Its been a busy week for me in terms of photography. I did two shoots on one day, which can be hard for me. Having to decided which set to edit first, trying to get both done as soon as possible. Whew. I know a girl who likes to do 5-10 shoots in a day. I mean, i spend 4-6 hours editing each shoot i do. You know she dosent spend that much time on hers. Maybe her photos look better coming off the camera then mine? Or maybe i just like to take lots of photos, have lots of choices to offer and spend alot of time post processing. Of course she dosent have any children, so that sets her above me. I couldent take that much time off of being a mom in order to do more photos.
I couldent do that many shoots in a week! I need at least 1 day per shoot to edit my photos. That way i can be sure to dedicate as much time as needed in the evening to getting the shoot processed. I would prefer two days really. Anyway, i did two shoots on Saturday. I was origionally going to have two on Sunday as well. But the one is notoriously flakey and the other is a teenager, her daughter and her friend. They took a walk instead. So i spent my free evening working on the larger of the two shoots. Some images can be see on my photoblog here if you are interested. I think they are adorable! Ive spent today working on the smaller. My neighbors daughter has a 5 month old, and a 3 year old stepdaughter. Oh my goodness. The baby boy looks like a honest to God Buddha! The chubby happy one. So cute. And the little girl has the most beautiful green eyes. Grass green eyes. For the first time i didnt need to do any post processing on her eyes on the closeups. Its insane! Just beautiful. Because im only 15 images in ( out of 50, remember the smaller of the two sessions) i dont have anything up on the blog yet, but I will maybe tomarrow. So check in if you want to see some adorable kids.
In other photography related news. Ive talked with some friends of mine about the start up costs. ANd i think im more set on how much i should be charging for my time. That is the reason you pay a photographer so much money over say walmart or sears. The time, like i mentioned, i like to take 4-6 hours working on post processing work, plus the 1-2 hours i do taking the photos including time spent getting there. That adds up to a minimum of 5 hours, and can actually go up to 10 hours. That is alot of work. I dont take photos though, i capture memories. Or as one reader said to me, you capture the essance of the people in front of you. I like to think of it as capturing a moment of your life for you. In any event, that is the reason photographers charge so much. Now me, im not going to charge as much as Northern Exposure photography. Another private photographer in my area. Shes been in buisness for more then 10 years easy. Plus she runs a studio. Or even the Picture Lady. Another one. Her photos can be breathtaking. But again, its often studio work. Which adds up to alot more “wear and tear costs” My husband charges every employer a 3% wear and tear fee into their end budget as well as money for the nails he uses but buys himself. A photographer buys all their own equiptment and lenses plus add ons. So its understandable. You are paying for the wear and tear. Even so, im new, so i wouldent charge as much.
How much do i think im worth? Ohhhhhh more then i would charge of course! If i had it my way, i would have a $ 100 dollar sitting fee plus $5 an hour for post processing time. Not including the prices of prints. But im not so proud to think anyone would pay that much lol.
I remember 2 years ago when i work for Sears Portrait and was just starting out taking photos on my own. ( and i thought i was all that then, ha!) A prospective asked me what my sitting fee was. Dumbly i answered that i didnt charge one, because i didnt think it was needed. Now older, more experenced, wiser, oh yes it is most deffinantly needed.
The gear i own.. My camera and lenses cost me more then $2000. And that is a CHEAP set up. Although i am planning on getting another lens, a wide angle here soon. Which inceases the value lol. But even so. Thats alot of money. I spent that as a hobbiest and am starting to branch out farther into the world of photography.
Its not about money for me. Because i live for portraits. I love nothing more then to sit down one on one with a child and capture their essance. That child like being that they will never be again. From silly faces, to strong men. To puddle stomping. That moment, forever in a photograph. Its timeless. Ageless, and personal. So very personal. That is what photography is to me. Something that is so much a part of me. of who i am..
Wow, ive been writing a half an hour, its amazing how i can just zone into what im writing without even noticing… I started off talking about my recent shoots and rambled into everything else…
So just go visit my photoblog. Feed my ego and tell me if you like the images shown. There are months to choose from of images. And two more sessions to go up there, including Buddha and his beautiful sister, and Baby A who is a living Doll. Literally, looks like a doll. And my own monsters. Never can forget my own little boys.
Ok, but its getting very late, and i need to go to bed. So off i go. Dont forget to feed the ego!
arent we all. And every now and then i need that quiet time to do things, even if it means letting Brennan zone into backyardagins or some other nick jr kid show that he likes.
