Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Changes in SWP -- An inside peek (Part 2)

Everyone has been asking what the new prices are going to be for SWP. Don’t worry, it isn’t a big difference, the biggest difference is that the session fee will no longer include a CD with all the photos anymore, instead you will be able to have your portraits printed so you can display quality looking memories!
So that you all aren't knocked off guard when the new web site is launched here is a sneak peak at the prices of the new SWP:

Session fees haven't changed too much, please see below.

Individual/Couple Session - $35
- Includes up to an hour in front of camera at any location within the Fayetteville area, 20 - 30 edited portraits, & online viewing/ordering for 14 days.

Family Session - $55.00
- Includes up to an hour in front of camera at any location within the Fayetteville area for up to 4 people ($15 for each additional person),
20 - 30 edited portraits, & online viewing/ordering for 14 days.

Maternity/Newborn Session - $225
- Includes two individual sessions (Belly Session & Newborn Session).
   - Belly Session includes up to an hour in front of camera at any location within the Fayetteville area, 20 - 30 edited portraits, & online viewing/ordering for 14 days.
   - Newborn Session (1 - 2 weeks old) includes 2 -3 hours in front of camera at any location within the Fayetteville area, 20 - 30 edited portraits, online viewing/ordering for 14 days, & 15 complimentary birth announcements.

Event Fees  - Pricing upon request
- (Wedding, birthday, sporting, ect.), fee will include photographer's time, travel, & online viewing/ordering for 14 days.

*** Please Note:
- Allow 7 days after session for proper editing of portraits. You will be notified by photographer when portraits are in ordering gallery.
- Session fees need to be paid in full prior to set date and are non-refundable, unless given a week's notice of cancellation.
- Additional travel distance pricing will be added if location is 20 miles from Fayetteville area. Will be notified prior to setting date.
- Prices are subject to change without notice.
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Print Details-- I will be printing through a great professional printing company, so can expect nothing but the best. Also all orders will be inspected by me before I deliver your portraits to you

Details

- Gift sizes are 8x10, 5x7, 4x6, & wallet (set of 4)
- Price subject to change without notice
- All prices are subject to local sales tax
- I accept cash, checks and PayPal
- ALL SALES ARE FINAL

Bronze Package: $180
10 - Gift sizes

Silver Package: $250
1 - 11x14
12 - Gift sizes

Gold Package: $310
1 - 16x20
1 - 11x14
14 - Gift sizes

*All package purchases also include $5 off the a la carte pricing

A La Carte:
- Wallets: (Set of 4) $12
- 4x6: $10
- 5x7: $15
- 8x10: $20
- 11x14: $30
- 16x20: $45

- Digital prints: $350*

* Digital prints can be added to the Silver or Gold Packages for an extra $100.
** Sizes 16x20 & up come mounted on a double weight matboard to help preserve the value of your print over time.

*** More sizes are available upon request.

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Products

Gallery Wraps: $100 - $150 depending on size
- Gallery Wraps bring a contemporary edge to your portraits

Custom Cards: $60
- 25 pack of 5x7, custom made, one-sided cards with up to two photos on card.

Coffee Table Book: $275
- 12x12 layflat book with custom printed hard cover, 10 pages (front & back), additional pages up to 20 may be added for additional price.
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 More

Mini-Sessions: $35
- Mini-sessions are quick, but lots of fun. You can make it a themed session, or a cute lifestyle session, it's all up to you!
- Mini-sessions are 30 minutes long and consist of 10-15 edited portraits, & online viewing/ordering for 14 days.
- Up to 3 people in the portrait ($10 for each additional person) at a local location of your choosing.
- Specialty mini-sessions will also be offered throughout the year, so keep an eye out for special offers!

Referral Program: $10 off your next session!
- I love refferals! I will hand out a business card to you after a paid session. If a new client gives me that same business card with your name written somewhere on it, you get $10 off your next session! However, the new client MUST bring the business card (with your name on it) to earn credit towards your next session!

First Year Package: $300
- Includes 3 sessions (3 months, 6 - 9 months, 1 year), up to an hour in front of camera at any location within the Fayetteville area, 20 - 30 edited portraits, & online viewing/ordering for 14 days.
- Two 5x7s from each session of your choice.
- During the 1 year session your child will get his or her own mini cake to dig into!
- As a birthday gift to you & your child from SWP, you will recieve an 8x10 collage of my favorite photos from each session.

Friday, June 24, 2011

Changes in SWP -- An inside peek (Part 1)

So I've realized that I've been pumping you guys up saying that SWP is changing and that rates are changing and you need to be all excited and what not ... but the truth is, you guys are worrying. Don't worry! SWP isn't drastically changing, I just partnered with a printing company and will be offering prints now while offering you a photography experience. You're not just going to be some client I see for a few minutes and then push you through to the next. You had and will always have my full attention for however long the session you choose. Exciting right?! I know I'm super excited to be offering this to my wonderful clients.


