The cost of wedding photography

The other day I was reading another photographers blog about under pricing your work to get the job.   A few weeks ago I actually gave the lowest quote EVER on formal wedding portraits and was turned down.  They were thinking of spending less than the quote I gave them.  Now I do believe that I am a pretty darn good photographer and I have pretty decent equipment and I think (my own opinion of course) that my customers are going to get the best possible customer satisfaction. 

Personally I would like to believe that I go above and beyond.   You know why I do it though; because I LOVE it!  I honestly can't stop myself.  Taking photos is my 3rd love with my hubby and son taking 1st and 2nd.  So what does all this love of photography have to do with money?

Let me explain why I gave the cheapest wedding quote.  Twelve years ago when my husband and I got married, we could not afford to pay for a photographer.  The cheapest quote we got was $1200.00.  Our family provided many photos for us, but nonetheless they were not "professional".   When I decided to be "professional" I wanted to be affordable but I need to make a living too.  I do have limits and let me say this--- I am NOT the cheapest, but I do offer a couple cheaper wedding photography package.

Why?  Let me answer that for you.  Everyone.  Everyone should be able to afford professional portraits. What makes me different from the photographer who's cheapest price is $1200.00?  Nothing, I just want to make sure that everyone can afford to have a professional photographer at their wedding.  Even if it's only for a couple hours.

I am guessing at this point your (hopefully) wondering well what are the prices?  I am still working on that and I actually went over the new wedding prices with some customers and they felt that they were fair prices. 


 
What are the prices?  You need to call or email and set up an appointment so we can get together.  I will bring my portfolio for you to view and go over the prices and what is included with those prices, but know this, there is a price for every budget.

Tutus and Leg Warmers.........

I mentioned the tutu's earlier, I finally had a chance to get a photo of the other tutu which is as equally as cute!

 

My little niece is going to do her 3 month photos in the rainbow colors!  It's going to be soooo cute!

Here are some other tutu photos from a couple of ADORABLE little girls, 

Some fall tutu photos would be absolutely adorable! 

I found it and that too!!

So by accident, we were going out to dinner and I was looking at this landing and I thought, that would make such a cool place for photos.  I didn't have my camera, but I took a few shots with my phone to share with everyone.

Now the cool thing about this location, it could be for a couple of shots or for a whole shoot.  It has that much potential! This would be a great senior location and you could do a one location shoot. 

This weekend was relvoling around me making it to Norton Shores for the craft show where Two Tutu Ladies were going to be selling their adorable tutus!  Well I promised to go rain or shine, and it was raining of course.  Not just a little rain either it was pouring rain!  We ducked into a tent that was selling food items and when it slowed down, off we went to find them or her I should say.  Nonetheless I found the tent containing the tutus!  I got two, one baby size and one toddler size and I already had one that's a little bit bigger than toddler size.  So now I need to schedule some tutu shoots!  I plan to add more to the collection, but for now I have to spread the word about tutus!!

This is the baby tutu, and I have matching leg warmers!  Can't wait to put a baby in it!!!
More soon!!

Results of Photograpers Choice

Last month I came up with a new offer for my wonderful clients called "Photographers Choice".  This deal consists of us meeting at an agreed on location, at which point we will hop in my car and drive around to these pretty cool locations I've found around Hillsdale.  This deal will result in AT LEAST 4 locations--I have many more than 4 in mind--With this package the proof book is also included as well as an on-line gallery.

So on July 24th I had my first victim!  It was so much fun!  I really can't wait to do it again!  Here are some of he photos from our adventure:

So why?  Because I keep finding all the awesome things that would make good spots for photos, but it's not a spot for a whole photo shoot.  It may be just a door or an old bridge.  The good news is it's all in Hillsdale and I will do the driving.  This is a great deal for Seniors who usually like to have more than one location, but anyone is welcome to do it!  

