Professional Pictures

[alootikki]

I'm looking to get professional pictures of DD at 6 months (not from a chain studio). One photographer I liked chargees $200 for a sitting fee, plus $900 for a package that includes all the digital images plus $200 credit towards prints.

First, does this seem reasonable? It seems crazy high to me (I was planning on spending $500, all in), but sounds like this may be on the lower side for photographers.

Second, did you regret NOT doing this kind of photography for your DC? We didn't do maternity or newborn pictures, and I kind of wish we had done the newborn ones.

Thanks!

[jennylou]

It does seem crazy high to me. Perhaps it is your area, or the fact that it's an in demand photographer?

As for regretting not doing pro pics, nope. :D I have my sister take pictures whenever I see her and I love them. She's got a great eye and really knows how to work my DD. They turn out better than most of the photos I see of my family (they like Sears, Penney's, etc). Here's a recent example:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3220/3139440006_59ce3aa0af.jpg?v=0

So, if you don't want to pay crazy high fees, find someone who you know that has an eye for photography. Or, look at local colleges - someone just starting out that needs to build up a portfolio. :)

[Belm]

Have you tried craigslist? On my local craigslist, there are always some photographers that are trying to get started.

[mcgwigan]

I didn't do newborn photos & wish I had! I was recovering from a C-section & it was a pretty hard recovery, so I didn't even think about going anywhere & it never occured to me at the time to have someone come to our house for it. If I have another, I will have the newborn ones done!

I second looking on Craig's list for photographer. I've seen a few on there that charge $75 for coming to your house & then just give you a CD of all the images.

[boilermaker]

I did pro photos with DD at 3 months and at 6 months. We did chain photos for 9, 12 and Christmas this year.

If you can afford pro pics, they are worth every penny. I spent about $800 on DD's 3m pics. I did not get digital rights to anything..I would have had to spend closer to $1500 to get those. And of all DD's pics, these are the ones that I still get oohs and aahs over. I LOVED them!!

For her 6m pics, a friend who was a pro photographer did them for free in exchange for letting me put them on her website, have a local reference and to pass the word on to my friends. She was new to the area (though already established as a photographer). She gave me a DVD with all the digital files on it. I always meant to print them and never did :eek: But the pics came out great. I plan to use her again this coming year to do family pics again. She does not typically sell the digital files. Her prices are $150 sitting fee, then typical print fees. She does come to the house.

You can certainly find one on Craigslist, but I think you take a chance. I'd prefer to hire one who at least has a website & blog to see what they can do. But if money is your main concern, that is a good choice.

For chains, they've been ok. We did Pennys (horrible!!!!) and Photo Innovations. They are cheap and you get what you pay for. But for quick in and out pics to put on a Christmas card, they work.

[alootikki]

jennylou, that picture is gorgeous! I wish I had a sister who could take pics like that! ;)

I did look on craigslist, but couldn't find a student-photographer type - just cheesy low-budget ones! I think I'm leaning towards the "pricey" professional photographer - seems like her rates are in range for this area (NYC). We can afford it, and I don't want to regret not doing it later...

Thanks all!

[jennylou]

lol, I just wish my sister and I didn't live on opposite ends of the country!

Since you're in NYC those are probably typical. I can't believe the prices on some, considering I paid about average for my wedding photographer and he was with us ALL day and we got all the digital images and the negatives and it was just about two hundred more than what Boilermaker would have paid if she had gotten the digital images from her pro shoot with her daughter! Especially since we live about an hour from each other!