I need to pay WHAT for a photographer?

I've given this post a lot of thought, us "photographers" have all thought about this a LOT! It's the question of money. And what we charge. In this world we live in of everyone having a "decent" digital camera, anyone and everyone can be a photographer. But once you start doing photography as a business you have to start charging and what is a "correct" fee? Surely charging for the amount of work you do, your training, equipment, leased building, utility bills, insurance, transport, not to mention props (OH Esty I love you but hate you so much too). The majority of clients don't realize the real price of being a photographer, yes we stand there making your kids laugh and playing silly games, laugh and look like we are having a great time (and for the most part we are) but lots of work goes into that before your shoot.

I personally spend a good few hours planning your shoot, making props, choosing the location, choosing backdrops, working out poses. And just thinking about your shoot, what you want, and how I can give you the best images possible.

 I think  because of places like walmart, portrait innovations, sears etc, who bombard people with flyers offering next to nothing shoots,that people don't really realize the true cost of GOOD photography, but if the truth be told it is very seldom that anyone walks away just paying that base cost. And then there is social media, every second mom who has a camera thinks she is a photographer. she does it "on the side" snaps a few shots on the camera her hubby brought her for Christmas, puts them on a disk and charges you $100. win/win right? Is it? Have you asked if the person wrapping your baby in fairy lights has any training, yes she saw this cute idea on pinterest, but are those lights safe if "little Billy" bites into them with his shinny new chompers? Or if she drops her big heavy camera on the floor is she insured?Ore better yet drops it on you or your baby. Or if your newborn, wedding, cake smash photos just "don't come out", what will be the result? Oh and what about paying taxes, is she declaring that "extra" money she makes, yes it doesn't sound like a lot a few hundreds dollars here and there, but if everyone does that???
And now HERE is THE REAL reason why we charge more...... editing! if you are a photographer or follow one you will know that most of us spend hours and hours usually in the late hours of the night editing. We often network with each other and often our posts say, " Who's still up editing with me?" We remove your spots, make all of you look like you have the best skin, white, perfect teeth, a sparkle in your eyes,that the world you are in is a perfect fantasy land. THAT is why you pay us, because we can make you look the best you ever have. We buy actions and soft wear, and special brushes, watch tutorial after tutorial, on how to do the latest looks, and then we get someone who says, "Can you remove the haze?", The very haze that cost $100 in soft wear, hours in training and lots of practice to get "just right".

Don't get me wrong, I'm a mom with camera too! I also started with my husband buying me a nice dslr. But I have art training, and I have worked HARD to learn all I can, I have been back to college, I do online courses, I read, and read, and practice and make sure I know all I can, both for my art and legally. I network constantly and ask advice. Basically I live, eat and sleep photography.

Then printing. OK cvs/costco/target have great prices on prints, but have you ever printed a photo at a professional printer and one at these places and compared them? These photos are going to adorn your walls would you not rather have something that looks exceptional than mediocre? Also professional printing is usually guaranteed against fading for 20+ years, are your cheap prints? And yes you do have them on disk and you can print them later, but remember those old floppy disks......
I am always amazed at clients who spend a fortune on outfits, haircuts, nails, for a shoot but then try cut me down on price. You should hire a professional who knows what  they are doing, who can make you look awesome in just normal clothes, who works with you, knows what you want and who would be more inclined to try do more for you if you valued them enough to pay me what  they are worth.

Professional photography is a luxury, it is, but why shouldn't you have a keepsake of someone you love, isn't good photography going to last longer that a expensive pair of shoes, or a new purse?

Come follow me.....

Learning....

