to make it more interesting.
Speaker 2:Got you, got you, got you. One thing I like to do with videos is build the scene. Yeah, so, like I said, we're making movies. So the first thing I want to do is I want people to watch the video. I want them to understand where we are. So will that be a drone shot over the city skate, coming into the venue and inside the venue? The decor, the decoration, the details.
Speaker 2:So I'm building the scene before you ever see a person. So, with that being said, it takes time to capture all those different shots. So a lot of times I get to the venue like a little early. I gotta put the drone in the sky.
Speaker 1:I gotta get all those building shots. I gotta get the details shots.
Speaker 2:One thing I do hate is when it's time to take pictures and the decor is not finished.
Speaker 1:Oh man, listen, I was just gonna say that man, I was like bro, because that sets you back, it set me back.
Speaker 2:They're expecting pictures of decor.
Speaker 1:And the decor not ready yet.
Speaker 2:But when it's time for me to take pictures of you, I could have been taking pictures of decor, but the decor wasn't finished. So that's just another thing. Like you know, bryce might want to ask hey, when you're making your timeline, hey, when's the decor going to be finished? And then compared when the photographer's supposed to get there. That's true. I know that's one thing that probably never happens, but I think it should.
Speaker 1:Yeah, but that's why I say this. Another thing where I really want to get these, you know these type of things off the table because you know and this is not just if you're thinking about booking us, this is for any wedding that you go to, whether you book us or not. You know this stuff that you should really think about Because, like I said, I agree with you so many times that I get there and you know I could go and not do the course shots. Oh well, we ain't finished with that one yet. I only shoot this half of the room, you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 2:I literally had designers say hey, don't shoot anything until I finish.
Speaker 1:I'm like well, you know it's not when you're going to be finished. You know, like you know.
Speaker 2:And then she didn't finish till right before the wedding, so I didn't have time to get shot.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's crazy.
Speaker 2:That's just a planning thing. So if I was a bride, I would tell them to. They're making their timeline out to have an understanding with the designer about when they will finish, and I know a lot of other things taken into consideration, like when the venue and opening, all those things.
Speaker 1:So you know, just something to think about. All right, drew. So one thing I will say that I respect. When you were talking about you and husband and wife team and I told my significant others in the past I was like man, husband and wife teams. Yeah, you know what I'm saying. Like because you don't have to, in my opinion, you don't have to outsource too much and everything you know you get to keep that money in and then you all count on the same page already. So what?
Speaker 2:Basically it's like free labor, free labor. Basically, you know what I'm saying. Hey, come on now, this guy's paying the bills, like oh, you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 1:So tell me what you love about. You know you can tell me the good and the bad if you don't mind. Like, tell me what you think. What's the you know the best thing about being a husband and wife team. What's your take? You know some of the damn files to be so.
Speaker 2:I think that, overall, a husband and wife team is winning yeah, me too, definitely winning. And, above all else, nothing else is better than that. Yeah, when you have something and you have somebody that's on your team, that has your back like I said, you know, you've worked with other people in the past you can't trust anybody more than you trust your wife All right man, it is all right. With that being said, I'm blessed.
Speaker 1:That's what's up Also. Oh man, you can just tell me one thing. You gotta tell me one thing.
Speaker 2:Whatever?
Speaker 1:you say, whatever may be the biggest damn file, you know, a husband and wife team.
Speaker 2:The dynamic of man and woman.
Speaker 1:Yeah, got you, got you. When I'm in my zone working, if I'm in my zone you know how it is when you're in your zone Like, hey, go do this, hey, give me that.
Speaker 2:Go get that shot of the groom, go do the you know my wife's like. Why you talking to me?
Speaker 1:You know what I mean I'm like and you're not looking at it like you know.
Speaker 2:But as me and you like. Ok we got stuff to do, let's do it. You don't really so much focus on how he said it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you know what I mean.
Speaker 2:But for a woman, my wife. I have to make sure that, even in the heat of the moment, I'm like, hey, do you?
Speaker 1:mind.
Speaker 2:Or no? No, that's not right. And then it's like she's a woman, so she's tender so I have to constantly remind myself because I can be a little straightforward and just in my nature, not like I'm trying to be mean or anything, but if I'm like no that ain't right. You know she's not your thing so like but in my mind, like this is not the time.
Speaker 2:Yeah, like right now, can I go through this later, like we've been doing weddings and she can't like not talking to me no more, Like I'm like can you like do that later?
Speaker 1:Oh man.
Speaker 2:We kind of need to be normal. Yeah, I feel that. And she quits like once a week, yeah, once a week, yeah.
