I get asked/told all the time that it must be so easy to get great pictures of my daughter. Well, it is easier because I have access to my camera all the time and I try to take advantage of opportunities to take her portrait when they come up. But she is a tough one and stubborn. Last year it took me 5 days to get the Christmas card photo I wanted.
I try and take her out two times a year for her portraits. And just like with all my client's children, she is a bundle of energy and isn't always that interested in having her picture taken. Here is a slideshow that I put together that gives a small glimpse into what a session with her is like.
Oh, and because I am still working out some of the kinks in loading things like slideshows and animated images to the blog, if you want to watch it again, either hit refresh or you can access a direct link HERE
June 25, 2011
June 16, 2011
Vienna Family Photographer - Digital Files
As a photographer I can almost guarantee that every single week I will get an e-mail that reads something like this. "I love your pictures and want to schedule a session. How much are your digital files?" Photographers know that this is what people want. They want to be able to share them online, on Facebook, e-mail them to their family members, make digital scrapbooks with them but most of all, I know, that they want to avoid purchasing prints from me because they know they can go to Costco, Target and/or Wal-Mart and get them at a fraction of the cost. Why should someone pay $30 for an 8x10 from me when Wal-Mart only charge $2.49? I get it.
Here are a few reasons why buying the prints from the photographer you hire is a great idea.
1. They should be processing your pictures on professionally color calibrated equipment that is set to the same specifications as the lab they use. This insures that the color that you see when you view your proofs, is the color that they are supposed to be.
2. What happens when you go to a large box store and you say, "these pictures don't look right. The color is all off?" I'll tell you... nothing. The person behind the counter isn't trained to see color and can't tell if it too yellow or blue. They just take the pictures out of the machine, put them in an envelope and swipe your credit card. Just ask me about the year of the blue Christmas Card picture.
What do I do? I take those picture back and make sure that they are up to my standards and are pleasing to the client.
3. We want you to look your best. After the session we spend hours making sure the portraits are just right. We examine your skin and get rid of every single little blemish, we fix your stray hairs, we erase wrinkles, and we might even take a few pounds off. If the pictures were taken in your home, we might straighten a painting that was hanging crooked on the wall and we diminish clutter in the background. We make sure colors are bright and look realistic.
4. A professional photographer has so many more options for your portraits that a retail chain store. Want to do something different? Get metallic paper, a different texture, a standout, a floatwrap or a fabulous frame that you can't find anywhere else. Make your photo display something people talk about, not just something that takes up space on a wall.
The biggest reason to purchase your prints from your photographer is the fact that my reputation is on the line. You don't like it, I will make it right. I will personally guarantee that the portraits you purchase from me will look great. You will love them and I will do everything in my control to make sure that is the case.
But I have talked enough. Here is the proof of why, it is so important to purchase your prints from your photographer. (All of these samples were printed by the store shown on the print and scanned in with my Brother MFC Scanner. None of them have been altered at all) And to be fully honest, I did get the idea of showing pictures in this way from other photographers. This is not an original idea. I have seen it done several times and decided that I needed to try this myself.
Look at the difference in the color in the grass, the contrast and over all tone of the photo.
Yes, this was all the exact same .jpg file that was submitted to each store with NO changes. I was shocked at the difference in this particular picture.
Talk about differences in skin tones and contrast.
So back the digital files question. Do I make them available for my clients? Absolutely! I am happy to provide digital files for my clients and have several options that you can choose from. I will even provide watermarked files for sharing on Facebook free of charge.
What if you want paper proofs of the entire session with purchasing individual portraits? Yup, I will do that too and you can get them in 4x6's, 5x7's or in book form at a discounted rate.
Bottom line, hire your photographer because you love their work. Make sure you are going to get the products that you want. But when hiring a professional for your portraits, make sure that the end result you are getting does justice to the time and money you invested in the session. There is a difference between a professional quality portrait and an every day snapshot. The difference is MUCH more than the paper the picture is printed on.
Find Dorie Howell Photography on Facebook
Here are a few reasons why buying the prints from the photographer you hire is a great idea.
1. They should be processing your pictures on professionally color calibrated equipment that is set to the same specifications as the lab they use. This insures that the color that you see when you view your proofs, is the color that they are supposed to be.
2. What happens when you go to a large box store and you say, "these pictures don't look right. The color is all off?" I'll tell you... nothing. The person behind the counter isn't trained to see color and can't tell if it too yellow or blue. They just take the pictures out of the machine, put them in an envelope and swipe your credit card. Just ask me about the year of the blue Christmas Card picture.
What do I do? I take those picture back and make sure that they are up to my standards and are pleasing to the client.
3. We want you to look your best. After the session we spend hours making sure the portraits are just right. We examine your skin and get rid of every single little blemish, we fix your stray hairs, we erase wrinkles, and we might even take a few pounds off. If the pictures were taken in your home, we might straighten a painting that was hanging crooked on the wall and we diminish clutter in the background. We make sure colors are bright and look realistic.
