Your family and your memories are as important to me as they are to you. I know the importance of capturing your kiddos at their important stages. Of getting your whole family together for that perfect fall image!
Picking a Professional Photographer is a big decision. What are you actually paying for when you choose someone and how do you narrow it down?
Photography is their livelihood. They are working to help put money into their family.
A Professional Photographer is someone who went to school for photography. They continue to spend the time and money to keep learning at conventions and seminars throughout the year.
They are PASSIONATE! Not to say someone else isn't passionate about their craft, but your Professional Photographer does everything listed above to make sure you get the portraits you will love for a lifetime!
They know their stuff! They have gone to school and continued education about everything from camera settings and studio lighting to tricks to get smiles! Its important not to get a bunch of okay ones, but to get you GREAT ones you can hang on your wall and be proud of!
How do you pick a Professional Photographer?
Picking a Professional anyone is simple. You have to be comfortable with them first of all. Talking to them on the phone or in person is best, but an email will give you a good idea of who they are too.
Second, you have to be comfortable with their prices. You know what you can and want to spend to update your portraits. So do your research, but be open! You might not know you want something until its in front of you. You might not know how much you've wanted an album of your kiddo until you see one made up! Do not let yourself be boxed into one thing or idea until you've seen what else is out there!
Your Photographer LOVES to hear that you saved up a little simply to come to them. It makes our hearts soar! Photography is a luxury item, and trust me, photographers know that! We would love you to come back every 6 months but we also know that's not exactly reasonable. When we know you've been planning your shoot for a long time and have done your research and have chosen us it is an amazing feeling!
Print vs Digital
As a Professional Photographer I seek out clients who understand and appreciate the "value" of an amazing photograph. Photography can be one of the most meaningful investments you make in your lifetime! Photographs can capture "once in a lifetime" events or simple that stage in life you can look back on. I work with each client to individualize their session to their wants/needs and make it a special experience for them. My goal is to capture images that show the individuality of each of my clients, the personality of their family and the joy of being where they are at that moment in their lives. I attend seminars and conferences throughout the year to learn and grow my craft and there is one thing I hold dear to my heart. That is the importance of printing your photographs. There are many clients that ask me first thing if I offer digitals. I have chosen to explain this particular "investment" so my clients and future clients know why I don't ONLY offer digital files from your session. Why should you invest in prints?
Why PRINT and not DIGITAL?
ONE: I have chosen a Profession Lab to order my prints, canvases and other products from. They back up their products and work side by side with me on numerous things on a weekly basis. (its not just any old drug store down the street that will spit out anything that comes their way...)
TWO: I borrowed this phrase from another photographer,... 'I have NEVER gone to someone's home and seen a disk hanging on their wall or had someone say "I love my new disk!" '
THREE: I stand behind my prints, but I can not promise you that your disk of images will still work in 5 or 10 years. There may not even be computers with disk drives in 2 years! Your wall portrait, however, will withstand the years and be a beautiful keepsake for your family!
FOUR: I care!
I CARE that you get the quality that you pay for
I CARE that you take home a Wall Portrait to hang and share and that brings you joy daily!
I CARE that I capture those once in a lifetime moments and the best customer service I possibly can.
Finally - I DO offer digital files if my clients truly want them. My digital files are fully retouched, color corrected and sized so that when you do print them they print at the quality you deserve.
* My clients spend anywhere from $500-$2000 on their session. This gets them all the things their hearts want!
Please contact me for more information on session information and pricing.