Fer Real Friday: I ain’t no sales-woman

On a whim, I posted a “fer real Friday” post last week, with no intent on making it a thing, but I liked it.  So don’t be surprised if Fridays bring out the “Fer real-ness” in me ya’ll!

When I started my business, it was merely a the seed planted in my heart that grew from my enchantment of pictures, life, beauty, and moments. So much was constantly changing my whole life out of my own will I think I always hung onto those images from moments in time that I had experienced, and lusted after those that I hadn’t.  And by golly, I could control the outcome of my images.  And if I couldn’t, it became a challenge to do just that. That’s the flip-side of this crazy passion of mine–the enduring challenge and learning that each image poses.  It’s a drug that keeps me coming back for more.  The lows of missing the moment, or not capturing your idea.  And the highs of “did I do that, really?!”  And the constant growth and learning that comes from every image, and moment captured.  I love it.

That is why I take pictures.  I love a good challenge, and I love the idea of holding onto each moment as it passes us by.

Now, let me get this straight.  I am not a good sales person. I am a pretty straight forward, lady of my word.  And I didn’t start my business to sell pictures.  I started it to do what I love, take pictures.  That is what is important to me.  Spending my time and effort on good quality pictures for as many people as I can.

However, I gotta tell you.  Sometimes, (most of the time really), spending a few extra bucks is TOTALLY worth it.  If you’ve got a picture that is good enough to be hung, it’s good enough to splurge on.  I want all my clients to be able to enjoy all the pictures I take for them, in the best way they can afford.   Which is why I release all my images to them.  Listen, I’m all about budgeting, and pinching penny’s.  I get the idea of luxury over necessity.  Heck, we live in the latter.  This is why I try to keep my print costs extremely reasonable.  However, if you have a few extra penny’s at the end of the month, purchasing a high quality print, or wall installment is worth it.

 Let me tell you why, ‘fer real ya’ll!

When I decide to forgo my printing company and just need or want a quick print, I have found Costco to be the best quality/price ratio for printing, so I am going to use them in my examples.

Color, clarity, and precision.   Big box printing machines are not calibrated, or capable of printing images exactly to spec.  They use different color combinations for printing and are not meant for precision.  Thus leaving images off color, too light, or too dark.  Eyes that draw you into the digital image, may become blurry or faded.  And size ratios often leave you questioning what you actually sent to the printer.

Also, have you ever had the misfortune of getting a drip of water on a Walmart/Walgreens print? (I may or may not have tried to decoupage with some of these once and it did not work so well)  It gets all runny as if rain fell on the sidewalk the neighbor kids spent hours creating.  I don’t know the fancy technical information on how these prints are made, but it seems as though the ink just sits on top of the paper, as two separate entities..the paper, and the ink.  Another bonus I’ve found, is UV protection.  Prints from big box stores fade and become dull VERY quickly when hung on walls with any natural light.  I haven’t had a problem with any of my professional prints to date.

When I got my first professional prints it was as if the heavens opened up.  Not only could I see the quality–my prints really looked professional!–I could feeell the quality.  The paper was thicker, the finishing was for lack of a better term, perfect and I was really proud of what I was holding in my hand.  My digital vision was now on paper, exactly perfect.

Now for the proof. (Continuing with the ‘Fer real theme: if I had planned this out appropriately I’d have chosen different images to show you–this just happened to work out perfectly for me…because I printed these quickly at costco and wasn’t satisfied, so I go sent them to my printer too).

First, this little ditty of my hubby checking out the ice on Lake Mendota:

The colors are rich, and dark.  I loved the silhouette-esque feel of Ryan walking out onto the ice.

Costco colors are faded, and you loose the dark dusky feeling and the gorgeous sky that you achieve with the professional print. To me, they are two completely different images.

Next, my other favorite little model, my little ‘one of a kind’ girl Tessa.

I loved the vibrance of the colors, how pungent here eyes looked, and how her cheeks and nose were a bit rosey from the cold Wisconsin winter.

You can really see with this one, how washed out the image became.  Her rosy cheeks faded and the hat muted. The vibrance of the photo was totally lost.  However, I am thrilled with the professional print!

That’s my shpeel folks.  I dig it.  Do you?

{Violet Photography and Design, does another great personal analysis on this very thing here.  Check it out.}