Why it is so important to sell your client prints and products not a digital cd.

In this blog I will discuss the importance of printing your work.   Many photographers are faced with the daunting questions of should they sell prints and products or just a digital image on a CD.

When clients can physically see their photos in print it makes a huge impact.   How do you feel when handed a CD or a nice print of your family.  Even by just doing that the emotion that comes along with having a printed photo in your hand is so much greater than the CD. I like using a nice professional lab that has a wide variety of products and prints to choose from.  Local print locations such as grocery and drug stores in WV offer printing services at discounted pricing.  Not only is the pricing less, but with that comes less quality.

When you sell clients a CD you are really not fully servicing your clients.   That digital image can be then printed from any print lab.  Most labs are not calibrated to your exact computer either.  This can oppose a huge problem.  When photos or items are printed they can look totally different than how you originally photographed them. This could cause a client to be unhappy with your work.  Your work could be beautiful, but by printing at a low quality lab your clients may not know this.  This could cause you to potentially loose a good amount of business. Many cheaper photo printing places also use a super glossy photo paper.  The quality of the photo paper will make a big difference also in the quality and color of you print.

I will present my clients with a few samples of photos and items.  This way they can actually see the items in person and see what their photos look like printed at a quality lab.  Most people are amazed at the color and quality of the work compared to things they have had printed on their own. It is nice to have a comparison of this is what you can print locally , or you can get this from me. What I hear allot from clients is that they hold onto a CD for years and years and never print from it.  Why spend the money for a photos session and cd and never print it to enjoy the memories.

By educating my clients on professional products and prints they can have a better understanding why they should purchase them.  Having nice samples and a good comparison will really help when selling products opposed to digitals.  I like to do my packages with both digital and prints and products. Many people want digitals for online posting.

www.amandabuckleyimaging.com
www.facebook.com/amandabuckleyimaging

First Birthday Shoot.

We did a quick shoot in the studio in Parkersburg, WV for some last minute first birthday photos. Hadley was looking as cute as she can be.  Her mom decided on a super cute mini mouse theme.  I had just purchased this awesome vinyl backdrop off the internet. It was the perfect match for our mini themed session.  I had a large Styrofoam one we also used.


When children are one year of age it can be super difficult to get a shot.  They are on the move so much it is hard.  I had a little red rocking chair that matched perfect for her birthday photos.  We were able to keep her seated for long enough to get a few photos.   We decided that using the studio in parkersburg, wv would be better for photos than an outdoor location.  At that age it is very hard to keep children still for long enough to do one photo.  To set up your child's first birthday photo session in WV  Contact 740-683-6339
www.amandabuckleyimaging.com
www.facebook.com/amandabuckleyimaging

Tips on a successful family shoot.

Tips and tricks to achieve the best family photo session. It's isn't always easy to get the best family photos. The larger the family the more difficult to get everyone kids included to cooperate. 

Small families typically are the easiest to photograph with older children. They can be positioned and listen well to achieve a flawless photo. I find with younger kids it's much easier to just allow them to do what they do put them in the area you want them and then allow them to be kids talk to everyone in the family and move around a little the photos will be more effortless and pretty. 

I love for children to being props will help such as a small toy that would blend with the photo. I also like to hold a variety of stuffed animals . I being a few different ones because sometimes kids do not always respond to the one you pick.   I try to pick a character that allot of kids know. Olaf from frozen is popular so he has been the best animal right now.  Having toys that squeak or rattle are good to have for children under 5. I like to bring small stools or chairs also for the kids to sit on. 

Www.amandabuckleyimaging.com 

The perfect mommy and me photo session.

The With Mother's Day quickly approaching mommy and me photo shoots are very popular. What a wonderful way to create a lasting moment between a mother and her children. I often offer these sessions for girls and boys. For these I think it is important to have some type of props to engage the mother and child. For girls I purchased this gorgeous tea sets. It's China but small and children sized. I opted to go for the real deal instead of plastic because it looks so much nicer in a photo. For boys I have a few children's books that are large enough when photographed can be easily seen. 

 

I love the idea also of incorporating something to sit on. I found this gorgeous bench that matches the set well.   I did standing , seated on the floor and settee for posing options. If the child has been taller they could have also leaned over the back of the settee.  

For the editing I tried to give these more a vintage feel. I wanted them to be light in color and soft. Do I did a soft lense focus of 2.8 to keep them very soft. I even went on photo shop and added more lense blur. I also instructed the mother and daughter to wear coordinating colors for there photo shoot. This will make a huge difference in the final outcome of your session. 

I have also recent offered a photo locket to purchase. These have an antique feel and a 2x2 inch photo locker on them.  They are around 28. The price is good and product is beautiful. 

These photos have been very popular. It's a wonderful chance to capture children and their mother at young age. Something That they will treasure as a lasting memory. 

