Let’s say your friend or neighbor gets a fancy new digital camera. They are ultra excited about practicing their newfound skills, or perhaps they are the happy owners of a new iPhone equipped with Portrait Mode. So, they offer (graciously) to do your senior photos for little to no price, and you think, “What can it hurt?”. Free or low-cost photos sound awesome, and they also sound like a relief on your pocketbook, which is pretty stretched with all the costs of college, right? So why choose a real photographer, when there are so many $50, shoot and burn photographers to choose from? Does experience really matter? Yes. Here’s why:
-You will prevent massive mishaps: Have you heard a horror story about a photographer who forgot their memory card, or lost an entire session? It’s the stuff of nightmares, and it’s one of the things that a veteran photographer just won’t let happen. Someone who has never done senior sessions before may not know how to maneuver equipment, downloading images, and doing the painstaking editing that is required for high quality images. You want to rest assured that you won’t have to repeat your shoot!
-An experienced photographer knows how to put you in your best light: Literally and figuratively, a great photographer will help pose you so you look and feel your best, and so that you look natural and not too stiff or uncomfortable. They will also help angle and adjust the lighting so that you aren’t stuck with strange shadows across your face, images that are too dark, or ones that are “blown-out”, with a light imbalance. These mistakes are hard to correct, and often show up in amateur sessions.
-A full-service photographer will tackle every aspect of your session: From the moment you inquire with us, we are listening to you. Hearing your needs, your desires, and your dreams. And, we do everything we can to ensure that your shoot comes together with ease, and that you feel completely confident that we have understood what you are hoping for. We also help with things like wardrobe ideas and location inspiration, because we know what works! We have the experience that lends itself to wisdom, and that matters for you.
-A veteran photographer will be worth the money: You are not just paying for images when you book with a true senior, family, or bridal photographer. You are paying for the expertise in editing, for the help and feedback when choosing products and prints, and the guidance and mentorship that is available for those big decisions. You also are paying to be pampered, and not rushed or stressed on a day which should be filled with relaxing memories! Many shoot and burn photographers simply don’t have the ability to give their clients special moments that will last forever, and it’s something that’s very important to me.
When it comes to choosing a true senior or family photographer over someone who does it as a hobby, remember you get what you pay for. Quality matters, and you will never regret booking with the artist you really wanted!
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