I first met A and her parents when she was just four months old. She has always been smiley and very chill. I can't believe she's now four! We did her photos on her actual birthday and it was a beautiful day at the Public Gardens. She was very excited for her birthday lunch at Regina after (she's a bit of a pizza snob). We walked around and explored the park, holding hands and chatting and just being friends. Little ones holding my hand at our sessions makes my heart melt. I
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I first met Kiera through a friend when I needed a second shooter for a wedding this summer. From the first time we met for coffee, I knew we'd get along great. Since then, just a few months ago, we've become good friends. She has an beautiful spirit and great energy! It's always nice to connect and make a friendship with a fellow photographer and business owner. I had asked her about doing some updated head shots of me and she wanted some too, so we decided to do a trade. Kiera has wanted her photos taken in a sunflower field for years and this being her 30th birthday year, we had to fulfill that, so we found one! We had so much fun and even with all of the bees around, there was just one bee sting (she was a trooper and kept going even as her arm definitely must have hurt). We finished as the sun was gone from the sky with a little chair that the farm apparently leaves there for anyone who wants to use it. You can check out Kiera's work at http://www.kieraslyephotography.com
Enjoy! Another post of some of my favorite yearly clients. I first met Kristy years ago when she was the MOH in our friend Jen's wedding. I'm not sure I've called her Kristy many times, as I generally call her MOH and she calls me photographer. We first did pics when B was only 3, which is how old K is now. B is now 7! And quite the character. He never disappoints since he loves to have his picture taken and even comes up with his own poses (you'll see two below-I'll let you guess which ones). K isn't a lover of the camera but once we warm up, he's all smiles. We had a great time as usual and got some of my favorite mommy/son pics that I've ever taken. Enjoy!
Well, this post is just full of some of my favorite people. One of my closest friends, my little "niece" and the man that puts up with them. Oh, and two (that's right, TWO) babies coming to us this winter. Of course, I couldn't narrow down pics for this post, so there's a lot in here. I may be biased because of how much I love them, but this is a great looking family. And as if she isn't cute enough as is, J sang Luke Bryan's "Play it again" for us along with other songs. I can't even stand it. Enjoy!
It was a pleasure to meet little C and his parents. I did his pictures in his nursery while they stayed downstairs so they would be surprised by the images and then we captures some beautiful moments in mom and dad's room. C was awesome, staying nice and sleepy like the previous baby girl I had and I was able to get some great poses and shots. Capturing sweet newborn images never gets old. :) Enjoy!
I met this beautiful girl when she was just over a week old. She was perfection. She was awake for some of the beginning and looked right at me without the crossed eyes many newborns have. Then, she slept soundly and let me pose her however I wanted. I finished the session in record time of less than 2 hours
I get questions from people all of the time who are looking to "get into photography" or want to turn their hobby into a career. I also get people who are just curious about the business of photography, including what goes into it. Many see it's a difficult, competitive, and expensive business, while others seem to think I get to do what I love and it's easy. I do what I love, but it's not always easy. So, for this blog, I'm going to discuss the ins and outs of doing this as a career. For those just curious about what goes into each session, see near the bottom. I hope this will help anyone looking to go into business, to make sure you are prepared first and then make sure you value what you are offering. Be confident but also realistic.
There are many photographers in any one city, town, or neighborhood. There are studios that offer a very old (and what I consider a little boring) experience of white or black backdrops, minimally trained "photographers" and decent printing. Sometimes, they do add other backdrops and props, but the photos are indoors, more stiff, and posed. These are usually your cheapest options. There is a step up from that, with studios who offer some variation of backdrops and more props. There are photographers like myself who offer a "lifestyle" experience. This means I come to your home, meet outdoors or another location and take high quality images of you and your family in a more candid and fun way. You get to choose whatever "backdrop" you want and get high quality prints from the best labs. You also get a photographer with extensive education and experience in photography and with children. This whole experience costs a little more. This is because those of us offering these services are not just sitting in one place waiting for clients, we travel around to every one of our clients and offer a custom and very personal experience. In this same category are higher end photographers who charge upwards of $300 for a session. The longer i'm in business, I think these photographers have it right. They charge more because of the high costs those of us in this category spend to run the business. Our business isn't always consistent. Some seasons are slower. We have to pay for our own insurance (business and liability), medical insurance, etc which is not cheap for people who work for themselves. We don't get sick time or paid vacations. We have a lot of overhead. Our equipment alone is very expensive. LIke I said, I think these photographers have it right. However, I find my clients are happy to invest the amounts I charge and value what I do. I have wonderful clients and continue to get more, so I have no intention of losing them by doubling my prices. I do need to up my prices sometimes to cover increased expenses, but that is true with any business. When I first started, I wanted to build a client base, so I barely charged anything. I would charge $75 to take pictures and give digital images first for nothing and then for a very small price. For prints, I went to a low budget lab and barely charged much over my cost. As time went on, I realized I could not in any way survive as a business or as a person the way I was going. That is why I don't feel bad if someone decides to go spend money at a generic studio or at a photographer who charges these prices. Every time I see someone I know post pictures on social media of their kids on a plain, boring black or white background and I see that the pictures are slightly out of focus and