I deserve not to starve

I've read TWICE this month about 2 photographers, one local and one not, closing their doors FOR GOOD. WHY?

Because they BOTH said they could NOT survive and support themselves off their FULL TIME self employed photography income.

I checked both of them out on facebook. One had an ok number of likes with ok work. Alright- so that makes sense, perhaps there was room for improvement, on marketing and on technique. I've seen worse though! One had 5,000+ likes and beautiful work. Clearly people saw the beauty in her work and she had quality images!!

So what gives? How can 5,000 people like your work and you not be able to live off that? I don't KNOW, but I can make an assumption... These photographers were not charging what they were worth. Plain and Simple.

As Artists we love what we do- but this is also our job. We're here to have fun but we don't have hours to throw out the window either. So to anyone who wants something for free, or next to nothing- remember- we aren't just selling paper, or are required to give away digital copies bc they are "free." That "paper" holds cherished memories never to be seen again, those files took us hours to envision, capture, and artistically perfect, AND we have to survive just like you.

We have thousands of dollars in to our gear (and if you don't, I honestly don't feel as though you can call this your REAL profession... I'm not talking about hobbyists who have another job, I'm talking about the people who give it their ALL EVERY DAY.) We have years of knowledge. We have a talent no one else has. We have an eye and artistic mind you can't just borrow. And yes- if you want a custom, specialty service, you have to pay for it. Just like a painting, or a limited release item, or a product built just for you!

The SAD part is- I'm still not saying you have to charge $10,000 per session but you can not be the photographer shooting, editing, burning, and gifting EVERYTHING for $100 either.

WHY? Because you will SINK just like these people did unless you have another job or have someone else to support you. AND bc you have a GIFT that is worth more than what it cost me to buy a pair of over priced jeans from the Mall.

Please think of it this way- $100. approx. for 10 hours broken down in to emailing, meeting with a client, shooting, editing, viewing, making a disc / prepping ordering, (whichever you do), delivering products. Done. $100 divided by 10 is $10 an hour. Then uncle Same takes out 30%. $7 an hour. Then you have to pay all your studio bills, your business insurance,  sales tax, or... or... OR.... the list goes on. SO NOW you are working for yourself for like $3 an hour. Really!?

NO! STOP IT! YOU STOP IT RIGHT NOW! YOU are worth more than that and so is your work, and so is your time!!!!!

To all of my clients- THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for seeing the value in what I do. Thank you for accepting the fact that I LOVE having fun with you but I am NOT here to play all day and that I create beautiful things for your home to support me in mine. YES- I love what I do but I am also very proud to say my full time job is a business I built, myself, from the ground up, and that it's in a field that many put the word "starving" in front of.

webblog

(self-portrait created during my 365 project in 2011)

Think of it this way- I have the drive and the fire behind me that a starving artist does, except I choose to eat, bc I deserve to.

5 BIG reasons why you could be missing out

When I take on a client, I don't just look at them as another person I have to photograph. I look at them as a beautifully bound journal, that holds years and years of tales. I look at them as unique and beautiful pieces of art, just waiting to be captured. I see smiles, I see passion, and above all else I see someone who deserves an amazing experience that's all about them.

If you aren't getting that out of your photographer... what else are you missing out on?

Here are my top 5 reasons
to commission a professional photographer
for your portraits

Education:
I don't mean a college degree or a fancy certification. I mean knowledge, experience, and the ability to take what you know and explain that to others clearly.
I am a self taught artist, I have pushed my way through a lot of unknown things over the years. Being at a place where I can HELP my clients is the best part of that whole struggle.
I expect A LOT more out of the companies I deal with now, and I expect A LOT more out of myself. That education leads to better products, better images, and an overall better experience. 
I encourage people to ask questions, there are no secrets here- if you are investing in something, especially memories, you have the right to be properly informed!

Time:
This is HUGE!
On average, I spend about 10 hours on each client, from the beginning of our process to the end. This includes several emails answering questions they may have /  a pre-session consult to form their ideas and build their session / more emails to answer questions and give help and suggestions on wardrobe, location, goodies to bring / shooting / editing and more editing / album viewing and interior design help for orders / designing specialty items / prepping orders for print /  and order display for pick up.
If you are dealing with someone who simply states, "Yeah, I can take your pictures, meet me at this park." and 2 days later presents you with a disc or you spend 15 mins in the studio with a crying baby and then they ask you to come around the corner to purchase your selection... you are truly missing out on a lot of help, details, and opportunities.

Quality:
To add on to being educated- be informed and know what to look for. That adorable smile is great, but is it actually in focus? That iamge is breathtaking but will the photographer size it properly so when you get a 20x30 it's not going to be grainy? That disc is awesome, but are your prints from the grocery store really doing them justice and hold up over time? Will that image eventually warp and bend?
Demand quality, at a minimum, no matter what price, or what level of professionalism you deal with. If they are bold enough to call themselves a business, you can be bold enough to ask them if their images and products are of quality.

Attention to Detail:
This I feel is highly over looked, but when it comes down to it, is just as important as those BIG things you think people might notice. I remember when I first started shooting and my boyfriend (now husband) pointed out that my horizon line was slightly off. I thought- jeez, way to be picky! No- now I understand, being picky helps you grow, trains your eye, and brings every image to a whole new level. Random objects in the background and tilted horizons soon turned in to relaxed looking hands, natural smiles, comfy looking poses. Perfection was never met by over looking those small details, at the same time, it was also never met by dwelling on them. Know when to fix things and also know when to let those things go in order to get the shot!

