N.O.P. New Policies
Hello to my wonderful clients,
I want to first say thank you for inviting me to capture your images and important moments over the years. I always say I have the best clients and I truly mean that. This last few months, I've spent a lot of time evaluating my business. The truth is, (I will share this all with you because I feel this is a personal business and I should let you know what's happening), I considered shutting down my business. However, I don't want to do that. I LOVE what I do and I believe I'm good at it. Going over the numbers and my cost of doing business from expenses to equipment to insurance and taxes with lots of stuff in between, I realize I need to make changes. Even doing this full time and feeling like I work my butt off, including 6 days a week all Fall, I have simply not been making enough to really provide even a decent living for myself. I've picked up other work on the side and still, it's not enough. I am lucky to currently have a very inexpensive living situation which is a big help. However, if I am going to really make some sort of living on this, I have to make some pretty big changes. Please read through the changes I am making. I feel blessed for the loyalty of my clients and that some of you have been with me for years. I feel connected to you all and just love seeing the kids growing. I will share what I plan to do for those of you who are past clients farther down. Of course, I know some of you will consider going elsewhere but I really do hope most of you will stay.
1. Session fees: My session fees for certain sessions are going up a little but most are actually staying close to the same. However, with booking a session, you will also agree to spend a minimum amount after the session. Some sessions will also have print/product credits attached the way digitals used to be. No digitals will be included in family or newborn sessions. Head Shot sessions and some minis will still include some. Weddings will include them at a lower rate per image due to the large # of images.
2. Digitals: Okay, this is the big one. After a lot of thinking and talking this out, I finally realize that digitals are the MOST VALUABLE item I have. When I hand over digitals, I am handing over my art, my original work and licensing them for people to use as they please. I have no control. People can share, print, send to others. I basically release my rights. I always thought it was crazy for photographers to charge a lot for them, but I now truly see why and hope you do as well. So, these will not be included in most cases and will not be priced nearly as low as they have been. You will be able to purchase them individually, all of them or your 15 favorites. I truly believe that even just having your top favorites as digitals will be enough. Let's be honest, you don't LOVE every single image. And if you do, it would be better to have them all in a beautiful album than collecting (metaphorical) dust on your computer.
I know, other photographers out there hand over digitals. Unfortunately, it is not easy to make a living doing so. And, as you know, I used to do this too. However, I didn't realize the value of what I was giving. I didn't take into account my high expenses, my quality of work based on education, experience, and expertise in my field.
Another reason I want to pull away from digitals is that I often see one of two things happen. One is that I have clients tell me all the time that they haven't done anything with the digitals and they just sit on their computer. The other is some tell me they printed them but they don't look as good as on their computer (lower quality) or only print some 4x6's. The way I look at it is this: You are making an investment. You are investing in my ability to capture your family and basically freeze time, giving you memories of your family throughout the years, seeing how your children grow, seeing how your family interacts with each other and not just in a grainy cell photo. So, if you are making this investment, I truly believe you should have the highest quality products to go along with it. I cringe when I walk in to someone's home and see a photo that is poorly printed and doesn't represent my work well. It's very difficult as an artist. I also want you to enjoy your investment. If you have tangible products, you will actually look at them often, whether on the walls of your home or in a custom made album that you can pull out, look at and share with others.
3. A whole new experience. My new process will be different from in the past. For every session booked, I will have an in person consultation (or on the phone or Skype if it can't be in person). In this consultation, we will discuss all aspects of your session. We will identify what types of things you want to do with your images (wall art, albums, desk prints, gifts). I will show you actual sizing of items so you are aware ahead of time. I will go over what colors you should wear, what "look" you are going for, what types of images you want to capture. Do you want more candid images, do you want a lot of posed, close up and far away? Your session comes next, based on everything we discussed. Next, you will get a sneak peek (usually via Facebook and blog unless you ask for different). We set up a meeting for two weeks after your session to view all of your images and to place your order. I will come and bring samples of work and show you YOUR images in the products you were most interested in, including on YOUR wall (from images I take in our consultation or have you sent to me). We decide what items and collections you want and place the order. Your items will be hand delivered by me (or scheduled for you to pick up) in 2-6 weeks (depends on what you order). Payment plans will also be available for any and all sessions provided you book ahead of time and not last minute.
