Custom Photography

Photographers often talk about custom photography and what that means, so here's my go at it.  When it comes to photography, custom means pretty much what it does in other areas.  Nothing is cookie cutter, each session is tailored to you.  If you want location, we do it.  Studio, we do it.  At your house?  Ok.  In a meadow 20 miles outside of town?  Ok.  On a rooftop in Paris?  Ok, but only if you're paying for the flight :)  That's just me wishful thinking.  If there is a product that I don't offer and I can figure out a way to provide that to you, I will. 

All that being said, custom does come with a price.  My session fees are $100 weekday and $150 weekend.  I have a 3 year old and my weekends are precious, hence the increase.  I have a minimum print order of $300.  The session fee pays for my time at the shoot, the print sales pay for my time behind the scenes, editing, communicating, uploading, ordering, etc.  I spend alot of time on my photos and on my education, plus I use top of the line equipment.  All this to give you the best experience I can.

Some people would say the price is too high.  How much do you pay the plumber just to show up?  Mine costs $125.  Electrician?  $90.  This is usually for 1 hour or less of work.  Now don't get me wrong... I appreciate those guys.  It's dirty work and sometimes involves crawling through spider infested attics and crawl spaces.  But how much is it worth to you for someone to show up and spend time with your loved ones, capturing your special moments together?  The images will last a lifetime... your sink will get clogged again in 6 months, but your photos will still be on the wall.

Snapshots are wonderful, spontaneous and capture all of life's big events.  They're the bones of your photographic memories, but custom photos are special.  Think of the snapshots as your playclothes,  your jeans and tee.  Custom photos are your party dress.  You don't have as many, but you really love them and you look and feel great in them.  They showcase you and your loved ones in the best way.

Many photographers discuss all of the new "moms with a camera" in the industry.  The digital revolution has changed the playing field.  I am not one to put down other photographers work.  I prefer to focus on my work and how to make it better.  Also, I happen to be one of those moms and I find it a little offensive.  I would like to know how they were born with an innate knowledge of photography.  It seems to me that we all had to learn at some point, some earlier than others, but some people can do something for years and they still don't quite get it.  Others can pick up a skill and run with it.  I think it comes down not only to ability and knowledge, but taste.  Some have it, some don't.

Now that most (not all!) lifestyle photographers shoot digital, I think the editing process can really make or break the work.  All good photography starts with a well taken image.  Rarely editing can save you, but it is not something you should fall back on.  I see some very poor editing out there on a daily basis and some that is great.  I have never done a "straight out of the camera" post (SOOC), so here it goes.  

I'm posting the same photo 3 ways. I chose a photo of my son, he won't mind.  This photo was taken spontaneously on our patio and is maybe not the best quality photo you will see, but I chose it because his face was particularly dirty.  Now me, I would print this dirt and all for my bulletin board (see previous post), but for the sake of this exercise I will remove all the food, dirt, grandma's lipstick print and scratches from his face. 

First: Straight from the camera

Second:  Edited

You can do one of those "what's different in these two pictures" games with this one.  Look closely, not only are the dirty marks gone, but his eyes are little brighter, skin tone is a little better, no red eyes, etc.

And now for the third one...  notice my watermark isn't on it.  I have no desire to claim it.  This is my version of what I consider poor editing.

Third:  Poor Edit

I see so much of this on the market.  Heavy, unrealistic vignetting around the edges, red cast around eyes, nose and chin, poor skin tone that is too red or too yellow, skin that looks like it has been smudged with an eraser, "evil eyes" that have been extremely lightened and the list goes on.

So my request to you as a client or potential client, is that you educate yourself when you shop for a photographer.  I may not be your choice, but make sure your choice is the quality you deserve.  There is a photographer with the right style and price for everyone.