You Got The Photographer Baffled On This One!

When I talk with customers and other business owners, I can generally follow the logic behind their budget and how products or services are priced.  I often draw an analogy to the automobile market.  Cars all perform the same task; they get you from point A to point B.  But they have a huge range of selling price.  That’s because different people have different budgets and will spend varying levels of money to purchase a car.

A Thomas Image is signed up to get alerts from brides looking for photography services.  In many of these alerts the bride can list her budget.  I can understand that some brides will have expensive taste (especially if Mommy and Daddy have lots of money to spend on them) and some brides want to put their money into a house rather than a fancy wedding.  I applaud people who think ahead like that.

Here’s my dilemma.  I see more and more brides trying to put a wedding together for a total budget of $500.00 to $2000.00.  That’s their TOTAL budget for a hall, decorations, food beverage, entertainment and photography.  We’re not talking about a small wedding for 15 to 20 people either.  The figures appear to include wedding photography.  Am I missing something here?

How can anyone hire a professional anything, expect them to have top notch equipment, a back up of everything, spend time with the couple to prepare for the wedding, shoot the wedding, come back into the studio to spend 8 to 30 hours to sort and prepare images to view and do all that for a measly hundred bucks.  Don’t get me wrong, I don’t expect wedding couples to pay my entire mortgage for the month.  But at least let me clear some money to put towards the mortgage or buy some food.

If things are that tight, maybe couples should simply continue to date, get an education and start a career in hopes of someday being able to afford to get married and afford to run a household.  Are couples that out of touch with reality, to not have a handle what things cost?  Does everyone think they are entitled to whatever they want and should be able to get it for FREE or near nothing?

I’m willing to help people keep costs under control.  As a business owner I have to do the same thing – keep my costs under control and work within my budget.  What am I missing here?  Can someone tell me?  This photographer is truly baffled.

Wedding Photographer Tips

Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life.  Here are some basic things to consider about wedding photography:

• Your photographer will be with you all day long documenting a very personal time between you and your new spouse.  Make sure both of you are very comfortable with your photographer and willing to show your personal side.  Meet the photographer in advance.
• Consider an engagement announcement photo session with the photographer to learn about him or her.
• Make sure your photographer has back up equipment if something goes wrong.  If you’re going to have a friend or relative take snapshots for you, than have a back up to the friend or relative, if something goes wrong.
• Determine your budget.  If you haven’t set a dollar limit and you want a photographer, then prepare to set monies aside for the level of service you want.
• Find out about what special products or services are available through your photographer  Ask about albums, print stock and special photography effects.  Ask if  “save the date” and “thank you” cards are off-the-shelf or can you have them custom designed using images from your wedding day.
• It’s easier to gather around or pass around a wedding album than try to converge around a computer screen to view images on a disk.
• Ask your photographer about unique locations for photography in your area.
• All the “horror stories” I’ve heard about photographers and customer service issues tell me one thing – Get It In Writing.  Make sure you get a contract from your photographer.  If your photographer does not want to offer one to you – listen carefully, Run, don’t walk, Run the other direction!  You want to know exactly what you are getting and what it will cost you.  That word “cost” does not only refer to money!  If your friend or relative is photographing your wedding, meet with them in advance and make an outline of the things expected on both sides.  Don’t rely on “I thought you said?”

Corporate Decisions – Building or Tearing Down Your Brand?

A Thomas Image is not the most expensive photography studio in town, nor is it the least expensive.  I’ve always felt you should experience product quality and quality service at A Thomas Image.  When you purchase prints and photography from my studio I want you to receive a high level of quality and service.

That having been said let me tell you about a situation my Wife and I experienced recently.  My Wife decided it was time to replace our kitchen counter tops.  She called in the designer we used when we originally built our home.  The designer recommended Cambria for our counter tops.  Why? – Because they positioned themselves as a “high-end” manufacturer.  When you buy Cambria, you buy the best in product and service.

Well, the new countertops came in.  After installation, we noticed a defect in one of the tops.  A Cambria field service representative was dispatched to our house.  He inspected the top, took pictures, filled out a report, and tried to correct the problem.  He could not correct the problem.  We were told Cambria would review the information and advise us of their disposition.

Afterwards we learned the defect was in the counter top when it arrived at the installer’s facility.  Meaning it came that way from Cambria.  So now we’re thinking Cambria will make good on the counter top.  After all, they positioned themselves as a “high-end” manufacturer.