Truthfully I CAN NOT wait to do it again, it was so much fun!  And we got some pretty awesome photos as a result!  You are welcome to go on over to my facebook page and check out more of the photos from Brandon's shoot:  http://www.facebook.com/

August Coupon

Print this coupon for you discount photo shoot.  This includes a regular photo shoot: up to two hours, resulting in 15 to 25 photos. One location.   Proofing online.
Push the print button and get your photo shoot scheduled! 

Photographers Choice

You may have noticed that I have been talking about "Photographers Choice". This year my lawn co. started working for the city of Hillsdale and this has given me the opportunity to see some places and things I would have never seen or paid attention too before. Then I got thinking how cool would it be if that was used for a senior shoot. Then I thought how would I tell them about them about this place? The solution = photographers choice. Here is how it would work.

1. The cost will be $150.00 and there will be multiple locations (at least 4 but probably more).
2. We will meet at a designated location, then you will hop in my car and off we will go.
3. A proof book will be included in this package.

There are quite a few locations I have found that I think most people will find interesting:

These are just a couple of the places that I think are really cool.  This adventure could result in a lot of locations.  If there is a special place in Hillsdale you wanted to add I am open to suggestions!

How time flies.....

It seems as if yesterday I brought my son home from the hospital. He is 11 now going on 18.  A couple weeks ago I updated his photos, the older he gets the harder it is to do his photos. .  They want to be grown up so bad, but us grown ups would love to be young again.  Not a worry in the world!
This is my favorite one:


I really love this one too and I am very anxious to get it printed:

If you would like to see more photos from Jadens shoot go over to my zenfolio: http://amyhowesphotography.zenfolio.com/

The same time I did these photos I was also joined by my friend Sarah, who is learning how to work her brand new digital slr. I must say it is SO much fun to go out shooting with other photogs. These people understand the fascination and love. They understand why I go out and try to find things to photograph and get the knees of my jeans dirty to get down low. Why I stop in the middle of a sentence because something caught my eye and I must take a photo of it. Surly I don't mean to be rude and another person with a camera totally understands that! I hope to get together again soon, maybe plan it and invite other to join us!


What I think would be fun is to go to a few of the abandoned houses around and see the different view points! Plus I know how much one girl wanted to go to an abandoned house!  Let's pick a date photogs!!!


If you follow my facebook you probably know how obsessive I've been with this photo:

I LOVE this photo!! I just received my 16X20 and it is hanging on my wall for everyone to admire. I would hand out wallets of this photo if I could. If you like this sort of thing it can be purchased over at zenfolio. Here are a couple other shots that I got when we were in Chattanooga TN which is where we stopped before the Georgia wedding so we could take Jaden to Ruby Falls before he gets to old to care--which isn't too far away--



I won't lie, there are quite a few more photos from that trip that are waiting patiently on my hard drive for me to bring them to life! If you have never been to Ruby Falls or Rock City, it is a must visit! It is so much fun and even as an adult it's still a great time!

One last thing before I go. Down in Georgia where my husband grew up, he took us to Indian Falls:


He told us how during the summer in Georgia he would go down there and people would be spread out all over the rocks basking in the sun.  While we were there it was still a bit chilly and the water was cold, but that didn't stop Jaden, my little fish (well big now) 


 That's all for now!

It's been decided...

For quite some time now I have been dabbling at the thought of changing the name of my business.  To what I had no idea, but not Amy Howe's Photography.  I had heard that you have better success not naming your company your name.  At this point though it's kind of late because those of you who have used my services or follow my work recognize me as Amy Howe's Photography.  Finally, after quite some time, I have decided on my logo: 

It probably won't always be the color but this is what I like right now and if you know me well enough you know that I am most likely bound to change it, the color not the logo! I really like this. It came to me in my new business card:

When I ordered these I thought I want to try something new, I usually get glossy because I like shiny stuff, but I thought; this time I would try the pearl stock. Excuse my language, but these new cards are "bad ass"! If you haven't got one you need to catch up with me and schedule a photo shoot. You know what I am going to do to see how many people are paying attention:

Go ahead and print that bad boy and call me up for your 10.00 photo shoot(just click it--it's a link). It must be printed for me to accept it,  but I want to share with those of you that haven't been able to make it out to the locations I have been set up at.   So tell your friends and family what I have going on!
This is crazy and there must be a catch!  No-I am not a telemarketer, I am just trying to gain new customers and cut people a break during these hard times, believe me, I understand. 

