Why does custom photography cost more?

That is a great question.  I think it comes down to experience, and then there’s the experience.  First, the experience of your photographer…in my case, I have been at this for 7 years.  This is not my first rodeo, people.  I have made mistakes, and learned from those mistakes…7 years ago.  And today you get to benefit from that experience.  Secondly, it’s your overall experience.  My clients are my number one priority, from that first email or phone call, to delivery of product.  With each session, I carefully consider the age of the subjects, the location, the lighting, the props…it’s all carefully crafted to give you exactly the images you are looking for.  After the session, I spend hours editing each image by hand, removing each little scratch and boogie.  I spend a lot of time looking at boogies up close.  I do.

There is a lot more that goes into a photography business than just picking up a camera and taking pictures.  To run a legitimate business, I need to be licensed.  I need to pay taxes.  I need to have marketing materials.  I need to belong to professional associations.  I need to attend workshops to learn new techniques and further hone my craft.

It’s for all of the above, that custom photography costs more.  However, I am not a writer, and I feel there are some great articles that explain this perhaps better than I could.  I suggest you read this.

Every day I see a groupon for photography sessions.  Why don’t you do a groupon too? 

I like groupon.  I buy groupons all the time.  Groupons (and the like) are great for restaurants, or getting your nails done.  They are even great for photography classes.  I do not believe that groupons are great for photography sessions.  Custom photography is not, and should not be, a volume business.  My business is built on limiting the sessions I take, because I want to give every client great customer service and a unique experience.  It would be impossible for me to give the attention to each client that they deserve if I am doing that many sessions.  And if I sell 150 groupons, and I do that many sessions, I will very likely lose my mind.

Tell me about your newborn sessions.  Can you hang my baby from a branch like I saw on the internet?

There are many photographers who do this sort of newborn photography, and do it very, very well.  There has also been a lot discussion recently on the internet about photographers who are attempting newborn poses that are not safe.  What you should know is that most of those amazing newborn images you see aren’t “real”.  They are composites created in photoshop, and this is the only way to do these newborn poses safely.  What I will tell you about my style of newborn photography is this:  my goal is to document your home, your family, your life as it was when you brought that little one home.  I want to create realistic, meaningful images of your world at that time.  Therefore, my style does not include hanging babies from branches or “posing” them in any way.  If you are looking for that sort of newborn photography, there are many photographers in the area who I am sure can pose babies better than I could.  Just keeping it real, folks.  That’s what I’m all about.