Guest Post: Who do you use for photography?

Every Mom I know is looking for, or in love with a photographer.  As our children grow so fast we naturally want to capture every moment of the little person’s growth and development.  There is nothing like a professionally shot and touched up photo.  With so many options for photography out there today it is hard to decide what photo option is best for your family.

I know I struggled with this.  Not only do I want to have photos of my family but StitchesByJeni needs photos as well.  My princess dresses look dull and drab in the photos I have taken but they come to live on a model and with the correct lighting and graphic editing.

This was me taking the photo above.  I did my best and I never hated this photo.  It is a clear representation of the dress I am selling, but it was never as good as some of the other sellers photos.  The dress is beautiful but the photo is so-so.

I regret thinking this but I thought I could take photos just as well as a professional.  I had a nice Cannon Rebel SLR camera.  I was very happy with the camera it did take some nice shots.  It only had 6 mega pix, which was fine but now extra flash, and the shutter speed was disappointing.  The camera was a work horse but I just didn’t have the skill to back it up.

When I realized that I wasn’t good enough despite my many photo classes and art major.  I shopped around.  Some places wanted $400 just to walk in the door.  Other places would ask for a more reasonable $100 sitting fee but never give out there digital copies.  I understand that photographers need to protect there work,  that they deserve to be paid for it, and mak a living doing it.  I would like photographers to understand that I live in a digital world.  I have digital frames, and I love to share digital photos with friends and family on-line.  I won’t use a photographer that doesn’t at last sell me digital copies for a reasonable price.

I didn’t feel like I could afford even the $100 sitting fee because I like to order a lot of prints and get the digital copies.  That all adds up fast.  A family member suggested Sears Portrait Studios.  We had family shots taken there twice, and did a big cousins shot once.  All three times I walked away with one shot I was proud to own.  I was disappointed I didn’t have 3, or 5 shots I wanted to buy but there sales and deals usually require you to pick one good shot anyway.

Sears is a great option if money is tight and you can’t do it yourself.  They still charge a whopping $100 for the digital CD but they often have deals so check there sight often.  The photographers are not always great at wrangling the kids and you will likely be expected to keep your kids still and smiling.  That is not something I wanted to do so I kept looking for other options.

Many of my friends were raving about one particular photographer.  She specializes in newborn shots and often will take on a new born baby and see that child through to senior photos.  My Facebook page is littered with beautiful photos of my friends children from CarriannePhotography.

Above is one of her most popular shots.  She takes birthday smash shots.  It is what it sounds like, a baby smashing there beautiful face into a bright and colorful cake.  So amazing and so cute every time.

Carrianne does everything for an extremely reasonable price.  Everything is included for one reasonable session fee of $125.  That price includes all her time shooting and editing the photos, a selection of professional prints, and unbelievably a CD of edited photos and her copyright release.  She actually gives you the CD and allows you to do what you want with the photos.  This is an amazing deal, less expensive than Sears if you (like me) must have the digital copies.  She books up fast so get your name in now.
Andrea Larson Photography is another of my most favorite photographers.  She is young and fresh and full of new ideas.  I love that her work is both innovative and classic at the same time.  You will never look back at her photos and wonder, “what was I thinking.”  Andrea is from my home town of Baldwin, WI and that is saying something.  Our town currently has about 2,000 people in it so there are only a few of us roaming around.

The above photograph is lovely Avayah in one of my princess dresses.  Andrea specializes in enhanced portrait photography, specializing in children and babies.  She does her shoots on-location in the comfort of your home or favorite park.  How great would it be to have a photographer come to you.