On that note, I finally gave in and joined Zenfolio.  If you would like to visit click here .  What is that?  It's where I can upload photos, and you (the customer) can purchase them at your own will and on your own time and as you wish.  There are a couple packages on there, people want packages but no one ever says what they would like in them so if you would like a package tell me what your photo sizes are and I will put it together.

You may have heard that back in April I went down south to do the photos for my little (much taller than me) brother (in law)  What a beautiful wedding.  It was so nice down south.  If you would like to see those photos click HERE!!  Here are a couple of my favorite shots:


Didn't I make them look they should be on a cover!!! I know I shouldn't have favorites, but I do, and these were not the only two, there was a whole bunch that were my favorites! Go over to Zenfolio and take a look for yourself!
That's all for tonight.   

photovideo 0001

Un-stapled

As I heal, I thought I would share this experience with everyone and some photos I've been playing with.


Starting before surgery; people keep asking me how I found out I had this ovarian cyst. Suffering from bronchitis and being on antibiotics I thought my internal system had suffered and I was having some lower right abdominal pain. My husband said we should go to the ER and just see what they say, it could be nothing. Ha ha ha! They did a chest X-ray to be sure I didn't have pneumonia.  Lungs were clear!  I did forget a piercing which was pretty funny and now my cousin knows more about me that I am sure she didn't want to know.

That done, they had to determine if I was prego---negative----they decided a CT scan was in order to see how my appendix looked.  The results, my appendix wasn't visible because of the 9.8cm cyst on my ovary.  The lower right abdominal pain was caused by said cyst pushing on my appendix!

Scheduled an appointment with the obgyn, surgery was scheduled for the 16th of March.  This terrified me!  No one could understand why.   Being very independent, and preferring to do stuff on my own, the thought of having another "c-section" did NOT appeal to me.

Diving head first, I decided to finish up my Real Estate Pre-licensing course and get my state exam done!  This would definitely keep my mind off the surgery!   Then we took the snowmobile vacation and I got everything done around the house.

The morning arrived. I showered and followed all the pre surgery requirement, including NO food, NO drinks, NO anything!  Starve and be thirsty!  I get it, I could puke, but come ON!  Getting ready for surgery was very nerve wrenching, I was trying really hard to keep it together and keep a positive attitude.  The funny thing is, I never thought anything would go wrong during surgery, I full heartedly trusted my Doctor, nor did I ever even think that this could turn out to be cancer.  I felt that if it were something so bad, it would have been pointed out by the blood test taken in the beginning.  It was simply the thought of having surgery, and not being able to move around on my own.

I really did love the man who administered the anesthesia, he was so nice and so good about telling me what was going on.  I think he was the reason I ended up getting comfortable.  They shooed my husband out and that's the last thing I really remember after the spinal being administered.

Recovery!  That's when my memory returned!  Although the nurse kept telling me I wouldn't remember and her name was BRENDA!!!  LOL!  I had to wait an hour before they would let me see Chuck, but I held out and stared off into space, and twirled my fingers, was totally amazed that I could NOT feel ANYTHING below my belly button!  This was all new!


A room at last!  You know, one of the nurses that was with me when my son was born was my nurse the first day!  This is where the story takes a turn, the feeling started to return to my legs, slowly and tingly BUT I could not get out of that bed for 12 hours!  It was not a good time for me.  Oh and something made me itch like crazy!  They had to give me allergy medicine.  Now I was really irratable, because I wanted to get out of that bed!  Not going to happen until 2 a.m. they said!  So from that point on I just went to sleep, it was the only way I was going to get through this "laying around time".

