The important things...

When my oldest daughter was born 3 1/2 years ago, I was determined that I would take my own pictures of her. I had a nice camera, and had already shot 6 or 7 weddings. There was absolutely no way I was spending our limited, poor-college-student money on pictures when I could do it myself. How hard could it be? 

I had absolutely no idea how to take pictures of newborns. I was sleep deprived. I was super stressed about not killing the baby. I was a brand new mom. Lucy wouldn't sleep, she had a very negative opinion of tummy time, and I had no idea that I had long since passed the ideal time for newborn pictures. It was an epic failure. 

Yup. The world's ugliest baby pictures. 

Over the next two months, I did photo shoot after photo shoot, hoping to get great pictures of my adorable new baby. As she got a older, she was a little easier to pose. When I got these shots around 2 months, I proudly posted them on facebook, and promptly got tons of comments on how darling they were. I was so happy with myself. 

Fast forward a few years. I had progressed in my photography journey significantly. I knew what I was doing, I had studied and practiced and studied and practiced some more. I knew my camera inside and out. I knew how to use light to my advantage, and how to edit colors true to real life. I noticed things when preparing to shoot an image that others don't. I had become much more interested in getting a few beautiful, artful shots, rather than a zillion mediocre ones. 

Every year since having kids, we've taken family pictures. And every year, I've set up my camera with all the right settings, then posed us all and had someone snap it for me. Every year it's gotten a little bit better. And every year I've been reasonably happy with the results.

A few months ago, I saw that one of my favorite photographers was going to be here in Utah. I immediately asked my husband if we could sign up for a session. He was hesitant. He didn't want to spend the money on something we could do ourselves. 

And then it clicked. I couldn't do it myself. I can't take gorgeous family pictures of my own family. Sure, I can get cute shots of my kids. But I can't spend hours getting myself, my husband, and my kids ready. Go to the location. Worry about finding a spot that will photograph well. Get my settings right. Pose my family, with a good idea of how it'll look when I'm in it. Set up the camera in the right place. Jump in the shot. Get everyone to look at the camera and smile. AND make sure I look fabulous. No one can do that. Pretty sure it's impossible.

I realized that I can't expect people to hire me and trust me with capturing their most precious memories if I'm not willing to hire someone to capture my own family's memories. I, more than anyone, should understand the value of photography. I should be the person who puts that little bit of extra money we have into images of my cute husband and sweet baby girls, instead of something we'll outgrow or forget about. 

So I signed up for a session with Andrea of Tea Tree Photography (check her out here. She's amazing. Really. You will be in love. Just don't forget about me once you see how talented she is.) After buying a house, then paying for a new transmission, then replacing the other car, then fixing the first car after hitting the deer, then recovering my hard drive (did you know that costs $1300?!? What the?!), money is very tight right now. It was a big sacrifice for our little family, even though her prices were phenomenal. But do you know what? I just saw the pictures yesterday. And I bawled. I was so beyond happy that we chose to pay someone else to preserve those memories. I honestly can't think of a better way to spend our very limited cash. And even my ultra-frugal husband agrees. We will never regret the decision to have Andrea take family pictures for us. 

Every time I look back at those pictures of Lucy as a newborn it makes me want to cry. She was a really cute baby, and I have forever lost the chance to capture that. I know times are tough. I know photography is expensive and can be hard to justify. But hiring a professional photographer is something you will never regret. I couldn't get those special images for my own family the way an outside observer could, but I can do it for you. And you know what? You wont regret it either. 

And a *couple* of the beautiful images by Tea Tree Photography. Oh man, she is wonderful!

http://www.teatreephotography.com/

Why does it take so long?

I've recently had a few brides wonder why it takes so long to get their C.D.s back after the wedding day (my standard turn around time, which I tell all my brides, is 4-6 weeks). 

Let me explain.

You may have heard (or maybe you haven't) that only a little bit of a photographer's work is actually spent with you, taking the pictures. Here is what happens after I get home from a shoot.

I take all of my images in a format that a computer wont open without special software. This format is called RAW and I use it because it saves more of the data from an image than a standard .jpg image does. It therefore allows me more flexibility in editing. Something a lot of people don't know is that a normal .jpg image is automatically edited and compressed in the camera, as soon as it's taken. A RAW image is not. RAW images are larger because they do save more data. Larger images = more time to edit  and more strain on a computer.

Once I get all the RAW images onto my computer then I have to go through them. I delete any images that are blurry, have someone blinking or making a face, duplicates, etc. at this point. 

Next, I start the editing process. Because the images are RAW, I first open them in a RAW editing program. Here is what a image might look like straight out of the camera:

It's not bad, but not up the that standard that I like my final product to be. 

