{Signature Packages}
£80
1 Hour shoot at your home
A complimentary disc containing 3 fully edited images of your choice
One 8x10 Signature print of your choice
(Recommended for maternity and new born shoots)
£160
1-2 Hour shoot at your home
A complimentary disc containing 5 fully edited images of your choice
One framed 8x10 signature print of your choice
A £50 voucher to spend on any of my signature prints & products
(Recommended for portrait, & family shoots)
£260
2-3 Hour shoot in studio
A complimentary disc containing 10 fully edited images of your choice
A private online gallery to share with your family and friends
A £100 voucher to spend on any of my signature prints & products
(Recommended for boudoir, fashion & portfolio shoots)
Deposit
A deposit of £20 is required to secure your booking.
Travel
We are based in Birmingham B68, travel expenses are included for journeys within 10 miles of B68. Anywhere outside of 10 miles will be charged at 25p per mile.
Session Basics
Custom lifestlye and portraiture is the best way I know to capture those special moments so everything that makes your family unique can be preserved for you to cherish forever! All of my sessions are different, special, and most of all, FUN! So if you're looking to have some photographs taken of your new little bundle of joy, a beautiful family portrait or maybe some modeling shots then I might just be the photographer you're looking for!
To start, take a good look around my website and blog to get a sense of my style. If you think you may want to book a session drop me a message via the contact page and I will get back to you asap with my soonest available date.
Where do sessions take place?
For newborn babies and babies under 12 months these sessions can take place in the comfort of your own home, I have a selection of gorgeous blankets, rugs and props that I will bring along for your session. For older children sessions can take place at either your home or I adore shooting on location such as a local park. During your booking enquiry we can discuss the many options and decide on the location to suit the style of your session and your child.
What is the best age for photos?
Children of any age can be photographed - they are all beautiful and special at any time during their childhood - from newborn to the teenage years. Below are a couple of ages that I strongly recommend getting photos taken . The best age for newborn photography is between 7-12 days old. At this age babies are very sleepy and are easier to move and curl into positions without being disturbed. It is highly recommended that you make a tentative booking while you are pregnant around the time you are due and this can be changed to suit if you baby arrives earlier or later. If your baby is already older than the recommended age please still contact me - as a photographer I want to provide my clients with memories of their child regardless of their age.
My favourite age to photograph would have to be the 5-9 month mark or generally when they can either sit up or have strength to be placed on their tummies but can't crawl away yet. Babies of this age are just gorgeous - full of smiles and personality. I adore how you can easily interact with babies of this age.
Children are great to photograph at any age and it really depends on your child's personality. Whether they are happy and outgoing or shy and reserved - thats fine - what matters most is that I am able to capture who they are.
Natural Light Only
Please note that I am a natural light photographer only and do not use any form of flash. I have found this type of photography to be less obtrusive and it results in beautful modern portraits.
How do we order?
After your session each image is individually crafted and edited and in approximately 2 weeks between 25-30 proofs will be available to view. Clients have the option of either viewing their proofs via a password protected online gallery or by email.
Digital files
When you have chosen the files for your digital collection, I will go ahead and burn the high resolution files onto a disc for you to keep. Extra images can be added to your collection for just £5 per image. The disc will include written permission to print the photographs as many times as you like; the copyright for the images will always remain with me. I never delete any of my images so it is possible to purchase extra or all of your images later on if you decide to do so.
Your disc will also contain a collection of small watermarked images for websites, I ask that when loading photos to facebook, twitter or blogs that you use these small watermarked files.
Prints
Prints are included in a couple of my packages but can also be purchased separately . I offer framed and non framed prints starting from just £10. They are printed on the finest digital paper with the option of gloss or matt finish.
Framed prints come with a choice of frame and mount to compliment your interior decor, from natural wood to modern matt black and in a range of different sizes.
Travel
I am willing to travel throughout the uk. I charge 25p per mile for anywhere that is outside of a 10 mile radius from B68.
When should I book?
I suggest that you book at least 2-3 weeks in advance to your proposed session and longer if the session is for a newborn baby.
And finally...
Thank you so much for your interest in my work. I believe custom photography to be an invaluable investment for you and your family. I wish to provide you with images and memories that you, your children, and your childrens' children will always cherish.
Why Does Custom Photography Cost More?
Digital technology is brilliant! The digital revolution has brought amazing flexibility and control for the photographer, the hobbyist, the professional and the amateur. With flexibility comes a price, however. Camera equipment is still considerably more expensive when you factor in its lifespan, the need for additional resources for processing those images, the time it takes to get a usable image and the effort that goes into all of this.
Even though you pay £1.99 for a print at your local supermarket and paying for film is pretty much a thing of the past. You may be wondering why you may pay upwards of £20, 30, 40 for a custom photography print. Some photographers hear this statement every once in awhile:
"How in the world can you charge £40 for an 8x10 if it costs me less than £2 to print at the local supermarket?!"
The answer is multifaceted and has a lot to do with the time, aforementioned equipment costs, artistic vision and reputation of the photographer, expertise and the usual costs of running a legitimate business.
TIME of the CUSTOM PHOTOGRAPHER:
Approaching it from a time standpoint, for instance lets imagine if you will that you have hired a photographer who has work that you love and that is travelling half an hour to your on location session. Time break down:
- session prep time (30 mins to 1 hour, includes equipment and back up equipment checks)
- half hour travel time TO session
- 15-30 minutes prep time at clients home
- 1 - 2 hours with client photographing subject
- half hour travel time FROM session
30-45 minutes uploading time from digital cards from camera to computer
- 30-45 minutes time spent backing up the original images
- 3-6 hours editing time to present you with a diverse gallery of edited images
- 1 hour prep time getting ready for ordering
- 30 minutes-1 hour presenting images
any additional phone time or time needed for add on ordering, shipment issues, quality issues
As you can see, average client time for a session ranges from just under 10 hours dependent on the photographers level of service. This is time dedicated only to your session. When the photographer charges £100-£200 for the photo shoot you are not just paying for the two hours of session time, you are paying the photographer for 10 hours complete time for your session.
Article courtesy of Marianne Drenthe
