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Posted on February 28, 2010
Nate is one of our 2011 Senior Models. Nate attends Coeur d’ Alene High School and enjoys playing tennis. Here’s a little about Nate:
Activities:
Tennis, hanging out with friends, and yeah…
Interests:
Finding something to do that’s worthwhile.
Favorite Music:
Anything that has meaning to me.
Favorite TV Shows:
NCIS, Glee, The Office
Favorite Movies:
Milan Rouge
Favorite Movies:
Catch 22
Favorite Quotations:
“Is all that we see or seem but a dream within a dream?” – Edgar Allen Poe
“Dad my room sucks, it smells like roots!” – Bro. Spence
About Me:
I have five siblings. I have had an Interesting life thus far. Had a few challenges but don’t we all. I love to meet new people and make new friends. I have a unique middle name.
We took his modeling portraits near Tubbs Hill and throughout the allies of downtown Coeur d’ Alene. I’m so glad we have Nate as one of our senior models this year, his portraits turned out great & I can’t wait for his senior session this summer! If you’re a high school junior and would like to become a Senior Model click HERE to apply.
Posted on February 16, 2010
I came across this post a bride had blogged about on how ridiculously priced she thought most wedding photographers were. I thought this the perfect opportunity to explain to brides why it is that wedding photographers charge the prices they do. Now don’t get me wrong, the prices can range from a few hundred dollars to several thousands of dollars, but why is that? For the most part the range in price is due to experience. The second is due to the type of equipment they use. How much is a good quality camera these days? For most photographers who consider themselves a professional photographer they should have about $1,000 invested in the body of their camera and a backup camera too if shooting weddings. Lenses are a whole other story. Lens investments are about $300+ per lens and most photographers have at least two if not more lenses so they can shoot various situations. Then there’s memory cards at $40 a piece, needing and batteries costing about $70+ depending on the camera. Let’s not forget the off camera flashes that start at about $500 for an adequate one (should have a backup one too) and strobe lights for formal shots costing at least $250 per light and a minimum of two lights are needed. There’s also several smaller items needed such as lens cleaning systems, radio slaves or sync cords (that make the strobe lights flash), AA batteries for your off camera flashes, camera bags, etc. But wait, it’s the digital age now, we can’t forget about the post-processing equipment. We now have to add a computer and/or laptop that’s beefy enough to run the memory eating photography software so that’s at least $1000. Then there’s the software, usually Adobe Photoshop costing us $700 and Lightroom (great for working with a lot of images) costing about $200.
If we add up all of that we’re looking at about a $6,000 investment. That doesn’t include any props though that a photographer might need/want such as pillars, backgrounds, etc. which are just as pricey. We also haven’t accounted for the education side a photographer would need to invest in, or at least should. If they went to college that can range from $5,000 and up. Workshops usually cost about $500 or more each. Then there’s books to invest in to improve in their photography as well as learn how to actually make money in this business after having invested $6,000 plus on equipment.
Okay so now that we’ve covered the basis of what it takes just to become a photographer let’s examine what goes into the photography process of a wedding. First off there’s the initial consultation that usually lasts 30 minutes to an hour. Then there’s the filling out of contracts and getting to know the couple so that you can deliver wedding photographs they’ll love, that’s about an hour. Depending on what package the bride went with there’s usually an engagement session, possibly a rehearsal dinner, then the wedding and maybe a “day after” shoot. So we’re looking at between 4-12 hours depending on coverage. Then after all has taken place there’s the downloading and backing up of the images (15-30 minutes), there’s importing and eliminating photos in Lightroom (1 hour), there’s the initial retouching of photos, i.e. fixing lighting/color, adding effects, sharpening, etc. (1-4 hours). After that has been done there’s meeting with the couple to pick out images for album/prints (1-3 hours). Then there’s the full-retouching of images ordered i.e. removal of blemishes on formal portraits, whitening of teeth, etc. (1-10 hours). If the couple ordered an album there’s the initial design plus up to 3 changes (5-20 hours). So for each wedding, depending on services needed we’re looking at 8 – 50 hours.
Now why did I take the time to go through all of this information? Because when I come across a bride wanting all of her images on CD for a couple hundred bucks when I’m at least invested 8 hours plus travel time, the stress of photographing a wedding, plus the cost of an assistant (almost all of my weddings have a second shooter to guarantee the shot was captured), only making $500 isn’t worth it, nor is it worth it to you to hire someone who’s willing to do your wedding for so cheap. Believe me I’ve heard enough horror stories to last a lifetime about brides who cut corners to save money on their wedding photography. Horror stories revealed:
- One bride hired her uncle who even had his own photography business to do her wedding and he shot the entire ceremony without a memory card. He felt like such a schmuck after the ceremony when he told the bride that he just left. So this bride has NO photos from her wedding.
- Another bride hired a friend who had an slr film camera and took photos as a hobby. Well she didn’t have the right equipment to light up the dungeon-like reception area so almost none of the reception photos turned out. This photographer also being a friend, spent too much time socializing at the wedding to capture any of the main shots, i.e. the first dance, cake cutting, etc.
- Another bride hired a photographer to take her wedding photos from a trade show she attended. His work was good and he wasn’t charging a lot for the services. He did the wedding, she looked at her portraits, she placed her order and then…never received her wedding photos, skipped town.
So in closing I HIGHLY suggest doing your research about who you are hiring to take your wedding photos. Second, figure out other ways to cut costs, do a pot-luck reception, have your wedding at a park, etc. Don’t whatsoever cut costs with your photographer. Remember, after your wedding day is over what do you have left? Your wedding dress will be boxed up, your bouquet dried out and stashed away, a few decorations might be saved, but your wedding photos will be kept on hand to show friends and family, reminisce with your spouse, and eventually show your children. So is that something you really want to take a chance on not having?
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Posted on February 15, 2010
Mackenzie is one of our 2011 Senior Models. Mackenzie attends Central Valley High School and is on the basketball team. She loves being in front of the camera and really wants to be a model so becoming a Senior Model for Infinity Photography was a perfect fit. Here’s a little about Mackenzie:
- Activities:
- Umm. World of War Craft is pretty sweet.
- Interests:
- World Of Warcraft
- Favorite TV Shows:
- South Park
Family Guy - Favorite Movies:
- Dumb And Dumber,
Super Troopers
Super Bad
Old School - About Me:
- I just really really like Britney Spears
We took her modeling portraits with Laloni throughout the allies of downtown Spokane, capturing the vibrant colors of the various graffiti and brick walls. If you’re a high school junior and would like to become a Senior Model click HERE to apply.
Posted on February 14, 2010
Wow I just fell in love with my new baby portrait, the one below of little Gracelyn asleep in a tutu. This was the result of an hour of this little munchkin hamming up the camera with her cute smile and infectious laughter. I met little Gracelyn and her big pouty lips three months ago when her mom signed her up for our Baby Grow Up Plan. I’m so lucky to get to photograph such an adorable baby and can’t wait to photograph her nine month portraits. If you’re expecting give us a call about our great Baby Grow Up Plan.
Posted on February 14, 2010
Kaydence has grown so much since her newborn shoot and getting more cuter every day if that’s possible. I had just purchased some cute new headbands and flowers and was excited to try them out on Kaydence. My oh my she looks cute in them! Kaydence’s mom had an antique dress that we put her in too that I absolutely love. I can’t wait to take her 6 month portraits. Kaydence is enrolled in our Baby Grow Up Plan that captures the first year milestones of a baby’s life. This is a great, affordable program for expecting mothers who want to have portraits taken every few months. For more information click HERE.
Coeur d Alene Baby Photographer
