Monthly Archives: February 2009

How was yesterday’s entry? Did you follow my thoughts? I’d love to hear what you all think!

Today as I said I am going to chat about “If I had a good camera, I could take those shots too.”

Some people don’t understand why photographers need to charge what they do, I mean they just have a “nice” camera afterall. Hmmm not so sure about that.

Photography really is an art form, it is seeing the photograph before you even take the shot. It is knowing what to do with that fancy camera, how to position (or not!) your subjects to convey the message you have in mind. Then on top of all that comes the hard part. Dealing with the natural elements. How is the weather, how is the light (this is what makes or breaks a lot of images), what is my location and background like?  You also have to consider what shutter speed you may like to get the chosen images, what aperture and what settings you need your camera to be on to make that all come together and be possible. This isn’t something that even the most fancy cameras are able to do for you. This is something that photographers have had to learn about for quite some time to perfect.

Photography takes up a lot of time and most of that time is about learning, perfecting your style and challenging yourself to attempt new situations. Photography is about having a style that is you – yet still being flexible to offer what your client is after. It is about knowing how to use the gear that you have to get what you want.

The very well made, and very smart cameras on the market today definitely can aid to make a great photograph. But it isn’t the camera who makes the image fantastic – it is the photographer who has controlled the situation that makes it this way! And friends, don’t even get me started about learning the software to enhance images, or to make albums etc…. I have had a long day today – all day today was spent researching album suppliers and using a new viewing program.

That is it for this topic, and tomorrow I shall be back

Firstly my huge apologies for not getting to this yesterday, I have excuses (good ones too!) but won’t bore you!

Today I am going to chat openly about the following:

“Why wall art, what is it?”

Here at Susan Wall photography I have made a very recent decision, I am not going to be offering “loose” prints except for the 5×7′s. All other images are to be wall art. By this I mean they are going to be mounted, and ready to be hung on your wall. When you think about it, it  is a lot of effort for a family/couple to go through for their shoot. It usually starts with the most important decision of WHO will do your photography. Then, what do I wear? What color looks good on me, and goes with the rest of the group? My hair, make up (mostly only the girls do this!). Then there is the discussion with your chosen photographer about location, time of day and what you are looking for in your photo shoot. Drained yet? the hardest part my clients alway tell me is choosing the images to order!!

So that is where the wall art comes into play. All this effort, and you don’t want to put those beautiful images into an album or scrapbook them! You want to show off how amazingly beautiful your family is, to be captured as you are on a special afternoon just being you. Your own family is now a piece of art, and a very personal one at that!

My mounts usually start at an 8×12, and I am offering up to a very impressive 30×40 mount for that WOW image you have to have as part of your furniture. Sometimes people get concerned with the sizes of the mounts, but I am here to help with some suggestions on which images would suit which sizes better. I also love to see how excited clients get to see a new beautifully mounted image when their order arrives. And to go home and hang it straight on your wall is such a buzz!

So that is the reason behind my decision to offer mounted prints, and I am sure once you pop over and see my samples you also will fall in love with this great product. Stay tuned for tomorrow when we tackle “If I had a good camera I could take those photographs too.”

Little I was only hours old when I got to meet him for the first time in hospital. Then over yesterday and today I got to spend more time with him once again (yesterday he thought sleep was a joke!, and yeah he kept that feeling again today!). It was so nice to sit and watch him while chatting to his most caring and loving Mum and Dad!! It is like making a new friend every time I have a shoot!

My I honestly would be the most alert and strongest newborn baby I have ever met in my life. His Mummy J is full of life and very bubbly and I am wondering if he might be the same beautiful personality You all are such a caring and lovely family, and I have enjoyed every minute with you all. Can’t wait to see you soon!

Today was a sad, reflective today. The day of national mourning to remember the (last I read) 209 people who were tragically killed in the Victorian bush fires 2 weeks ago.

7 February, 2009. My G turned 6, it was a lovely day here and we had no idea of what was going on. I photographed the most beautiful wedding, their lives starting a new beginning. Happy times. It breaks my heart at times to know that while one person experiences sheer joy another experiences sheer heartache.

Today I sat in the lounge room playing “babies” with my girls. It was fun, it was great to have a break from my work. As we played away happily a few tears rolled down my face. “I am Australian” was being sung, and I felt so, so saddened to watch the service. I hope that somehow these people can move forward, but as a beautiful friend once said to me after a tragedy “you don’t move on, you just learn to live a new life”. It is true isn’t it? When you loose someone you love, or you are faced with hard times you don’t ever forget them, you just have to keep breathing. Sometimes each breath physically hurts to take!

My offer of all booking fees being donated is still running, so please consider this for the months of Feb and March! Thanks to those who have donated already, it is a lovely gift to give. In light of the mourning I won’t share any of my “education week” topics today. Be ready for tomorrow.

Finally, I am going to share this image of myself. I don’t know who to pray too, I am not 100% set on religion. I just hope that when I ask in my head “please help those in pain” that someone out there hears me and please, please makes a difference!

I have declared this to be “education week” my friends. Through out this coming week I would like to share some of the reasons why I do what I do. I will cover the following and more:

“But a 5×7 only cost $1 why do you charge $xx?”
“If I had a good camera I could take those photographs too”
“Why wall art, what is it?”
“Why should I pay more for a photographer, I can get it much cheaper down the road”
“You only have to own a camera and you are a successful photographer”

Why am I doing this I hear you all ask? I am doing this as I come across these questions from time to time and I have been wanting to educate you and potential clients about what is involved. Almost like an insight into the business of being a photographer. I don’t want to say *ever* that I have all the answers, I definitely have had to learn through some bad decisions!

I will kick this off tomorrow for you all, and hope that you come in daily to give me your feedback and opinions (and yep, each day I’ll share a new image!).
Happy weekend