Full disclosure: I’m a photographer, so my opinions on why you should hire me to take your photos are obviously biased. Capitalism - an economic and political system in which trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit, rather than by the state – is certainly a factor (thank you, Wikipedia). I am also motivated to pay my mortgage, my Disney+ subscription (have you seen Obi-Wan Kenobi yet?), and I enjoy eating from time to time. That said, hiring a professional photographer (me, please!) is a win win that truly is advantageous to everyone involved.
Do any of the following sound familiar?
Do you have a recent photograph that you will cherish forever?
Do you have an aging parent or pet?
Will work or school obligations require you or a family member to be away for an extended period of time?
Do you or does someone in your family have an upcoming significant life event that should be documented for this and future generations?
Are you and your family coming to the Los Angeles area soon?
Are you in the job market right now?
Are you a public speaker/coach/mentor?
These are ALL excellent reasons for hiring a professional photographer (ideally, me) for your photography/videography needs. But before you might be thinking about that brand new iPhone 13 Pro Max Ultra Infinity Plus and it’s awesome camera you just picked up (wait … it’s got THREE cameras!?!), give the following some consideration.
1. The Gear
DO NOT TELL MY WIFE, but I have thousands of dollars worth of camera, lighting, and grip gear. It may not immediately seem obvious to you, but there are differences in the gear that professional photographers use depending upon the types of photographs that are being taken. As an example, I would bring a completely different kit for a headshot session than I would for a couples or family portrait session. The camera body would likely be the same, but the lenses, lighting gear and modifiers, and grip gear would be different. This gear is often expensive and there is a learning curve involved. Creating photographs using this gear is a deliberate endeavor when compared to a snapshot taken with your cell phone. Photography is – at it’s most basic - an expression of light. The word itself is derived from the Greek words φωτός (phōtós), φῶς (phōs), "light" and γραφή (graphé) which translates to "representation by means of lines" or "drawing", together meaning "drawing with light" (thank you Wikipedia). The modifiers used to sculpt the light across your face, body, and the environment surrounding you is directly informed by the type of photograph being taken and the “look” that has been agreed upon by client and photographer. Tools of the trade, you see.
2. The Vision, Guidance, Artistry, and Technical Skill
Professional photographers bring a practiced eye, an ability to coach and assist you throughout the shoot, and the ability to envision a final photograph before it is taken and edited. Experience brings confidence, consistency, and repeatability – something that you’re also paying for when you hire a photographer. The LAST thing you want is to dress up (makeup and all) to take photos that ultimately do not meet your expectations. Photos taken with an iPhone are snapshots that are subject to the computational algorithm the phone uses to process that photo. As the current Instagram meme says, “Sometimes maybe shit sometimes maybe not!” Deliberately lit, posed, and edited photos will get you EXACTLY the photo you were expecting to get.
3. You’re Actually in the Photos (or … Your Personal Paparazzi)!
Are you coming to the Los Angeles area for vacation? Here’s where hiring a professional photographer will absolutely contribute to the joy, rest, and relaxation that a well-deserved vacation can bring. How many times have you looked back on vacation photos and thought, “Dad is NEVER in the photos!” That’s probably because he’s always taking photos! Hiring me as your “personal paparazzi,” means that everyone (including Dad & Mom) are in the shots and participating equally in the fun. Your memories of your visit will be enhanced since the photos largely won’t be posed but will be natural, in the moment, and will include context and environment as part of each shot. Free yourself from the responsibility of documenting your fun and let someone else (me, please!) document YOUR fun for you.
4. Post-Production (Editing)
That light and airy (or dark and moody) look that you love and want so much doesn’t (most likely) just come “right out of camera.” That photo (and others like it) required some measure of post production (editing via software like Lightroom, Photoshop, or Luminar). Granted … you can probably find iPhone apps that can reproduce looks similar to those styles, but they’ll do so in a destructive fashion – meaning that once the edit has been made it becomes permanent and there is little hope of restoring the image to its original state later if that becomes necessary. That iPhone edit also degrades that photo’s resolution and ability to be printed as well. Each subsequent edit degrades the photo even further. Professional editing software such as Lightroom or Photoshop can edit photos nondestructively. That allows the photographer to restore the photo to its original state with one click of a button and then to apply completely different edits to the file – all without degrading the photo’s resolution and printability.
So … these are the approaches professional photographers use to produce images that create memories for you and your families – now and well into the future. Are you ready to take the next step? Call me at 310.614.5119 and let’s discuss!