The thing is, I'm offering you guys custom photography. I'm not just giving you a studio shot of your family, I'm trying to give you a memorable portrait that will last a long time. What is custom photography you ask? Well, according to Marianne Drenthe of Marmalade Photography at www.professionalchildphotographer.com, custom photography is all about this:

"Custom photography ultimately is all about is choice and experience. Custom photography is about finding someone who will photograph your family, give you devoted one on one attention without worry of who is next in line or the feeling of a crowded portrait studio.

    * A custom photographer will typically show you a fairly extensive gallery culled to only show the good images that meet the photographers creative sensibilities.
    * Often the images are fully edited images-color corrected with blemishes and undereye circles removed.
    * Custom photographers are also known as boutique studios, offering a range of products and unparalleled service. Think Lexus vs. Hyundai, think Nordstrom vs. WalMart.

A custom photography experience should have you, the client and your experience in mind." The next question you probably have is why does custom photography cost so much?

Drenthe again explains, "The truth of the matter is the answer to this question is multifaceted.  Much of the cost of a photographic print produced by a professional photographer has a lot to do with the time,  equipment costs, artistic vision and reputation of the photographer not to mention expertise and the usual costs of running a legitimate business. The cost of TIME -- Approaching it from a time standpoint, let's imagine that you have hired a photographer who has work that you love.  This photographer is traveling an hour to your destination to photograph your session.  Here is an example of a time break down:
    * booking time: 30 minutes to one hour (client contact time + paperwork)
    * pre-session prep time (30 mins  1 hour, includes equipment and back up equipment checks + vehicle checks)
    * 30 mins - 1 hr travel time TO session
    * 15-30 minutes prep time at client's home
    * 1-2 hours with client photographing subject
    * 30 mins - 1 hr travel time FROM session
    * 30-45 minutes uploading time from digital cards from camera to computer
    * 30-45 minutes time spent backing up the original images
    * 2-5 hours editing time to present you with a diverse gallery of edited images
    * 1 hour prep time getting ready for ordering
    * 1 hour sorting through and checking client order
    * 30 minutes-1 hour prep time for delivery
    * 30 minutes-1 hour getting order shipped
    * any additional phone time or time needed for add on ordering, shipment issues, quality issues
In this example, the time spent per client can range from just under 12 hours to 18 hours dependent on the photographer's level of service.  This is time dedicated only to ONE session.  When the photographer charges $55 - $175 for the photo shoot (aka SESSION FEE) you are not just paying for the two hours of session time, you are paying the photographer for 12-18 hours complete time for your session."

And she continues,"Custom photography is more of a luxury than your entry level cookie cutter chain experience.  Custom photography truly is not for everyone, it requires a level of commitment, investment in time  and money, forethought and planning on the part of the subject/client and requires a larger time commitment for the photographer as well.
Clients who enjoy taking a more active role in the creation of their families memories have the desire to have portrait art that is truly personalized.  Many clients opt for it to be a once a year special experience, some opt to have custom photography sessions done to record their child's stages in life.  Having said this, it is clear that custom photography is not in everyones budget,  it is something that most families save for to splurge on from time to time to memorialize their children as they really are  (not posed and primped in the cookie cutter studio setting).
There is a great deal of time involved in creating high end custom photography sessions for a client.  The luxury of great service, better choices and a supberb end product.  The result of all this are heirloom quality images.  The time invested at the session is only a small portion of time involved in this process."
I hope this clears up some questions you have. Stay tuned to get a sneak peek into the prices of prints and special products I'll be offering!

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

The New SWP is on it's Way!

Been busy, busy, busy!
Super excited to say that the SWP web site is almost ready and some new & exciting things are happening to SWP! Fingers crossed by July, SWP will offer prints and specialties!
With the help of my wonderful clients, you, I have come up with some things to better your experience with SWP.
I will be offering prints sizing from wallets to 16x20, custom cards, and coffee table books. I will also offer gallery wraps (sort of like a canvas painting) for prints 8x10 to 16x20. All ordering will be from an online viewing gallery! Packages will also be offered and changes in sessions fees will reflect the new SWP. 
Mini-sessions will also be offered and frequent. Mini-sessions are quick, but lots of fun. You can make it a themed session or a cute lifestyle session, it's all up to you! Mini-sessions are 30 minutes long and consist of 10 - 15 edited portraits, & up to 3 people in the portrait ($10 for each additional person) at a local location of your choosing. Specialty mini-sessions will also be offered throughout the year, so keep an eye out for special offers! 
I really appreciate my long-time and repeat clients, so for the first month of the activation of the new SWP, you will receive a 10% discount! I will also be starting a referral program. Business cards will be given to clients after a session. If a new client gives me that same business card with your name written somewhere on it, you get $10 off your next session! However, the new client MUST bring the business card to earn credit towards your next session!
Check out my new business cards!
So keep posted with SWP for new and exciting changes!