WHY SHOULD YOU CHOOSE A PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER FOR YOUR PORTRAIT NEEDS ?
The knowledge a TRUE professional photographer has aquired from attending photography school, continuing education seminars, ECT. is the difference between anyone's digital, I got lucky snap shots and the quality portrait from a professional. We cannot stress enough your need to question the photographer about his or her education. There are a lot of people out there who purchased a digital camera and photoshop program but have no actual education, and call themselves a professional. The definition of photography is painting with light. If you have not learned how to paint with light, you are not a professional photographer. Ted not only has attended photography classes and seminars, he learned from working in his father's photography studio, who learned from working in his uncle's photography studio. The Conant history actually goes back to his great-great-great grandfather David Joseph Conant, whose photography start dates back to the civil war.
COST
The price of products is always the number one concern of most customers. Some of us do not mind paying a little more if the quality is there.
Some professional photographers charge more because they have made the choice to obtain a master or craftsman or both titles as a personal goal, these titles were obtained by completing the requirements set by the Professional Photographers Association. These are no doubt great accomplishments, but some professional photographer's goals are simply to create stunning images their clients cherish. When shopping price please be sure to compare professional photographers to professional photographers, titles or not, by asking them how or where did you learn the profession of photography. If they are self taught and never took any courses, including the online courses now available you can bet they should not be included in your comparison of professionals. This education is also why photographer's charge a session or creating fee. This fee can be compared to the wage or salary you receive for your knowledge and the job duties you perform each day at your workplace.
WHAT ABOUT THOSE PHOTO PLACES IN THE MALL OR STORES ?
Great question. Did you know that those people are not taught photography but that anyone could do that job, because everything is pre-set. They basically follow a diagram and light settings. There really is no creating done and it is like being a painter who can only paint by number on pre-drawn picture canvas. COST: well they can be very reasonable but most pick your package pose and then try to up-sell you at a much higher price, the pose you really love, especially in the children's market. QUALITY: another point of contention. We are finding those parents who went to a chain store to have their child photographed not only dealt with "up-sell" or bait and switch deal as we call it, now when their child is graduating from high school, or getting married, pull out those photos only to discover they have discolored and cannot be restored. Most professional photographers use a professional lab to print their work on Kodak products, because of Kodak's promise of excellence. We trust our professional lab and want your portraits to last hundreds of years.