Boudoir
Children 
Family
Seniors
Posted on January 31, 2010
Nate and Allie, two good friends of mine and the wonderful husband came over yesterday for a couples session. These two are peas in a pod and love being in front of the camera!
Posted on January 29, 2010
*Warning – Long post! If you have the time, grab something to drink and settle in. It’s time to uncover the mystery behind my prices.
Business has open for 6 months and it’s time to spill the beans. I’ve set prices as low as possible. Hopefully after this post everyone will understand how much work goes in to a session and how I set my prices where they are.
But Wal-Mart does it for .29 cents!
Right…I don’t….and there’s a reason why.
I have been thinking all day on how to post an article on my pricing……not much luck. So instead of being vague and writing a list of hours of how much time I spend with each task I’d rather walk you through a session. I believe this will be more interesting then a math lesson.
Here we go!
I work 8a-5p Monday through Friday. (*Note I work full time, and go to school part time) I arrive home about 5:30pm, let the pupps Jack (our little sheltie) out. After he’s settled down I hop on to the computer around 6 or 6:30p. My first destination is Facebook. 95% of client interaction is done there.
Let’s say you FB chat me and would like to know about sessions. We discuss who you want photographed, how many portraits you’d like, prices, and locations….After an hour we book a 90 minute session with two locations and some clothing changes.
Hold on…pupps has to go out again….
Fantastic, I’m so excited I can’t sit still. On to researching ideas, playing with different lighting set – ups, attending online meetings and other things.
Now the fun begins. Its session day. The lighting is perfect, posing’s a breeze, the images I show you should be on billboards.We’ve spent about an hour of travel to the 90 minute session, the locations, and back home. We end the session with payment. We pack up and go home. I’ll see you in a week for your ordering session
Once I’m home your images are immediately downloaded on to both my desktop and the external hard drives. I make sure all my bases are covered. After storing it’s time to sort. We have some blinks..whoops, gotta save a blooper to post.Then I find the ones I want to post on Facebook (with your permission of course) and some as a sneak peek on the blog…wait…not done…I’m editing those first of course.
Three hours go by and I’ve got everything where I want it. The new blog post goes up. Between blog posting/Facebook posting there are questions, emails, invoicing and…….Pupps is barking at something…
15 – 20 hours of editing fit in between work (full time) and school (part time)…your images are done!!! It’s time to web size and post them to your online gallery. Also, I order a printed proofing album. I’ve hit another two hours.
While we wait for our printed proofing album you can enjoy the online gallery either private or public view. After a week it’s time for our ordering session.Ordering sessions typically last 2 hours…the order is in after another hour and done! Woot!
3-7 days later the proofs arrive and everyone is happy with their rhinestone portrait boxes with glittered tissue I love making.
Now I’ll make the boring list.
Session discussion – 1 hr
Traveling – 1 hr
Session Time – 1.5 hrs
Backup/Blogging – 3 hrs
Editing – 20 hrs
Admin – 3 hrs
Web sizing/posting – 2 hrs
Ordering session – 2 hrs
Grand Total – 33.5 hours on a session…
A 90 minute session for Children and Family is $125.00. 60% of that is gone. Why? Taxes and business cost. I’m not being paid $125.00 an hour. (I wish..don’t we all?)
So…Walmart does it for 29 cents? Yes, they do! But do they spend 33.5 hours on you? What kind of experience do you get? Do the photographers there know the lighting ratios, understand settings, remember your name?
I’m not here to throw Walmart or any other retailer under the bus or show how much better I am because,quite frankly, I’m not. I can’t compete with Walmart’s $8.99 session deals with 24 wallets, 2 8×10′s and some 5×7′s. I can’t bargain and match someone else’s prices….but….. I can give you a fun experience. I can customize your products or find the one you want. I can build a personal relationship with you and watch your children grow.
Which kind of experience would you rather have?
Posted on January 28, 2010
Since we’ve already covered color coordination I would like to discuss make-up. Make-up application for your photography session is important. This gives flawless finish to your skin and helps brighten your eyes. It should be applied a bit heavier than normal for the camera than every day wear. The purpose of slightly heavier make-up in front of the camera is to give a boost of contrast to your normal every day look because lighting can take away from your make-up.
What…you don’t wear make-up? No worries. I will offer some tips for application!
Time to bust out the cosmetics bag. You’ll need – face wash, moisturizer, concealer, foundation, powder, eye shadow, eye liner, lip gloss, and application brushes.
After washing and moisturizing (and dry) apply the concealer under your eyes blending throughly…blend blend blend…
Tip – Use a concealer a few shades lighter than your skin tone. This will hide the blemishes and any discoloration. Usually concealer is dotted under the eyes, under your checks, chin and forehead. If you have some discoloration around the lips, don’t be afraid, throw some there to!
Blend blend blend…
Now it’s time for the foundation. To get the best match I suggest seeing a consultant as a second pair of eyes never hurts!
Tip – Match foundation color to your chin and jaw line. If you can, avoid doing this under florescent lighting. Florescent lighting is crappy.