4. A professional photographer has so many more options for your portraits that a retail chain store. Want to do something different? Get metallic paper, a different texture, a standout, a floatwrap or a fabulous frame that you can't find anywhere else. Make your photo display something people talk about, not just something that takes up space on a wall.
The biggest reason to purchase your prints from your photographer is the fact that my reputation is on the line. You don't like it, I will make it right. I will personally guarantee that the portraits you purchase from me will look great. You will love them and I will do everything in my control to make sure that is the case.
But I have talked enough. Here is the proof of why, it is so important to purchase your prints from your photographer. (All of these samples were printed by the store shown on the print and scanned in with my Brother MFC Scanner. None of them have been altered at all) And to be fully honest, I did get the idea of showing pictures in this way from other photographers. This is not an original idea. I have seen it done several times and decided that I needed to try this myself.
Look at the difference in the color in the grass, the contrast and over all tone of the photo.
Yes, this was all the exact same .jpg file that was submitted to each store with NO changes. I was shocked at the difference in this particular picture.
Talk about differences in skin tones and contrast.
So back the digital files question. Do I make them available for my clients? Absolutely! I am happy to provide digital files for my clients and have several options that you can choose from. I will even provide watermarked files for sharing on Facebook free of charge.
What if you want paper proofs of the entire session with purchasing individual portraits? Yup, I will do that too and you can get them in 4x6's, 5x7's or in book form at a discounted rate.
Bottom line, hire your photographer because you love their work. Make sure you are going to get the products that you want. But when hiring a professional for your portraits, make sure that the end result you are getting does justice to the time and money you invested in the session. There is a difference between a professional quality portrait and an every day snapshot. The difference is MUCH more than the paper the picture is printed on.
Find Dorie Howell Photography on Facebook
June 7, 2011
Northern Virginia Photographer - Celebrate!
I got a call from a woman a few months ago who wanted to surprise her partner with a photosession for their anniversary. I was so honored that she called me. Photographing adults is not something that I get to do very often and I LOVE working with people who are excited to be together and want to commemorate that in pictures.
Congratulations on your anniversary and thank you for the privilege of letting me help you celebrate!
More from this session can be found Facebook. Dorie Howell Photography
Congratulations on your anniversary and thank you for the privilege of letting me help you celebrate!
More from this session can be found Facebook. Dorie Howell Photography
June 6, 2011
Vienna Family Photographer - Your Legacy
There are times in our lives when so many things happen that just can't be explained in words. In the past week I have been around people who have experienced losses that I can hardly even comprehend. One the passing of a child and the other the passing of a mother. Although I am not directly involved in these events, I still cannot help but reflect on them deeply.
The mother who passed away last week was only 38 years old and died of complications from giving birth to her second son. (Yes, even with our modern medicine this still happens way to often.) So now there are two precious little boys who don't have a mom and a husband trying to make sense of it all. Tragic beyond words.
When I hear of things like this I cannot help but relate it to my own life. What would happen if I died today? What would happen to my family? What would my legacy be? Have I made a great enough impression on my daughter that she would remember me and tell her children about me? How would my husband carry on? (probably better than I would like :) Would I have just been a blip on the radar of life having made really no difference at all?
The answers to those questions really can't be answered. All I can do is make sure that I do my best to live a life that embodies the things that are most important to me. Faith: in a Savior whose love goes beyond all measure. Family: So glad that I am assured of seeing them again after my time here on earth is done. People: Treating all with respect, love and kindness. (I struggle with this sometimes, as I am sure we all do. I vow to do better)
How are you doing on your legacy? Are you living the life that shows what is most important to you? After you are gone, will people KNOW by how you lived your life what mattered most to you. If not, get on it! We are never promised tomorrow so don't waste today!
The mother who passed away last week was only 38 years old and died of complications from giving birth to her second son. (Yes, even with our modern medicine this still happens way to often.) So now there are two precious little boys who don't have a mom and a husband trying to make sense of it all. Tragic beyond words.
When I hear of things like this I cannot help but relate it to my own life. What would happen if I died today? What would happen to my family? What would my legacy be? Have I made a great enough impression on my daughter that she would remember me and tell her children about me? How would my husband carry on? (probably better than I would like :) Would I have just been a blip on the radar of life having made really no difference at all?
The answers to those questions really can't be answered. All I can do is make sure that I do my best to live a life that embodies the things that are most important to me. Faith: in a Savior whose love goes beyond all measure. Family: So glad that I am assured of seeing them again after my time here on earth is done. People: Treating all with respect, love and kindness. (I struggle with this sometimes, as I am sure we all do. I vow to do better)
How are you doing on your legacy? Are you living the life that shows what is most important to you? After you are gone, will people KNOW by how you lived your life what mattered most to you. If not, get on it! We are never promised tomorrow so don't waste today!
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