This is a photograph of my dear 70-200mm, 2.8L Canon Lens.  I love this lens.  It has served me well.  I’ve even dropped it and it still worked beautifully!  However, this last damage was irreversible.  A sad goodbye to my  beautiful lens.

The story:  I was boarding a plane from Boise to Seattle.  I was flying on standby, so I was the last person on the flight.  My seat was the very first seat on the plane (no seat in front of me for me to slide my camera bag under).  Because it was a regional flight, there was limited storage in the overhead bins.  The flight attendant asked me to gate check the bag.  I hesitantly handed over my bag as I sheepishly mentioned that the bag was EXTREMELY fragile.  She took it away and I knew that was a bad idea.  I arrived to Tucson, AZ for After Dark, EDU and opened up my bag.  THere it was.  The demise of my lens.  My camera had the same fate.  My lens actually broke OFF of my camera.  Sadness.

The outcome:  Fortunately, I have insurance through Kevin Pfleger at Farmer’s (208) 861-1665 and I was well taken care of.  I was able to replace my camera and lens and get it shipped overnight for a small deductible.  HALLELUJAH!!!  I was so thankful when I realized how easy it was going to be to get my precious gear, my livelihood replaced.  I realize it’s a little dramatic, but it was a tough loss.  Photographs from a borrowed camera at After Dark, EDU to follow…

I’ve offered mentoring positions to photographers who weren’t local to Boise, but this is the first time I’m offering a short business workshop for locals and non-locals alike (boy – that sounds SUPER professional )!  I often say that I wouldn’t be where I am with this business without the amazing support of other photographers, here and around the country.  That support and advice was crucial for me when I first began.  It’s time for me to give back!

I’ll be covering these topics at this short, 4 hour business workshop:

1.  JUMP-Start Your Year - How to start your year successfully

2.  NOT easy money – Learning the true cost of owning your own business

3.  INTO the numbers – How to figure out your “break-even” point and what to do with that number

4.  BUSINESS marketing for the year – How to skeleton-plan your year of marketing

Jump NOT into business without a plan!!!  Cost for this workshop is only $69 if you register before 01/09/11 or $99 if you register after that date.  Registration will close January 22nd, 2011.  Location is TBA depending on the number of attendees.  Maximum number to attend will be 30.  Other classes will open if there is further interest.

Contact Cyndee today to ensure your seat at this informative workshop!

Article used with permission from this site and is a continuation from this post.

The digital revolution has brought amazing flexibility and ability to control various factors during the image taking and making process.  Photographers, the hobbyist, the professional, the amateur all benefit from this ability to manipulate pixels.  However, with flexibility comes a price.  Digital camera equipment is still considerably more expensive when you factor in its’ lifespan, the need for additional resources for processing those images, the time it takes to get a usable image and the effort that goes into creating a work of photographic art. We all know that you can go to the local Walgreen’s and pay a $1.99 for a print – as a client you may wonder why you may pay upwards of $50, $70, $90 for a custom photography print.   Photographers hear this statement every once in awhile:

“How in the world can you charge $60 for an 8×10 if it costs me less than $2 to print at x store?”

The truth of the matter is the answer to this question is multifaceted.  Much of the cost of a photographic print produced by a professional photographer has a lot to do with the time,  equipment costs, artistic vision and reputation of the photographer not to mention expertise and the usual costs of running a legitimate business. The cost of TIME Approaching it from a time standpoint, let’s imagine that you have hired a photographer who has work that you love.  This photographer is traveling an hour to your destination to photograph your session.  Here is an example of a time break down:

• booking time: 30 minutes to one hour (client contact time + paperwork)
• pre-session prep time (30 mins – 1 hour, includes equipment and back up equipment checks + vehicle checks)
• one hour travel time TO session
• 15-30 minutes prep time at client’s home
• 90 minutes-2 hours with client photographing subject
• one hour travel time FROM session
• 30-45 minutes uploading time from digital cards from camera to computer
• 30-45 minutes time spent backing up the original images
• 2-5 hours editing time to present you with a diverse gallery of edited images
• 1 hour prep time getting ready for ordering
• 2-3 hours time with client for ordering images
• 1 hour sorting through and checking order
• 30 minutes-1 hour prep time for delivery
• 30 minutes-1 hour getting order shipped
• any additional phone time or time needed for add on ordering, shipment issues, quality issues

