Yes…it IS very much like my initial post….but I could not resist!!!!!

Tomorrow…I’ll add a few more to show their fun and lighthearted side….Heather & Matthew are a great couple.  They’ll be married in Charlotte, NC October 2009.

I refer to cosmetic retouching when I work specifically with a clients eyes and around them as well.

Here’s a great example of color saturation.

Before…and…after:

Before…and…after:

Before…and…after:

Before…and…after:

To learn more, click HERE!

Mary:  This little man was absolutely fun to follow around for the day.  His has the most incredible eyes!

Mary:  Tony has a great smile and gorgeous eyes…very easy, as in fun, to photograph.  The eyes are just so important to me and one of the biggest draws for me as a photographer.

Megan:  “I love the color in this picture.  The black tuxedos against the yellow background of the house are so vibrant.”

Mary:  I too loved the vibrancy of the yellow house, blue sky and sunny day.  It just screamed to be photographed…

Megan:  “My green eyes are glowing in this image.  It was fun to do some individual pictures prior to the wedding.”

Mary:  Megan’s dress was beautiful but her eyes are stunning.

Megan:  “I love this b&w image of me and my bridesmaid, Gina, getting ready for the wedding.”

Megan:  “This is an amazing picture.  You definitely made me feel pretty in many of these images, thank you.”

Megan:  “My grandmother, Mema, always does the rosary beads during mass.  This image is really touching as my family acknowledges my grandmother as the core strength and foundation of our family.  When I shared my images online there was a lot of response to this image even from people who do not know my Mema.”

Megan:  “This image is beautiful in b&w.  It really captures the moment when we were reciting our vows during the wedding.”

Mary:  I was touched by the expression from the bridesmaid, who also happens to be the groom’s sister, as she watched Megan and Tony recite their vows…capturing it for their wedding collection of images was a must do for me.

Mary:  “I loved the flower girls who were so attentive during the day.”

Megan:  “The blue sky, green grass and even the pipers red kilt are so vibrant in this image.  What a great post wedding shot!”

Megan:  “I love the colors of the blue sky, green dresses and pink flowers in this image.  It looks like it belongs in a magazine.”

Megan:  “Although any beach image is a good image, in my opinion, these illustrate how much fun we were having.  It’s one of my favorites because all of our close friends are with us.”

Mary:  The wedding party, their close friends, were so very easy to pull together and were even willing to do anything I asked….but more than that, they did it with a smile and a sense of fun.  It was a long ten hour day of shooting and at this point, we are close to the end of the wedding for us, the photographers, but you would never know it by the expressions from their friends.  They were totally enjoying the moment with Megan and Tony.  Thanks to a fab wedding party that made my job all the more fun!

Mary:  The flower girls wore the sweetest dresses…and their shoes were so perfect too!  It’s the little ones who are full of the unexpected that keep me on my toes.  You just never know what to expect and I love that part of the wedding day.

Megan:  “Our groomsmen looked so handsome on our wedding day and the ocean background is amazing.”

Mary:  The guys were great all day long…not to mention easy on the camera!  We started shooting them getting ready and I knew as I was photographing the ties being knotted, the ski shooter (which was really cool) and the friendship between them…that it was going to be a fun day.

Megan:  “This might be my favorite image.  A moment of intimacy and happiness.”

Megan:  “When Mary tells you when the lighting will be perfect for beach images, listen to her.  I love the way the sky looks in these images.  Mary was whipping out different camera lenses as the day progressed in order to capture the moment.  These images make us feel like we are back on the beach at our wedding reception.”

Mary:  I love the beach for many things, wedding photography being high on the list.  Usually, it’s all about color to me…color images on the beach I mean.  However, the image above I turned to sepia just so I could draw more attention to the emotional element of the image.  That’s what b&w or sepia images do, they draw attention to emotions and feelings.  This is one of my fav images of the day.  It’s a real moment, an Ah Moment! to me as I see the expression on Megan’s face as a response to Tony’s kind and gentle caress.    You two were great to work with….Thank You!

I found myself speechless.  In my mind, I couldn’t put together a short and sweet response.  My first thought was, “Isn’t it obvious”?  I don’t mean that in a vain manner though.  Still, after a weeks time had passed, that answer just doesn’t really say a whole lot about what I do, how I do it and how much time, energy, thought and passion goes into what I do as well as other professional photographers.  I found a better explanation while perusing a new website, Professional Child Photographer,  and immediately, I knew that a more formal response to this legitimate question was needed.  Please read the article below.  It will help explain why professional photography prices are what they are.  A huge THANK YOU goes out to Marianne Drenthe for writing this article and allowing members of the professional photography community post this on their website to help educate those looking to hire a professional photographer.  More informing articles can be found on the Professional Child Photographer website as well.

Why Does Custom Photography Cost More?

Digital technology is brilliant.  The digital revolution has brought amazing flexibility and amazing amounts of control for the photographer, the hobbyist, the professional, the amateur.  With flexibility comes a price though.  Camera equipment is still considerably more expensive when you factor in its’ lifespan, the need for additional resources for processing those images, the time it takes to get a usable image and the effort that goes into all of this.

