Elizabeth Winsby Photography

Oh my!! This spring has flown by!! I had some issues with my blog and it took a few weeks to get everything figured out and fixed. I am so glad to have to it working again. It was so stressful but my awesome Blog designer Genevieve at Lilac Creative did such a great job of figuring out the problem and fixing it. She is amazing so If you need blog, website designs, or branding check out her website. She is amazing to work with and so creative.

I have been so busy with sessions lately. I did Easter mini sessions with bunnies this year for the first time and it was such a hit. We had so much fun and my husband helped out as my zookeeper!! He even had to chase one of the bunnies in the middle of the park and dive to catch her. It was hillarious and I really regret not taping it with my iPhone!! We will definately try to do the bunny session again next year.

I have posted this article before but I think it is good to remind people why it is important to hire a professional photographer and why it is more expensive to do so.

The digital revolution has brought amazing flexibility and ability to control various factors during the image taking and making process.  Photographers, the hobbyist, the professional, the amateur all benefit from this ability to manipulate pixels.  However, with flexibility comes a price.  Digital camera equipment is still considerably more expensive when you factor in its’ lifespan, the need for additional resources for processing those images, the time it takes to get a usable image and the effort that goes into creating a work of photographic art. We all know that you can go to the local Walgreen’s and pay a $1.99 for a print – as a client you may wonder why you may pay upwards of $50, $70, $90 for a custom photography print.   Photographers hear this statement every once in awhile:

“How in the world can you charge $60 for an 8×10 if it costs me less than $2 to print at x store?”

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)
• one hour travel time TO session
• 15-30 minutes prep time at client’s home
• 90 minutes-2 hours with client photographing subject
• one hour 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
• 2-3 hours time with client for ordering images
• 1 hour sorting through and checking 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 13 hours to 19 hours – dependent on the photographer’s level of service.  This is time dedicated only to ONE session.  When the photographer charges $150-$300 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 12-19 hours complete time for your session.

The COSTS of Maintaining a Custom Photography Business:

Regarding equipment costs, a good quality professional camera with a selection of good optical quality lenses and digital storage mediums and computer set up can run from $10,000-$30,000 costs dependent on the photographer.  Even though you can purchase a really good quality digital SLR for about $2100 there are still other costs related to photography.  A good lens for portrait photography can run from $900 to $2500.  A dependable computer system with software loaded for business and creative usage can run $2500 to $8000 dependent on the photographer. Then come lab costs for specialty products.  A good photographer knows their professional lab is an integral part of their success.  These labs often cost more and offer a range of products that allows the custom photographer to continually offer new, innovative products for the discerning client.

Discussion on other costs of running a photography business could take awhile so we’ll skip many of the intricate details.  An overview:  the costs of running the business, taxes, studio rental/mortgage if the photographer has ownership of a dedicated studio, vehicular costs, costs of advertising/marketing, costs of sample pieces that the photographer will likely bring to your session, etc.

APPLES to ORANGES to BANANAS: Often times clients will mention to their photographer that X studio in the mall/department store only charges $19.99 for an 8×10 “sheet” or they may mention other things related to discount photography chains.  The fact is those discount chains make their money on volume, not on customized 1:1 service.  In February 2007 a company who has leased photography retail space in a rather well known discount retailer closed down 500 of their portrait studios across the nation.  The reason it happened is simple, you cannot make money on 99¢ “professional” prints if you do not sell enough of them.  Interestingly enough – those same studios that offer the loss leader packages often charge much much more for their a la carte pricing vs. many custom photographers (as high as $40-50 for an 8×10).

A little history – the whole reason the big department stores began offering portrait services in the first place was to get you, the savvy consumer, in through their door so that you could spend more money with them in other departments.  Your “PORTRAITS” are considered the “loss leader”.  Your portraits that are meant to symbolize a once-in-a-lifetime stage in your child’s life are part of what a store considers a way to get you in there door to spend more money on goods that you might not really want or need but because you’re there “anyway” you buy.

Also keep in mind that when you go to a chain studio, as a consumer, you don’t have the benefit of 1:1 attention for 2 hours at your home where your child is allowed to explore, play and be comfortable in their home environment, nor do you get the experience that many custom photographers are known for as well as the lovely captures of natural expressions.  You simply get a bare bones, “SAY CHEESE” experience.