Speaker 1:Like I'm happy anymore.
Speaker 2:That's funny man.
Speaker 1:That's funny man, but like I said I definitely, I definitely solution. I seen y'all in action and stuff like that. And, like I said, I'm always, you know, tell people I used to talk to I like her, her and the wife's team. I'm winning, bro, like you know, and I definitely feel that side of it. Do you think that side of it make you be more like just aware of how you working in general? Are you just like you know?
Speaker 2:yeah, I do. It does make me more aware and I didn't even notice it. I didn't even know it was a thing. I didn't even know that how I was, it's just normal to me, so it's important. Since she pointed out the way I am because I could be a little abrasive, yeah See, I would say like when you get attitude, you get away and you got to have attitude?
Speaker 1:I don't feel like I have attitude.
Speaker 2:I'm just working Like it's so much going on up here. I got to capture Hollywood style images and shoot a movie at once, and then you got one time to do this. You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 1:Steven Spielberg.
Speaker 2:I'm like you know what I'm saying and then, like I said, you got it ain't.
Speaker 1:no, it's one take One take, one take, one take. Let's shoot a movie. One take, one take you know what.
Speaker 1:I'm saying and it better come out right and you better capture every angle and every single thing. So I feel it. It definitely a lot of pressure and that's why I tell people. I know a lot of great photographers who hate weddings. You know what I'm saying. I mean I'll never do a wedding and that, that, that I'll be telling them I'll never do this. You know what I'm saying. Like you know, I tell people. Like you know, I'm a wedding photographer but I take pictures on the side. You know what I'm saying, because I take my weddings whole hardly serious and stuff, and don't give me more, I'll take my pictures. See, you know birthday pizza grass.
Speaker 2:But it's different though man. It's different. You're not in a studio shoot movies.
Speaker 1:You know what I'm saying? You're not. It's just like it ain't the same and like knowing that, like I can't explain the feeling when you go back and you look at the shot that you got and you be like, ooh, you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 2:I do it all the time. I do it all the time Like man, I do it all the time.
Speaker 1:I can't explain the feeling when you look at it and you didn't get the shot you be like oh my god.
Speaker 2:You know what? I'm saying the thing that scares me the most, because I've had this happen. Audio oh man, yes, oh man, you didn't get the audio.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 2:I got a wedding and then I got the audio back and it was I mean, you do a test test, one, two, you run it and then, like midway through, you realize that your audio sucks.
Speaker 1:Man, it sucks. It sucks, man, I done done things where I done made the fishing it go, get in the car, go in the closet something and Resay the whole thing. You just say like, just buy as much as you can remember. You're saying I mainly need. You know, we come to you today. You know that I need, like you know, I now pronounce to you I need all of that. Go back and do it and I could try to fake it in there with some shots and stuff like that. Oh, seriously, man, listen, I need that more than anything else. You know I'm saying, cuz I ain't got the audio to fish, I'm like I don't even know where to start. Now. You know I'm saying so definitely audio for sure always, always redundantly, like the pastor.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so I have Regular wireless mics and then I'll put a pocket mic Mmm, just in case one got you, got you, got you.
Speaker 1:That's what's up. That's smart to do, so kind of tell us. You know we'll keep it rolling. But kind of tell us, like what you shoot with what you like to, we're like what tips? So if I was starting out today right, you know, of course you grew your inventory over time and stuff like that but what are the basic things you need to shoot a win?
Speaker 2:Let's say video first yeah, yeah, good audio equipment don't skimp on yeah.
Speaker 1:Because, it can ruin, it can make a break, yeah you have to have good audio.
Speaker 2:You first and foremost. What I tell people all the time is to understand your equipment. Like you, if I have a win and something happens, goes wrong or setting, I'm Gotta know how to fix it.
Speaker 1:Yeah like I said, one take Before it's not even about the gear.
Speaker 2:It just it'd be surprised how many? People have cameras that don't know how to, didn't even know it could do it Like understand your gear. Before I ever purchase any piece of gear, I learned everything about it before I even have it in my hand. That way, when I get that start, I just start doing it because I've already researched, researched it. So when I bought that camera, I shoot with cannon like cannon. I don't have anything. Any other brand is simply because that's the one I bought.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, honestly, I'm the same way. I had bought Micah. That's what I bought first.
Speaker 2:People pit them back and forth with each other.
Speaker 1:But Personal yeah they all have same specs. Yeah, they out there the same. Last time they all game pissed out the same factor. You know I'm saying so yeah.