In this example, the time spent per client can range from just under 13 hours to 19 hours – dependent on the photographer’s level of service.  This is time dedicated only to ONE session.  When the photographer charges $150-$300 for the photo shoot (aka SESSION FEE) you are not just paying for the two hours of session time, you are paying the photographer for 12-19 hours complete time for your session.

The COSTS of Maintaining a Custom Photography Business:

Regarding equipment costs, a good quality professional camera with a selection of good optical quality lenses and digital storage mediums and computer set up can run from $10,000-$30,000 costs dependent on the photographer.  Even though you can purchase a really good quality digital SLR for about $2100 there are still other costs related to photography.  A good lens for portrait photography can run from $900 to $2500.  A dependable computer system with software loaded for business and creative usage can run $2500 to $8000 dependent on the photographer. Then come lab costs for specialty products.  A good photographer knows their professional lab is an integral part of their success.  These labs often cost more and offer a range of products that allows the custom photographer to continually offer new, innovative products for the discerning client.

Discussion on other costs of running a photography business could take awhile so we’ll skip many of the intricate details.  An overview:  the costs of running the business, taxes, studio rental/mortgage if the photographer has ownership of a dedicated studio, vehicular costs, costs of advertising/marketing, costs of sample pieces that the photographer will likely bring to your session, etc.

APPLES to ORANGES to BANANAS: Often times clients will mention to their photographer that X studio in the mall/department store only charges $19.99 for an 8×10 “sheet” or they may mention other things related to discount photography chains.  The fact is those discount chains make their money on volume, not on customized 1:1 service.  In February 2007 a company who has leased photography retail space in a rather well known discount retailer closed down 500 of their portrait studios across the nation.  The reason it happened is simple, you cannot make money on 99¢ “professional” prints if you do not sell enough of them.  Interestingly enough – those same studios that offer the loss leader packages often charge much much more for their a la carte pricing vs. many custom photographers (as high as $40-50 for an 8×10).

A little history – the whole reason the big department stores began offering portrait services in the first place was to get you, the savvy consumer, in through their door so that you could spend more money with them in other departments.  Your “PORTRAITS” are considered the “loss leader”.  Your portraits that are meant to symbolize a once-in-a-lifetime stage in your child’s life are part of what a store considers a way to get you in there door to spend more money on goods that you might not really want or need but because you’re there “anyway” you buy.

Also keep in mind that when you go to a chain studio, as a consumer, you don’t have the benefit of 1:1 attention for 2 hours at your home where your child is allowed to explore, play and be comfortable in their home environment, nor do you get the experience that many custom photographers are known for as well as the lovely captures of natural expressions.  You simply get a bare bones, “SAY CHEESE” experience.

REPUTATION/EXPERTISE of the PHOTOGRAPHER: There is an old story about a ship that cost a company millions of dollars.  Something went wrong in the engine room and the ship was stuck in dock.  They called various “experts” who spent weeks trying to fix the issue to no avail and at a cost of tens of thousands of dollars.  Finally a older gentleman was called in who simply brought in his small tool bag and a hammer.  He set about pinging on various parts of the vast engine with his hammer, finally settling on one area.  He spent a few minutes pinging in that area, took out a few tools and fixed whatever what was wrong.  After a few moments the man straightened up, looked at the captain and instructed him to “start her up.”  The captain disbelievingly went to get the engines started while the man sat in the engine room listening as the engine roared to life.  The man tipped his hat as he exited the ship to the staff who sat dumbfounded because they had seen all the experts come on board for days with their expensive equipment only to have the ship not fixed.  This man did it in a few minutes with a few pings of his hammer!

