Choosing a Photographer Wisely

When choosing your photographer consider these things:

1. Do you want great photos, or barely passable?
Your photos will be your memories of major family events and milestones. Sure, you could probably have Uncle John, or your friend, who has a "really nice camera", take your photos and end up with something. Or you might end up frustrated and sad, like a lady I know. She ended up with NO decent wedding photos. That's right, they were ALL out of focus or too dark. EEK! I can't even imagine the disappointment.

2. Money well spent?
Count the cost carefully, but not so carefully that you get a bad deal in the long run. See #1 above.

3. Really look at the photographer's work with a discerning eye.
Are the photos really their work? Can they show you something besides what they have on the internet? Is it quality work? Are there any weird crops, or funny shadows on people's faces? Any strange color casts, such as a yellowy tinge to the whole photo?
Is their style what you like?

4. Do they have references? (Here are just a few)
If they don't have any, or don't want to show them to you, there's a problem.

5. Personality/Character?
When you talk with them, do you feel you could work well together?

6. Is this the photographer who will actually be there?
Believe it or not, big companies will send whomever is available, not necessarily the person you meet.

7. Contract?
Who needs a formal, old contract? You do, if it's your wedding we're talking about!
A good contract is fair to both parties. Read it.

Senior Portraits

Senior Portraits are being taken everywhere this fall, documenting an important milestone. People can opt to buy photos through a large, impersonal company, or they can do business locally through the many, talented, individual photographers in our area.



Photographers like us work very hard to get to know and please our customers because our business depends on word of mouth. Usually we are much more affordable and flexible than "the big guys", offering budget packages and, on-location shooting, which isn't possible with the larger companies. They'll make their money this fall. Will you get your money's worth?

Hannah

Hannah has a beautifully restored 1965 Chevy truck
that she wanted in some of her senior photos.
Hannah is quite the beauty herself. She is gorgeous on the inside
as well as the outside
because she's a "True Love Waits" girl and
loves the Lord with all her heart.

Rachel

After all the rain we had a clear, nice day for photos around the River Park in Fort Smith.
Rachel and her grandmother are sweet people. I'm glad to have done Rachel's senior photos for them. The River Park Amphitheater is the location of the annual Fort Smith Riverfront Blues Fest.

Located near the River Park are some great attractions. There's the Fort Smith National Historic Site
with Judge Parker's Court, the old commissary building, the old fort remains, and the gallows.

Rust, Wonderful Rust

I've really wanted to take some senior portraits with this old,
Ford, service truck and I finally got the opportunity!
I seem to find beauty in strange places.
Some folks will know exactly were this glorious, rusting hulk resides.
For the rest of the world it must remain a secret.

There are artists like Brenda Swenson, Rod Bailey, Larry Seiler,
and Jean Vincent, who use found treasures
like this old truck for inspiration.
Many photographers, amateur and pro,
love taking photos in junkyards and off the beaten track.
There's Pete Mones' Junkyard Photos , The World in Light,
and the Classic Cars Rotting just to name a few.

Then we went to the train tracks.