Guest Post: Why You Need to Print Your Photos, Rochester NY Photography

In today's world, there are more pictures taken every minute than ever before. Yet, a very small percentage of them will ever be printed. They'll live in a digital world, on a phone or a computer until that technology becomes obsolete and they'll then sadly disappear forever.

So today we're sharing another guest post, provided by Design Aglow that we hope opens your eyes to why we believe in the power of prints.

Shared from Design Aglow
It’s been a hard day. You’re tired--and let’s face it--a little cranky. OK, a lot cranky. So to cheer yourself up, you walk over to your computer and fire up the DVD of your recent family portrait session so that you can flip through the images. After seeing the slideshow playing on your tiny laptop, you can’t wait until the rest of the family comes over so that you can pass the computer around the dinner table. 

Here’s another scenario, similar to the first, except for one crucial point: those incredible, indelible images are hanging on your walls. You see them every time you walk by; you smile every time you walk by. In each room of your home, the heirloom photographic art makes your heart swell, overflowing with the investment you’ve made in your family, the investment in adding permanence to your memories.

The impulse to purchase images on a disc instead of a canvas or a print is strong. We feel as if we don’t actually own something until we possess every image from our shoot, as if the only way to experience our family is by being able to make as many reprints of them as we want.

But images on disc sit around. They become stuffed into a desk drawer, until their media is rendered obsolete and the images cannot be accessed anymore. They remain untouched, until that day when we’ll have enough time to put them in an album or print them ourselves. Finished products, on the other hand, are just that. They are ready to hang, ready to enjoy. They are instant--and constant--gratification. They are objects that can be passed down to your children, and your children’s children. The tangible nature of fine art--that it is an actual object, hanging on your wall or sitting on your coffee table--is meant for enjoyment, for experience, not to be archived on a shelf in a plastic media case. A CD of all of your images is not fine art. And the creation of fine art cannot be cheap. Crafting memories and creating personalized products that can be enjoyed for generations is a job that carries a lot of responsibility and weight, and demands finesse and skill. With professional photography, as with so much of life, you get what you pay for. Photographic art is an investment, to be sure, but it’s one that you’ll never regret.

Every day, we stress the importance of printing your photographs. We don't care if it's in a book or on the wall. We don't care if you forget our name in 20 years, as long as your pictures are printed for your children, and their children. We cannot say it enough.

Green Practices in our Business: Photography in Rochester NY

I don't know about you, but I am pretty fond of our planet. I love being outdoors, smelling the clean air and hiking along sparkling waterways. It's our job to protect Mother Earth for the next generation, so they can enjoy her beauty as well.

So, what are we doing as a business to help the planet? I'm glad you asked!

 - We work from home, reducing auto emissions
 - We use minimal, but recycled, packaging
 - We reuse paper and packaging materials whenever possible
 - We recycle what we can't reuse
 - We send invoices and receipts electronically whenever possible
 - We use digital proofing, only printing ordered photos for less waste
 - Our marketing materials are printed on recycled papers when possible
 - We use rechargeable batteries for all of our gear
 - We shoot digital (no toxic chemicals or water waste like film)
 - We work with local printers and framers (good for the earth and the local economy!)
 - We grow our own veggies, and have even been known to give them a way! (Okay, that's not business related, but the garden is right outside the office window! Check it out next time you're here.)

We love the environment, and hope you do also! What are you doing to help the Earth? 

Here's wishing you a vibrant, green Earth Day! 
-Lori

My Family Yearbooks | Rochester NY Photographers

My Family Yearbooks | Rochester NY Photographers

And honestly, it's more important to me to make sure my memories are preserved than my 10 year old pair of sneakers. It's so important to me to get these photographs into books. Why? Because technology can fail. Hard drives die, or become outdated. And social media (ie - facebook/instagram) may someday go the way of myspace. No technology is immune to being obsolete.

Focus NY: Part 2, What Lori Learned

Focus NY: Part 2, What Lori Learned

Secondly, I realized that I would be nowhere without my friends in the industry. It was at this convention several years ago that I first met Erin and forged several other bonds that still exist to this day. Returning to this place year after year is like going back to school. We get to learn together, eat together, and party together. If that's not how you make unbreakable friendships, I don't know what is.

Focus NY Convention and My First Photography Presentation

Focus NY Convention and My First Photography Presentation

Was I NUTS?! The story I was about to share was deeply personal, and every single time I practiced it out loud, I cried. I was going to be a massive failure. Who cries in front of an audience?! 