I did get up around 4 a.m. b/c the nurse had to come and take my vitals.  At this time I could have a drink.  Things were looking up, and other things were HURTING like crazy!   After a bit of walking around and a few drinks, I slept until 8 and my wonderful Husband arrived just in time to hear the Doctor tell me I could go home if I wanted to!  Um, let me get dressed!  I had planned to stay until Friday, but hey I would much rather be in my own home, even if I couldn't do anything with out help!  Luckly for Chuck and myself, I slept most of that day away, in my own bed.

It's funny what you learn about yourself and your significant other in these situations.  I always knew my husband would always be there for me, I never doubted it, but I didn't realize how much closer we would get.  He was truly worried for my well being.  He wouldn't let me do anything!  NOTHING!  I am more than grateful for him and I have told him daily how much I appreciate him and how he has taken care of me.  Though I am sure he will be glad when I start doing the laundry again, but  I think he secretly likes taking care of me.  Yesterday when I was able to drive, he seemed a little sad about it and reminded me of the "major surgery" I had!

Today it's been a week and though I am still quite sore, I am healing.  Hopefully this will be the beginning of a new and improved body!  I've got my fingers crossed :)

A promise is a promise

Well, now that I am home and staple free as of today, slowly starting to feel better and hurt less--I thought I would go ahead and tell you of the last snowmobile trip of the season.  In my previous blog I did share a couple photos, from the ice shelf on Lake Superior. 

This has to be the most amazing thing. I know it's not super significant, but since I have never seen anything like this, nor had my husband or my son, it made the trip worth it.

Let's start here, snowmobiling is NOT my favorite thing to do. I actually find it very boring, let me tell you why. First, you ride by yourself and talk to yourself, please don't misunderstand; you have a group of people, but you are on your own snowmobile using hand signals unless you stop. Second, it's very easy to get cold. Third the trails can be really rough. Fourth, the towns you stop at, usually miles apart, consist of a bar/restaurant and a gas station, usually not very nice.  Fifth, well I could go on all day as to why I don't like it...but I think everyone gets the point.
Do you want to know why this trip was the best trip ever?
We went all the way up to Newberry in the U.P. The last trip to Newberry, well it wasn't great. This time we arrived right after a snow storm which made for wonderful trails.

It was also really cool when you were riding down the trail and there was snow as high as you! When we were stopped, I stepped off the trail to take this photo

and the snow was up past my knees!
The whole time I was riding, I kept thinking I can not wait to blog a bout this trip! The trails were smooth, the snow was piled up and the tree stumps looked like mushroom because of the giant piles of snow on top of them. It was beautiful!  As many times as I have been snowmobiling, this trip will always be remembered, with the smooth like butta trails and the ice shelfs!  Oh it was the first time I got to go snowmobiling with my son too! 


More photos:






This blog should have been done sooner, like right after I got off the snowmobile, so you would have been able to feel my excitement, but like I said, I will never forget this trip.
Until next time friends!

Forgiveness

Ok, Ok, I know that I have said that I am going to try to keep up with this, I actually have a legitimate excuse which I have wanted to share with everyone but I didn't know how to do it......well 1. I have an ovarian cyst, and I need have to it all removed via c section scar--which will result in some time in the hospital--but the good news is I will be down, and I will have time to get caught back up, so bear with me.

2.  I was taking the 40 hour class and I was just about finished when I found about about need to have this surgery, so I had two weeks, and I thought I am going to get this finished.  Passed the class and the final exam and got the state exam scheduled!  I am officially a licensed real estate agent, working with CENTURY 21 Drews Realty.   There are a few more things I have to get finished up but hopefully by April I will be going good!

That said, I wanted to say, we went on a snowmobile trip which was ended up being the last one of the year---and let me tell you, it was the BEST!  Right now I am only going to share a few photos, and I will share the rest later, but I can't wait any longer to show these because it was the most amazing thing---Lake Superior ice shelfs:

My husband is the only one who managed to drive out there--it was so slippery, but while we were looking over the edge, I felt as if a penguin should hop up there! It was the most amazing thing!

Promise to share more about this trip as soon as I can!