Meet brand new baby Madden.  This little newborn loved to be swaddled and cooperated perfectly for me.  I love my job.  :)

We all know it, we’ve all answered it.  It’s the question that professional photographers dread hearing from clients.  “Where are the rest of the images?”

Typically, photographers provide clients with an estimated number of images they can expect to receive from their session.  However, they also shoot a lot more at the session.  So why aren’t those shared?  What if you don’t think you see an image you imagine you would love when it was shot?  What if you feel that something was just missed?  How come you can’t make the final call?

In short, you hired a professional based on what you saw in their portfolio, and their ability to replicate that consistently in their gallery presentations. You really just have to trust that the photographer has made the correct call in what to show you.

“Fine.  But honestly, where are the rest of the images and why can’t I see them?  I heard you shooting almost 2-3X as many as are in the gallery.”

Photographers overshoot – the degree to which they do that, depends on the photographer, and the type of session.  Some photographers have a low shoot ratio (low number of shots in relation to number of keepers), and some have a high.  The reasons behind over-shooting can range from uncertainty about a situation or lighting, the inability to perhaps capture that one great family shot (eye blinks, expression changes), gear issues (trying a shot with a couple of different apertures, crops or angles), or  simply not wanting to miss anything at the session.  Whatever the reasons, the photographer never believes at any point in time that they will show you everything they shoot.

Add to this, sometimes the photographer is testing out the light or just getting a feel for how you look behind the camera.  Sometimes they want to shoot and move around you, to figure out just what makes you look best.  Sometimes, especially in group shots, they are shooting quick because they are hoping that the one person whose expression or behavior isn’t cooperating will turn it around without them having to address is, and that additional swapping and merging won’t be necessary.  Sometimes they are trying something new and there is never an intention that it will be shown, unless it surpasses their expectations.

And sometimes, the shot just isn’t good. Maybe there was action blur. Maybe your eyes were closed.  Maybe a zipper was undone or a hand was not where it should be. Maybe they could see something inappropriate that required adjustment.

But whatever the reason, the photographer is showing you a gallery of images that has been culled and edited based on their experience of what will best represent their work that you hired them to create.

For every gallery that comes out where the client wishes they saw “more,” there is a client that wishes their photographer had more carefully edited down.  When clients are shown too many images, unless all are spectacular, they are left with the feeling of “These 5 family shots are all identical, I wonder if she felt she had to include them all because she didn’t like the rest?”  If a gallery is comprised of a few great shots and the rest “filler,” you will not feel any more satisfied than you would if you saw ALL the images.  And inevitably, if the photographer decides to include a sub-par shot from a series, that is the one shot the client will focus on and remember.

So unless you feel that entire segments of your session are truly missing, or your photographer has provided you with no explanation, but less images than they promised you with your session fee, trust that they have culled their images, edited out the unusable or exact duplicates, and provided you with the range that they feel most represents their style.  Quite often, asking for “more,” just because you believe more were shot, and for no other reason, will not net you with anything else that is usable, or that you would want.

As a client, do your homework and invest in someone that has the experience to create consistent galleries with variety… discuss your session goals, as well as what you can expect to receive as an outcome (not just volume, but a general idea of what is included in the gallery), and put your faith in that what you are seeing is the best of the best and enjoy what you receive rather than question or wish for what you did not!

Article courtesy of Design Aglow.

I often get asked basic “how to” questions by my friends and clients that I decided I will try (in an attempt to stay on top of blogging!) and post helpful photography tips now and then for my readers.  I can’t promise a helpful tip once a week but I will certainly try!  The other day when I was getting ready in the morning, my Mallory had asked if she could hold her baby brother on my bed (she’s so helpful like that when I’m scrambling to get out of the house on time and baby just wants to be held).  I noticed the natural light coming through my bedroom window was perfectly beautiful so I quickly grabbed my camera and began shooting.  Now, here’s where the tip comes in.  I also noticed Mallory’s hair was not combed nor had she been bathed in several days.  I didn’t care.  I seized the moment because I knew it would be fleeting.  Despite my not-so-perfectly dressed or groomed daughter, I fell in LOVE with this photograph and I might even order this as a gallery wrapped canvas for her wall.  If I were too concerned about those details I might have missed the opportunity.  And always be sure to find the light…it’s all about the light.  Have kids play near it…or, in this case, have the older sibling hold baby near it.

Helpful photography tip: seize the moment

I met up with this beautiful couple at Fox Run Park in 20-degree weather yesterday.  Back in the fall when we scheduled the session we weren’t quite sure what kind of temps that our good ‘ol schizophrenic Colorado weather would bring us.  Low and behold, it was a bone-chilling spring day…and, of course, it’ll be warm and sunny come next week, lol.  They flew in from warm Florida so they were excited for some snowy portraits.  These two really know how to work the camera.  They think they don’t but they do!  I enjoyed capturing their fun loving spirit and I’m super excited to photograph their wedding at Flying Horse this fall!

Couple enjoying hot cocoa together

Laughing in an attempt to distract from the chilly weather.

Kissing in the cold at Fox Run Park.

Stealing a kiss under the umbrella

"Warm" snuggles by the tree

Walking through the wintery forest.

Back by popular demand, my next basic photography class is scheduled for Saturday, March 16th from 9:00 am to 11:30 am at the Flying Horse Athletic Club!  Space is limited to 10 attendees in order to ensure quality instruction.

This 2.5 hour class is $90 and will include:

• better understanding of your camera’s manual settings (ISO, shutter speed and aperture)
• lens selection
• composition
• basic posing and natural lighting techniques
• secrets for getting your subject to cooperate in front of the camera (if time allows, we’ll either practice on each other or a model I bring in to class)

To register, please click the “buy now” tab below.

We could NOT be more smitten over this handsome little dude!  I’ve been overjoyed before with the birth of my older kids, but now that our family is finally complete, words cannot describe how my heart feels.  My cup runneth over.  SO in love.  :)

Happy New Year everyone!  I’m proud to announce the arrival of our third baby, Ryan Charles Smith born on January 4th.  I had high hopes of getting more caught up on blog posts before the new year but now that this little guy is here I imagine I’m going to stay behind on that task for a bit longer, lol.  Newborn photos of my adorable little man coming soon…THAT I can assure you.  For now, I wanted to post this new package I’m offering all new moms/dads out there.  I’ve received a lot of interest for a package that included a few milestones with the rights to all digital files.  Here you have it…the “Watch Me Grow” plan.  As a reminder to those expecting a baby, call within your second or third trimester to schedule the newborn session.  719-434-0707

This adorable couple got married just a couple weekends ago at Crooked Willow farms in Larkspur, Colorado.  I’ll be sure to blog their wedding as soon as I get caught up with all my other posts…from my many mini sessions to recent newborns.  Geesh, time is flying by!  Anyway, Tim and Lindsay are beyond adorable and really rocked their engagement sessions.  Yes, they had more than one session.  Poor Tim was very ill the day we went to The Broadmoor.  Their busy schedules didn’t allow for us to reschedule so he was a sport and sucked it up for the camera for a solid half hour.  On a later date, we finished their session at Fox Run Park.  Here are some of my favorites.

I was thrilled to receive an inquiry to photograph another set of twins.  I love the challenge of trying to keep two babies sleeping and curled up.  I also love to witness the bond between siblings who are only a few days old.  Whenever they were close together they seemed to relax right into place just like when they were in the womb.  Simply precious.