So because it was too late to back out, I cried in front of a group of photographers from all over New York State. 

To the client who wants us to take off 20 years and 40 pounds

Today's message is about self-love, confidence, and not taking ourselves too seriously. It's applicable for teenagers and grandmothers; men and women; introverts and extroverts; one and all. 

Erin and I both love the uniqueness of humans. Physical traits do not define who we are. How we love, how we laugh, how we interact... this is what matters. And it's what we cherish. 

This is important!

So please read, share, and comment below. 

[Today, we're featuring a guest post originally written and published on the Design Aglow blog. When I first read this, I wanted to shout "Exactly!" So we're reposting it, with permission, here.]

LETTERS FROM A PHOTOGRAPHER

To the client who wants me to take off 20 years and 40 pounds,

I want you to know I understand. I think every single one of us can relate to wishing we looked different somehow. I think my arms are flabby, you think your belly is too squishy and your friend hates her wrinkles. I get it. Having family photos taken is tough.

And somewhere along the way, some idiot photographer started using the liquify tool to “magically” make a client look 20, 30, even 40 pounds thinner. And that same guy magically erased all her wrinkles in Photoshop too. He used the cloning tool to add a little more hair to her husband’s head. And voila! A perfect picture! At least, that’s what we’re supposed to think.

Well, don’t expect that crap from me. I won’t turn you into a 90 pound supermodel or edit in a thick head of hair over a bald spot. I don’t take off 20 years in Photoshop. It’s insulting to me as a photographer and it’s insulting to you as a person. We’ve conditioned ourselves to see our “flaws” when we look at photos of ourselves.

But here’s the thing… I don’t take photographs of the way people look. I take photographs of the way people love. Take a closer look at your photos and you’ll see the way your husband looks at you. It’s not hard to tell that he thinks you’re hot stuff, even after all these years. Take a closer look and you’ll see how your kids love you. Their laughter, how they hold your hand, the way they snuggle up against you.

These photos are treasures… picture proof that you loved and were loved. And listen, you’re beautiful without all that extra editing. Your husband thinks so, your kids think so. The sooner you realize that, the happier you’ll be.

So no, I won’t give your photos an extreme makeover in Photoshop. It’s my job to create authentic images that show the way your family loves and I think if you look through your gallery again with that in mind, you’ll see that I did a pretty damn good job.

Sincerely,
the photographer who thinks you’re beautiful without a major Photoshop intervention

 

Letters From a Photographer is an original series by Design Aglow. Articles are meant to spark thought and conversation and be shared within our industry.


What DO we photoshop? This is a question we get asked a lot, and generally the only thing we remove without asking is acne. No one wants to remember that.

And electrical outlets. Those bug the bejeezus out of me in backgrounds! 

What do you think? Do you agree? Be part of the conversation by adding a comment below. We'd love to hear from you!
-Lori

Springtime Fun: Rochester NY Photography

Easter makes me think of two things - spring and family.

I think of Spring because of muddy Easter egg hunts, or splashing in the puddles of the melting snow. I think of the warmth of the sun and getting outside to stretch our legs again after a cold winter. Photographically, it makes me think of beautiful spring flowers for gorgeous backdrops.

It makes me think of family - mine and yours. I love photographing new families as their "littles" explore the daffodils in the park or head to the playground for the first time in months. I think about the newness of everything. New life, new experiences, new engagements.

If you can't tell, Spring is my absolute favorite time of year! And I can't wait to photograph all of our spring family sessions and engagement sessions. Thank you for following along with us!

Happy Easter!
Erin

On Inspiration and Practice

When I first began my photography journey, it was because of my love for the still image. I loved seeking out and preserving individual moments. I spent four years at RIT learning the art and science of image capture.

But when I went out on my own to start a business, and pursue the dream of self employment, I quickly learned how little I knew about being a business owner. So I joined professional groups (GRPP) and attended conferences to focus on learning how to create a sustainable business.

And for several years, I have worked on skills in marketing, social media, accounting, and bookkeeping - all in addition to making pictures. Somewhere along the line, I got comfortable, complacent in my photography skills. I know how to use my equipment inside and out, to the point that it's now second nature. I know how to pose groups and work quickly within time constraints. I am proud of all these accomplishments.

We now have amazing clients that trust us with their family legacies. And now that the business side of things is stable, I wanted to shift my focus slightly away from business and back to the art. The Inspire Photo Retreat is exactly what it sounds like, and exactly what I needed.