REPUTATION/EXPERTISE of the PHOTOGRAPHER: There is an old story about a ship that cost a company millions of dollars.  Something went wrong in the engine room and the ship was stuck in dock.  They called various “experts” who spent weeks trying to fix the issue to no avail and at a cost of tens of thousands of dollars.  Finally a older gentleman was called in who simply brought in his small tool bag and a hammer.  He set about pinging on various parts of the vast engine with his hammer, finally settling on one area.  He spent a few minutes pinging in that area, took out a few tools and fixed whatever what was wrong.  After a few moments the man straightened up, looked at the captain and instructed him to “start her up.”  The captain disbelievingly went to get the engines started while the man sat in the engine room listening as the engine roared to life.  The man tipped his hat as he exited the ship to the staff who sat dumbfounded because they had seen all the experts come on board for days with their expensive equipment only to have the ship not fixed.  This man did it in a few minutes with a few pings of his hammer!

A few days passed and the man sent the shipping company a bill for $10,000.  The accounting department contacted him immediately.  Why all the rumors mentioned that this man had only spent “a few minutes” fixing the ship “with his hammer and a few other random tools”.  When questioned about why his bill was for $10,000 – did he accidentally leave an extra zero on the bill?  The man confidently responded: “In fact the time was worth the $1,000.  The other $9,000 was for the years of experience and the ability to discern the issue as quickly as possible for the company.”

Now I’m not saying that photographers fix large ships but being in demand, being well known for quality work, having a good reputation often costs time on the photographer’s part (years of practice, study, experience, etc).  A photographer’s expertise comes at a cost, their time learning their craft and learning the intricacies of lighting and the commitment put forth on their end to create a persona about their business that oozes professionalism.  A great number of photographers go a very long time from the time that they purchase their first good camera to making money at the business of photography.  Many photographers, when first starting out, rush in thinking that the business will be easily profitable in no time, how expensive could it be to get a camera and use it to create their dream?  These photographers often undervalue what they do because they have the realization that they do not have experience or expertise but are very adept at pushing the shutter on the camera.  Many times these casual “professionals” neglect to factor in the cost of business, the cost of equipment, software, back ups, etc..  When you hire a photographer of sound reputation, you are hiring an expert, one that knows that they must always reinvest in their business to create the reputation of being top notch.  To create good work a photographer possesses not only sound knowledge in the technical and creative aspects of photography but also good, reliable equipment and back up equipment.

The photographer who desires to be known as better/best/unparalelled reputation-wise knows that the most important thing they can do for their business is reliability and dependability.  This is how reputations get built.  Good work often is a wonderful side product of building that good reputation.

I hope this (lengthy) article helps shed some light on WHY a custom photographer is a better choice for your family’s memories.  The photographs that are produced as a result of the professionalism and dedication that your photographer has will be cherished for a lifetime (or more) and great thought and consideration should be placed into hiring who is right for your family’s most precious investment.

I am so excited about these mini sessions because I love springtime!! What better time to get pictures taken when all of the beautiful flowers and blooming and the green grass is growing!! The dates are filling up so please call me or email me as soon as possible to schedule your time. At that time I will let you know location details and what times are available!!

On the 9th and 10th we will either have chicks or bunnies available to use in the photos!! I will announce which closer to the date just trying to work out all of the logistics!!

email me at ewinsby@me.com or call 918-855-4619 to schedule your mini session!!

Elizabeth Winsby Photography is booking weddings for 2011!! I am so excited to be expanding my photography business to offer weddings. It is something I have wanted to do for a very long time and after a lot of convincing by my clients I have made it official. Look for a new website dedicated to weddings in the next few months. Don’t worry my main focus will still be babies, families, and kids but I am excited to officially offer weddings. If you are interested in my wedding packages please email me at ewinsby@me.com for that information.