A few days passed and the man sent the shipping company a bill for $10,000.  The accounting department contacted him immediately.  Why all the rumors mentioned that this man had only spent “a few minutes” fixing the ship “with his hammer and a few other random tools”.  When questioned about why his bill was for $10,000 – did he accidentally leave an extra zero on the bill?  The man confidently responded: “In fact the time was worth the $1,000.  The other $9,000 was for the years of experience and the ability to discern the issue as quickly as possible for the company.”

Now I’m not saying that photographers fix large ships but being in demand, being well known for quality work, having a good reputation often costs time on the photographer’s part (years of practice, study, experience, etc).  A photographer’s expertise comes at a cost, their time learning their craft and learning the intricacies of lighting and the commitment put forth on their end to create a persona about their business that oozes professionalism.  A great number of photographers go a very long time from the time that they purchase their first good camera to making money at the business of photography.  Many photographers, when first starting out, rush in thinking that the business will be easily profitable in no time, how expensive could it be to get a camera and use it to create their dream?  These photographers often undervalue what they do because they have the realization that they do not have experience or expertise but are very adept at pushing the shutter on the camera.  Many times these casual “professionals” neglect to factor in the cost of business, the cost of equipment, software, back ups, etc..  When you hire a photographer of sound reputation, you are hiring an expert, one that knows that they must always reinvest in their business to create the reputation of being top notch.  To create good work a photographer possesses not only sound knowledge in the technical and creative aspects of photography but also good, reliable equipment and back up equipment.

The photographer who desires to be known as better/best/unparalelled reputation-wise knows that the most important thing they can do for their business is reliability and dependability.  This is how reputations get built.  Good work often is a wonderful side product of building that good reputation.

I hope this (lengthy) article helps shed some light on WHY a custom photographer is a better choice for your family’s memories.  The photographs that are produced as a result of the professionalism and dedication that your photographer has will be cherished for a lifetime (or more) and great thought and consideration should be placed into hiring who is right for your family’s most precious investment.

Article used with permission by this site and is a continuation from this post.

Custom Photography as something “special”

Custom photography is more of a luxury than your entry level cookie cutter chain experience. Custom photography truly is not for everyone, it requires a level of commitment, investment in time  and money, forethought and planning on the part of the subject/client and requires a larger time commitment for the photographer as well.

Clients who enjoy taking a more active role in the creation of their families’ memories have the desire to have portrait art that is truly personalized.  These more discerning clients have been known to budget and allot time for a custom photography session.  Many clients opt for it to be a once a year special experience, some opt to have custom photography sessions done to record their child’s stages in life.  Having said this, it is clear that custom photography is not in everyone’s budget,  it is something that most families save for to splurge on from time to time to memorialize their children as they really are  (not posed and primped in the cookie cutter studio setting).

There is a great deal of time involved in creating high end custom photography sessions for a client.  The luxury of great service, better choices and a supberb end product.  The result of all this are heirloom quality images.  The time invested at the session is only a small portion of time involved in this process.

Custom photography has been likened to purchasing a fine vehicle.  To get to point B from A let’s face it, even a bus ride would suffice.  If you want to luxuriate in a finely appointed vehicle, customizing your own experience by listening to smooth jazz while sitting in a climate controlled setting adjusted purely for your comfort in a body hugging leather interior, perhaps that Lexus you so desire is your cup of tea.  Custom photography is much the same cup of tea.  It is the Lexus of the photography world.  It is where the intangibles make the experience truly wonderful and the images themselves make the investment of money and time truly worthwhile.

Custom photography can be broken down into even more levels.  There are on location, studio, mixed studio/on location, specialty location and destination type photographers.  The beauty of custom photography is in the choices and in the luxury of thoses options.  The customized service level you are sure to experience will be amazing.  The knowledge that your final images are the result of someone caring about those moments so much that they take extra time ensuring that the artwork you receive is good enough to stand by with their name on it.  That level of quality and commitment  is all but lost in the age of “mass produced,” “mass marketed,” corporate “everyone is a number”.  Custom photography is based on being unique to you.  How great an experience would be,  to be able to sit back and allow a photographer to do this highly custom work for images that you will most likely cherish for a lifetime?

