I just thought I'd post this article that was posted on the Real Simple blog.

Reading through the comments made me remember that not everyone knows that portrait photography can be so much more than what it use to be, which is why I think it's amazing that there's this new photography movement that's all about nurturing and learning from eachother instead of keeping all of our secrets hidden. With everyone helping eachother we can really reach these people that think professional photography is all about posing and studios and smiling and saying cheese. Then we can watch our market grow far more than it would have had we done it all by ourselves.

Cool Sara, Thanks for sharing that!
Candy

Love that! Good advice for all our clients (and us too)!

Some of the comments on the site just reminded me how important it is that we educate clients and are open about who we are and what we do...and why we do it. So many children and family portrait photogs aren't cookie cutter outlets like JCPennys....we need to show the world that!

Thanks for the link Sara.

I saw that article earlier today (I see that I posted right under you Sara ) which was funny because I'd just been thinking this morning about putting into words why I feel hiring a custom photographer is so important and worth the extra money. I'm working on something I'll eventually post in my blog but I need to focus on it more than I can from the cubefarm. It's nice, though, so see people who aren't photographers (and who aren't the photographer's friend selling them...or maybe "friend?") who are trying to convey the importance of having GOOD professional photos taken.

The last comment on the article isn't really helping us:

Professional photos are WONDERFUL as they memorialize the stages of our children's lives, like the first day of school or their first birthday.

The professional studio at my local mall, which accepts walk-ins as well as sets appointments, is exceptional as they have their professional equipment and photographers to make my wishes come true.

Besides, the quality of "professional photos" can not be substituted by any 35 mm camera taken by the best meaning family member as the proper lighting and background can not be achieved without the professional studio.

For example, I called the studio one Saturday morning and got a scheduled appointment in the afternoon so, with that, got together my five children for the trek; ages 1, 4, 5, 10 and 14.

Sure, it was a chore, but seeing the end result hung above the stairway day in and day out, and even sitting some mornings admiringly staring at the two oldest daughters sitting with their backs to one another holding one of their younger siblings with their only brother, one year old Joey, sitting in the middle with his index finger exploring his new found front tooth, I know that the fee and effort were well worth it



Hah.

Well, I was convinced that she must be the CEO of The Picture People but alas, she's not.

Threre enough positive opinions on there that I think the message is loud and clear Sara.

There definitely are, I just thought it was funny. After all the talk of getting a photographer that matches your style and your needs, and then I decided to check on the comments today and that was the only new one. "I agree! My mall photographer is AMAZING at capturing my kid's emotions!"