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".

Did you hire a "faux-tographer"?

Sometimes, I just shake my head. Not in a no, or yes, but in a "I can't believe believe you paid someone to take that image!" 

Yeah, everyone has to start somewhere. And lots of "photographers" just started this December. The 25th to be exact.  You know, the day they got the camera for a gift.  I mean, why not? It can't be that hard!  "I'll shoot your party, your family, your kids...I won't charge much..."

Ahh. But charging makes you a BUSINESS.  Are you licensed? No?  
Then you are not paying taxes. 
And you are not really "professional", now, are you?
And your website? Oh, it's your Facebook page!  Sorry, your FAN page!

I was just looking at a photographer recommendation ISO note on FB:  "In need of photographer for party pics of my kid.  I don't want to pay a lot.  I want all digital images."  Then I looked at the names that cropped up.  Cross referenced several.  Not one registered with the county or state.  Not one with a website.  Not one who appeared to know the difference between a picture and a photograph.  In fact, most of these "faux-tographers" only had a personal FB page. 

I followed one link over to check out images on a FB page - ouch.  Child on mom's lap -mom's hands are cut off.  Child playing in a park - out of focus.  Family walking in the park - dog poop? in the foreground.  Comment from said mom on this FB page: "I LOVE these pictures!"  Perhaps words were missing: "I LOVE these (out of focus, missing body parts, dog poop)  pictures!"

I looked at another "faux-tographer". Crooked horizon lines. Blown out (too white for data to be recorded) images.  Yup, she is inexpensive.  Really inexpensive.  

And then I went to a photographer "help" site, and read things like this: (paraphrased)

"Help! I accidentally tried to shoot in M - and I don't know why some pictures came out and others didn't!  I shot them the same day."  Images: photos taken in morning appear "dialed in".  Afternoon - too bright. 

"Why are my photos blurry?  My camera is on A. Iso 200." Image: Dusk with a running dog.

"Just shot my first wedding.  Why is the dress super white in places?"  Image: Blown out wedding dress.

Hire a photographer.  Not a "faux"tographer" especially if this is for a once in a lifetime special event.   

Sunset portraits?

I was embarrassed by an image I didn't take.  Why? If you are collecting money and calling yourself a pro, to produce an image that is so subpar is, well...embarrassing.   Let me explain:

The image is of a couple at sunset.  Backs turned to the camera, with a brilliant sky.  Doing well so far? Yes.  But the image posted and getting "like" comments on a social networking page is bad.  Bad, bad, bad.  You can see "his" silhouette, or that of his head -  and a blob affixed to his right shoulder.  At first, I wondered, "What the heck is that? Is that a rock?"  and then realized...it's his wife!  Her head was leaning in towards his shoulder, bodies so close, there is no differentiation between him and her, hence, a blob. 

Here is what you need to know. When you are shooting silhouettes, the viewer needs to discern who the outlines of each person in the photos is.  The subject of the photo should be the PEOPLE you that are being photographed.  The background is just that: a background.  

Let me show you:

Here is another example, processed in HDR:

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