In the RAW editing software I'll be able to adjust a whole bunch of settings. For this picture, I mostly brightened different aspects of the picture (dark sections, highlights, etc.). I always edit it looking at the colors of the skin. Everything else can be adjusted later, but the skin color is always my number 1 concern. I also straightened out this image. I then export the image and open it in Photoshop. Here is what it looks like after I save it out:

Once in Photoshop, I'm going to go ahead and add some dimension back into the building, background, his suit and their hair: 

I will then go in manually and edit out blemishes on the skin (don't worry! I'll always leave things that are part of you- like moles and freckles. Only the zits go :). )

And the last thing I do is sharpen the eyes and other features so the image is nice and crisp: 

And there you have it!

It might not sound like a lot, but to edit an image like this (which is a pretty basic edit) takes me about 8-10 minutes. I also usually will convert the image to black and white and save a copy of that, which take an additional 2-3 minutes. (For a better explanation about what goes into making your image b&w and more before/after shots, see this post here.)

You can see that even at the best estimate, I can edit about 6 pictures an hour. This is not simply burning you a C.D., a whole lot more goes into your images. 

Maybe you don't think it's all necessary-that the original shot looks fine. But I'm trying to build a brand. And I'm a little bit of a perfectionist with my images. Thats a good thing for you, because that means every one of your pictures from your big day is going to be absolutely beautiful. Just like the day was. 

I want to make your memories as perfect as possible.

I'm sure you can see now why 4-6 weeks is a reasonable estimate. I understand that you are anxious to get your pictures back! It's the best day of your life and you're dying to relive it! But don't you want your pictures to be a great as possible? 

Newborn Session Tips

I've been doing a lot of newborn sessions lately. I absolutely love them, but they are a lot of work.

Newborns are tricky to photograph. Here are some tips for you -as the client- to make your session run more smoothly.

1. Relax! I know that new moms are very protective of their new little ones. But I promise I know what I'm doing, and you'll be happier with the results if you trust me! 
2. Try to pick a session time around when baby is normally sleepy. Feed baby about 15-30 minutes before I come. This way we will be able to get those sweet, sleepy shots of your little one. 
3. Be patient. Newborn sessions always take longer than a normal session does. Plan on 1-4 hours. Don't feel guilty or stressed if baby wont sleep right away, or is cranky and uncooperative. It's very normal. Some poses can take up to 20 or 30 minutes to get just right. That's how it is. I'm expecting it, and you should too. 
4. Newborn sessions also take a long time because generally they require a lot of breaks for feeding, changing, and so on. We're running on the baby's schedule. Don't feel bad making me wait. I've had a baby before too. :)
5. Baby will sleep better if the conditions are right. When I shoot newborns at my home, I crank up the heat to about 90*. Really. And then I turn on a space heater next to the baby, to provide extra heat and "white"noise. These are the conditions they just spent the last 9 months it. It's soothing to baby, and really helps them be calm and sleepy. Just remember that you might want to wear lighter clothes yourself. 
6. I have about a zillion props (blankets, wraps, hats, etc). I'll bring a lot of them to your session. We wont use them all, but if you see something that you really like, let me know!
7. I always love it when people bring special items with them - a handmade blanket, booties, or hat, or other special items will really make your photos that much more special.
8. I will get pictures of the little details like hands, feet, etc. Please be sure to have baby's nails trimmed and clean. Also watch for things like boogers and drool. We don't want those things messing up the shots! 
9. I shoot with natural light. If I am coming to your home (and not you to mine), please keep in mind that we will set up in the room with the best window light. Make sure the rooms we might be in are tidy, so they we can get some lifestyle-type shots in addition to the posed ones.
10. Don't feel bad if your baby pees on my stuff. It happens at almost every newborn session I do. Everything I have is washable. Don't stress it.
11. It's nice to have some shots with mom and/or dad in them. Please dress very simply and in something that will flatter that new body you're rockin'! Black or white is great, then the focus can be on baby, not your shirt. 
12. Minimize the amount of people that will be there. We don't need all the extended family at the session. They'll see the pictures when they're done. If there are older siblings that will be in some of the shots, try to have another room with some activities set up for them, so they're not making a lot of noise while we're trying to keep baby sleepy.
13. Absolutely NO other cameras are allowed at the session besides mine. It's distracting for everyone, especially baby.
14. Newborn sessions usually take 3-4 weeks to process and get back to you. I do usually post some sneak peeks both on my blog and on facebook. If you don't want me to do this for some reason, you need to let me know that.
15. Feel free to contact me with any other questions you might have! Thanks so much for choosing Luminosity Photography to capture those special moments!

Before and After

With it being the busiest time of the year and all, I've had a lot of people ask me why it takes so long for them to get their pictures back.

Let me explain...

Photography is more than just having a "nice camera". It is a mixture of creativity and education. It is all about knowing how your camera works and why, and then being able to make it work for you. But after that, comes the real work (or at least a lot more time). Each image that I share with my clients has been extensively edited. I can spend anywhere between 10 and 30 minutes per picture. So if you're getting back say, 35 pictures, it has probably taken me between 7-10 hours just to edit them. It's not just a simple process of coming home, putting the photos on my computer and burning them to a disk.

