The Custom Photography Experience Is The Most Valuable Luxury Someone Can Get For Themselves.
The beauty of investing in a luxury like photography is that, unlike the majority of the fancy and fun things we put our money into, portraits of our fondest memories and even of ourselves become more valuable as time goes on. Because, while the people in the photos change, the memories remain the same and, as cliche as it sounds, as each year goes by we find ourselves reminiscing over those moments and marvelling over just how much we change as individuals, how our lives change, and how time continues to fly by year after year (and faster each year, it feels. I can't believe we are halfway through September of 2019 already! Christmas is basically knocking at the door!)
There Are So Many Beautiful Skills & Styles.
Photography is an art. And with art comes a ton of different styles, approaches, and visions. Each of them is as beautiful and unique as the next, just like the individuals and their life stories!
I met the most beautiful woman this year; she is so down-to-earth, easy-going and yet attractively decisive about exactly what she wants, while still admiring the skill, artistic eye and mindset that goes into producing a beautiful portrait. This momma loves black & white portraits that are "painted by light"; a phrase that she used that I continue to use today, and the results of her maternity session were not only perfectly complementary to who she is and what she loves, but they perfectly captured an incredible journey that she was about to embark on.
She'd never been photographed professionally before and was worried she was being awkward in her photos and concerned that she wouldn't know how to pose.
That is part of a photographers job - to pose beautifully and with know-how, and that's what we did! Amidst the casual conversation, I guided her into beautiful poses and captured portraits of her that were... well, her true and genuine self.
'I Am Not The Fancy Type.'
"Nothing Fancy" is a common phrase I hear when talking with mommas about their maternity sessions, and you know what? That's okay! If fancy isn't you, then it doesn't make sense to do the big flowy gowns and exuberant set-ups. The beauty of art and photography is the endless possibilities in creating something beautiful with what you've got. And if what you've got is a pair of your favourite overalls or a white t-shirt, then PERFECT.
The Professional Photographer Is Worth It.
When it comes to working with light, poses and ideas chances are that your photographer, if you've hired an experienced one, has a few really great ideas in their head that's going to make your vision & goals with your portraits come true.
But, the truth is, when you're hiring someone who's got the experience, know-how, skills, licenses, gear, props, set-ups, etc. chances are you will be making an investment into your portraits.
I often hear the phrase that photographers charge "an arm and a leg" - the truth is, we don't want your arms and legs at all. We will pose them so that you look the best in your portraits as you possibly can (and have you ooh-ing and aw-ing over how amazing you look!) but truly, without sounding like the salesperson from the car dealership down the street, we are charging what we are worth and what we need to charge in order to keep doing what we are doing.
Capturing Memories From All Walks Of Life.
Our job, as photographers, is to provide a service that is experienced in not only creating portraits that look nice, but also create imagery that will LAST you a long, long time.
Taking a photo is one thing; knowing how it will print, crop, what mediums will compliment your photos, what will last and what won't is a whole other side of photography that seems to have taken a bit of a backseat in our digital world.
For myself, as a photographer, I've chosen to keep printed portraits alive - and you know what, you might not feel like your a 'prints' type of person. But, I guarantee it: any albums full of the people you love, or a canvas with your favourite images you've ever had of yourself, your family, your babies WILL very easily become some of your most favourite possessions.
Yep. You can get your own prints at Walmart. Are they going to forever preserve the images you just spent hundreds of dollars on?
Nope.
Photographs Aren't Meant To Be Temporary.
USB drives are designed for the temporary storage of digital files. ("Where did that thing end up, anyway? Ack.")
Your photographs aren't meant to be temporary; whether you are the fancy type or not, just because you haven't thought about perhaps hiring a photographer who specializes in printed products doesn't mean you can't start pondering and considering that thought now.
If you still have your images from your last portrait session, perhaps it's time to get that task off of your to-do list. Or, if your photographer offers the amazing and extremely convenient service of providing printed products for you (and from a quality, professional lab!) you're not only taking that tedious task off of your to-do list, you've got someone on your side who 1) knows what they're doing, 2) knows what products will last the absolutely longest and 3) deliver a professional product straight to the palm of your hands.
A luxury? Absolutely. Worth it? Hands down.
I met this gorgeous mother-to-be who loved the idea of wearing gowns and capturing pregnancy portraits for the sole purpose of being able to show her daughters what they looked like as baby bumps; and when it came down to picking the products that worked best for this sentiment, it was easy to understand that ordering from a quality-centred vision from a professional print lab (only accessible through photographers!) would make the most sense. Why? Because while these photos would be enjoyed in the now, the full intent was for them to be enjoyed much, much further down the line, as well.
Printing Your Photos Forces You To Look Harder.
Not that it's a bad thing at all to have a large collection of beautiful images to have for yourselves; I am by no means shaming those who haven't printed their images or talking down to those who've opted for the digital route. I see the value in having digital images; I myself have tens upon thousands of them!
But, when it comes down to the wire in printing your favourite ones, it really gets that critical eye going and has us all realizing that when it comes down to quality vs. quantity, quality always wins!
It Forces Your Photographer To Look Harder, Too.
Resolution can be damaged by cropping images in post-production - did you know that?
Offering printed portraits has not only increased the value in the service I deliver to my clients but also in the quality of how I shoot. It's forced me to pay closer attention to how an image is shot, and how it's cropped in the camera to ensure the highest quality, fullest resolution possible to produce that sharp, beautiful printed piece.
And wow... why did that print SO DARK?
We forget that the backlight of a screen makes a photo look brighter than it will print. Huh?! I simple little thing that often gets overlooked; that's why things like "screen calibration" exist, which forces a print photographer to make sure that your images are going to print as close as possible on paper, canvas, or whatever medium you choose as it does on the screen.
Ya. Some days it feels like rocket science. And lots of photographers who don't work with prints on a regular basis can have one heck of a time with it.
When You Hire A Professional Photographer, You Should Receive Professional Product.
This statement, although it may be super biased, is one that I stand by and will continually preach until I am blue in the face to my clients, my friends, family members, my kids, and repeatedly to myself.
You don't have to be "fancy" to indulge in the beautiful world of printed portraits and the fine art luxury experience. And yes, it's expensive. It's an investment. It's a one-time cost that will last you for the rest of your lives.
But, I'll tell you what. Amongst all of the common phrases I have heard, one of them has never been, "I wish we never ordered this album" or "I regret getting this canvas from our family session".
I was driving my daughter to school this morning, and in the alleyway, I saw a big-screen TV left out by the garbage bin. And I had to giggle; how much did that TV cost when it was brand new?
Probably as much as your next photo session with Hocus Focus Photography; except guaranteed to last MUCH longer.
Do I Have Your Attention?
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