About 2 years ago a friend asked me to "do a shoot", her family was visiting and she wanted photos of all of them. NO! I'm not a photographer! She's a very convincing friend and eventually I agreed, I loved, she loved the photos, I loved everything. I'm going to be a photographer!
Now just so you know, I studied art for a long time, I'm bossy, I know how to use my dslr, so I wasn't starting totally from scratch, but I had a LOT to learn.
It's been an adventure, I've made tons of mistakes, cried a lot, screamed a lot, laughed a lot, made some great friends, and lost some.
I've lost important photos, not had enough memory cards, not had enough batteries, and vowed to give up this career.
I naively though "I'm good on a computer, how hard can photoshop be?", my supportive husband brought me cs5 and for 2 weeks I ignored it, then installed it and cried, and cried I didn't even know what a layer was. I left it alone and did a mini course at my local community college, I now knew what a layer was, and I was off, courses, YouTube, Lynda.com, friends, I worked and worked and worked.
The biggest thing I have learnt is don't compare your work to others, yes admire there work, get inspiration, but don't compare. It just gets you down.
There have been so many times, when I'm still up editing at 3am, when I have no money left in my business account, when what I thought looked amazing wasn't what my client wanted that I have wanted to give up, often thinking "I could make more money working as a cashier somewhere.", when I have tried so hard, I'm so tired, stressed, worried that I wonder why I do this? I loved photography when it was just for fun, when the results didn't matter, but then I get a email saying, "I would like to schedule a appointment with you, 2 of my friends had their photos done with you and they raved about you, I have seen the photos and all I can say is , WOW!" Or I get a review on facebook/yelp/my webpage and it keeps me going.
Almost weekly I get someone saying I wish I had your job, I want to be a photographer, YES, do it, but be prepared it take Hard, hard work, you can do it!It's not just a case of knowing how to take a good photo (I originally thought that!) You have to know how to edit those photos, watch the latest fashion trends, find great locations, have good props, be part of the local community (This really helps for locations), using social media ( I have Facebook, twitter, tunblr, flicker, LinkedIn, blogger, a website.....), managing your time, dealing with clients and resolving problems, and still trying to keep it fresh!
I love people to be happy, I love the art in photography, I love having so much more to learn, I love my job.

Cape Town Township

South Africa is beautiful, we as tourists, even though I was born in this beautiful country usually only see the affluent side, my children and us live in America and have a great life, the worst thing that happens to them is we have a storm and loose the internet. With this in mind I felt I needed them to see how less fortunate children live and are happy. As a artist I have always loved finding beauty amongst poverty, I love to see the human spirit, to see despite having nothing we still see beauty, we still keep trying, we still have pride. I sat in this home, the walls were peeling, the floor had long ago lost it's covering, but it was spotless, it had been swept and swept again, the dust being swept out to join the dirt outside, a woman was washing her clothes in a basin in the corner, looking out the window as she did it, seeing her neighbors clothes flapping in the wind outside, the gorgeous sun peeking in her window, the room was sad, gloomy and depressing, but there  was one window, "a window of hope", with plants growing on it, a attempt to make the room look better, a symbol of pride, something to look at to ignore the sadness around you.

 My children were scared to go on the tour, they had heard the stories and thought they would be mugged. The opposite was true, we were welcomed. The children played with them, the families welcomed us into their homes. I loved seeing so many people trying so hard, the lady running a creche in Langa, so Mom's have somewhere safe to leave their children while they go look for work, kids playing with Dad's in the street, yes people are so very poor but they have hope, they are resilient, they find a way. These people need a change, they need opportunities, they need teachers in the schools, There are thousands of children going to school here each day, but most of the schools are under equipped, their teachers under educated or overworked, This is where help needs to go. I looked around and saw, genius, people making a home out of nothing, of entrepreneurship, they want to learn.

Our guide, Jimmy Matthews, via our tour group, had himself been born in Langa, he had bettered himself, he wanted to do more, and more and more. He was extremely knowledgeable, and despite his start in life has risen up to be a amazing person.

Never date/ befriend a photographer

o  On a date, don’t wait for a sunny day to go on a picnic, instead wait until it’s overcast and gloomy.

o  They rather hold their bulky camera, than hold hands with you.

o  They overload their camera bag “just in case” on a vacation, and then want you to carry it for them.

o  You can never go on a date with them until after the sun has set, because that’s “the GOLDEN hour”

o  You’ll never be able to enjoy TV, movies, or magazines because they’ll point out all the visual flaws.

o  When you think they’re giving you their undivided attention, they’re really wondering how they could fix you with a little Clone Tool and Patch Tool, and if the catchlights in your eyes would highlight well.

o  They rather drop $1,000+ on new glass than like most girls get a new purse, unless it can carry a dslr.

o  They can’t take a photo with them without taking at least five more.

o  They spend all their time on the computer (and not for porn.)

o  They spend a lot of time with people cooler than you

o  They won’t return your calls or text messages, but you can bet they’re still posting photos on Facebook.

o  They like looking at weird things in general.

o  They will go somewhere and have serious lens envy.

o  Everything is watermarked.

o  They like trespassing into old abandoned buildings filled with health hazards.

o  They always want to show a new photo they took, but don’t really care if you like it or not.

o  They’ll take you into places that have “culture" as well a high chance of getting mugged.

o  Your birthday present will be a portrait that they’ve taken of you.

o  They will always bug you to be a test subject.

o  Bringing their camera means, bringing 50lbs of equipment.

o  You can’t get them a birthday/Christmas present without spending at least $500

o  They are natural hoarders, collecting and keeping piles of old newspapers, packaging, magazines, and “vintage” items.

o  You go shopping and they pick up odd things to “put a baby” in!

o  They are weird and geeky.

o  They have hard drives of photos, but probably have printed 10 images.

o  If you’re ever in auto mode, they laugh at you.

o  While they are talking to you, they are thinking, “how could I pose him?”