How to take a pretty bridge photo.

A landscape can be one of the hardest things to photograph. I would suggest picking the best time of day for your photos. Pick a time of day when your bridge is light perfectly. This way your bridge will stand out in a photo. I like to also shoot in camera settings with a higher appeture number. Higher number will allow you to have a more in focus photo. I prefer having a bridge photo that is more in focus with a background slightly in focus. To much background blurr for a landscape is just not something I prefer.  Think of a different viewing perspective.  Get up higher than normal or lower than normal this will make for a more visually interesting photo. Posting the same straight on view that every spectator can post on their phone just isn't the best option. The photo below was taken at sunset at point park in Parkersburg, WV. I am always chasing a beautiful sky.  Www.amandabuckleyimaging.com 

Www.facebook.com/amandabuckleyimaging

What to wear for your High School Senior Photo session.

What should I wear for my high school photos session?   This is a pressing question on the minds of many high school seniors before their photo shoot. I think it is important to work with your photographer to design and plan background and outfits that will work with each location.  Planning several months in advance is key. Do not wait until a day before your photos to decide on your wardrobe.  I always have graduating seniors text or Facebook message me their clothing choices.
Proper planning ahead of time will ensure a wonderful photo.  www.amandabuckleyimaging.comwww.facebook.com/amandabuckleyimagin

High School Senior Photos

Its that time for Graduating High School Seniors in Parkersburg, WV will be thinking about senior photos. When choosing a photographer its important to find someone who will work with your children.  Its very important to find someone who will listen to the needs of the senior. By listening to what the teens want it will bring more business.  I always have the seniors fill out a questionnaire. This will help gather information on the interests of the student.  From that point I customize a location and props to the questionnaire.

Its not only gathering the information.  Putting a plan together that will not only make the client happy but deliver an amazing photo shoot is important.  I like to offer both indoor and outdoor photo options. It is a great way to get seniors interested in the process and excited about their photos. Having a good selection of props and backdrops will also ensure a successful shoot.  Seniors like to have lots of options.

A helpful tip to get children to take good photos.

Today I found myself wondering how I would be able to get a 2 year old client to take good photos. The best photos are not always the posed ones. The natural photos when kids are playing or naturally moving around can be the best.  I deal with a large number of newborns and children, so I am always trying to see what will work to get a good photo.  Unfortunately, we do not live in a perfect world.  Children can be difficult to photograph, especially at the age of 2.  They want to move around constantly. Getting a child to sit or stand for more than a second can be extremely difficult.  The little girl I had today was just precious. She mainly wanted to sit on my lap and give me hugs lol. Which is cute but doesn't get the parents who are paying there prized photos they are wanting.  The challenge was to get her to the photo area.  Once she was there I needed her to stay there for at least a minute or two to snap a few photos.

I had a small gumball machine that she found.  One tip for working with children put everything up and out of reach and eye sight. If they can see it they will get it.  Remember to get on their eye level.   I figured we should just use the gumballs to entice her to take some photos since she was showing some interest in them.  After getting the parents okay for the gumballs, I placed a few pieces in my hand.   I told her that if she did a few photos she could have one piece of gum.  She was super excited. She ran over sat in the chair.  After quickly grabbing my camera I was able to grab a few really great shots. I made her do one more time then gave her the reward. This went off and on for about the full hour.  You never know what will work for a child. Today the gumballs were the key to a successful children's photo shoot.  My best advice is to see what the kids are focused on and used that to get the best photos possible.  Have a stash of candy or gum close.

How to make your clients feel comfortable when shooting boudoir photos.

With Valentines Day just around the corner. I have been booking an increased number of boudoir photo sessions.  I just had a client drive an hour and a half to my studio in Vienna, WV. Women are very eager to do a private photo shoot for their husbands or significant others for the holiday.  Many women are afraid to take the initial steps to book the the appointment.  I assure all my clients that photos will be kept personal and private.  I also go over all of items that they should bring.

It is very important to do a few things to make your client feel completely comfortable before, during, and after their session.  I like to start by forming a good relationship with my client before the shoot. A phone conversation and several messages back and forth about the shoot will help easy any anxiety for you and the client. I like to go ahead and set and expectation with the client how the shoot will go.  I also give them a timeline of the process and what to expect at their photo session.  During the photo shoot I kept telling my client how wonderful they are doing repeatedly throughout the session.  This helps to build up confidence and make them feel more at ease.  I also keep music playing during the full session.

When we were done I was pleased that the client was so excited to see her pics.  She commented that she had a great time and was even talking about booking future sessions.  By putting in a little bit of time with her I was able to make her feel comfortable.  It's very important to have fun when doing these sessions. It just helps to lighten the mood and calm every ones nerves.  After our successful shoot I gained a new client and definitely some future business.


www.facebook.com/amandabuckleyimaging