- people who HATE having their picture taken (raises my own hand in shame…er, solidarity)
- people who value photography but don’t have the time or emotional bandwidth to be concerned about some social media worthy Pinterest perfect outcome – they just want nice pics to document this phase of life and don’t care if their outfits are perfectly currated and their makeup isn’t professionally done
- people who value photography but think no one is going to want to work with the level of crazy they bring in the form of toddlers and preschoolers (honestly these are some of my favs!)
- people with body image issues as the reason why they hate having their picture taken but want their kids to have actual family pics instead of group selfies where they happen to cut most of their body/face out but not too much so they still get credit for being in the picture
- people on a budget who value photography and might chose that as a big spend point for their event and not a certain aesthetic or vibe or whatever trendy word we’re using these days to mean spending a fuck ton of money on decorations and such
- people who like working with a real small local women owned and operated business and appreciate my no-nonsense approach
- people who have been burned by other photographers who over charged and underdelivered or nickel and dime you after the fact for basic photoshopping like zits and perky nipples.
- anyone who is willing to show up and to smile. I know that’s hard for some folks (stoic fathers and occasional 1 yr olds) but for most, that’s all I need you to bring. Everything else is just icing.
Look. If you show up for a shoot looking like you just stepped out of a family lifestyle magazine for urban hipsters with perfect hair and amazing bodies and children not covered in the usual detritus of children (you know that crust of boogers, drool and crumbs that collects in the corners?), in your outfits that you bought just for the occasion that are perfectly wrinkle and stain and fuzz free, that also coordinate with each other without being too matchy-matchy? Well! We will get it on and have a fabulous time! You will make my day by making my job a cinch. But there’s just not that sense of professional satisfaction to turn out gorgeous portraits of regular folks in their regular clothes and regular bodies.
Sometimes I get sad looking at my portfolio – I am connected with others in the event business on social media and it blows my mind the over the top gorgeous events some people have – personalized monograms printed on everything, stunning centerpieces, creative table assignment set ups, table scapes right out of a magazine – but those aren’t the events I’m hired for. I’m hired for the regular folk who can’t or won’t go that far for whatever reason. And I totally accept that! Its hard with social media to not compare yourself with other photographers but whether its a family shoot or an event I know that for MY ideal clients, I deliver what THEY are looking for. Not what other families or event hosts are looking for, but what my clients are looking for. Sometimes I see studio photographers with perfectly currated portfolios and that self doubt starts creeping in – then I realize 95% of their clients are well put together 20-30something. No grandparents in frumpy outfits. No toddlers oe the verge of meltdown. Or you look at a wedding album someone took and only see beautiful pics of the bridal party – no group pics of the extended family. No candids of the family enjoying themselves. No silly pics of friends dancing at the reception. I wonder if it’s because these photographers can’t take these pics? I wonder what their whole albums look like – including the not for social media special selection. And again, I find confidence in what I do. Sometimes just a little bit of reassurance at a time but I’ve found my niche and am learning that it’s perfect for me.