Creative Photography & Design

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

A. I do a lot of photo shoots, but as mentioned, I also have design experience in graphic projects including logo designs, flyers, t-shirt designs etc. If you'd like to see some examples of this work, please email me! I'd love to show you my work!

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

A. Be sure to consider components post and prior to your shot such as:
1. Make sure to explain clearly what types of photos you're looking for- high contrast/color, sepia, black and white, exposure (dark or light shots), locations, etc. No one can read your mind, and if you aren't clear on what you want or aren't sure, expect creative ideas from the photographer to shape your shoot.

2. Be mindful of your clothing! Based on the location of your shoot and your own natural appearance, you wouldn't want to wear clothes that make you "blend in" or appear too pale or too dark if that's not your intention. On the flip side, crazy colors are not always great either. Be sure to generally avoid bold stripes and designs in your outfits, as they take the attention of of you- the star of the photo! Some recommendations: be sure to wear clothes that are in the same tones at others in the shot, clothing in dark shades is best for indoor shots and medium ranged colors are best for outdoors.

3. Make sure to ask about editing... what's included with the general photography, and if there's an extra charge for additional touchups.

4. Do you get access to digital content of your shoot (and if so, are you charged per shot/download or do you get an entire cd)? Many amateur photographers are willing to give you a digital copy of all the images they shot during your session... including the "less than favorable" pictures of you. If a photographer is willing to give you the digital copies, recognize that this either a great gift or not worth it, as it is not common practice.

5. Many starting photographers are willing to charge next to nothing for their time and photos. Often, the price they're asking for correlates with the amount of experience they have with the camera, so be aware when noticing a "too good to be true" price on the internet. Remember, many professional photographers base their livelihood off of these photos... and the value of their time and work is much more when they are the source of income for one's daily living!

Q. If you were a customer, what do you wish you knew about your trade? Any inside secrets to share?

A. In this technological world, the difference between a pro and an armature is slowly sifting down to only a couple of things... but truth be told, they're some of the most important qualities to remember:

1. Self-Worth/Value of Work: Most artists will tell you their work is an extension of themselves. If that's the case, then why are beginning photographers giving away their work for free or next to nothing? Even advertising yourself is better done with good service and a great product than cheap work with disheartened clients.

2. Class: While pro's will spend more time and money on thoughtful and creative ways to get their name out to others, armatures simply want to link their website on every forum, networking site, and 3rd party advertiser they can find for cheap or free. In the end, wouldn't you rather get a unique piece of mini-art in the mail than spammed with photography ad pop-ups online?

3. Obstacles: Armatures complain about equipment, professionals complain about time, masters complain about light. Find out what the photographer you're considering is most focused on.

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

A. Make sure you let me know if you want something specific. Photographers are not hypnotists...we can't read minds!
Other than that, show up, be happy, be professional, and have a good time!

Q. What do you like most about your job?

A. Some of the best moments and photographs are those others are unaware of. Finding new and creative ways to capture an event and reveal a new perspectives is always a fun challenge. I also love that my job allows me the flexibility to avoid 9-5 jobs and maintain the creativity that photography should all be about! It's more than a set of numbers, calculations, poses, and light readings... it's about memories and making you look good!

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

A. Pricing: A common question! While pricing ranges from 40-60/hr. it all depends on the event: type, location, hours, special requests, size, and in what medium you want your final product! Ultimately, I'm able to work with you to find the best price for what you need so everyone leaves happy!

Gear: I shoot with a canon 7d and several lenses, depending on what type of shoot we're doing and its location. One of my favorites for portraits and product photography is my little Canon 50mm f/1.8 lens, which produces a sharp photo with a great contrasting blur in the background. Another favorite is my Tamron 18-270mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II lens, which is great for a range of shots, especially while traveling.

Background: I have a background in architecture, so very fluent in aesthetics, materials, construction, craft, and design... which makes me even better at the other fun things in life- graphic design and photography! I've been shooting for approximately 4 years and love every minute of it. If you have specific questions for me, feel free to contact me.

Specialty: Simply based off of my previous experience, I'm good with people and events. I like to make people laugh and capture those 1-in-1000 shots everyone always comments on. These skills have been most strongly represented through portrait and event photos. However, I have an interest in product photography as well.

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

A. I was doing a photo shoot indoors with a bunch of silver balloons floating all over the place. It was fun challenging the subject to figure out how to hide behind these balloons with fans constantly blowing them everywhere. The challenge invoked a lot of laughs and smiles, and to turn the tables, he took the camera and then shot me in the midst of this chaos! Ultimately we ended up with some awesome shots and had fun while shooting them!

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

A. Would you jump into a taxi and try to convince the driver to take you somewhere for free? Would you walk into a car repair and try to barter down the price for replacing your breaks? Would you expect to get a cut, color, and perm at a salon for $10? (...and if you could, would you expect the service to be great?)
Of course not.

With the birth of Google's image search, the public's value of photos has significantly decreased. The problem is, those photos come from somewhere, and while anyone can take a photo with a camera phone or $50 handheld camera, the thoughtfulness, creativity, design, contrasts, layout, and interest in good photography can be overlooked.

Again- remember that a real photographer not only values their work, but depends on it. They are using their creativity and equipment (not cheap!) to provide a service and product to you! We expect, in return, that you notice this and treat us with respect as well. Much like a favorite name brand, the best are usually a bit pricier, but often more reliable and valuable than the knock-offs.

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

A. Architecture and Photography go hand in hand, and often focus on the quality of light, space, and orientation. Pair that with a knack for personal interaction and design... Voila! You have me!

Q. If you have a complicated pricing system for your service, please give all the details here.

A. I generally work at a baseline $40/hr. for portraits (families and individuals)

Event photography ranges based on client need, identity, event type, and hours needed from photographer. Here's a common break-down of prices I've used in the past:
1 hour: $75
1-3 hours: $200
3-5 hours: $500
5-7 hours: $700
7-9 hours: $1000

Looking for another type of photography? Contact me for specifics.

Travel:
Depending on if the shoot requires traveling to remote, dangerous, or difficult locations, I'll usually work with you individually to figure out the best way to handle that, whether through increasing the price per hour or by choosing a similar location that works better for everyone.

Wardrobe Changes:
I'm open to shooting you in as many outfits as you want, but remember that your time changing clothes also adds in to your photoshoot time, so taking 20 minutes to change between shots and ordering a martini before arriving back is probably not recommended. However, there's always exceptions, and if the point of the shoot is clothing related, I'm always willing to work the specifics out with you.

Prints, digital, CD, Rights:
I'm willing to work with whatever you or your organization needs. I focus on placing my value in the shoot itself, and therefore the photos... not the number of prints you buy after. In effect, I don't tack on hidden costs to the prints. Commercial use of my photos, unless informed and agreed upon, is restricted. I generally do wish to maintain the rights to my work, but again, can work with what you need to make sure you can apply the photos for their intended use.

I sometimes run student specials for those currently enrolled in college courses. These run periodically, and for the most up to date specials, contact me!

Q. If you were advising someone who wanted to get into your profession, what would you suggest?

A. Everyone with a camera thinks they're the next big thing. A small fish in big pond is fine, as long as you know there's some big fish too! The field is competitive, to say the least, and is extremely difficult for new shooters. I'd suggest that if you're just "interested" or you're doing it for fun or just flirting with the idea... it might not be your thing. Photography requires passion, self motivation, self promotion, time, constant energy, networking, interaction, and personality to be truly successful at (well, along with having a good eye and talent!)

Q. Write your own question and answer it.

A. I want more info... what should I do?

Well, the easiest way to contact me is via email or visit my website.

Cheers!