We got the results from Cambria – they felt the defect was caused by the installer.  As a result they would not replace the top.  So how did the situation get resolved?  The installer stood behind the job.  He purchased a new counter top, came on site, removed the old top and installed a brand new one.  His commitment was to make us and the designer happy – even at his expense.  Wow!  That’s commitment!

Lessons learned?  First, when I make a statement about the quality of my product and service at A Thomas Image, I need to be committed to stand behind that statement.  Second, just how committed is Cambria to their name in the marketplace and what might you think about their name, higher price and the marketing hype: a “high-end” manufacturer?

More info as it becomes available.

Find out what your photographer really knows!

Photography is as much a science as an art.  A lot of people looking to hire a photographer may judge the photographer’s value on such criteria as:

The camera looks expensive!

My friend/relative always takes pictures!

I can get a great photographer for less than the “pros”!

Remember I  said photography is as much science as art?  I found this neat posting about photographic terms.  Read it over:  http://digital-photography.suite101.com/article.cfm/digital_slr_photography_basics

Then ask your prospective photographer to answer some questions you’ve gotten from the article.  The content of the article covers just the basics.  If they stutter and stammer trying to answer questions about the basics don’t waste your money- hire a “pro”!

Merry Christmas 2009

You are welcome to tour Diane and My Christmas tree for 2009.  YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcXyDzaBtuc

Thanks you!

Underwater Photographer Image On Diving Unlimited International Web Site

A recent underwater image of mine was published on the Diving Unlimited International Web Site.  Diving Unlimited International is the worlds leading manufacturer of dry suits.  You can see the image at:

http://www.dui-online.com/dog.html

Avery good dive buddy of mine Randy Scott had the idea for the shot.  I worked with him and Tim Dunn another diver to complete the image.  Thanks guys for a job well done!

Where Is Photography Headed?

I ran up against this posting that began discussing how some long standing studios are going out of business. The post covered a lot of issues our industry faces. Hope you enjoy the reading. See the link below:

http://www.ardegalicia.info/portrait-studios/why-are-so-many-weddingportrait-studios-going-belly-up

MY HANDS, MY HANDS, WHERE DO I PUT MY HANDS??

If there’s one thing in this world that makes me exxxxtreeeeemely nervous – it’s going to the dentist!  When I get in the chair, my body goes rigid.  Often I can see that same nervousness when people come into the studio for a portrait. 

 The first point of order is to get people relaxed.  As they start to loosen up a bit the next issue to arise is: “What do you want me to do with my hands?”

 So if you have the same problem, problem with hands that is, put your trust in the photographer.  Let list a few quick comments about hands:

1. What may bother you about your hands, is likely just you being nervous or maybe you’re self conscious about your hands.  In a portrait from the waist up, any defects in the hands become nearly invisible.  Those big problems to you don’t show up in the final image.
2. A good photographer will have you position your hands to compliment the pose.
3. Your hand position may often be adjusted to allow clothing fabric to smoothen.  That’s right!  Sometimes hand/arm position can cause clothing fabric to pull, pucker, or crease.  This can cause problems in the composition.  So your hand/arm may be positioned to eliminate/reduce those fabric issues.
4. Hand placement may be used to compliment the pose, i.e. resting a chin on the closed hand.  Sometimes this works and sometimes it just doesn’t.  When it doesn’t, the photographer will change the pose and continue to shoot.

 The bottom line is your concern about where to put your hands is normally just your nervousness.  Don’t worry, you’ll relax.  You’ll begin to forget about your hands and start to have a good time.  Well that should happen if you’re working with a pro!  Let me know your thoughts.

Copyrights – What’s the deal?

The topic of copyrights and ownership of images is a widely discussed issue. I have looked for easy to understand discussions and have floundered with ways to express this issue to clients and others. Well someone has finally done the job some justice.

Please follow the following link to read how photog Lauren Fitzgerald easily explains this difficult to understand topic. Lauren, my hat’s off to you on a job well done!
http://www.laurenfitzgeraldphotography.com/?p=988

October Special

During the month of October any Premium Paper print order will be upgraded to Metallic Paper at no additional charge. Metallic Paper provides a dynamic appearance, deeper color depth and a look that is truly unique. If you prefer the traditional Premium Paper, please make sure you confirm your order should be on Premium Paper, not Metallic Paper. There is no discount applied to Premium Paper orders when the Metallic Paper special offer is declined!
See the studio web site for more info (http://www.athomasimage.com).