# 3 Thing Your Photographer MUST DO:
AT NO EXTRA CHARGE, Your Photographer Should Create Your
Images ON LOCATION Instead Of In A Studio.
This is such an important point - for so many reasons! First of all, as I mentioned earlier, one of the biggest challenges for a photographer is making your child feel totally comfortable, thereby getting totally natural and fun expressions on film.
Well, in addition to meeting the photographer ahead of time, one of the best things for your child
is to create the photographs in a location that is familiar or fun for the child.
Where’s the place most children are the most comfortable? IN OR AROUND THEIR HOME. Imagine being a child, and instead of going to some “scary” studio somewhere, the photographer comes to your home, and creates fantastic photographs right there in the home or in your own backyard! How great would that be? Think of how comfortable and “at home” you would feel as a child.
Or, suppose going out to a park somewhere, or to the beach, or playing in a pile of leaves and having the photographer take your photographs there. Not only will your son or daughter have nothing personal or exciting about a photograph taken in a studio, but the setting will look just like the settings of hundreds of other child photographs.
Yes, I can create images in my studio if you would like. But AT NO EXTRA CHARGE, I will come to your home, or take you and your child to a favorite location around town that has some special or emotional meaning to you. You see, not only do I not mind doing location photography, which takes more work on my part I actually ENCOURAGE it. After 34 years of photographing children, I know that location photographs tend to be the photographs that parents like the most.
If I don’t end up being your photographer, make ABSOLUTELY SURE your photographer will create images
on location as well as in the studio, and AT NO CHARGE.
URGENT!!!
MAJOR Myth, Mistake, Or Misconception
About Your Child’s Photography:
“There’s No Rush To Have A Portrait Of Your Child Created Right Now.”
Before we continue with the 5 THINGS YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER MUST DO, let’s talk about this for a moment.
So many people think they have all the time in the world to have a portrait of their child created.
But, you know how things are. If you don’t pick up the phone right now, and at least call me to chat about your child’s portrait, you will probably get swamped with other things, and forget all about it. Then, before you know it, a year - two years - five years have gone by. How different will your son or daughter be by then?
You see, time is ticking.... and it’s never going to stop.
First, Your Child Takes His or Her First Step. Next, Learns To Ride A
Bike. Later, Gets A Driver’s License. Graduates From High School.
Gets Married. Starts A Family Of His or Her Own.
These are precious times, and although things will change, this moment never has to slip from your fingers.
Don’t put this off. You know how life is. We put things off, and before we know it, everything has changed.
If your life is half as crazy as mine is, year after year you find yourself frustrated at the things you wanted
to do, and never got done. A portrait of your child - as he or she is right now - is something you deserve.
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO RIGHT THIS SECOND? (and why?)
Pick up the phone, and call my studio.
Even if it’s after business hours, still call right now. I’ve got an answering machine that is just waiting to cheerfully take your message, and I’ll personally call you back so we can chat. Just let me know when is a good time to call you back. Don’t worry, I’m not going to try to “pressure” you at all into working with me. Plus, there’s no cost at all for us just to chat.
When you call, we’ll chat briefly about the things you need to know. I’ll tell you a bit about me. I’ll answer
all your questions about how to prepare for your child’s portrait - including things I don’t have time to put
in this letter. It won’t be a long call, but it will be one of the most important calls you make.
# 4 Thing Your Photographer MUST DO:
The Photographer MUST Allow At Least ONE HOUR
To Photograph Your Child!!
This is a biggie. Most photographers are trying to crank so many sessions through in a day, they only have a short
amount of time to photograph each subject. Did you know that the average child photographer spends
ONLY 12.5 MINUTES photographing a child?! That’s insane!
Fine children’s photography is like a great meal in a fine restaurant: It CAN’T be rushed. The photographer is like your personal chef, preparing the meal for you. The photographer is going to have to “add all the right spices” into the photograph to make it just right. This takes a bit of patience, and a lot of focus. If your photographer knows that in about 15 minutes the next client is going to show up, you’re not going to get the attention you deserve.
Now, it may not take the whole hour to photograph your child. However, I ALWAYS set aside at least one hour for every child session I book. I’ve done some sessions that only took about 20 minutes or so to get a number of stunning images, but the point is - it’s vital to leave that much time open. Don’t let your photographer rush through this. Remember, these are your memories, and it’s up to you to make sure your photographer realizes his or her responsibility to you and your child.
If I don’t end up being your photographer, make ABSOLUTELY SURE your photographer spends AT LEAST
ONE HOUR creating the perfect images for you - this cannot be rushed!
# 5 Thing Your Photographer MUST DO:
Make Your Child Feel Totally Comfortable By Using A Favorite
Stuffed Animal, Pet, or Toy.
I love this part. You see, this is a two-fold benefit here. It’s going to make your child so much more comfortable, and at the same time, it’s going to add yet another level of personalization to the final photographs. As you know, children love familiarity. Nothing can calm them down like that “security blanket” they love to haul around the house, or that special beat-up raggedy old stuffed animal that Grandma gave them on their first birthday, or that cherished family pet that is like their best friend. Imagine the wonderful photographs that will come from allowing your child to play with something that is so special to him or her. Some of the most emotional and memorable portraits I’ve ever created involved a child playing with a toy or a pet or even a family music box.
We’ve all seen children almost seem to “slip into another world” when they play with certain things. Those are the moments I live for, and those are the moments I’m going to capture for you on film. If I don’t end up being your photographer, make ABSOLUTELY SURE your photographer incorporates your child’s favorite toy into the photographs!
Why Your Child’s Portrait Will Become More Valuable To
You Than Anything Else In Your Home:
Do you have a photograph of your child that, if you were running from your burning home, would be the one thing you save (other than your family members, of course) on the way out? I only ask that because I actually had a client whose house was burning, and on her way out she actually grabbed her photo albums containing the photographs of her wedding that I’d created for her! Can you believe that? That’s how important those photographs were to her.
Do you have a photograph of your child that means that much to you? Now, I’m not talking about a “snapshot” that was taken during a family outing on the Fourth Of July. I’m talking about a wonderful photograph, created by an artistic
photographer, that not only captures your child’s true expressions and personality, but also does so
in a way that you’d be proud to display in your home for the rest of your life.
It’s Not Too Late. This Moment, Right Now, Can Be Held Onto For The
Rest Of Your Life - For You To Share With Family And Friends.
You don’t have to make a big decision right now. You don’t have to choose your photographer - you don’t even have to decide that now is the time for your child’s portrait. Just take one small step towards holding onto your child’s happiest moments RIGHT NOW.
You can call any time. If I don’t answer, just leave your name and number at the beep, and I’ll call you back. If you’re thinking of this photograph as a GIFT FOR SOMEONE, let me know, so when I call back, I only ask for you, and don’t spoil the surprise!
The Perfect Portrait Of Your Child Is Only One Phone Call Away....
Make the call now. It will be a call you will be glad you made for the rest of your life. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Stephen Driver
Photographer