Top 5 Reasons People Won't Book Me...
There are so many reasons why you will not book a family photographer to capture the growth, beauty and individuality for your family. Whether it be to document your pregnancy, birth, newborn or family, these are the { T O P - 5 } reasons why you may not want to book a photographer, like me, and HOW you can overcome those!!
Reason #5
A V A I L A B I L I T Y
"I work during the week, my husband works most weekends and my kids have school and hobbies during the day"
"The photographer I love only works during the week / only works during the weekend"
Does this sound familiar? This is definitely a common reason for families NOT to hire a photographer for a newborn or family photoshoot. And definitely a reasonable one too.
The great thing about most photographers, including myself, is that we can book in advance. For example, your little boy is entering into P1 and you want to document his growth since last year's photoshoot; how his little smiles aren't so little anymore; how he is becoming more independent in doing things by himself; how he is telling you a lot more stories about the things that he sees, the things that he dreams about, the people he says hello too...
All the moments that you want to remember!
Check your schedule for the year, your rota for the next month or two and get something pencilled in. My calendar is open for 2019, so if you have a special event or occasion that you want captured, let's chat.
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REASON #4
A P P E A R A N C E
"I have gained over 2 stone since my wedding, and my double chin will be so visible in the photos"
"I don't like how I look in general, and I feel so awkward in front of the camera so the photos would be horrible"
I shared a post recently on social media about capturing your family no matter what you look like, because your kids will treasure those photographs in years to come (especially when you are gone - hard truth, but I speak from experience!) I lost one set of grandparents at a young age, and I love looking back on the photographs of us when we were babies and toddlers; remembering my Granda's charcoal cardigan and how we used to play with the buttons; how the best photos are of us and my grandparents, when we are in our pjs, messy hair and the biggest smiles...
Those are the photographs that I will always treasure.
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REASON #3
P H O N E C A M E R A S
"I have a great camera on my phone, that's how I take photos of my family and they love it"
"I spent £££ on my phone because the camera was fantastic, I don't need a photographer"
I love how you made sure that a main feature on your phone would be to have a fantastic camera - I am totally with you on that one! That was a main feature that I definitely wanted when I upgraded my phone last year!
BUT
Phone camera images can't be 'blown' up if you wanted to get a print or canvas any bigger than A5 (or 7x5) - any bigger and it starts to lose the detail and focus. Those perfect smiles begin to soften the bigger the image gets, those baby eyelashes on your newborn's first pic are nearly impossible to see.
PLUS
Where are you in the photos? Or where is dad? There might always be someone missing from the photos. So is it really a complete family photo? There are only so many selfies that you can take before you realise that, "Wait a minute, why do I have so many photos of dad and baby, and mum and baby, and not enough of all three of us?"
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REASON #2
K I D S W I L L B E K I D S
"My kids will do everything but smile in front of the camera - they will just embarrass me"
"It would be a waste of money, as my child will never co-operate"
S-T-O-P!
Kids are supposed to do everything apart from what you ask them to do. Not all parents enjoy bribery, others will bring sweets, crisps, even fruit or raisins (a lot of little ones LOVE raisins, who would have known!) Heck, I still need to be bribed sometimes and I'm 25 - ha!
Capture your child or children's personality NOW, and how they react to nature, to outdoor adventures, to the imagination, to a day out with mum and dad, a family reunion with aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents... The list could go on.
Believe it or not, I have had so many parents say that their children are terrible to work with, but they ALL have been a breath of fresh air, they keep me on my toes and we all have so much fun! Recently, I had a parent say this: "absolutely love the mini film, you have captured so many moments perfectly...{despite] N being a rascal! We really are so pleased with it!"
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Reason #1
T H E C O S T
"I can't afford to pay for a photoshoot, especially if I can do it myself"
"I can find a cheaper photographer, someone starting out, that will do it for half the price, or even better, for FREE"
I hear ya!
Why pay for someone to take photos when you have your own camera phone or a 'newbie' to do it for you? I am all for constantly snapping away on my phone, when I don't have my 'big camera' with me. AND I was also a 'newbie' once, so I am in no way dissing them. BUT like the saying goes, "You get what you paid for". Below, is a photoshoot I did, for free, when I first started out. I thought I was the 'bees knees' and I still love this image... BUT check the next image... I have grown through studying, taking on additional courses to learn more about lighting, shooing in manual composition, and upgrading my equipment and software to ensure I give my clients the best experience and quality of work that I can.
BUT you also need to see if professional photographs are a priority for you! They are most certainly a necessity for weddings - a day that can't be re-enacted with your new partner-in-crime - so, why should the Birth of your child be prioritised as something other than "a day that can't be re-enacted".
What I would recommend is, that if you can't afford to hire a professional photographer, please, please, please BE in the photographs for your kids and their kids...for future generations to enjoy, treasure and smile at!
R x