Even though you pay $1.99 for a print at your local drugstore and paying for film is pretty much a thing of the past (although you still pay for memory)  you may be wondering why you may pay upwards of $40, 50, 70, 90 for a custom photography print. Some photographers hear this statement every once in awhile:

“How in the world can you charge $60 for an 8×10 if it costs me less than $2 to print at the local drug store?”

The answer is multifaceted and has a lot to do with the time, aforementioned equipment costs, artistic vision and reputation of the photographer, expertise and the usual costs of running a legitimate business.

TIME of the CUSTOM PHOTOGRAPHER:

Approaching it from a time standpoint, for instance let’s imagine if you will that you have hired a photographer who has work that you love and that is travelling an hour to your on location session.  TIme break down:

• session prep time (30 mins - 1 hour, includes equipment and back up equipment checks + vehicle checks)
• one hour travel time TO session
• 15-30 minutes prep time at client’s home
• 90 minutes-2 hours with client photographing subject
• one hour travel time FROM session
• 30-45 minutes uploading time from digital cards from camera to computer
• 30-45 minutes time spent backing up the original images
• 2-5 hours editing time to present you with a diverse gallery of edited images
• 1 hour prep time getting ready for ordering
• 2-3 hours time with client for ordering images
• 1 hour sorting through and checking order
• 30 minutes-1 hour prep time for delivery
• 30 minutes-1 hour getting order shipped
• any additional phone time or time needed for add on ordering, shipment issues, quality issues

As you can see, average client time for a session ranges from just under 13 hours to 19 hours dependent on the photographer’s level of service.  This is time dedicated only to your session.  When the photographer charges $150-$300 for the photo shoot you are not just paying for the two hours of session time, you are paying the photographer for 12-19 hours complete time for your session.

COSTS of the CUSTOM PHOTOGRAPHER:

Regarding equipment costs, a good quality professional camera with a selection of good optical quality lenses and digital storage mediums and computer set up can run from $10,000-$30,000 costs dependent on the photographer.  Even though you can purchase a really good quality digital SLR for about $2100 there are still other costs related to photography.  A good lens for portrait photography can run up $900 to $2500.  A dependable computer system with software loaded for business and creative usage can run $2500 to $8000 dependent on the photographer.

Then come lab costs for specialty products.  A good photographer knows the lab is integral to their success.  Photography labs dedicated to the professional photographer  often cost more and offer a range of products that allows the custom photographer to continually offer new, innovative products for you, the discerning client.

Discussion other costs of running a photography business could take awhile so we’ll skip the intricate details.  There is of course much more: including costs of running the business, taxes, studio rental/mortgage if the photographer has ownership of a dedicated studio, vehicular costs, costs of advertising/marketing, costs of sample pieces that the photographer will likely bring to your session, etc.

APPLES to ORANGES:

Often times clients will mention to their photographer that X studio in the mall/department store only charges $25 for an 8×10 or they may mention other things related to discount photography chains.  The fact is those discount chains make their money on volume, not on customized 1:1 service.  According to several articles at the time, did you know that in February 2007 a rather well known discount department store that started in Arkansas closed down 500 of their portrait studios across the nation?  The reason is simple, you cannot make money on 99¢ “professional” prints if you do not sell enough of them.  Interestingly enough - those same studios that offer the loss leader packages often charge much much more for their a la carte pricing (as high as $40-50 for an 8×10).  The whole reason the big department stores began offering portrait studios in the first place was to get you, the savvy consumer, in through their door so that you could spend more money with them in other departments.  Your “PORTRAITS” are considered the true “loss leader”.

Going to a chain studio, as a consumer, you don’t have the benefit of 1:1 attention for 2 hours at your home where your child is allowed to explore, play and be comfortable in their home environment, nor do you get the experience that many custom photographers are known for or the lovely captures of natural expressions.  You simply get a bare bones, “SAY CHEESE” experience.  Keep this in mind when selecting a photographer.

REPUTATION/EXPERTISE of the PHOTOGRAPHER:

Being in demand, being well known for quality work, having a good reputation often costs time on the photographer’s part.  Their expertise comes at a cost, their time learning their craft and learning the intricacies of lighting and the commitment put forth on their end to create a persona about their business that oozes professionalism.  A great number of photographers go a very long time from the time that they purchase their first good camera to making money at the business of photography.  Many photographers, when first starting out, rush in thinking that the business will be easily profitable in no time, how expensive could it be to get a camera and use it to create their dream?  They often neglect to factor in the cost of business, the cost of equipment, software, back ups, etc..

Being of sound reputation, a better professional photographer knows that they must always reinvest in their business to create the reputation of being top notch.  To create good work good equipment, reliable equipment, back up equipment is a necessity.  The photographer who desires to be known as better/best/unparalelled reputation-wise knows that the most important thing they can do for their business is reliability and dependability.  This is how reputations get built.  Good work often is a wonderful side product of building that good reputation.

I hope this (lengthy) article helps shed some light on WHY a custom photographer is a better choice for your family’s memories.  The photographs that are produced as a result of the professionalism and dedication that your photographer has will be cherished for a lifetime (or more) and great thought and consideration should be placed into hiring who is right for your family’s most precious investment.

content is inspired by discussions with other photographers, my own personal experiences as well as a well an outline based on an article by San Diego Photographers Caught On Film Photography

author:  Marianne Drenthe

website:  www.professionalchildphotographer.com for more information