4. Unique products and one stop shopping. You can get your own products, gifts for others, and cards all from me. The focus will be on albums (large and mini) and wall art which can be Prints only (and fine art prints), Gallery Wrapped Canvas, Framed and matted Prints, and other specialty items you'll see below. There will be complimentary digitals given with the purchase of items so you can still have your favorite images as digitals. There will also still be Fall/Holiday specials that I'll add a couple of digitals into if you decide to go elsewhere for your cards. If you'd like more information on specific products and to see the new investment guide, please feel free to ask. I will walk you through the whole process, so those images don't just sit on your computer waiting to be printed. I will take care of it all for you.
The way I look at things like this is that we all spend money on things like nice dinners or a great new pair of shoes or even makeup. Maybe we go on a weekend getaway. If you look at what you spend on these things, it doesn't seem outrageous to spend $1000+ on the investment of a customized photo session and the highest quality products that will last your lifetime (or longer). They are literally moments frozen in time of your family, the most important people in your life. You will be able to "create your own collection" to get the items most important to you or you can shop a la carte. Hopefully you will let me come and show you this new process and consider booking. There is no obligation to book before we meet up for a consultation. :)
Thank you again for all your trust in me to provide your photography services and the beautiful relationships we've established. As a thank you, I will be giving some discounts on many products this year and beyond.
XO
Nicole
{click images to see larger. Many of these are my clients images shown in the software I use either on generic wall templates or their actual walls. Some do show my products actually hung in client's homes. All are the products I use and design. I can also create custom wall art (see pink/white/gray baby wall)} I will be sharing images of wall art hung in client's homes on my social media.}
I want to first say thank you for inviting me to capture your images and important moments over the years. I always say I have the best clients and I truly mean that. This last few months, I've spent a lot of time evaluating my business. The truth is, (I will share this all with you because I feel this is a personal business and I should let you know what's happening), I considered shutting down my business. However, I don't want to do that. I LOVE what I do and I believe I'm good at it. Going over the numbers and my cost of doing business from expenses to equipment to insurance and taxes with lots of stuff in between, I realize I need to make changes. Even doing this full time and feeling like I work my butt off, including 6 days a week all Fall, I have simply not been making enough to really provide even a decent living for myself. I've picked up other work on the side and still, it's not enough. I am lucky to currently have a very inexpensive living situation which is a big help. However, if I am going to really make some sort of living on this, I have to make some pretty big changes. Please read through the changes I am making. I feel blessed for the loyalty of my clients and that some of you have been with me for years. I feel connected to you all and just love seeing the kids growing. I will share what I plan to do for those of you who are past clients farther down. Of course, I know some of you will consider going elsewhere but I really do hope most of you will stay.
1. Session fees: My session fees for certain sessions are going up a little but most are actually staying close to the same. However, with booking a session, you will also agree to spend a minimum amount after the session. Some sessions will also have print/product credits attached the way digitals used to be. No digitals will be included in family or newborn sessions. Head Shot sessions and some minis will still include some. Weddings will include them at a lower rate per image due to the large # of images.
2. Digitals: Okay, this is the big one. After a lot of thinking and talking this out, I finally realize that digitals are the MOST VALUABLE item I have. When I hand over digitals, I am handing over my art, my original work and licensing them for people to use as they please. I have no control. People can share, print, send to others. I basically release my rights. I always thought it was crazy for photographers to charge a lot for them, but I now truly see why and hope you do as well. So, these will not be included in most cases and will not be priced nearly as low as they have been. You will be able to purchase them individually, all of them or your 15 favorites. I truly believe that even just having your top favorites as digitals will be enough. Let's be honest, you don't LOVE every single image. And if you do, it would be better to have them all in a beautiful album than collecting (metaphorical) dust on your computer.
