Tales of a Super Hero Pro Wedding Photographer

by Bill Collins

Copyright John William Collins 2014






 table of contents


 Tales of a Super Hero Pro Wedding Photographer
 table of contents
 dedication
 Chapter One -- The Early Years of Shooting Film
 Chapter Two -- Oh,  What I've Seen
 Chapter Three -- To Small Claims Court We Go
 Chapter Four -- Recalling Experiences
 Chapter Five -- Going Digita
 Chapter Six -- This Is The End, Time To Retire
 Chapter Seven -- My Master Wedding Post List
 Chapter Eight -- Testimonials From Report Cards
 Chapter Nine -- ProWeddingPhotos.com's About Me Page
 Chapter Ten -- ProWeddingPhotos.com's FAQ Page
 Chapter Eleven -- 14 Web Site Articles I Wrote
 Chapter Twelve -- Catholic News Service Nationwide Article
 Chapter Thirteen -- all wedding dates from 2006 thru 2010









 dedication


I dedicate this book to my wife, Sue, whom I love dearly, as much as life itself.

And to the memory of my mother, Oma Richie Collins, who made the world a better place to live while she was here.  As sweet a woman as you'll ever meet.

Bill






 Chapter One

 The Early Years of Shooting Film


INTRO:  Buckle up your seat belts.  We are off on a wild ride down memory lane through my world as a professional wedding photographer for about 45 years.  Very few people ever get a peek into what we see, do and encounter in carrying out our wedding assignments over the years.  I'm inviting you to enjoy just such a peek into my world and to see it through my eyes.

My Dad, Cy Collins, of Connersville, IN., was a most creative part time photographer when I was growing up. He was a tool and die rebuilder\repairman for Stants Manufacturing Company and an extremely good wood carver, too. When I was growing up, my bedroom windows were covered over on the outside with thick black tar paper and was pitch black inside when the light were turned off.  Dad used my bedroom as his darkroom to develop and print the photos he took.  (I grew up never afraid of being in the dark!)  I was never nearly as creative as my Dad was.  I became an accomplished photographer and was techniquely spot on in all I did, but not anywhere as creative as Dad was.

In Dad's day and age, during the 1940's and 50's, people didn't hire photographers to go to the church to photograph their weddings.  At best, they would stop by our house following the ceremony and have a couple of photos taken of themselves in their wedding attire.