When someone contacts me about a photo session one of the first questions I ask is what they intend to do with their photos. A lot of times clients ask for, “the files.” I think in this digital age people have been conditioned to ask for files. But is that really what people want? Are they wanting the files for safe keeping? Or do they plan to make prints from the files? If the later is true, then what they really want is a great photo framed on their living room wall… not digital files on a USB in their desk drawer.

So my question is, if someone is going to spend time and money hiring a professional photographer for their photos, wouldn’t they want to follow through with professional services to the end result? Why invest in new clothes, hair and makeup, manicures, the session fees, any photo permits that are required, your time, etc. and then skimp on the very last step of the process? The most common answer is to save a few bucks. But people don’t realize how much they are sacrificing when they skimp on that last step of the process.  Let’s take a look at the steps of hiring a professional photographer.

1. Search the Internet for local Photographers
2. Compare Photographer’s Portfolios and Offerings
3. Contact your Favorites for Availability and Personality/Style Check
4. Set up a Consult with Your Favorite
5. Pay Deposit and Book the Session
6. Shop for new Clothes, Accessories, Shoes, etc.
7. Schedule Hair & Makeup and Nail Appointments
8. Pay the Balance of the Session
9. Select Your Location and Prep for Your Photo Session
10. Photo Session Time!!!!
11. Photographer Contacts You; Your Photos are Ready!
12. Schedule a Viewing and Ordering Session.
13. Go to the Viewing and Ordering Appointment
14. Place Your Order! …Now the Question is What do You Order? Prints or Files?

So do you order digital files? If so you’ll need to add a few more steps to the list above because you will be ordering/designing the products yourself. And the sad truth is that you’re going to need to repeat those steps in a handful of years when the color in the prints starts to fade. If your end goal is to have prints hanging in your home, or an album, etc. is it best to let your professional photographer handle this process for you.

Professional photographers such as myself have access to the best labs in the country. I also have a calibrated monitor and can proof the images with the lab’s printer’s profiles to ensure correct coloring in print. When you take your files to Costco, CVS, or Target no one knows how they will turn out because every printer has a different color profile. Getting the color right in print without proper calibration is like throwing a dart at a dartboard blindfolded.

This blog post by Amanda Jackson demonstrates a great side-by-side comparison of how vastly different prints can be from consumer printers. Click here to see this post! Also, the quality that you will get from a professional lab is uncomparable. The paper that the photos are printed on is higher quality, the ink that is used is better at preserving the color, and often times a UV-protective coating will also be applied for extra protection! So clearly you get what you pay for in the quality department. But what about the service department?

If you’ve hired a professional, why not let them assist you through every step of the process? It would be like hiring an amazing stylist to do your hair and you let them do everything for you except color your hair. Since you want to save a few bucks you decide to buy a bottle of color at Target and do that last step yourself. Well, we all know how those DIY hair jobs turn out. We’re often disappointed at the way it comes out. Or if we like it, it washes out really fast. Not to mention the hassle and mess of doing this job on your own! I think you get the point. ;)

If you want to hire a professional photographer, allow them to assist you through the very end of the process! At the Design & Ordering consultations I show my clients their photos for the first time. We then go through them together selecting their favorite images. I show them my sample products so that they can see and feel the quality of the products they will be getting. I assist them in putting an order together. After the Design and Ordering consult is over, all my clients have to do is sit back and relax. They don’t have to do any more work and their high-quality, professional products will arrive at their doorstep in a carefully wrapped package and a handwritten note. <3

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Looking for a photographer? Fill out a contact form here, or send Kristen a note at kristen@kristenlynne.com. I’d love to hear from you!