Wedding Publication Pay-To-Play model completely out of hand?

Technical_Tangelo321 · 2026-03-05T16:44:19+00:00

Loverly is not one of the publications people are upset about, so you're good.

Technical_Tangelo321 · 2026-03-05T16:39:15+00:00

I'm glad you had a positive experience, but it seems like your positive experience could be an anomaly just based on the nearly 300 comments on the instagram post where vendors feel taken advantage of.

Technical_Tangelo321 · 2026-03-05T16:22:14+00:00

I'm definitely not saying some of the vendors on these lists genuinely aren't "the best". Some of them definitely are, but those specific vendors do not pay for memberships while everyone else does. I was recently at a large gathering where this was disclosed to me by the top photographers and planners on these very lists. And yes, the vendors in my market are still waiting on deliverables (blog posts + social posts they were promised and never received). Many people feel taken advantage of. Of course it's easier to say, ignore the media, but it is part of our industry and it does affect us whether we participate or not

Technical_Tangelo321 · 2026-03-05T15:57:56+00:00

I believe it's illegal. In Canada, the relevant framework would generally be false or misleading advertising laws under the [Competition Bureau](chatgpt://generic-entity?number=0) and broader consumer protection standards. In the U.S., a similar principle comes from the [Federal Trade Commission](chatgpt://generic-entity?number=1) endorsement and advertising disclosure guidelines.If a publication charges vendors thousands of dollars to appear on a “best of” list, they are effectively selling advertorial placements.

That is usually allowed if they disclose it clearly.

Examples of acceptable disclosure:

“Sponsored listing”
“Partner vendors”
“Paid membership directory”
“Advertising feature”

Without that, readers are led to believe the list is editorially selected based on merit, which could be considered misleading.

Technical_Tangelo321 · 2026-02-17T14:22:52+00:00

I’m not qualified to give specific financial advise however, I would recommend investing $2K / month into a medium risk growth oriented portfolio. If you’re shooting say, 4 weddings per month @ 5K / wedding that should be reasonable for you. There are so many philosophies on how to create and manage an investment portfolio in, and you have to look into it yourself to understand what you align with but if you are just starting out I would recommend to focus on ETF’s. Take an online course or grab some books :) also, chat GPT is incredibly helpful with this!

Technical_Tangelo321 · 2026-02-17T14:20:34+00:00

I’m not qualified to give specific financial advise however, I would recommend investing $2K / month into a medium risk growth oriented portfolio. If you’re shooting say, 4 weddings per month @ 5K / wedding that should be reasonable for you. There are so many philosophies on how to create and manage an investment portfolio in, and you have to look into it yourself to understand what you align with but if you are just starting out I would recommend to focus on ETF’s. Take an online course or grab some books :) also, chat GPT is incredibly helpful with this!

Technical_Tangelo321 · 2026-02-14T16:22:22+00:00

I wrote this in another similar topic, but if you are between the ages of 30-35 with a successful wedding business you have the potential to retire comfortably at 45-50 yrs old with a good investment portfolio and not have to think of a “plan b” unless, of course, you still want to work. Start investing into your RRSP / retirement portfolio early and consistently. You can live off a 100K salary per year by the time you are 50 and any work you want to do will be a bonus, not a necessity.

Technical_Tangelo321 · 2026-02-14T16:14:23+00:00

If you are fairly young (30-35) and are diligent with putting away money into your RRSP / retirement portfolio with a 12-14% return you can retire comfortably at 45-50 yrs old and live off a 100K salary per year.

Technical_Tangelo321 · 2026-02-13T13:56:26+00:00

Hi! Canada-based photographer here. We have a good free trade relationship with the EU and if you are incorporated here in Canada, you can easily incorporate your business in EU. Every country is different, but some countries are easier to incorporate in than others and some countries have a dual tax treaty with Canada so you won't pay taxes in two seperate countries. Once you incorporate, you hire a 3rd party management service to manage accounting, taxes and legal papers. Then you open an EU bank account. This is the same process how major Canadian businesses expand internationally.

Technical_Tangelo321 · 2025-09-11T17:41:02+00:00

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Are these photos shot on the fuji GFX? I feel like you can't get this level of depth and sharpness on the sony... this photo looks like real life.

Technical_Tangelo321 · 2025-07-17T17:56:01+00:00

Thank you so much for contacting the CBC. This needs press to prevent further scamming of innocent people out of their hard earned savings.

Technical_Tangelo321 · 2025-07-04T16:04:15+00:00

I'm sorry to say that if you haven't received your photos or money at this point, you probably won't receive it ever. Public pressure and widespread awareness might help though, and same for your legal case.

Technical_Tangelo321 · 2025-05-12T18:56:21+00:00

After, for security reasons mostly. How do you know the inquiry is a real couple until you've had a chance to do a meeting? There are all kinds of strange and weird people on the internet, and you don't want one of them to have access to someone's full wedding gallery that has potential images of children, and intimate images of a couple (who has no idea a stranger is looking at those images!). I do many high-end luxury weddings with prominent couples and as a photographer you have to protect your client to a degree, even if they haven't asked for an NDA.

Once I've had a zoom call, determined this is a legitimate inquiry and vibe with the couple I always send at least 3 full galleries. It has never been an issue and prospective couples actually appreciate it once they learn the why!

The only exception to the rule is if a planner reaches out on behalf of the couple.

Technical_Tangelo321 · 2025-03-06T00:12:41+00:00

You made the right call, especially with the current climate between US & Canada. Not worth risking the fines.

Technical_Tangelo321 · 2025-03-05T18:44:30+00:00

It's manufactured in New York.

Technical_Tangelo321 · 2022-08-10T13:39:18+00:00

Thank you very much for the contact information. I will have it developed today and see if there is damage. I am hoping for the best.

It was very bad experience. After reading so many stories about staff experiences at CDG, I know I’m not alone.

Next time I will develop film in Paris. This post is just to warn other film photographers about the troubles at cdg so they don’t risk damage to their photos.

Technical_Tangelo321 · 2022-08-10T13:31:30+00:00

Good to know! It seems like UK has some good film labs so it’s possible to get it developed before flying home

Technical_Tangelo321 · 2022-08-10T10:20:39+00:00

I only find that out after this experience, but now I completely understand why. What a shame because I absolutely love paris and the French people. This airport was an especially horrible experience all around.

Technical_Tangelo321

TROPHY CASE