Keep in mind more than anything that the Lexus will never appreciate in value the way your portraits will.  The portrait art you become invested in from your custom photographer will no doubt increase in value and become more priceless as the years pass.

The following article is used with permission by this site.

The photographic art you choose to place on your wall is ultimately the result of the vision of the photographer. This vision, coupled with what you wear to your session, the environment, the lighting, even the mood the subjects are in at the time of photographing creates the work that you will want to proudly display on your walls forevermore.

Your first step in the process is more about determining who you are, who your family is and then seeking a photographer that reflects your style. For instance let’s say your family is extremely outdoorsy and loves playing on the beach. You start determining what style you like, browse through photography website portfolios and determine if any of the styles exhibited there would be a good fit with your life and family style. You have already determined that you should probably seek out a beach type photographer (that is if you live near a beach) and then begin narrowing the field down a bit.

Finally after a bit of internet research, you have narrowed it down to two photographers who do what seems like solid work, the sort of outdoor beach look you desire.  It is now time to ask yourself: Do you like photographer A’s style over photographer B’s style? Is it because the people in the images of A’s style are having a great time and it seems very caught up in the moment vs. B photographer more posed, looking in the camera images? If this is a case, you probably like LIFESTYLE photography or perhaps even take it a step further and define your desired style as a PHOTOJOURNALISTIC photography style. The photographer you probably should choose is photographer A because their style is very similar to the style you desire.

What custom photography ultimately is all about is choice and experience. Custom photography is about finding someone who will photograph your family, give you devoted 1:1 attention without worry of who is next ‘in line’ or the feeling of a crowded portrait studio.

• A custom photographer will typically show you a fairly extensive gallery culled to only show the good images that meet the photographers’ creative sensibilities.
• Often the images are fully edited images-color corrected with blemishes and undereye circles removed.
• Custom photographers are also known as boutique studios, offering a range of products and unparalleled service. Think Lexus vs. Hyundai, think Nordstrom vs. WalMart.

A custom photography experience should have you, the client and your experience in mind.

I just sent out another newsletter a couple of nights ago.  Have you signed up for it?  It’s a fabulous newsletter (if I do say so myself ) that showcases images, advertises promotions and gives photography tips!  It’s totally worth the two seconds it takes to sign up!  As a matter of fact, I’ll make it easy for you.  Here’s the link:

NEWSLETTER

Here’s the header I used for the newsletter.  I featured my incredible 2011 Senior Spokesmodels!!!

I was a BAD BAD photographer, though.  I forgot to showcase the adorable image of Tyler!!!  So – she gets her very own photograph on my blog.  You are a doll, Tyler – I am so sorry I didn’t have your photograph on the newsletter.  I’ve already grounded myself.

Oh…Professional Photographer’s of Idaho…how I love thee.  Let me count thy ways.

1.  Lori Nordstrom – see her website – she is an amazing woman who was incredibly insightful at her workshop this weekend.  I am so thankful that I did not have to miss any of her talks.  Thank you, LORI!

2.  Meeting Other Photographers – sooo fun!  I always attribute the success of my photography business to the friendship of other photographers.  I have been blessed BLESSED by other photographers in the area.

3.  The Food – okay.  Could it have tasted better?  Yes.  Could it have been any more convenient?  No.  What’s more convenient than having someone else prepare your food and take it away?

4.  Scott and Adina Hayne – see their website – it was great to see them shoot OCF – can’t wait to try it on some of my senior models!

5.  COMPETITION!!!  Okay – so I am extremely competitive.  EXTREMELY.  There are some AMAZING photographers in the State of Idaho who always do very VERY well in competition, so I am not necessarily competing for one of their titles, but I do compete for myself.  The first year I entered, I received two judge’s choice awards and merited 5 out of my 7 entries (a merit is a good thing!).  This year, I had three of my entries merit.  I also won 2nd place for Composite – Other.  I am very honored any time I win an award, because I know that the people who judge these competitions are AMAZINGLY talented.  I’ve found a good thing, if I can get some feedback from them.

