Custom Portrait Photographer // Custom portrait photography in Denver, CO
This article has an aim to explain our everyday consumer what it takes to preserve and create memories for families, to create a reputable business line and explain the hard work small business ownership entails. To educate the public about what it is that we do to create timeless pieces of photographic art for their homes.
SO WHAT IS CUSTOM PHOTOGRAPHY? The photographic art you choose to place on your wall is ultimately the result of the vision of the photographer. This vision, coupled with what you wear to your session, the environment, the lighting, even the mood the subjects are in at the time of photographing creates the work that you will want to proudly display on your walls forevermore.
Your first step in the process is more about determining who you are, who your family is and then seeking a photographer that reflects your style.
What custom photography ultimately is all about- is choice and experience. Custom photography is about finding someone who will photograph your family, give you devoted 1:1 attention without worry of who is next ‘in line’ or the feeling of a crowded portrait studio. A custom photographer will typically present you a fairly extensive gallery of images that meet the photographers’ creative sensibilities. Finished prints are fully edited images-color corrected with blemishes and under eye circles removed.
Custom photographers are also known as boutique studios, offering a range of products and unparalleled service. Think Lexus vs. Hyundai, think Nordstrom vs. WalMart. A custom photography experience should have you, the client and your experience in mind.
HY CHOOSE CUSTOM PHOTOGRAPHY? CUSTOM PHOTOGRAPHY AS SOMETHING "SPECIAL"...Custom photography is more of a luxury than your entry level cookie cutter chain experience. Custom photography truly is not for everyone, it requires a level of commitment, investment in time and money, forethought and planning on the part of the subject/client and photographer.
Clients who enjoy taking a more active role in the creation of their families’ memories have the desire to have portrait art that is truly personalized. These more discerning clients have been known to budget and allot time for a custom photography session. Many clients opt for it to be a once a year special experience, some opt to have custom photography sessions done to record their child's stages in life. Having said this, it is clear that custom photography is something that most families save for to splurge on from time to time to memorialize their children as they really are.
There is a great deal of time involved in creating high end custom photography sessions for a client - the luxury of great service, better choices and a superb end product - the result of all this are heirloom quality images. The time invested at the session is only a small portion of time involved in this process.
The customized service level you are sure to experience will be amazing. The knowledge that your final images are the result of someone caring about those moments so much that they take extra time ensuring that the artwork you receive is good enough to stand by with their name on it.
That level of quality and commitment is all but lost in the age of "mass produced," "mass marketed," corporate "everyone is a number". Custom photography is based on being unique to you. How great an experience would be, to be able to sit back and allow a photographer to do this highly custom work for images that you will most likely cherish for a lifetime?
WHY DOES CUSTOM PHOTOGRAPHY COST MORE? Digital technology is brilliant. The digital revolution has brought amazing flexibility and amazing amounts of control for the photographer, the hobbyist, the professional, the amateur. With flexibility comes a price though. Camera equipment is still considerably more expensive when you factor in its’ lifespan, the need for additional resources for processing those images, the time it takes to get a usable image and the effort that goes into creating a work of photographic art.
Even though you pay $1.99 for a print at your local drugstore and paying for film is pretty much a thing of the past (although you still pay for memory) you may be wondering why you may pay upwards of $40, 50, 70, 90 for a custom photography print. Some photographers hear this statement every once in awhile:"Why do you charge $60 for an 8×10 if it costs me less than $2 to print at a drug store?" The truth of the matter is the answer to this question is multifaceted. Much of the cost of a photographic print produced by a professional photographer has a lot to do with the time, equipment costs, artistic vision, experience and reputation of the photographer not to mention expertise and the usual costs of running a legitimate business.
THE COST OF TIME OF THE CUSTOM PHOTOGRAPHER. Approaching it from a time standpoint, let's imagine that you have hired a photographer who has work that you love. This photographer is traveling an hour to your destination to photograph your session.
Here is an example of a time break down:
*booking time: 30 minutes to 1 hour (client contact time { phone conversation, emails} + paperwork)
*pre-session prep time (30 min – 1 hour, includes equipment and back up equipment checks + vehicle checks)
*one hour travel time TO the session
*15-30 minutes prep time at client's home
*90 minutes-2 hours with client photographing subject
*one hour travel time FROM session
*30 minutes uploading time from digital cards from camera to computer
*45 minutes time spent backing up the original images
*1 hour sorting out images to present for viewing, ordering
*1 hour rating images to use for online proofing gallery
*1-2 hours rating images to use for blog, web files, video
*2 hours editing time to present you with edited web files
*1 hour prep time getting ready for ordering
*2-3 hours time with client for ordering images
*30 min sorting through and checking order
*2-3 hours editing, working on the print order
*30 minutes-1 hour prep time for delivery
*30 minutes-1 hour getting order shipped
*any additional phone time or time needed for add on ordering, shipment issues, quality issues
In this example, the time spent per client can range from 17- 22 hours – dependent on the photographer's level of service. This is time dedicated only to ONE session. When the photographer charges $200-$300 for the photo shoot (aka SESSION FEE) you are not just paying for the two hours of session time, you are paying the photographer for 17-22 hours complete time for your session.
