my perspective

Today my topic is about pricing.

Why do photographers charge so much? I hope my perspective will help you understand what goes into my photography business.

What is involved with a typical two hour session?

-I spend 30 minutes to and from the photo site. This includes getting my car loaded and my equipment ready. With the opening of my studio, this will change. ?

-I spend 30 minutes setting up, and talking with the client.

-I spend one to two hours shooting photographs, trying to get the very best from the person I am taking photographs of.

-After the session I spend an hour backing up 2-6 GB of photographs from the session.

-The next step is sorting. I sort through all the photographs, looking for only the very best. I look for what is technically correct as well as what is most interesting.

-Photoshop is next. I crop and touch up all photographs. This can take up to 2-4 hours.

-Uploading the photographs online is next; this usually takes about a half hour.

-I then talk with and help the client order and place orders. All orders are sent out to my lab. All prints are sprayed for preservation. I have all 8x10 size portraits and up mounted. Depending on the order size this can take some time.

You can see how a two hour photo session can easily become about 10-12 hours of work. When you buy a photo from me, you are not just paying for the paper it is printed on but you are paying for my time and talent as a photographer. The above list does not include the overhead cost that all businesses have, including a photography business.

What about weddings you may say. When I photograph a wedding I spend an average of 8 hours shooting. After the wedding I spend at least 80 hours in post work.

Remember that chain store studios do not put the time and energy into you or their images; this cannot be compared to what I do. Many of these companies are actually a financial drain and many are no longer in business for this very reason.

Portraits are serious business and they are what I am passionate about. Having a personal photographer in an investment for all time, I wish to capture these moments in your life and preserve them for generations to come.

great news: come on over!!!

I am so excited to announce that I am opening a studio! Starting March 1st I will be able to provide a place for photography!!! I will continue doing outdoor photography as well as other locations but this is a place for all the sessions in-between. I am renting studio space at the Carpenter's Wife Store at 112 W Wade Lane in Payson. I see this as a great opportunity to provide the best photography services possible. I have so many more surpises to come so stay tuned!
Today I am posting photograph that reflects how I am feeling...giddy as can be!

weddings: good news!

We all know times are rough because of the economy, well I have designed a new package that is less expensive. It is brilliant if you ask me. Are you or someone you know getting married this year? Well then, contact me for all wedding prices. The wedding day is one of the most important events your life and it needs to be captured. The details of your day, the emotions you feel and the people you love dearly deserve to be preserved for generations to come. Contact me about the new & exciting Wedding Packages!

mood: excited

Amy the owner of Fireside Espresso is so awesome for letting me hang three canvases on her wall! She has a variety of photographs to look at including her own. So go get yourself some coffee on this snowy day and check it out. Thanks Amy!!!

and the winner is...

Thank you for everyone who voted, but most of all THANK YOU to those that sent a photo for the contest. You are so very close to my heart! <3 Enough with the blah blah…the winner photo number 7!!!! Little baby Cordella!!! Congrats!!!


I am posting a pic I took the other night while I was playing chess with my lovely daughter and ever so cute dog!