Isn't technology grand? Anyone these days can buy themselves a digital camera, take wonderful photos of their kids and family, delete the ones they don't like, upload them to Facebook, email them, and print as many copies as their heart desires. It is amazing how far photography has come and how accessible it is to every mom, hobbiest, and nature lover. I love it when my friends and family invest in digital cameras- it means that they too can know the beauty and art of the photograph. Capture their everyday lives and be proud to display it! With editing software available to consumers, you can even play around with your images with some Photoshop skills.
While all these technologies are great, they remind professional photographers, like me, that consumer expectations have changed. With the onslaught of consumers buying pro camera equipment, we can't help but think that anyone with a big fancy camera is a professional. We trust that they have the skills necessary to capture beautiful images, edit them with a trained eye, and present a gorgeous piece of art that we proudly hang in our homes. Sadly, this is not the case.
It seems that everwhere you look, someone you know is now taking pictures for a living. Yes, I said "taking pictures". They will happily shoot whatever you need, then even more happily burn all of your photos onto a disc, because that's what you want, right? They may, in fact, be incredible photos- perfect lighting, exposure, and even great smile from your husband/wife. You LOVE them. You pay for your CD and that's that. Now what?
Scenario One- You receive your CD and immediately make plans to get them printed next weekend after your son's baseball game. Next weekend comes and the game goes into extra innings. By the time it's over, it's late- printing can wait till next week. Next week comes and you forget it's your husband's best friend's wedding. Being there reminds you that you must get your photos printed out so they can adorn the walls of your living room. 3 more weeks go by and where is the CD? Exactly the same place you left it- next to the computer, but now it is covered by bills, mail, and appointment reminder cards. Life happens. I KNOW- I live it everyday!
Scenario Two- You bring your CD home and immediately open them on your computer. They look great! You head up to the drugstore, Wal-Mart, whatever your printer of choice, and begin selecting photos and sizes. You know you want #13 as an 8x10 and #5 as an 11x14. You look at the 8x10 and notice a bunch of the image is getting chopped off. You order it anyway. You move on to the 11x14 and notice that when you resize it, the photo gets blurry. No worries, it's probably just the screen. You print them out and 1 hour later come back to find that your photos are not only chopped off and blurry, but seem to be a sickly green color. And shiny. You think back to the images you fell in love with on your computer and realize that these look nothing like what you saw.
Professional photography is so much more than pixels taken on a big, fancy
camera.
The main reason a good pro photographer does not just hand out digital files is that they lose control over their art. For instance- let's say you found a high-end bakery that makes the most beautiful cakes. You hire them to make a three-tiered creation for a baby shower. Instead of having them make it from scratch for you, you ask for the recipe cause, hey, you have the flour, milk, eggs, and icing at home, right?
When you hire a professional, you are paying for more than a product. You are paying for their expertise, training, equipment, and artistic eye. When they give up control, you are defeating the purpose of using a pro in the first place.
Ok, having said all that, I am NOT opposed to selling digital files. They do have their place. Let's look at it this way- you want all of the images because you are afraid you might want to use them at a later date. When is the last time you looked at unprinted photos from more than a year ago? Probably never. You choose the ones you love, print them and frame them. Same goes for your professional session. You may see 50 images, but you are really only drawn to 3 or 5. They speak to you. They say, "Print me huge and hang me on your wall!" (What? Photos don't speak to you?) The others are nice, but you can live without them.
I am in the business of helping my clients from start to finish. We pre-plan everything- from styling the session, picking out outfits, choosing the perfect location, and brainstorming ideas. Then, I personally edit each image so it is perfect before you ever lay eyes on it. I complete the experience by creating the perfect, finished image for your home. That's what you paid me for, right? My vision and ability to create custom art!
That's why I offer digital files only after you get yourself some amazing wall prints!
It seems silly to take all that time planning every detail of your session, only to have the photos trapped on a disc, never to see the light of day. You hired me to do the work, not for you to run around town printing and picking up photos. When a pro photographer prints your images for you, you can be sure that they will be edited to the perfect color and contrast, and stand the test of time by being printed on archival papers.
Thanks for sticking with me! This is a topic I felt needed a bit of explaination. I adore all my clients and their constant support of what I do!