On A Personal Level:
I love this one. I am a people person. A lot of the clients I have, I am so sad to see them pick up their last print order. Luckily, a lot of them come back again, so I get to see them every few months or every year. We have so much fun together, and we get to know so much about each other, that by the time our session roles around, it's easy, calm, fun, and comfortable. I have also been known to tell people to please come relaxed bc I more than likely will do a lot of ridiculous things to make their child smile... or if a hubby is mildly grumpy we have a lot of good laughs and it goes over well. You're not coming to a stuffy studio where I don't care about you and we just need to click, click, click until the number of shots are complete. I want to know you, I want to have fun, and I want you to feel at home.

What's your story- What's your secret?

More than a month ago I made a very blunt facebook post stating I was no longer interested in "just taking pictures" and I was ready to really push AJBC in to a new direction.

Since then I have photographed a stunningly beautiful child during a stylized shoot, a strong, gorgeous woman during a boudoir shoot in her downtown loft, and also a loving family during a lifestyle shoot in their naturally lit home. Next up is a fashion inspired Senior Session.

Yeah, those are a lot of big words and fancy phrases but what I really mean to say is every Portfolio Session I have booked since making that promise to myself has been SUCH an inspiring experience and it has been by far my best work yet.

Why?

Because it made me feel alive again

.

It got me excited again. And that's when I produce my best work.

So... was that my goal, just to give you better portraits?

No.

And why I am keeping so many secrets? Why won't I just release these pictures and start this new chapter already!?

Well, because. There is A LOT going on behind closed doors and once I get it ALL (and there's a TON of new things I'm exploring) to where I want it to be, where it feels right, I'm crossing that line and never looking back. I want there to be a distinct line that says this is where I came from and this is what I am now.

I basically want to come out of the gate swinging for the fences. 

I want to take no prisoners. 

I want to give you the best damn portrait session you have ever had.

So... what's going to happen?

Most importantly, more time. I love hearing your story, I love learning about you. I want to allow us both more time to dive in to that.

I want the session to not be so timed. I want to shoot until I feel fit. I want to be able to take all the shots that inspire me and not have to look at the clock.

When I edit I want to know every shot was NAILED and not just taken so my client could feel fulfilled by the click of the random shutter. Quality over quantity.

I want you to walk in to your viewing and have a life changing experience. I want it to hit so close to home that you can't believe we created that together. 

I want you to appreciate your life.

I want you to look at those images and realize how lucky you are because we captured YOU, not a fake perception, not a boring version, but YOU!

I want to help you design and decorate. I want to see you take those images and embrace them by showcasing them in your home so when people come over they see who you are and not the cheap sunset painting you bought at Hobby Lobby.

If I wanted this to still be about pictures, I would not be making this change, because I know how to take pictures. I want this to be about the experience.

So... what are my secrets? Besides the amazing images I'm waiting to release, my new pricing structure that I'm thrilled about, my new packages that have new items, my new system to prints and discs, and my desire to tell your story?

I guess I should say what WAS my secret....?

Fear.

I was afraid before. I was afraid that if I made this jump people would leave. That they just wanted a quick fix of pictures. I feared offering a better service because I thought people would say it was not needed and they just needed something easy, and in return, if I fought that they would just go out find that easy quick person somewhere else.

That fear is gone. 

The reason why?

Because- I don't fear those people leaving any more. 

I do not want to be your quick fix. 

Because by me fearing those "quick fix", that was jipping the people out there who are dying to have a personal, beautiful, and unique experience. And that is so so so unfair.

Again- there are lots of people out there taking pictures. But don't you want more than that?

I'm so excited to now be allowed to do that for you.

Let's Tell Your Story.

Together.

365

365.

To some of you those are pointless numbers.

To some, it's a full calendar year.

And to me, for the second time, it's a year long project to push, test, and challenge me.

For those of you who didn't follow me the first time I did this insane project- a 365 is a photographer's fun way of saying- I'm nuts!

A 365 is where I vow to take an image, 1 photo each day, non stop, no cheating, for 1 full year, for 365 days.

I did my first self portrait 365 back in 2010 with my DSLR. It helped me gain a TON of knowledge about portrait work and off camera flash.

I'm revisiting the 365 this year with.... it's true... my iphone.

WAIT! Before you judge me, hear me out!

What does an iphone offer that a DSLR doesn't!?

Ok, so quality is NOT on that list, nor is options- but that's the point for me!

I no longer can rely on crisp details to captivate my audience, I can't edit out mistakes, I can't enhance anything blah. All I can do is take a picture.

Wow. Talk about going back to the basics. My phone (3GS) doesn't even have a flash. All I have is a crappy camera, natural light, and my arm. No timer. No tripod. No tricks. Just me and the camera.

So why a phone and not a camera?

2 reasons. I needed to go back to the basics. I needed to push my creativity and realize what can be done when you don't over think things. Sometimes reverting back to where you started can help you grow and see things. Reason number 2- I am busy. Ridiculously busy. I knew if I had to set aside time each day to set up, pose, photograph, edit, post, I would fail, and.... I've been there, done that. I needed something quick and to the point.

I also wanted to prove- with the right light, the right creativity, you can accomplish great things, even with a phone. Is this a push for people to substitute professional portraits for iphone images? NEVER. I'll be the first to tell you I am SO over the 1 click retro edits that push people to think they are the next big artistic statement, but there's no denying- this is a digital age. People LOVE their camera phones. Why not embrace that. Why not have some fun!

So, here we go. 364 days left to go. Are you with me?

Follow me on Instagram-

ajbcphotography

http://instagram.com/ajbcphotography