All images © Davide Greene

Success stories are always satisfying to learn about.  This is especially true when the “star” of the story has overcome serious adversity to achieve his or her goals.  Canadian wedding photographer and longtime Photoworkshop.com member, Davide Greene, is one such figure.  Davide credits what he describes as his Photoworkshop.com family with the support and inspiration that helped him get through a painful and difficult experience with bankruptcy several years ago.  

From a personal low where he lost everything, including his house, he has become a highly successful wedding photographer who now can boast of booking $15,000 in wedding commissions.  I had the opportunity to interview Davide shortly after he released his wedding photography workshop DVD, “The Real Deal Wedding Photography Workshop” (http://www.idavide.tv/).

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Jerry Currier:  Davide, you recently announced the release of your new wedding photography workshop DVD, “The Real Deal.”  The promotional material for this states in part, "In this DVD Davide Greene presents in a real down to earth, conversational style the exact reasons he has been so successful and gives you the resources and tools to do it for yourself … contains so much more than the standard fare that is out there … the 'watch the photographer shoot' instructional videos" What made you decide to create this video?

Davide Greene: I feel so lucky to have been able to achieve such a level of financial success while creating a body of work that I’m passionate about.  I’ve had the opportunity to share my ideas and inspiration in workshops and one-on-one consultations with other photographers and I wanted to be able to share with a larger number of people than I have been able to reach in person.

JC: The promo states that “The Real Deal” offers more than the standard fare.  Could you give us a hint of what the buyer might expect?

DG: I present a very open, honest, down-to-earth approach.  I actually share all the core elements that have made my business a success, from mind set, to dealing with clients, marketing to the right clients, the need to define style, the key elements, the right couples, first contacts, building relationships, contracts, workflow and marketing … all the main ingredients to building a successful business and maintaining your passion for it while avoiding burnout.


JC: You have said that you like get very close to and become friends with the bride and groom as well as getting to know them and their families.  Looking at the images you have posted on your web site, it’s obvious that this approach is very successful.  What made you decide on a more “intimate” approach as opposed to the formality of the “standard fare?”  

DG: I really believe that wedding photography should be approached from a very personal level—one in which the photographer must invest himself or herself honestly.  This is essential to create valid and authentic images.


JC: Your website mentions your background in graphic design, commercial and fashion photography.  You now have a flourishing wedding photography business with clients in eight countries around the globe.  What was it that made you decide to focus on wedding photography?

DG: After years of shooting both commercial and fashion photography and going through my own personal crisis, I came to the realization that even though these forms of work were interesting, they seemed disposable by nature.  True wedding photography is not in any way disposable.  It is important and matters.  It is my personal work and is something that I can invest myself in 100%.


JC: In a recent comment posted to the Photoworkshop.com Forum, you state, “…my Photoworkshop.com family has been there all along and supported me from the start of my growing career and while I was going through some of the toughest times of my life.  I am so thankful for my family here and for all the inspiration I received to keep following my passion.”  With that in mind, could you tell us when you became a Photoworkshop.com member and what your reasons were for joining?

DG: In the mid-1990s, I signed up for Photoworkshop.com before it ever launched!  I was a fan of Robert Farber’s work and was very excited that there was finally going to be an online resource and community for photographers who wanted to develop their skills and knowledge.


JC: Would you recommend Photoworkshop.com to others who are seeking to improve their photographic skills and also get help with the business end of photography?

DG: Definitely.  The amount of resources that you find within Photoworkshop.com are invaluable and the community of photographers that share both their work and business skills really help you as you grow.


JC: Davide, thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to share your thoughts and experience with Double Exposure readers.  

Davide’s blog at http://davidephotographer.blogspot.com/ contains many images that illustrate his philosophy of a personal connection with the wedding couple and offers an insight to the man himself. It's well worth checking out.   

From a business standpoint, “Real Deal Wedding Photography Workshop," Davide’s newly released DVD, is a valuable resource from which wedding/portrait photographers at any experience level can benefit.

See more of Davide's work at www.idavide.com, and at http://davide.photoworkshop.com.

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