Dream A Little Dream Photography

Q. Describe the most common types of jobs you do for your clients.

A. The most common jobs are either weddings or family portraits. However I have had an occasional birthday, funeral and many other events you would never think of.

Q. What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A. Make sure to get a signed contract and verify and confirm the times needed with the photographer.

Q. What important information should buyers have thought through before seeking you out?

A. It is important for every client to have a date in mind they are looking to have their portraits captured. Have an idea of the background you are interested in. Do you want indoor or outdoor portraits? Are you looking for Classic, Modern or Contemporary Styles? If you have any ideas write them down, make a list to share your ideas, this way your photographer can enhance those ideas. Have a budget in mind. How many poses would you like? Are you taking basic portraits or are you interested in a modeling portfolio or perhaps a bordoir package? All these are good questions to have answers to. If you have a special location you want to use. Know the approximate mileage. There may be additional charges involved if it is out of the photographers local range. Make sure to get to know your photographer and let them get to know you. This should be one of your all time greatest moments. Have fun with it!

Q. Why does your work stand out from others who do what you do?

A. My heart is involved in every portrait taken. I take the time to meet you, learn your passions in life, learn what makes you laugh, cry, sigh and together we are able to capture your heart for others to see who you really are. I bring out the child like laughter no matter what your age and we have fun while doing your portraits. I make a friend out of every prospect, every client and every sale. This is just one of the great bonuses in my line of work and I enjoy every minute of it.

I specialize in photo editing for antique vintage looks and try my best to throw in a few special edits to each portrait package. In doing so I get many compliments and a lifetime of thank you's from my clients.

Q. What do you like most about your job?

A. I get to meet so many different people, and they all have amazing qualities even though they all have the own unique styles and purposes in life. I believe everyone we meet in life has a purpose for our meeting, whether it be just a client or they become a dear friend. I learn something new from each person I meet along life's path. Meeting new people is the best part about my job, other than the fact I am able to make my own schedule and sleep in when I want to. LOL! I love meeting new individuals seeing them smile, making them laugh, and they do the same in return for me. This is the best job anyone could ever ask for.

Q. What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

A. Do all your wedding packages include a CD/DVD of your images? Yes I feel it is the best option to give to each of my brides. I am still willing to order prints for them, but this allows them to post them on facebook and other websites to share. I have been told it was one of the best ideas for the Lucky Couple yet.

Q. Do you have a favorite story from your work?

A. I was asked by a friend to donate my services to a bride and groom that could barely afford to have a wedding. I decided to accept his proposal and I got the most amazing photographs and was able to capture memories they never would have had. I was so happy to work with their family and I knew they truly appreciated all my time and hard work. Since this day I have become their personal family photographer and have built a lifetime friendship from this one event.

Q. What do you wish customers knew about you or your profession?

A. Many clients feel photographers charge to much for pictures. But what they don't realize is how much is involved. As a photographer I work with five or more other departments at a time. I travel from location to location sometimes over 100 miles away. I work with two other photographers on occassion and have to ensure their fees are covered as well. So not only am I covering the costs of the printing, the storing of the images, the editing and the development, the fuel and mileage expense. But I have to profit enough to continue building my business and living off the profits as well.

I am constantly renting equipment, special lighting, special back drops and leasing studios.

I work with several different labs for film, a lab for digital and a lab for ordering special projects such as canvas, panels, and gifts.

I also work with a Graphic Designer who specializes in photo shop editing, and special techniques.

In all I might charge $99 for a package and be lucky to profit $35 from it and this could be a two hour session but yet took me an hour in the lab editing photos, a half hour ordering the prints and uploading content. What appears to be too good to be true sometimes is...

Q. How did you decide to get in your line of work?

A. I have always loved fine arts and I was attending TMCC and was told I have to choose a fine art course to complete my A.A. Degree, but there were not many open. I chose photography, fell in love and decided to start my Major all over. So I have been working in photography since 2004 and created my own business in 2007.

Q. Tell us about a recent job you did that you are particularly proud of.

A. I was scheduled to work with two sets of twins for a display add. The children were all crying and fussing and I had exactly one hour to get it done and uploaded for the project. The parents were very upset, not with me but they were worried I would not be able to get the children to stop crying for the photos. I was a little worried myself until I came out singing The Itsy Bitsy Spider with a Puppet on my hand. And they loved it. The twins were two and three years old. We had a blast from that moment on and I was able to capture 64 amazing images of them laughing, smiling, and just having a grand ole time. I was so thankful to have learned that song growing up. Who ever thought I would remember songs from my nursery days. LOL

Q. Do you do any sort of continuing education to stay up on the latest developments in your field?

A. I always look forward to furthering my education and enhancing my skills with all mediums of art. I am constantly searching for the latest and greatest equipment available and upgrading what equipment I can. I currently study online through adobe photo shop courses offered through hewlett packard to review any changes in the latest photoshop and other adobe programs. I recently applied to the San Fransisco University Academy of Arts program for photographers online to focus on new dimensions and taking my work to higher levels of excellence. I am looking to dig deeper into the creative side of my talents to secure more drive from the more modern techniques and ideas seen today.

Q. Describe your most recent project, what it involved, how much it cost, and how long it took.

A. My latest project was a fundraiser to save a local woman's home from foreclosure. We raised money to pay her mortgage and stop foreclosure on her home. She is a dear friend suffering from two types of cancer and severe depression. It is my hope that my hard work and dedication assists in saving her from losing her home. After just losing her husband a year ago and now coming so close to losing her home, which they reconstructed together, it tears my heart into two. It is my hope that her local community will pull together to help her complete the process in saving her home. A special thanks to Mollee and Ron over at the Basic and Rose Room in Roseville, California for their outstanding dedication in helping me make this event possible. Successful fundraisers always make my business worth while.
Thank you to everyone involved!