Have you considered a lasting gift of photos?  

   For example, how about tucking an Effects gift certificate in a graduate’s congratulations card, or with mom’s Mother’s Day greeting….both of those occasions are just around the corner.  It’s also a great idea for baby showers or weddings, especially as a “group” gift from two or more people.  

Certificates are available year-round for any full session package, or for any of the special mini-sessions that you’ll see announced several times throughout the year.   Or if you prefer, you can choose a specific dollar amount “contribution” instead, good toward a session or a print/product order.

Maybe the “giftee” has already had a session with me and you would like to give them something special from that session, like a gallery wrap, a unique metal print, or a piece of photo jewelry.  A gift certificate is perfect for allowing them to choose their own favorite image or images. 

Call (515-3691), email (erin@effectsphotography.net) or Facebook message me to inquire about product details and/or to purchase a gift certificate.

This passion of mine, custom photography, is a creative art. Each session begins with a vision and a concept, either mine alone if the client has no idea (or is completely open to anything,) or in collaboration with the client who does approach a session with a specific request. It is up to me to use my shooting style to make that vision a reality in images so that hopefully my client will say “Yes, that’s it! You captured it!” That makes my heart sing!

It is also an ever-evolving art, with changes in artistic tastes and advances in camera technology. A photographer is never through learning…..which is why I was so excited to spend three days earlier this week attending the Imaging USA 2012 convention and expo in New Orleans.

Be sure to ask me about gallery wraps and canvases of just about any size, and some unique items like jewelry (using one of the images from your session) or metal prints that are SO cool.

The knowledge gained from listening to the speakers and watching the demonstrations, along with the inspiration from examining new products…..well, let’s just say it’s enough to “get the juices flowing”.  What a great way to begin a new year, both professionally and personally. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for the rest of 2012.  Bring it on!

     Actually, the real question is what is the VALUE of a photograph? The two obvious reasons you are visiting this page are either because you have used my services (and you enjoy looking at more photos, which I appreciate), or you are considering using the services of a professional photographer. And let’s face it, you have either heard someone comment that “You must be crazy to pay those prices”, or you’ve had that same thought yourself. (It’s ok, I won’t be offended if you admit it.) Or, after checking out a few photographers and their price lists, you may have started to think, “Uncle Joe just got a new camera, I’ll just get him to take pictures at my wedding as wedding gift.” That’s ok, too……but if Susie next door buys a new pair of scissors, does that necessarily mean you want her cutting your hair? (Now, if Susie makes a living as a hairstylist, by all means, go for it…..hey, give me one of her business cards!) Just like having a set of Wolfgang Puck cookware doesn’t make you a chef. (But if you are, I’ll be expecting a dinner invitation…..soon. This girl loves great food!) I could go on and on, but I think you’re getting the general idea, right?


     This might be a good time to consider the difference between a snapshot and a portrait. Snapshots definitely have their place to preserve your family’s memories…..vacation trips, your child’s birthday parties, Christmas mornings, the time your little one walks into the room to show you how pretty she is after digging in mommy’s makeup drawer. Trust me, I reach for my smartphone or a point-and-shoot camera almost daily. But there are milestones and occasions that, if they are to be memorable for a lifetime, cry out for something more. When those times come, do yourself a favor and please keep the following in mind:


     When you pay $150 for an average two hour photo session, that doesn’t mean you’re paying the photographer $75 per hour. Tack on: the studio setup time (or travel time to/from a location session), uploading and backing up all of the original images from the session, extensive custom editing of each selected image, re-saving and backing up those edited images, preparing and uploading the “sneak peek” for your early viewing pleasure (which requires an additional step of resizing each image for the web), ordering prints and/or burning digital files to CD, and order delivery…..not to mention the initial consultation time and ongoing phone and email contact throughout the process…..and that average “two hour” session often results in anywhere from 15 to 18 hours of time spent for just one client. (And if you’re curious about weddings, multiply that by at least FIVE!)


     So, time is one thing……you’re also paying for the photographer’s talent, vision, and experience. Yes, Uncle Joe can point the camera (correctly, you hope) and instruct you to say “cheese” and click the shutter button and let his fancy new $800 camera determine the exposure (correctly, you hope.) Does he also know the posing techniques to make you look your best? Or that the light over there will make a much more pleasing image than the light over here? Can he see the finished product in his mind before he looks through the viewfinder? Will he think about the closeup detail shots that brides have come to expect? And yes, you can bring your family to a department store “portrait studio” photographer, who will give you 30 minutes, regardless of whether your baby is crying or your toddler is pouting because he wants the toy NOW that you promised him if he would “be a good boy and sit still and smile for the picture.” Or would you rather have a relaxed, fun, unrushed experience in a friendly environment such as your own home or an outdoor location, with plenty of allowances for breaks and adjustments, clothing changes, etc., with a person who will take the time to get to know you and remember your names?


     As opposed to the hobbyist with a nice camera, a legitimate professional photographer, whether he/she works out of their home or maintains a separate studio, has all the business overhead that you would expect…..insurance, taxes, equipment purchases/upgrades/repairs (much, MUCH more than just the camera you see), seminars and training, advertising and business promotion. Yes, we love what we do and would probably do it for free if we won the lottery……but in the meantime, until THAT happy day, we do still have to produce an income.


     We have just touched the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the many factors involved in the “cost”……no, the VALUE….of custom photography, but hopefully this will begin to shed a little light on the subject. For now, I’ll just add one more, maybe THE most important point of all. Yes, you can bring your CD to a “picture maker” at the corner drugstore or a discount retailer or a “big box” store, or even upload them to an online website to order prints. In this age of technology, we’ve all become DIYers. I can’t stress this enough…..there IS a difference in print quality and print longevity with portraits from a lab that caters specifically to professional photographers. These professional labs do not use cheap paper, inferior ink, and a machine operated by the 20 year old who also works the checkout counter. (When things calm down a little bit, I hope to be able to put together a little demonstration of that difference in a future post.)


     The digital files that I release to you are a reflection of my work, and many hours have gone into careful corrections of color tone, contrast, cropping and retouching for an artful rendition of each image. They will NOT look the same (or last as long) from most print vendors that are accessible to the general public, as they will from the commercial professional labs that I use, which is something I have been wrestling with for a while. For that exact reason, there may come a time, very soon, when the CD will cease to be included in the package without a minimum print order, but may instead be available for an additional charge. I will continue to keep my print prices reasonable, but they will admittedly be slightly higher priced than the bargain shopper’s expectations. Quality does cost more. Quality is VALUE.