Speaker 2:Yep so but yeah, for me and operating system that I use is cannon, I enjoy their products and I just I say to anybody who's starting in photography, like, learn your craft, don't pick up the camera and shoot an automatic mode, because that screws you up. Yeah, don't take shortcuts. Learn how to light, learn how about lighting, lighting is lighting is real.
Speaker 1:That's what I tell people. That's how photography is when you shoot.
Speaker 2:Re-shooting a wedding film and you getting this venue is all dark and dim and you got a F, point five, point six and variable to six point three lens. Like you're in bad shape.
Speaker 1:So I would say a brainy video I would, I should be through.
Speaker 2:But I would say to just Like. I feel like wedding photography is more advanced. It's like a Level up from regular photography, because you have to be able to light any situation like any situation In the in the.
Speaker 1:I was, I was like exposed.
Speaker 2:You have to expose every single For anybody who's starting up a camera. I wouldn't definitely start with wedding. I was starting. Yeah how learning my gear?
Speaker 1:Now I learn your firm limitations of what I have. Yeah, you know because you could.
Speaker 2:You could spend as much money as you want on photography, as much as you want. You named the number you can buy, but you don't need all you don't need a, you need a good mic. I would say you need a good, decent camera, a great lens Lenses, everything nice tripod, nice tripod. And now you could add Two of those things, but for the basics.
Speaker 1:Vice versa, what you say well, photography, think that a camera would do kind of a lot of people and I wish I was like that used to kind of be like that. I used to just do natural light stuff like that and everything.
Speaker 2:But then once I start doing flags, If you can shoot flash, you can shoot natural light. But you shoot natural light that doesn't mean you flash, that's very true but knowing how to do both like seven. Everything is about lighting, so If you can light any scenario, obviously we can light natural light. So if you can come in, there and you can go into a venue that's dark, then which most of them? Are and you can learn how to light that scenario, to give, produce good, sharp, clear images like now you're. Now you're getting something.
Speaker 1:That's what. And then, they were good when they hire you, they don't. They don't know nothing about none of this.
Speaker 2:Zero about light. They want good pictures. It's a couple venues that I'm like I should when they book them.
Speaker 1:Oh man, I listen the same way.
Speaker 2:I got one coming up.
Speaker 1:Thank God, it's just video, so I kind of maneuver but I just hate to lay out and everything. That's another thing too. And of course you know couples don't have to come to us about menu selection but you know, you know it's not their, it's not their job, like if they like that venue, then it's our job to make it look good.
Speaker 2:Make it look good, that's what. That's what we're talking about.
Speaker 1:Yeah, right, you right, you right, and I will say this, and we're in this way. I feel like with any type of vendor dealing with weddings, you get what you pay for. You feel I'm saying so if you now you might get lucky and can pay, you know, a small price, and it might come out amazing, you feel I'm saying but 95 and it might not, 90s, it might not. If you want to go to cheaper route, um, you know, definitely you, it's gonna see it, you definitely gonna see. For the most part, the prices around here are pretty much.
Speaker 2:Yep the cheaper photographers may not to be that good, but they may be all right, it's just. And also your standards. Yeah, standards are what good.
Speaker 1:Standards. I think that's the most important thing. Your standards are what good and bad is to understand that if you have high standards Of what your imagery should look like yeah, then you have to understand that it comes at a cost.
Speaker 2:That's true. That's true. Now if you just want somebody to take a picture. You know what I mean? That's true. I heard you, yeah, yeah, that's very true.
Speaker 1:What would you say then, outside of photography, right? What would you say? What I tell I give you my three, what are the most important things at a wedding to make a successful wedding? Just, let's say we give it tips to the couple. I tell people all the time the most important thing to me, because you're gonna get what you pay for on everything, you know photography gonna do that thing. You know the cake gonna do that thing. You know I'm saying you give what you pay for, but to me it would be the DJ and it would be food. Then the top two things to me, you know, say if you want to put number three in there a bar, you know it depends. If you want, you know people to leave fast and all of that, don't have a bar. You want people to get up out of there. As soon as I say I do.
Speaker 2:They might stick around for the first day.
Speaker 1:They don't got on. Damn like, don't have a bar. You feel what I'm saying. So what would you say? And I seen a DJ kill away like. I seen the DJ just play slow music the whole night. Nothing fun. You know everybody's sleeping at the end of the day.
Speaker 2:So what would you say, I will say definitely, dj. And I mean, I feel like if you want your images to look a certain way, then you know the venue matters.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you can't.
Speaker 2:I I can't have it look like Taj Mahal. If you are in, that's true.
