I just love to hear from old friends… especially when they want me to take pictures of the important things in their lives. When Katy emailed me and told me she wanted pictures done for her baby that was about to be 1, I had this weird feeling about how “old” I’m getting. No, I’m not getting old, but I’m definitely getting older. I can’t believe how many people I went to school with are now married, have children, and have moved off to different places in the world. It’s so surreal to know that life is just flashing by. But anyway, it was SO great to see Katy (and she’s pregnant again! YIPPEE!) and to take pictures of the beautiful Ashlan.

By the way, if you are interested in getting pictures of your children done, take note of the outfits and props Katy brought. They were IDEAL! Bright colors, hats, jewelry… I love it! Thanks Katy, I hope you love the pictures!

BY THE WAY: Don’t forget to check back on MONDAY to find out what’s been brewing lately! I can’t wait to share!

Hey everyone! I wanted to give you all the heads up about my Wedding Package Prices that will be taking effect in the next couple of weeks! I’m really excited for all of the new options and revised packages that I will be offering for future clients! I know that when a bride is looking for a photographer, there are lots of things that are taken into account. For me, when I booked my photographer, I considered 5 major things, and as I thought about those things, I decided that many (probably most) brides are considering the same things! Take a look at what I considered valuable in my photographer and what you can expect out of me as your photographer.

Style/Uniqueness: With my photography style, I truly want to capture each couple/family/bride’s uniqueness and qualities. I consider myself to be very photojournalistic, trying to capture the candid moments that really display personality rather than a bunch of “Smile and say cheese” shots. I valued those in my own photos, so I take to heart that style in my own photography. I try to be unique and I try to make you look unique. Really, it’s a pretty good trade!

Package Options: With my new Wedding Packages, I am catering to the bride who wants to remember her day like a story in a book. She will be able to turn the pages of her album and see how her wedding day unfolded just like she’s been imagining since she was a little girl. Oh yes, every package comes with an album. Now you REALLY can’t wait to see the new packages, can you?

Pricing: When I hear people say that they are on a “budget” for their wedding, I can totally relate. Especially in these times, being frugal and smart with your money is something that you don’t want to take too lightly. I always encourage my brides to consider what they want most for their wedding. Is it the venue? Is it the dress? Whatever IT is, that’s what they need to focus their budget on. For me, it was my photographer. On my wedding day, flowers were whirled around, cakes were ushered in, the venue was decorated precisely…. and all I remember is being with my husband. All the time I’d spent planning and researching and creating…. I didn’t remember seeing the end result at the wedding! The whole day was a big (fun) blur! THEN, I got my wedding pictures back. All of the little details of the day… the text message my husband sent, the sprouts of color in the bouquets, the toole on the candelabras, the laughter I shared with the bridesmaids while getting ready…. ALL of it was captured in my pictures. When I say that I consider wedding photography as an investment, I truly mean that it is an investment in the memories of your wedding. As anniversaries pass, you remember less and less of the day in your mind, but your pictures will always hold a thousand words.

Availability: Availability for your day is a must (duh)! For my brides, I reserve the entire weekend to you. I do not do any “shoot-and-burn” weddings the day before or the day after yours. I will be 100% rested and ready for YOUR day (because let’s all admit that the wedding day is exhausting for everyone)! I always attend your Rehearsal the night before to get a feel for your wedding location and the order of events. I also offer rehearsal coverage (since I’ll be there anyway), so that’s always a neat thing to consider! I also am only booking 3 weddings per month. As of right now, for 2010 I have at least 2 open dates for every month but January and I only have one left for June, so if you are engaged (or as soon as you are), check for availability! I do not hold dates until I get your deposit, but I always schedule consultations as soon as I hear from you!

Compatibility: This is something I valued highly in my photographer. Right when I met her, I knew she was perfect for me. She was kind, sincere, warm, and welcoming. All things that I value in a friend. And who better to be your photographer than someone you would want to be friends with? (Notice the difference between hiring your friend to do your wedding photography and hiring a photographer who could become a friend…. LOL… but seriously). When I have a consultation with a future bride and groom, I am just as much checking my compatibility with them as they are with me. If a photographer and the bride cannot work well together, the wedding day will NOT go smoothly and you will not be pleased with your pictures. The best compliments that I have gotten when shooting a wedding were when people told me that I wasn’t even noticeable, yet I seemed to be getting every picture I wanted. Perfect. That’s exactly my goal on your day. Because that’s what it is. Your day. Not mine. I want you to feel like the star. I will get every picture I need for you to remember your wedding day perfectly, but not once will you have to say “Excuse me, but I can’t reach over your camera to feed my husband cake!”

So, now that you understand a little bit more about me, my style, and my thought process for your photography, you’d better hurry up and book your wedding or session! New Prices Coming Soon!

Today I’m devoting a special blog for clients. I think one of the neatest parts about photography is that there are so many aspects to it. Lighting, exposure, composition, relating with your clients, post-processing, handling the “business” side, etc. It really keeps the job passion interesting. I seriously LOVE what I do. All of it. Some more than others, but you get the point.

What many people don’t know about photography is that there is a lot that goes on behind the scenes after we do a session together. Let me explain my post-processing work flow.

1.) Upload the pictures to my computer (30 min - 1 hour)

2.) Back up the pictures (15-30 minutes)

3.) Rate the pictures (1 is trash, 2 is a keeper, 3 is a major keeper, which I’ll probably blog) (30 min - 1 hour)

4.) Open all the keepers in Camera Raw and fix the exposure, temperature, etc. (1 hour)

5.) Edit the major keepers and blog a sneak peek (1 - 2 hours)

6.) Upload the proofs onto my online photo gallery (30 minutes - 1 hour)

7.) Edit the images my clients choose (varies depending on how many images are ordered (usually between 2 - 5 hours)

8.) Burn disc of digital negatives for client (30 minutes)

So that’s typical for EVERY client’s session. The time varies, but I spend usually between 7 and 12 hours just post processing one session per client. (That’s a 1 hour session, not a wedding…. I chain myself to the desk for hours on end to process a wedding… haha!).

The reason I’m blogging this is because I want every client to understand the difference between an edited photo and a digital negative. The reason I do not edit every photo I take is because it would take FOR-E-VER and I want to keep my prices reasonable. I do include digital negatives with every session. Why, you ask? Because I’m just that nice.

So what is the difference between a digital negative and an edited photo? Well, I’m glad you asked.

(SOOC - means Straight Out Of Camera)

And for funzies, a before and after pic of my niece in a pink dress that my sister and I both had our portraits made in when we were 3 years old. Now it’s my sister’s daughter’s turn! Isn’t she sweet? I hope I have a little girl one day that can carry on the tradition!!

So as you can see, there is a big difference between SOOC, the digital negative, and an edited photo. SOOC - no corrections. Digital Negative - Improved exposure and temperature. Edited - Makes you look like a rockstar (well, more so than you already are).

I hope this little Insider was helpful!!!