Vintage cars!

Sometime us "arty" types get tired, I don't mean just physically, I mean artistically, our profession becomes a bit of a chore and we need inspiration. Well tonight I got it! I planned a evening of editing clients photos, but as I drove home I saw South Lyon main street was packed with vintage cars, music blaring and fair food, Apparently this is happening ever Wed evening from now through September. I raced home, grabbed my camera bag and even though cars aren't my thing had a ball! Hope you like the results, please comment below.

Wedding lists

I decided to write this post to help brides know how to prepare their photographer for a wedding. It's all about organization! Your wedding photos are the main thing you have to remember your day. So organize, and plan them. 
I am pretty flexible and even if my contract says 5 hours I usually stay longer, to get the shots in the contract. But if you want specific shots make a list. It is essential to make a list of all the people you want in formal photos, how you want people put together, eg bride, groom and brides Mom, bride and mom, bride and day, bride and step-mom, etc. And  put their name in.Try make sure you don't leave dear Aunt Mildred out, or step family,weddings can be a time of healing fences so include all family.
Make a schedule and stick to it. If you have booked you photographer for 5 hours and you want specific events photographed make a schedule.  GIVE a copy to the wedding organizer, the photographer, your Matron of Honor, your best-man and then tell your guests where and who will be in the formal photos and when they will take place, eg "Formal wedding photos will take place at the park on Beaumont Road after the ceremony, immediate family and the wedding party will proceed there and all other guests will proceed to the reception."
Also if you have any specific poses you want, or photos with items, put those in a bag/box, put your lists on a clipboard in that box too.
The more you communicate with your photographer the better, I don't mean text them constantly, but do write down exactly what you want and give it to them.
There will always be photos you wish you had got, the ill child, the invalid grandma, if you work with your photographer they will usually be able to make some extra time to take photos of those people a few days later, but this is a favor so you need to work round their schedule.
And last but not least, your photographer is editing YOUR photos, be nice to them.
 You can find more about my photography here
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Kit for weddings

I often get asked what essential you should have in your Kit for a wedding.I'm sure I will forget something on the list, so feel free to add in the comments! 

•  Comfortable shoes (yes you are at a wedding, but your feet will ache at the end of the day) 

• At least 2 cameras, even if your back up camera is a simple point and shoot, ALWAYS, ALWAYS have a back up 
•  Lenses, now these are your choice, I always have my wide angle for the group photos, my 18-270 for the ceremony makes sure I can get the brides smile and zoom in on Dad wiping a tear away, and then a prime lens for my bridal portraits. 
• Batteries, you can never have enough, I have got into the habit of finding a plug point as soon as I get to the venue and plugging my charger in, as soon as a battery dies I put it on there, I also have 8 spares.
• Memory cards, again, you can never have too many of these
• tripod
• reflector
• a small blanket, just something you can let the bride sit on. (make sure it's a light color, I use a space blanket)
• A flash gun (I use a speedlight)
•  A Flash diffuser (I love the Gary Fong one)
• water, a few bottles to drink!

I then have a bag of "essential goodies" that I take to all my shoots, not just weddings. I make sure everything is super small size in here and refill when need be.

• Duct tape (Great for everything from fixing broken cameras and taping loose branches out of the way)
• Various safety pins
• Various bobby pins and hairclips
• a nail file
• a tiny sewing kit
• breath mints
• band aids
• headache tablets
• hand cream
• chapstick
• fingerless gloves
• hand sanitizer
• wet wipes
• tissues
• A FEW DOLLARS in change (the amount of time I grab my camera bag and forget my wallet, those dollars have helped me get a quick snack)
• a cereal bar (great for a quick pick me up between shoots)
• A small sharp pair of scissors
• a lens cleaning kit
• a bungee cord
• A black Sharpie

You can find more about my photography here
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