I know, other photographers out there hand over digitals. Unfortunately, it is not easy to make a living doing so. And, as you know, I used to do this too. However, I didn't realize the value of what I was giving. I didn't take into account my high expenses, my quality of work based on education, experience, and expertise in my field.
Another reason I want to pull away from digitals is that I often see one of two things happen. One is that I have clients tell me all the time that they haven't done anything with the digitals and they just sit on their computer. The other is some tell me they printed them but they don't look as good as on their computer (lower quality) or only print some 4x6's. The way I look at it is this: You are making an investment. You are investing in my ability to capture your family and basically freeze time, giving you memories of your family throughout the years, seeing how your children grow, seeing how your family interacts with each other and not just in a grainy cell photo. So, if you are making this investment, I truly believe you should have the highest quality products to go along with it. I cringe when I walk in to someone's home and see a photo that is poorly printed and doesn't represent my work well. It's very difficult as an artist. I also want you to enjoy your investment. If you have tangible products, you will actually look at them often, whether on the walls of your home or in a custom made album that you can pull out, look at and share with others.
3. A whole new experience. My new process will be different from in the past. For every session booked, I will have an in person consultation (or on the phone or Skype if it can't be in person). In this consultation, we will discuss all aspects of your session. We will identify what types of things you want to do with your images (wall art, albums, desk prints, gifts). I will show you actual sizing of items so you are aware ahead of time. I will go over what colors you should wear, what "look" you are going for, what types of images you want to capture. Do you want more candid images, do you want a lot of posed, close up and far away? Your session comes next, based on everything we discussed. Next, you will get a sneak peek (usually via Facebook and blog unless you ask for different). We set up a meeting for two weeks after your session to view all of your images and to place your order. I will come and bring samples of work and show you YOUR images in the products you were most interested in, including on YOUR wall (from images I take in our consultation or have you sent to me). We decide what items and collections you want and place the order. Your items will be hand delivered by me (or scheduled for you to pick up) in 2-6 weeks (depends on what you order). Payment plans will also be available for any and all sessions provided you book ahead of time and not last minute.
4. Unique products and one stop shopping. You can get your own products, gifts for others, and cards all from me. The focus will be on albums (large and mini) and wall art which can be Prints only (and fine art prints), Gallery Wrapped Canvas, Framed and matted Prints, and other specialty items you'll see below. There will be complimentary digitals given with the purchase of items so you can still have your favorite images as digitals. There will also still be Fall/Holiday specials that I'll add a couple of digitals into if you decide to go elsewhere for your cards. If you'd like more information on specific products and to see the new investment guide, please feel free to ask. I will walk you through the whole process, so those images don't just sit on your computer waiting to be printed. I will take care of it all for you.
The way I look at things like this is that we all spend money on things like nice dinners or a great new pair of shoes or even makeup. Maybe we go on a weekend getaway. If you look at what you spend on these things, it doesn't seem outrageous to spend $1000+ on the investment of a customized photo session and the highest quality products that will last your lifetime (or longer). They are literally moments frozen in time of your family, the most important people in your life. You will be able to "create your own collection" to get the items most important to you or you can shop a la carte. Hopefully you will let me come and show you this new process and consider booking. There is no obligation to book before we meet up for a consultation. :)
Thank you again for all your trust in me to provide your photography services and the beautiful relationships we've established. As a thank you, I will be giving some discounts on many products this year and beyond.
XO
Nicole
{click images to see larger. Many of these are my clients images shown in the software I use either on generic wall templates or their actual walls. Some do show my products actually hung in client's homes. All are the products I use and design. I can also create custom wall art (see pink/white/gray baby wall)} I will be sharing images of wall art hung in client's homes on my social media.}
