Wants, Needs, and Desires...

Recently,  I visited a fellow photographer's studio and prominently displayed upon the wall was a disc, presumably of wedding images, with the words,"Do your wedding photos look like this?"

The point was well taken.  Too often I'm asked, "Can we get the disc?"  And when I inquire as to why this is desired, I learn, "So we can make our own prints."  

Great!  Fabulous! You want to save money (which is most likely the bottom line).

So, you get the disc and...where is it now?  Yup.  In a drawer.  Or, hmmm, you can't remember.  Maybe, you've uploaded the images to the computer - and sent the disc to mom.  But, the computer died and you had no backup, so you asked mom to send the disc back.  But, she inadvertently had an accident with it and it is in the trash.-and she didn't print any images either.  So, you call the photographer and ask for ANOTHER disc.  

So, let's begin with what you really WANT.

AMAZING images to grace your mantle, show to your friends, share with family, and to future generations.  Got it.  You NEED prints or a book.  Why?  How fast does technology change?  We've gone from the floppy disc to a cd to thumb drives.  Try to find a floppy disc reading computer today.  Obsolete.  And many new desktops and laptops no longer come with a disc drive.  Obsolete.  And the thumb drive? Going the way of the cloud.  Think, too: when you went to visit mom and dad - or grandma and grandpa - did you see images displayed? Yup.  And each time you visit, you look at that image, in awe, of "how young they were".  Or your marvel at the genetics on display, "I have grandma's eyes!" The better to see prints with, my dear. 

Why do photographers charge so much for prints?

Our computers are calibrated to the print house (or our very expensive printer). 

We retouch images that are ordered (If it is 8x10 or larger, I'm retouching it to perfection).

We don't order from the local, "we have everything under the sun including a 16 year old working our almost fully automated photo lab".

We use good photographic paper.

We depend upon print sales to supplement our income.  We may not have charged you a lot upfront for a "sitting fee", so we depend upon print and canvas sales.

Will you GIVE me the RAW files?

This is like walking into a restaurant and saying, "Hey Chef!  I absolutely love your Tuscan Chicken Pomodoro!  Can you give me the RAW ingredients?"   He would give you a bag of imported Italian wheat flour, eggs, a raw chicken, spices...

You don't want the RAW files.  You really don't.  In fact, my RAW files are so big, you probably couldn't open them on your computer.  I have special software and years of training to create your image from RAW files,  just like that chef had years of training to make that amazing dish.

Can I have the copyright? 

No.  My guess is what you really want is the RIGHT TO COPY.   This is much different than a copyright.  I own the images as the artist who took them.   I can give you the right to copy - this is called a "print release".   I will burn this to a soon to be obsolete disc in a size in which you can print 8x10 images (gift print size).  If you print them, this is all you will most likely need.  After all, you'll share images on social media.  And if you do make prints, they'll be this size - or smaller.

Order prints.  Order a canvas.  Have us frame it for you - go on, make your life easier.

Order a book.  

Or, display your disc on the wall and entitle it, "Our Wedding Photos".

Look 10 lbs slimmer in your next photo session without going on a diet!

     We've all heard that photos make you look ten pounds heavier than you actually are.  Hence when I modeled, I was at least ten pounds underweight.  However, sans the time to diet, and knowing that photoshop is an extra cost and may not be available, what does one do?  Dress to look lean.

    First, pay attention to your wardrobe choices.  A recent post on a photographers' site was about a client wanting a reshoot of her family portraits because she looked "fat".  We are our own worst critics, but, the reason the woman looked heavy was also due to her wardrobe selection which, I may add, was all about bringing the attention TO her.  Breaking it down:  She wore YELLOW pants. The biggest color swatch in the photo!  (The color theme: navy and yellow.)  A better choice would have been for her to wear jeans or navy pants.  (Her husband was wearing jeans.)  Her choice of top: an unflattering light denim shirt that was tugging too tight and which STOPPED AT HER AT HER BELLY. Light colored. To look slimmer, she needed to go with a darker color, not a light one.  And to draw even more attention to her, ahem, problem area, she had a darker colored shirt peeking out just below her belly, like a dissecting band.  Like candy corn, her color blocks went like this - top to bottom: light denim - dark blue stripe - yellow.   Oh, and the boots further cut her body as they were heavy, clunky, and ankle height.

