I saw them again 7 months later at my Christmas mini session and they were sitting up and smiling big!

And here they are at one year! Oh so cute and scrumptious!

And it’s not a cake smash until someone is crying! Happy birthday Harper and Graham! Looking forward to spending many more milestones with you little cuties!

Today when I was out and about delivering beautiful images to my clients I stopped into a sewing machine store because I saw the sign “classes” outside of it. I thought, “YES!!!! This is the solution!!!” So I walked in and asked the lady who was working there (who also happened to be the store owner) when and how I can sign up for classes. Now, in case you’re wondering…this is where the story actually starts to get interesting:

So the store owner says, “So you want me to teach you how to use a sewing machine that you bought from somewhere else?” (in a rather aggressive tone, mind you). Intimidated by her, I lied….I said, “No, I just want to learn how to sew so I can stop asking other people for help” – still though, she wasn’t sure about me. She started telling me about how I can go to Joann’s and buy a $90 machine and not a person there will show me how to use it. She told me that her most inexpensive machine was $499 and anything less than that is only going to tangle my bobbin and make my life miserable. And lastly, she told me that she hates the cheap machines, but she goes back and forth about carrying them because she might actually want that client who “wants” cheap until she gets them in the store and realizes that she’s not able to help those who aren’t willing to make an investment. Ok, ok….there’s more but I’ll spare you the rest. However, this was the LIGHT BULB moment I had been waiting for.

For the last few months I have been trying to remember how I was as a “client” before I was the “photographer” – so that I can better understand and educate new and prospective clients about my services and the investment. Today in that sewing shop, I was the client. Totally uneducated, wanting classes for a machine I didn’t buy there and floored by the price of a “beginners” machine. Do I want to invest $499 into my sewing? How important is the quality of my machine/end product? And lastly, is customer service something I care about? Do I want someone there at all all times to help me thread my bobbin or show me a new stitch? Or, do I want a cheap machine that I can barely operate, be on my own when it comes to trouble shooting or project demonstration, and then never again use it when I can’t figure out how to fix it?

Now, you may be asking, “how does this apply to photography?” – And that is why I even bothered typing out this experience from today. Please, read on:

There are so many “photographers for hire” in every community. There are the high end and the low end, and everything in-between. I have been the low end, when I first started I charged $100 for a newborn session that included a disk. This is what my images looked like (I know I even have worse than these but you get the idea):

Are these cute precious babies? Well of course they are! And thank GOD for that because these photos did them no other justice! The poor baby on top looks cold and uncomfortable, the poor baby in the middle is on the verge of suffocation with her face almost smashed into the pillow, and this bottom photo….who doesn’t love some fake flowers and an overexposed baby? Was this worth $100? hmmm, even that’s debatable. These were also the “good” images from these sessions, a full disk may include some seriously overexposed, blurry or even worse poses (if you can imagine that being possible). Why did I charge $100? Because I needed experience! I needed babies to shoot, I needed people to get in front of my camera of course! I’m surprised I didn’t have to pay THEM!!!

Did people hire me? Yes. Why? Because I was cheap. They either were my friend (and felt obligated) or they just wanted inexpensive photos, regardless of the quality . And let me make this clear: THAT’S OK!!!! It’s ok to be on a budget, it’s OK to want photos regardless of the lighting, technical expertise or color! It’s all OK. I go into homes all the time and see horrific images blown up nice and gigantic for all to see. I want to cry for them because I have this beautiful 30×60 canvas on my wall that Ken Whitmire took for me in 2005. It’s gorgeous, a real piece of art and something that still looks beautiful and timeless almost 8 years later. Did I pay for it? Why yes, $2900 to be exact. Was it worth it? WITHOUT A DOUBT.But keep in mind, I am not writing this to criticize others, I am writing this to educate those who don’t know WHY portrait sessions with me (and others) are going to cost you more than going to the mall for your session.

After three years of shooting, 165,000 shutter clicks, 352 sessions, classes, mentoring, and more classes, better equipment and lighting, building a studio and MOST IMPORTANTLY, a creative direction and PASSION to capture the beauty that I see…..I can shoot a lovely image, and yes, my prices reflect it.

The question I am trying to answer here is, photographers that charge more are doing it because they are offering you a better experience and a better product (kinda like the $499 sewing machine??? see? you get it)! They have invested THOUSANDS in the very best equipment, they have trained and trained to learn the very best techniques and skills that really “create” a beautiful image, and they have screwed up enough times to know what “not” to do during your photo session!!! In addition to that, when you pay an experienced photographer, the buck doesn’t stop there. You are getting the very best prints, wall canvases and products there is to offer. If your house burns down a year after your session, you can bet the experienced photographer you hired still has those images backed up somewhere. The service goes WELL beyond the initial email and session, and 20 years down the road, you will still love these images as much as you did on the day you hung them on your wall.

So, the relationship between the sewing machine and your portrait session: How important is this portrait session to YOU? Is it worth the investment? Will you cherish these photos for the rest of your life? If the answer is no, then I am not the best fit for you. If the answer is YES, call me. Let’s make beautiful pictures together.

Last night as I was picking up after my kids for the twentieth time that day, I came into my room and noticed Delaney asleep in my bed. At first I was just planning to pick her up and take her to her own bed, but as I watched her little belly move up and down from her breathing, I realized that this was one of those moments. I started noticing her little details. The dirt under her nails from playing in my garden all evening, the little ring on her finger that she makes sure to wear at all times, the green nail polish chipping off her little toenails and those little baby dimples still on her hands. I ran out to my studio and grabbed my camera. There was hardly any light except the lamp on my nightstand, but I attempted to capture every little detail I could without using a flash or waking her.

Today she would look at these photos and say in her sassy little tone, “MOM! Why are you taking pictures of me ASLEEP?!?!?!”, but in 20 years she will look at them and see for herself the precious little 7-year-old girl that I once knew.