Erin and I traveled to Newport, Rhode Island to spend three days with photographers from all over the country in a welcoming environment. We met some amazing people, all with their own stories and situations. Some we were able to help, some helped us. It was as it sounds, inspiring.

The biggest thing I walked away with was a renewed passion for the documentary style of shooting. That is what I chose to major in way back in 2004. At Inspire, I studied with photographer Kirsten Lewis, a Denver based family photojournalist, who provided just the right amount of inspiration and encouragement to grow my personal vision.

The best part, and usually the hardest thing to do after a conference, is putting new knowledge into immediate practice. Lucky me, I got home and the next day headed out for a road trip to see friends and family. I was immediately able to practice this shooting style. Rather than using my telephoto lens (which I love), I used a 35mm lens, which forced me to get closer to my subjects.

We stayed with friends in Pittsburgh our first night, and I photographed their two kids. These are some of the moments I was able to witness with them.

Continuing on, we covered a couple more states to see our newest nephew be baptized in Kentucky. With 8 adults and 5 children under one roof, there was always something to photograph. I was able to spend time with three nieces and two nephews; playing, reading, and eating together. I wanted to capture the little moments.

So to sum up this long post: I'm reinvigorated with inspiration, and can't wait to share this with you on your next photo shoot! I'd love to know who this strikes a cord with, so if you like the documentary look, leave a comment below! 

-Lori

Life, #Lucasp and the end of a 365 Project: Rochester NY Photographer

Not including weddings, sessions and the occasional iPhone image, I have shot over 3000 images this year. And I only you showed roughly 365. And of that 365, most were of my favorite little hashtag, #lucasp.  

I've got to be honest, it's been a week since my 365 project ended, and I'm just now starting to get used to life without a camera constantly by my side. 

Now that it's over, I'm feeling so many emotions.

In some ways I'm sad. I feel like a major part of my family's life flew by in an instant, and I'm not ready to give it up yet. The good news is, I have documentation of it all... and for better or worse, my son has his own personal hashtag. 

I learned a lot from this year - not only about my photography, but about myself as well. I know more about who I am, and who I want to be.

I cherish not only the big milestones, but the every day moments too.  For example - One day, Lucas began using his own silverware. In an instant, he no longer needed my help - it was bittersweet.

No matter how hard we try, we can't stop it, or slow it down. There's no getting those little moments back.

Because of this project, I realize with an even deeper appreciation that these moments are fleeting. Now, I read just one more book at night, so I can cuddle him just a little bit longer. And even though he's getting heavier by the second, when he wants me to pick him up - I do. Because one day he'll stop needing that, too.

For that, I'm so glad I have these photos - to remind me now, and in 15 years of those times when laundry baskets and cardboard boxes were toys, and when his shoes were smaller than mine.

I think that my biggest take away from the project is the ability to really see, and know when even the smallest moment is happening. 

I still see my photo of the day - everywhere, in everything. But now, it's up to me whether or not to push the shutter button or just enjoy the moment.

Thank you to everyone who supported me, and to those who, whether they wanted to or not, became part of the project. These images also remind me of the love surrounding us every day, and all of the people who are a part of our lives.  It was a fun, emotional, sometimes frustrating, sometimes overwhelming ride, but definitely a worthwhile journey.

Here's a few of my favorites from the year!  ~ Erin

Christmas Through My Child's Eyes

When I took this image, I didn't see it at first. I was so focused on my 365 project and making sure that I had something to show from that evening, that I almost missed it. I didn't really see the wonder on my son's face as he gazed upon the fully lit Christmas tree in front of him.

It wasn't until I shared the image on social media, that I began to see what it meant to people. I received comments and messages thanking me for it, or telling me that it should be a Hallmark card. I never meant for that to happen. At the time, I was just being a parent like any other at the tree lighting, shooting like a Mom, recording these moments in time as they happen. I took this image for me, and for him. It's a happy accident that it resonated with so many people, but it was never my intent.

I didn't see it then. But now I do. Right now, to him magic is possible and everywhere. Faith and believing in something, still new and real. In his eyes, innocence. What I wouldn't give to be able to see the world again the way that he does.

I am so thankful now to have this image and more grateful for the child within it each and every day. He reminds me that anything is possible. He reminds me to be a better person. His light and love are my true Christmas gifts this year.

I hope that this Christmas you're reminded of how beautiful and magical this life of ours can be. We wish you joy and love through the holidays and beyond. Merry Christmas!

With grateful hearts,

Erin & Lori