Application can be done with sponges, brushes or fingers. I don’t wear make-up often but when I do my favorite way to apply it is with a brush. I feel it gives a better consistency over sponges and I don’t like having it on my fingers.
Using your favorite cosmetic tool (brush, sponge or fingers) only apply foundation where you need it. Crazy I know, but the concealer and powder work wonders here…..blend blend blend….Make sure there are zero lines. This is why we choose foundation based on the chin and jawline.
Powder Time!
Use slightly more powder than you normally would. Place it under your cheekbones, forehead, nose and chin working out and around your face. Powder should create a round look. By applying a bit more a long the cheekbones it will create contrast. This is good.
Eyeshadow…..so many choices….To help bring your eyes out more try a lighter shade. Apply this to your upper lid just below the eyebrow going out.
Eyeliner works best by starting on the outside of the lower lid working in until you reach about 3/4′s in. Brown shades tends to look best, please no bright blue unless we’re going techno!
When using lip gloss we want a non-frosted one shade darker than normal, color. The frosted colors I’ve seen can make it seem as if you’re not wearing any. If you’d rather use lipstick and liner, this applies as well.
Bring your make-up to your session. Between posing and clothing changes it can begin to fade. We may need to reapply some during your session keep your fabulous skin smooth.
So I think we have all of our bases covered….thinking….Oh yes. If you feel as though you are wearing a bit too much don’t worry. Again, the lighting will take this effect away. Hopefully this post helps with the information and tips!
Posted on January 27, 2010
What is boudoir?
The term boudoir originates from a private chamber connected to a woman’s bedroom for bathing and dressing. Now, boudoir is made in a photographers studio by shooting tasteful portraits of a woman. It has become popular now for wives and brides-to-be to give this type of portrait as a gift to their husband or fiance.
Boudoir portraits are tastefully done and only imply bedroom behavior. They are done according to your comfort level. Everyone has a different idea of how they would like to send the message to their loved one ranging from fun and flirtatious to sensual with an old hollywood feel. What kind message do you want to send?
Tonight another good friend of mine (who brought another friend for some comical dialogue) stopped by for one of these sessions. She was able to let her hair down and we had a blast!
Posted on January 26, 2010
What to wear to a photography session is probably the most common question. My answer? Don’t match! In this post I have included two color definitions and visual examples on how to look fabulous effortlessly coordinating your outfits and accessories.
I have to admit, when I began photography I thought matching was the way to go. It was great to me because then everyone blends together easily for their portrait. I’ve done a lot of thinking since then. I realized it does not separate yourself and we can’t see your personality and fashion sense this way. A photography session with the family or by yourself not only is there to provide portraits, it defines YOU.
So how do we define you in a group?
Easy – by wearing complementary or analogous Colors.
Wait…whats that….?!
According to zimmerworks.com, the definitions are as follows:
Complementary:
Hues which are opposite each other on the colors wheel. The complement of red is green, the complement of yellow-orange is blue-violent, etc. When two complements are placed next to each other each color appears at its highest visual strength.
Analogous:
An analogous color scheme consists of any three or four adjacent colors on the color wheel. Their proximity to one another assures that analogous colors will contribute to a harmonious scheme, and where colors meet, they will blend beautifully.
Below you’ll see two color wheels with examples on both definitions.
Complementary colors are those colors opposite from each other on the color wheel and creates a wonderful contrast. Choose your color and another opposite to that on the wheel. Viola! Your outfit is complete.
Analogous colors are those directly next to each other on the color wheel. Choose a color you would like to wear. Then in the same column choose two colors to the left and right.Viola again! Another outfit is complete.
I hope by posting this it helps to make color choices easier for your photography sessions.
(a special thank you goes to Joann for this post!)
Posted on January 25, 2010
Since the design of my logo I’ve worked hard trying to think of packaging and client booklets reflecting me. I realized deep down I am a girly girl loving glitter, rhinestones and boutique tags. I have almost everything done with the exception of new business cards.
The informational booklets include everything from what to expect during your session to a full pricing breakdown. They are a flip over style booklet with a ribbon across the top.
Your portraits are placed in white boxes with blue and white ribbon lined with rhinestones. The white boxes are then put inside white bags with glitter white and blue tissue paper to further protect (and add eye candy) your investment topped with a Thank You tag tied to the handle.
Posted on January 23, 2010
Just had to share one more card for Valentine’s day. These make great wallets to hand out to those you love.
Posted on January 22, 2010
Valentines Day wallets! They are available for both the boys and the girls. What a cute way to say I love you during this Valentines day season!
Posted on January 21, 2010
I attended a conference tonight hosted by a leading photographer in the children’s portrait industry. It’s given me a lot of ideas for future portraits. Sets to include for girls are fairy lands, angelic scenic sessions and, princess themes. Even things for the boys such as fireman sessions, baseball, football, and derby cars. This will take time to put together of course. How do you feel about these ideas? Leave a comment below!
Posted on January 19, 2010
I was looking through some old images and found a senior session taken last year I wanted to share with you all. She was a great modal for the camera. I can’t wait until summer for more Seniors!