THE COST OF MAINTAINING A CUSTOM PHOTOGRAPHY BUSINESS. Regarding equipment costs, a good quality professional camera with a selection of good optical quality lenses and digital storage mediums and computer set up can run from $20,000-$30,000 costs dependent on the photographer. Even though you can purchase a really good quality digital SLR : http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=139&modelid=17662 for about $2500 there are still other costs related to photography. A good lens for portrait photography can run from $1700 to $3500/lens. A dependable computer system with software loaded for business and creative usage can run $2500 to $8000 dependent on the photographer.
Then comes lab costs for specialty products. A good photographer knows their professional lab is an integral part of their success. These labs often cost more than a print at a drug store and offer a range of products that allows the custom photographer to continually offer new, innovative products for the discerning client.
Discussion on other costs of running a photography business could take awhile so we'll skip many of the intricate details. An overview: the costs of running the business, taxes, studio rental/mortgage if the photographer has ownership of a dedicated studio, vehicular costs, costs of advertising/marketing, costs of sample pieces that the photographer will likely bring to your session, etc.
APPLES to ORANGES to BANANAS:Often times clients will mention to their photographer that X studio in the mall/department store only charges $19.99 for an 8×10 "sheet" or they may mention other things related to discount photography chains. The fact is those discount chains make their money on volume, not on customized 1:1 service.
A little history – the whole reason the big department stores began offering portrait services in the first place was to get you, the savvy consumer, in through their door so that you could spend more money with them in other departments. Your "PORTRAITS" are considered the "loss leader". Your portraits that are meant to symbolize an once-in-a-lifetime stage in your child's life are part of what a store considers a way to get you in their door to spend more money on goods that you might not really want or need but because you're there "anyway" you buy.
Also keep in mind that when you go to a chain studio, as a consumer, you don't have the benefit of 1:1 attention for 2 hours at your home where your child is allowed to explore, play and be comfortable in their home environment, nor do you get the experience that many custom photographers are known for as well as the lovely captures of natural expressions. You simply get bare bones, "SAY CHEESE" experience.
REPUTATION/EXPERTISE of the PHOTOGRAPHER: Being in demand, being well known for quality work, having a good reputation often costs time on the photographer's part (years of practice, study, and experience, etc). A photographer's expertise comes at a cost, their time learning their craft and learning the intricacies of lighting and the commitment put forth on their end to create a persona about their business that oozes professionalism. A great number of photographers go a very long time from the time that they purchase their first good camera to making money at the business of photography.
Many photographers, when first starting out, rush in thinking that the business will be easily profitable in no time, how expensive could it be to get a camera and use it to create their dream? These photographers often undervalue what they do because they have the realization that they do not have experience or expertise but are very adept at pushing the shutter on the camera. Many times these casual "professionals" neglect to factor in the cost of business, the cost of equipment, software, back ups, etc.. When you hire a photographer of sound reputation, you are hiring an expert, one that knows that they must always reinvest in their business to create the reputation of being top notch. To create good work a photographer possesses not only sound knowledge in the technical and creative aspects of photography but also good, reliable equipment and back up equipment.
Hope this (lengthy) article helps shed some light on WHY a custom photographer is a better choice for your family's memories. The photographs that are produced as a result of the professionalism and dedication that your photographer has will be cherished for a lifetime (or more) and great thought and consideration should be placed into hiring who is right for your family's most precious investment.
Custom photography has been likened to purchasing a fine vehicle. To get to point B from A let’s face it, even a bus ride would suffice. If you want to luxuriate in a finely appointed vehicle, customizing your own experience by listening to smooth jazz while sitting in a climate controlled setting adjusted purely for your comfort in a body hugging leather interior, perhaps that Lexus you so desire is your cup of tea. Custom photography is much the same cup of tea. It is the Lexus of the photography world. It is where the intangibles make the experience truly wonderful and the images themselves make the investment of money and time truly worthwhile.
Keep in mind more than anything that a vehicle will never appreciate in value the way your portraits will. The portrait art you become invested in from your custom photographer will no doubt increase in value and become more priceless as the years pass.
This article reproduced with permission from http://www.professionalchildphotographer.com/information/
Maternity Portrait Photographer in Denver, CO // Dania & Nathan {Pregnancy}