not sharp, it makes me see even more, the value of what I offer. I am not just a person who is trained to press a few buttons on a camera. I have invested in my photography education over the years and continue to improve and learn new techniques. Custom Lifestyle Photography Investment: Just to put it in perspective, if you ever go out to a really nice dinner, you may invest the same amount of money you would in a session for a great steak and some nice wine for one evening out. You may go splurge on $200 shoes simply because you love them. They may last for years. So, why is it hard for people to invest in a photo session that freezes moments in time and captures those memories forever? You may look at the investment and think it's a lot. My clients seem to understand the need to charge what I do and the need to increase the investment. To start a valid business, you first need to register it. You need to pay taxes. You need to have at least some education on business and the subject, in this case photography. Forget the money I spent before I started my business to take some classes and to purchase a good camera to start learning the trade. Let's start with what has been spent in the last 3 years to run my business, before taxes. Professional Fees: $5363.28 Membership to a Professional Organizations, includes some liability insurance: $700/year Website hosting and domain names: $440/year Online storage and sharing site: $647.76/year 1943.28 Equipment: (so far, 3 years in business) $23,715 Camera Body: $3000 (which lasts approximately 3 years, so i'm almost due to buy a new one) Backup Camera Body: $1500 (lasts 2-3 years) Current Lenses: About $5500 Flashes: About $1050 Lighting: $500 Memory cards x6: $750 Batteries: $240 Camera bags and backpacks: $725 External Hard drives: $150-$200 each of which I own 10 Misc (cleaning supplies, memory card reader, etc) : $500 Computer Equipment (laptop, computer, printer): $5500 Phone: $900 dedicated to client phone communication each year Education and supplies (only includes what has been spent in last three years): $6750 Workshops: $1500 Templates: Approximately $1000 Props (hats, headbands, wraps, tutus, etc): $2000 Newborn Posing Beanbag: $200 Background Stands: $350 Background papers/backdrops: $1700 Office: $1900 Desk and Shelving: $1200 Organizational tools (folders, containers for props, etc): $500 Printer: $200 Misc (things such as memberships to other professional groups, attending networking events, gas, travel expenses, etc): $1000, last three years So, as you can see, I have spent almost $39,000 on my business in just a few years. It costs me roughly $13,000 per year just to keep my business running, forget other expenses such as rent, utilities, etc. This is a low number considering the equipment I still have yet to purchase and the workshops I don't attend because I try not to overspend. The amount will increase as I upgrade my equipment and continuing education. Now, let's summarize what comes in. The session break down. Say, I get an average of 4 regular sessions per week at $150 per session and an average of one newborn a week for $250. These averages are based on the fact that I do not work all year. These are also not accurate of the first of the three years as I was still building (and still am) my first client base. December through February are very slow and only produce some newborn sessions, not many regular sessions. Add in an event or head shot session per week for $200. That gives around $40,000 a year, BEFORE taxes and before expenses. Then, people order prints and products. With all of this, I can average a basic income to survive on. So, the goal is to get more than those 5 sessions per week. This takes time as you must build a solid client base and get referrals. Each Session: Say, I do a family session. I charge $150. That includes the hour or so I spend with them actually taking the pictures. It also includes all of the communication and planning ahead of time. It takes into account the equipment I use, the time to travel to the location, gas, etc. Lastly, it includes the time to download, backup, edit, and upload to galleries. So, my advice to new photographers is to make sure you have some money to start. I have managed to not put anything on credit to date. I worked a second job for the first of these three years and used that money to put into my business. Besides some traveling, I spent less money than I used to on going out to dinners or for drinks, on clothes and other material things, and spent my money on building my business. Another piece of advice is to get a mentor. Do an internship, work as an assistant, whatever it takes to learn from an experienced professional. I made the mistake of not doing this. I made many mistakes as I started that I may not have made if I had a mentor. As you harness your skills and feel you have reached a point where your work is on the same level as other photographers with your same style, make sure you value yourself and your work. To my clients, know that the investment you make is based on the industry standards and gives you a custom, personal, and high quality experience. Your products are printed at the highest quality labs to last a lifetime. The session fees do not just cover your session, but any planning, traveling, time to get there and back, and the time I spend editing, uploading, and blogging your images. I hope this post is helpful for both clients and for aspiring photographers. Thanks, Nicole I first met this family when their daughter was just a tiny newborn. I loved them right away and was always happy to run into them in around town. They are so nice and have the best energy. So, of course, I was excited for them to have another little one and that I would get to photograph them again. Luckily in summer, we get to do some outdoor shots for newborn photos and they had a nice little gazebo outside their building. Big Sis was very busy but also very sweet to her little brother and chatted with me through the session (adorable). I can't wait to capture more moments for this great family! Enjoy!
I was referred to this family by another client and was very happy to meet them. They are laid back, super nice and beautiful, so of course, we got great shots! Little D didn't want to sleep at first too much but then, we hit our stride and he was perfection. And how about big sis?! She was doing all sorts of poses and very patient as we had to calm D and pose them together. I had a great time from beginning to end. Enjoy!
I first met little W when he was a tiny newborn and was happy to see him this summer for his cake smash! He has grown so much and is super cute and sweet. He was very busy walking around and exploring and he dug right into his cake, mouth first! I love when they really get into it and make a mess! Enjoy!
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