Speaker 1:Of course that's true, and I don't know if we can add venue in there.
Speaker 2:So that's very true, yeah, so I'm gonna say venue definitely DJ, dj creation. Like it's some good DJs around here. I know two that are really just top tier and the rest of them just play music.
Speaker 1:Yeah yeah. Can I like the DJs that interact with the crowd. You feel I'm saying like kind of, like a, like a you know mc, for the night on mugs you know that's important, that's important, it's important.
Speaker 2:And when you have a good one, you see how important.
Speaker 1:Yeah, definitely, it's definitely. A couple of these are like y'all better off just plugging y'all phone up.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I could have plugged Pandora up. And yeah, yeah, dj is Spending spending money on a good DJ. These are the things obviously photographers, videographers venue DJ. You should have good food.
Speaker 1:Yeah, definitely, food is important. Yeah, yeah, food is important. Yeah, food is definitely important, so, definitely. So let's last couple of questions. I ain't gonna hold you up too long. Um, it's just some of the tips because, you being able, I haven't never had my own wedding, but you had a wedding. So, looking back at your wedding and now I'm being a wedding professional because when you got married you wasn't doing wedding photography and stuff so, looking back at your wedding and everything, what did you say? Like, all right, we could have saved money on that, we could have did without that. What's something you think you could have did without Without? Yeah, I just saved money, I cut back on. We really didn't need that, we really didn't need this.
Speaker 2:So you know, man see that's hard, because my wedding was simple, I think it was pretty good. I got married at Old Capital Inn OK, our food was amazing because it was by Chef Bruce. Ok, like it was per plate.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it was like it wasn't like on Buffet.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it was chef cooking per plate. I paid $35 a plate for 200 people.
Speaker 1:Oh, that big money, that one guy, but it was good, so it was worth it. Yeah, people still talk about how good it was. Yeah, that's true.
Speaker 2:We had. We didn't have a lot of decorations, but my wife did want real white roses. Yeah, it's just put them on. So I really can't say what I could have done without it, because I feel like we had a really nice win. I will say one thing I wish I had I didn't do video. You didn't do a wedding. We had pictures. We didn't do videography. Yeah, that's the one regret I do have. I wish we had a paid video, and I tell people that today I was like when I got married, everything was perfect, I got good pictures.
Speaker 1:I wish I had video. Yeah, can I get pictures like forever.
Speaker 2:One thing look back and see pictures oh yeah, that was a good moment but the other thing, to look back at the video and watch it and see into the scene again and just relive that. Oh, I forgot about that. Yeah, so I mean, you know, down the road. I feel like video matters. That's what I wish.
Speaker 1:I would have done. That's what I wish I would have done. Y'all see, now you know video is very important, honestly, and it's not just us trying to sell y'all an ad or extra or nothing like that. Like videos are important.
Speaker 2:You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 1:It tells the story of your day.
Speaker 2:Well, I like I say this all the time, I'm like when I talk to clients I'm capturing your memories.
Speaker 1:You know, because, like my wedding was a blur, yeah, like a lot of planning, it was a blur.
Speaker 2:Man, somebody gave me a couple of shots or something, that's it.
Speaker 1:It was nothing I don't know. I mean, I want to see the video, that's true. That's true, definitely that's true.
Speaker 2:Like like I tell people that, whether you be or not, make sure you get those.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's important. It's important and I tell people, you know, especially couples that try to take a moment and, just, you know, enjoy it. Because wedding, especially for wedding couples, it's a job. I don't think we just the ones working, because you got to think y'all get there early, y'all got to catch tongues, you in charge of, you know, overseeing everything, you know you got to take the pictures at this time, then you got to line up at this time, then you got to go through the ceremony, then you got to take post wedding pictures, then you got to do the first dance, then you got to do, you know, daddy, daughter, mom, son, you got to do all of this and then you got to do you got to do toast, and it is a full day job for not only us, before the couple that's doing it too. So in that moment, try to find a time to really just enjoy it and appreciate it. You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 2:Because it flies by I feel like in that instance you should hire a good planner. Yeah, Because they should take all those stresses off you. Yeah, sure I should be just chilling and going with the flow. And then when she says time to do this, I go, yeah, like not me wondering when where how you shouldn't have anywhere.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so I think me and you kind of on the same page One of the most important things to a wedding is a planner, not a friend. That you got that you know, yeah, not your cousin, that you know that. That you know my cousin said she going to help me out. Not you know my mama, because your mama even got stuff to do. Like you know, you want your mama to be able to enjoy a real plan.