So, there ya go, People.  The five top reasons I LOVE PPI (Professional Photographers of Idaho) conference.  If you are a photographer and you have not yet tapped into this amazing resource and wealth of information, you need to do it.  You should have done it yesterday, but fortunately, you are still alive today to do it now.  Don’t waste another minute.  I said, do it NOW!

Okay – now that you’re back after registering with your local PPA affiliate, let me share with you the portraits I submitted for competition.

This was the Award Winning Print

"Change in Perspective"

These ones merited (I also had a Senior Album merit, but it’s not going to be uploaded this evening).

"Cowboy Up"

"Tuesday's Child"

These ones were entered and did not merit.

"And Then They Kissed"

"Organic Beauty"

"The Posse"

"Symphony in Blue"

I had a photography conference this weekend, so I have been away.  Kind of.  Away from work, anyway.  

Good news?  Well…I won 2nd place for one of my prints.  I’ll leave the details of that for another post.  Much love, y’all.

TONS of new photographs from recent sessions coming soon!!!

Many of you know that my wonderful hubby and I have tried to sell our house a couple of times in the last couple of years.  We used a fantastic Realtor, Kori Merlino, but thanks to the market, we were unable to sell for the amount we wanted/needed.  We like our home. I built it when I was only 25 years old, so it has some sentimental value to me.  However – when I built it, I didn’t have a thriving photography business.  Now that I have a successful photography business, we would LOVE to build another house that would be conducive to running the business out of my home.  I would love to have an area that is EXCLUSIVELY for the studio.  But like I said, we haven’t been able to sell our home.

It is IMPERATIVE that I continue to keep my business running from home.  As crazy as it makes me, it is what allows me to solely support my family while still allowing me to be a mommy to my babies.  I work around naptimes, bedtimes, school times (for hubby) and Grandma/Grandpa times (when I can get the most done!!!).  Anyway – for awhile, we have felt as though we are running out of house and home.  My packaging area is in my laundry room.  My studio/office area is in the bonus room.  My ordering area is my living room.  I have been at my wit’s end for awhile, thinking that we were stuck in this never-ending doom of losing space.

Then, the Hallelujah Chorus sang.

Emerging from the clouds was a long-time acquaintance of mine, Patti.  We recently reconnected over Facebook and she indicated that she wanted photography lessons.  Well…in a round-about way, I found out that she is the ORGANIZING QUEEN!!!  I asked her for a trade and the Hallelujah Chorus sang for her too.

Patti and I have spent the last couple of weeks organizing my home, room to room, closet to closet, workspace to workspace.  And wouldn’t you know it?  We actually HAVE space!!!  I purged about 5 car loads of crap (excuse me if that word seems naughty to you…).  I received amazing tips on organizing my home and on keeping it organized.  I went to a few stores (including a quick spontaneous trip to IKEA in SLC last Tuesday) to purchase bins.  Lots and lots and lots of bins.  Maybe over 50 of them?  Oh – I’m sure it’s over 50.  Maybe even 100???  Sure – it cost me money.  But you know what costs more?  Prime Real Estate, People.  That costs a lot more than a few bins.  I discovered over the last couple of weeks that we would love to have more space, but we don’t NEED more space.

Someday, we’ll have a studio in our home that will be all for you, My Wonderful Clients, but until then, don’t be concerned if you hear children screaming on the phone when you call for a session.  Don’t be surprised if you smell dinner on the stove.  Don’t be alarmed if our Studio Mascot, Harley the Cat, comes to greet you.  It’s  all part of owning an at-home business and I am dang proud of that.

So – I am FINALLY going to be sending out my very first newsletter.  I am soooo excited!!!  These newsletters will contain information on Studio Promotions, Photography Tips, Information on Giveaways amongst other things.  I will be sending the first newsletter out on Tuesday, so if you haven’t signed up yet, do it now!  You’ll be glad you did!

Sign up HERE.