What to expect at a photo session with me.

(or why I'm not charging $50 a session).

The chatter among photographers often turns to conversations on how to know what to charge for our work. The photography market is very competitive, but I choose not to compete with other photographers based on price. I believe that my pricing reflects the value of working with me.

I first "hung my shingle out" aka entered the world of paid photography about 8 years ago, specializing in youth athletics. My heart is still with sport photography but I also offer (and love doing) family portraiture. I have a full time job that I love as well, so I'm not relying on photography to feed my family and pay all of my bills. BUT I know that others do, and I know the costs associated with running a small business, and I know the value of my time. And that's why I'm not charging $50 a session.

I came across an advert for a local (my neighborhood) photographer that is charging $50 a session. Your $50 will get you a half hour of her time to shoot, and all of the edited images. In my world that half hour translates into a minimum of 3 hours of my time

Your family portrait session will include:

• communicating with you before the shoot so I know what you want, and can help you know what to expect; 
• travel to the location (if you don't come to my garden studio), 
• post processing the images because that is a critical part of what I offer, 
• creating an on line gallery for you to proof the images, 
• reviewing the images with you to agree on final picks and making sure everything is print ready and to your satisfaction. 
• creating and delivering any specialty products that you choose.

Before the shoot I'll scout the right location to make sure it will be suitable for our needs. Just last week I found that the fall colors at one park weren't really started and there was a lot of snow fencing around washed out areas of the creek. Because I checked before hand I was able to contact my client and suggest an alternate location, and we got the photos we intended to get.

During the shoot, 

• I'll work at getting the posing right, including figuring out what to do with your hands and feet, what angles to use, and how to arrange your family so that you will end up with a photo you want to print and hang on your wall. I'm not just going to plunk you all in front of a pretty bunch of colorful fall leaves, and fill the frame with people. 

• I'll interact with you and your family in a fun and friendly way so we get the best expressions we can. I'll take responsibility for getting the kids to smile and sit pretty, so that hopefully you can relax and look your best.

• I'll compose the shot to include background elements, but use an aperture that ensures a separation between you (the subject) and the background.
•  I'll watch for spontaneous, candid moments and try to capture those as well. If your willing to play in a pile of leaves or climb a tree, I'll be ready to take those images too.

After we've taken the photos, I'll spend a good deal of time on the images, starting with eliminating any that are technically flawed or unflattering, comparing similar images side by side to pick the best of the best, editing those that I will show you as proofs for:

• skin color, 
• contrast (I prefer contrasty images), 
• spot removal, 
• cropping to show you options (square vs. 4x6 vs 8x10 vs 16x9). 

These go into a proofing gallery for you to review in the convenience of your home. I'm available to consult with you on final choices and final editing. Did you want a series in black and white? I can do that.

I also create custom built posters, story boards, books and holiday cards for my clients at their request, for an additional fee to the session.

Your session fee with me starts at $300 and includes $75 credit to spend on products of your choosing from your on line gallery. Those products include regular and mounted prints products, canvas, thin wrap and aluminum ready to hang prints, and digital files. I will sell you "all of the edited images" from your shoot but my goal is to create a portrait of you and your family that you want to print big and hang on your wall. To do that requires more than a half hour of my time. I really hope that you can see the value that my experience and expertise will bring to creating beautiful family keepsakes for you. 

Look at all these cute faces! Modern Mama 2013 Face of the Year Contestants

The Modern Mama (St. Albert) Face of the Year shin dig took place February 27, 2013 at Ron Hodgson Chev Buick GMC.   The event sold out, and 60 precious little faces smiled, slept, blew bubbles, and goofed off for me, Raj from Patient Man Productions and Larissa from LMack Photography Studio. Beautiful little girls with pig tails and bows in their hair, mischievous busy boys, some deadpan serious babies, some real ham toddlers, made for a really fun night of photography! There were displays by local family friendly businesses and sponsors, a beautiful cake and bright shiny cars to use for backdrops.

I've uploaded many selections for each of the little people that I photographed. I'm a sucker for little ones, and must admit that I was not 'brutal' in culling my shots! I find delight in the whole spectrum of facial expressions little people make and I hope you will too. I did force myself to pick one image each to share here:

I'm offering 10% off  prints and digital files until April 30, 2013. The discount code to use to redeem the 10% discount is entered during the check out process, on the payment details page. It is ModernMaMa10, and it is case sensitive.

I offer some really beautiful ready to hang products, metal (aluminum) prints, thin wraps with a satin finish, as well as metallic print paper. These are products not readily available here in Edmonton. My print lab is Bay Photo in California, and there are shipping charges on prints ordered from my site. Bay Photo is a very high quality professional print lab, and we offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee on all print products ordered through my site.

I also offer digital files in three sizes: a web sized version for $2, perfect for sharing on social media or your family blog, a 1MP size that will print very well up to 5x7 inches (possibly larger) for $10 and a 4MP size that can print big, for $50. There are no limitations to the number of copies that you can make with your personal use license for these photos. Digital files provide you with great flexibility in terms of the way you make use of them, and there is no shipping cost or wait time for digital file purchases!

The photos from this event are ready for you. I do hope that you enjoy them. I offer family photo sessions at a setting of your choosing, in my garden or in your home (I have portable studio lighting), starting at $300 with a $75 credit toward prints or downloads. For more information, please contact me! You can always leave me comments here too.

Ready for the Holidays? Photo Cards/Calendars

The custom photo card that I spoke about in the last post arrived this morning and they look great!

These are wide format cards, so you'll notice that the fold is along the short edge. There are a variety of paper types available for your cards as well, including a beautiful metallic pearl. It's not too late to book your family photo session and have custom cards made by Windermere Studios. But, it will be soon! There are lots of card designs available in 4x8, 5x7 and 5x5 formats.

The sample Maui Ocean View calendar was in the same shipment.

Today is the last day to pre order copies of this beautiful 13 image 2013 calendar at a discount, for local pick up/delivery.


I also have calendars for sale through Red Bubble. Those calendars have an 11x17 format with the image and the calendar blocks on the same page. They are stunning as well!

Family Photos: Introducing a brand new baby!

I've had the privilege of taking family photos for my former coworker's family for the last four years. When the call came to pick a date this year, I was met with the pleasant surprise that they were expecting their second baby. We picked a date approximately a week after the due date so that we could also get some new born photos.

Newborn photography is a difficult task. Babies are wonderfully unpredictable. We turned the heat up in the house, had a little space heater running, and let me tell you all of us adults were sweating! But, despite our best efforts to keep this little man asleep he was having none of it! There were fleeting moments when his eyes were closed but they did not last long. He also made it perfectly clear that he was not fond of laying on his tummy!

We took our time, but I also made sure to be ready for any and all opportunities to capture this little man asleep, to isolate those perfect little fingers and toes, to show the fleeting tenderness of babe cuddled into his mom or dad. Those are the things fond memories are made of.

This little guy has a very proud (and very cute) older brother:

After trying a couple of spots in their home, with window light and also with a backdrop and studio lights, we moved into mom and dads room. Despite the fact that it was very overcast outside, the light streaming in through the windows was beautiful, reflecting just enough off of the snow without being glaring.

I'm making custom holiday cards for them as well. There is still time to have me come take your family photos for your holiday card or letter this year! Photos really should be done no later than Dec. 6 if you'd like custom cards made.  Be sure to give me a shout ASAP to make arrangements!