I think it's worth it though. What do you think?

Original (unedited) shot: 

Edited version:

FAQs

Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions:

"How long does a normal session last?"
It depends! Weddings (engagements, bridals) usually take about 1 1/5-2 hours. Newborn sessions are usually pretty long, any where from 2 to 2 1/2 hours. Children's sessions are usually between 45 minutes to 1 hour. Senior portraits usually last about 1 1/2 hours. Family sessions usually take about 1 hour. These are just averages, I don't set time limits.

"Why are your prices so much lower than other photographers?"
I don't require print orders. You just pay one price for your sitting fee and your cd of images. This saves a lot on costs for printing, shipping, and so forth.

"When do I pay you?"

I trust my clients, and don't require payment until you receive your images. However, if you would rather pay in smaller installments (this most has to do with large wedding orders), I would be happy to work that out with you! 

"Where should we take the photos?"

Location is super important! I have a lot of places that I like, but it also depends on what style you want to achieve. Do you like more modern pictures? Then we would want a more urban (downtown, old buildings, etc) location. Are you more into a classic style? There are some beautiful parks, canyon locations, and rivers that we can try. Some clients like to try both, just to see. I'm fine with moving around to multiple locations. You can look at my blog for locations that you like.

"What should I wear?"

Your clothing choice is a huge part of the overall feel of the image. I always tell clients to first wear something they feel really good in. Something that they feel makes them look cute (or handsome). Next, take a look at the textures and colors you have. Gone are the days of a white shirt and jeans for pictures. Wear multiple colors and lots of different textures (for girls necklaces, jewelry, scarves, boots, vests, head bands, etc.; for boys several shirts, ties, scarves, vests, etc.). This photographer posts a great "what to wear" section on her blog. Think coordinating instead of matching for engagement or family sessions.

I have even had clients request that I come to their homes and go through their closets to find outfits. I can do that, or I welcome you bringing a whole trunk of clothes that we can go through at the time of the session!

"What should I bring?"
Particularly for seniors and children, bring things that mean a lot to you. Props are great! Also bring extra clothing. Lots of it. You can change outfits in the middle, or I can help you pick out what would photograph best! 

"Can I bring my camera to the shoot?" 

My camera is the only camera permitted at the shoot. Multiple cameras can be distracting. You hired me to do all the hard work, so you relax while I take care of the hard part! If you're interested in learning how to take great photos, contact me for a one-on-one mentor session.

"How can I be sure my child will be good?"
You can't! But here are some good tips to try to make sure things go smoothly. Make sure your child is well rested and well fed before coming. Schedule around normal nap times. Bring snacks that are easy for your child to eat and that aren't messy. Bring a favorite toy, book, or other comfort item (or 3!) so they can be more relaxed. For younger children, bringing a grandma, aunt, or favorite babysitter that can get them to smile helps a ton!

 Once you get to the session, let me give all the instructions. My job is to get natural looks and smiles, and often children will give parents cheesy smiles. Stand behind me and let me run the show. I promise you'll be happier with the results! 

"Can I bring samples of poses from magazines that I like?" 

Sure! That will help me get a good feel of what you're looking for! But please, let me choose some poses too.

"How long until I get my images back?"
Due to high demand right now, it will take me between 3-4 weeks to get your photos back to you. Thanks for being patient!  

"Why do I only get 45 pictures back when you took 400?" 

I tend to start snapping the moment i see the potential for a perfect shot. Why? Because people blink, stick their tongue out, stick fingers up noses and all sorts of other fun things. I also manually focus every shot, so I will like 5 or 6 times, just to make sure I got exactly the right bit in focus. If I take a ton, then usually 1 of those will have all hands, fingers, tongues, smiles and focus in just the right place. The rest get deleted immediately to conserve space. 

"Can I photoshop my own images?"

No. You wouldn't buy a Monet just to paint over it! Photography is my art. I will take post processing requests though!

"Can I email my pictures to Aunt Suzy in Siberia, or post them on my Facebook?" 

Unlike many photographers, I do not do prints at this time (although if you want big, professional quality ones, please let me know. I can do them, I just don't offer them as a package at this time). I give you a cd with all of your photos on it. Because of that, I can't stop you from e-mailing or sharing your pictures online. I would just ask that you please give me credit by posting my name and blog address with each photo. Thanks!

“Why should I not print my photos at Walmart when they sell them for $0.15 a copy?”

With a professional photographer you are paying for travel time, equipment set up and break down, superior photo equipment, expert photo composition, years of experience, skills, external hard drive space, and approximately 3-5 hours of photo editing time. As you can see you are paying much more than a person taking pictures. So why print them at a cheap place? You want the quality of the print to be as good as the quality of the actual photograph. Contact me for recommended printers.

I'm sure there will be more to come. If you have other questions, please contact me!