Speaker 1:Unless your friend or your mama or your cousin is a real wedding planner that has weddings under her belt. Yeah.
Speaker 2:I will say this it's a lot of people that give themselves titles.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you know yeah.
Speaker 2:The market has become saturated with professionals in every field. Yes, so I will say like you said that has weddings successful weddings under their belt. Yeah, let's see, I want to talk to some people that you planned. Yeah, who did you? You? Know, like references. Any other job you were referencing References?
Speaker 1:Yes, let's see who wedding did you do?
Speaker 2:Yeah, and did you do a good job yeah.
Speaker 1:You might have done them, but did you do a good job.
Speaker 2:So did it? Did it flow smoothly? What have you, you know, talk to, talk to somebody?
Speaker 1:else yeah.
Speaker 2:Hey, so-and-so planned your wedding. How did she do? That's good, because the market is so full of saturate saturated with people who call themselves professionals in this field and they are not you know you preaching, brother, you preaching.
Speaker 1:That's facts, man. So definitely, wedding planning, you know day of coordinates, is definitely important, yeah, yeah. So, man, as I get ready to let you go, man, give me some. You know, just tell me what. What can we expect from FireLens photography in 2023?
Speaker 2:Man, we're just going to try to stay on pace for the amount of weddings that we want to do, that we think we can handle, and also just elevating our craft. I want to get better with my video production. I want to get better with my image quality. I'm like I'm not satisfied. I feel like I'm doing okay but I'm definitely not satisfied, like you're definitely going to see a higher level of professionalism from FireLens photography. Definitely, definitely, definitely.
Speaker 1:Definitely. And then do you think I'm going to get you out here. Do you think that you know, with you having kids, is this something you possibly could pass down to your kids?
Speaker 2:They may take over the brand one day, I'm hoping so I'm hoping so, but I mean, right now I can't even get them to take a picture. So my daughter did tell me she wanted to be a dentist and a photographer. That's what's up. That's what's up there. It is there, it is.
Speaker 1:It was fun. I asked my niece and I'm trying to do better about it this year. I asked my niece I was like you going to be a photographer when you get out? She's like no, photographers don't get to spend time with their families.
Speaker 2:I was like oh man, she got you on them, she got you on them, she got you on them.
Speaker 1:But, man, and just one more question, man. So, like I said, I know we've been giving tips, but you have to just leave a brand that may be thinking about. You know booking with FireLens and stuff like that. Why should they book with you?
Speaker 2:Like I tell people all the time, as far as what we provide, I feel like that we provide clear, crisp, good, professional quality imagery and that style of photography does not go out of style. That's true, that's what we provide.
Speaker 1:That's true, and I co-signed that y'all and trust me, I ain't one of them that I'm not going to co-sign. Anybody Like Andrew could be a witness to myself. I don't just get anybody to cover a wedding for me. You know what I'm saying, like wholeheartedly. But I know I can say, hey, drew, can you shoot this for me? And I already know, like I don't have to worry about nothing. You know what I'm saying, like I ain't got to worry about nothing.
Speaker 1:So he's definitely one of the best I'm going to say. You know, I say local, I say statewide, but you know the one and the best one is out here, honestly. So if you're definitely thinking about, you know, getting married or you know you're looking for a photographer, videographer, one-stop-shop person and just a good person in general, I like to tell my people like all my couples kind of become family. You feel what I'm saying. I've been lucky enough to be able to shoot from surprise engagements to baby showers, to, you know, newborn photography and stuff like that, and so I love seeing just the whole process and everything. But he's definitely one of the best photographers, videographers, just good people out here. So you definitely should book with him and just tell him what they can find.
Speaker 2:You can go to my page FireLensPhotography on any social media platform, or just wwwfirelensphotographycom.
Speaker 1:It is so. Y'all heard it first Gone head book my guy, andrew. Like I said, you getting married this year, you got a wedding coming up. He is definitely one of the top guys out here. Definitely like a man Before it's too late because, listen, trust me coming from me the date is probably already booked already. So you better hit him up right now. He is booked. I booked in 2020, you booked in 2024 already. Yeah, yeah, yeah, book in 2024. So you better get in early, before it's gone. So I got him on the first episode of the Preferred Vendor podcast. I appreciate you, my brother. I'm glad you had me.
Speaker 2:I'm happy to have you on man, listen, listen, listen we got the fire, we got the setup in the studio.
Speaker 1:We share a studio, so this is just the beginning for us. Man, that's God's limit. We'll see y'all on the next episode. Peace.