I had such a great time this week at Mix 96’s Baby Fest and Family Expo. I had never been to a show like that and I was overwhelmed with the response I got to my photography and I was even on tv. I had several friends comment that they saw my booth on channel 2 which was so exciting!! These days it seems like anyone can call themselves a photographer so it is so nice when people recognize your talent and all the hard work that you put into it. I love what I do and I love that I get to interact with people and see first hand how their family dynamic works. Capturing memories is what makes me love what I do. It really isn’t about the picture it is about the moment and the people sharing that moment. Last week as I was preparing for Baby Fest something really exciting happened. I got a phone call and I freaked out. I got so excited the minute I heard the words : ” Elizabeth, this is Jose Villa.” In a word I felt like Rachel Zoe and I  was bananas! I mean major bananas. As a photographer he is one of my idols. I adore his work and just think he is amazing. His composition is to die for. It was just small talk and he needed my correct address because I had bought his book but it was such an important moment for me. For someone reason that is what it took for me to realize that someday I would be publishing my book of photographs and calling those that purchased my book. It made it attainable. It made my dream real. Being a photographer was a dream of mine as a little girl and now it actually seems in reach and I am so excited.

My March Special is ::: if you book in March ( appt. doesn’t have to take place in March) you get a free 16×20 print. That is a $150 value. What a deal. Book quickly because I am filling up fast for Spring!!

This was my first SLR camera circa 1993 or 1994ish.  It was old when I got it. My parents gave it to me for my 16th birthday and they found it at a pawn shop. I was taking a photography class at school and had been borrowing one of their camera’s but I desperately wanted my own.  It was a film camera so the deal was that I had to buy my own film and pay for it to be developed or develop it myself in the darkroom at school. I lugged that camera with me everywhere I went!! I dreamed of being a newspaper photographer and taking pictures all over the world but life had another plan for me. And through the years I put the camera down several times to explore other things. Now, I am living my dream of being a professional photographer and it makes me think of the saying…….. The best things in life come to those who wait.  I look at this camera often and think about how my love for all things photography started and how it has shaped who I am as a photographer!

This week I had the pleasure of taking some photo’s for another local photographer. We had so much fun and  I loved having someone to chat about photography with!!

So I think this time I will share some of my favorite things::

The first one is the cinnaman roll Lara Bar. Since I am gluten free I always have one of these in my purse. They are so yummy and really healthy too.

Anthropologie. I love me some Anthropoligie. I worked there for the last 6 months and just adored it. I love everything about this store. It is amazing. My computer wouldn’t let me take a screen shot but let’s just say I love this place.

Whole Foods. I spend so much money there each week and healthy eating has become a passion of mine.

Pinot Noir. enough said.

MY girls laughter. It makes me so happy when they laugh. Cracks me up.

Fabric. I love Fabric. I know it is weird but I am obsessed with it. Amy Butler and Heather Bailey. LOVE!!!

The ocean.

Vacations.

Frames from the Organic Bloom

I will try to do these posts a few time a week. I love sharing the things I love with all my blog friends!!

Embrace your uniqueness. Time is much to short to be living someone else’s life. – Kobi Yamada

I do this. In fact I have done this for years and I have to admit that a lot of times it makes me the outcast. I tell it like it is and I am not going to be someone that I am not. That is who I am. I know a lot of people that don’t agree with that. They would much rather conform to everyone else and not stick out. God made me who I am for a reason and I am going with it. There are a lot of times that people don’t agree with me and that is just fine. I think being a photographer, who I am comes out in my work and not everyone is going to like my work. That used to kill me. It used to make me scramble to figure out what I was doing wrong. I finally figured out that just because someone doesn’t like you, or your work, doesn’t mean you are doing anything wrong!! You are just being who you are and that may not appeal to them and that is OK!!!!  I am happy to say that once I learned to embrace these words I have been much happier. I can’t say it has been easier, because it hasn’t,  and I have to admit I have lost some friends because of this new thinking. Life is ever evolving and I think we forget that people are ever evolving too. I think my photography is ever evolving and I can’t wait to watch it through out the years. I am not one to ever think that I am ever done learning or improving my skill. In fact I am the opposite!! I can’t wait to learn more.

Matilda Jane has the cutest girls clothes. I love them because they mix and match and my girls that wear the same size have no problem sharing. The style is classic but with a modern flair. I love them and love the way my sweet girls look in them . They also photograph really well. I tried to upload pictures of my girls in the fall line but wordpress is not letting me for some reason!! You can check out the spring line at www.matildajane.com

The clothes are so adorable. Email me at ewinsby@me.com if you want to order anything but Sunday evening!!