    So, how does one look slimmer?  Create a long and lean silhouette. Choose a dark denim jean with a flattering cut  - straight leg - or a pair that can be easily tucked into boots.  Select a shoe that adds to the illusion: a bit of a heel - think: if you were two to three inches taller, this "weight distribution illusion" helps.  Go with a top that glides over your "problem area" (or areas), choosing a color that complements - yet blends well with the jeans.  If you choose to layer - think again about where the layers dissect you, and make sure your colors work well together.  Need a pop of color?  Choosing a scarf in the contrast color will bring the attention to your face, not your belly.  

    Days before your shoot, pull together the wardrobe you are considering.  Put it on.  Does it create the silhouette you want?  If not, nix the outfit. Nothing in your closet? Use it as an excuse to go shopping.  Your family photos will be shown around to relatives for years - and are an investment in capturing your family for posterity. An investment in your look may also be needed.

  Park City Photographers wants you to look great in all of your photos.  If you are a client and have wardrobe concerns prior to your photo shoot, let us know.  We're here to help.   

#photographer #utah #parkcity #wardrobe #port"photo"lio #dekoff #photo #photosession
#fashion #fashionforphotos 

Link to one of our sites

Dressing For the Future You

    We've all heard, "Dress for Success" and "Dress for the job you want, not the job you have." There is wisdom in these words.  You see, it is that initial meeting of a person that imprints upon us.  How do you want others to perceive you?  A pulled together outfit speaks volumes. It shouts, "Organized!  Pays attention to details!"  The colors you choose say a lot about you, too - a bright and bold color may infer you take more risks and can handle customers vs a pale pastel Polly who may be better suited for data entry.  And the shoes, (I have a tendency to look at shoes), because like a bumper sticker, they tell a lot about a person.  Worn heels, scraped up toes, faded and stained. Practical vs totally impractical (like the starlets walking down Main Street in amazingly gorgeous and expensive open-toed Manolos in the middle of a freezing cold and snowy Main Street).  Toms.  Pseudo Toms.  

   When you are pulling together your outfit for your photo session, think:
1. How do I want to be perceived?
2. Are you dressing for the "now" job or the future position?
3. What "little things" will tell a different story?  (Your nails?) 
4. And finally, what will the bumper sticker of your wardrobe say?

    Park City Photographers can assist you in choosing clothes that speak the language you desire.  We'll send you a pdf with some helpful advice and reminders prior to your session.  After all, when you put your best foot forward, everyone notices. 

    Check out our "2 LOoKs in 1o" minutes outfit choices to get the most out of a short photo session.  You can find it here: <a href="http://deb-dekoff.polyvore.com/"><img width="50" src="http://akwww.polyvorecdn.com/rsrc/img/badges/badge_50x50_000000.png" height="50" /></a>

#photographer # parkcityutah # deborahdekoff #fashion #photoshoot #session #image

YOUR image. Are you putting your best face forward?

      More and more business professionals and entrepreneurs are creating accounts on Linked In every day, and the first image presented on your page is...your head shot.  In a place where one should "put their best face forward", a quick perusal of my hundreds of connections inform me that this is most often not the case.  Approximately 1.5 out of every 10 people have a professional photo.    I read this as image conscious.  I read this as professional.  I read this as organized.

     But what about the others?  Here is a quick rundown of some of the images I've seen today:

-Bathroom mirror beauty. Holding up a cell phone and snapping a photo.  You are gorgeous, darling!  But, I can tell from the background that you are quite disorganized.

-Family on vacation.  Cute kids.  But they won't make me hire you.  But maybe, that little guy?  Adorable!  If I ever need a kid for stock images...

-Dude sucking in stomach on beach.  Wow.  It will be hard for me to go into your office and not recall your hairy chest.

- Bad lighting lady.  If you are cutting corners on your image, what will you do to mine?

- Computer camera to his picture - Not a flattering angle - for anyone.  Especially if you have nose hairs.


     If one is searching for a professional, they want to see a professional.  The image doesn't necessarily need to be a head shot, it can be you, in your work environment.  Here, potential clients get a taste of where you work and what you do.

+Karen Carestia - in her pharmacy
+Rich Wyman - silhouetted w/piano against a large crowd.
(I did not take the above mentioned Linked In photos.  They are, however, great examples!)

     As you look to put your best face forward to improve your business image, consider hiring a professional photographer.  After all, a picture speaks a thousand words.

Contact Park City Photographers today.  435-513-3814

+deb dekoff +Rob Follett