How does professional photography work?

Gone are the days when you would dress up the family and head over to Sears or JC Penney for family photos. Studios like Olan Mills, Glamour Shots and Portrait Innovations have closed their doors forever. So now that I’ve dated myself, who else remembers having their photo taken at one of these outfits? Lots of memories, some good and maybe even some bad photos, wouldn’t you agree? But things sure have changed a lot in the professional photography industry since then.

So what does that mean if you want family photos now? And if you want to hire a photographer, how does it work?

With an array of options out there, it can be overwhelming understanding what to look for and what to expect when hiring a photographer. The good news is that since most photographers offer custom sessions today, you won’t end up with photos of your one year old child with the same prop as every other kid who went to the same studio to be photographed. Am I right??

Custom sessions are just that - custom to your goals, needs and style. Are you looking for wall art to prominently display in your living room? As a custom photographer, I will help make that happen. Want a photo album telling the story of your family? I will not only photograph various expressions and poses, but will also help design an album you can’t help but look at over and over again. Have a specific location that means something to you where you want to be photographed? You guessed it, I can photograph you there.

According to Webster’s dictionary, custom is defined as “made specially for individual customers.” Because a photo session is tailored to each client, there is a bigger commitment required by both myself and my clients. And that involves time and money.

For example, I schedule a pre-planning consultation that takes place prior to the session. This is when details such as a location, date, time, who will be photographed, what to wear, how to prepare and so on is discussed. Successful sessions begin with proper preparation. This is a step absolutely not worth skipping!

A few days to a couple of weeks after the session, I meet with my clients for the reveal. This is when they see the images from their session for the very first time! During the viewing, they select which images they can’t live without and together we design artwork discussed during the pre-session consult. I create my magic in post-processing and then deliver their art once it is complete.

Throughout the process, I help guide my clients every step of the way. From choosing what artwork to display, picking the location and what colors to wear, we work together to create memories that can be displayed and treasured for years to come.

If you have any questions about professional photography and want to learn more, let’s chat!