LFP Set up

Reasons for Change

What?! Two years as a full time photographer? I am officially on cloud nine that Lindsay Foster Photography has been so successful. I really could not have done this without all my wonderful clients and most importantly my family. My family has given me the chance to take a chance. And for that I am so grateful. So, in return, I am making some changes to Lindsay Foster Photography to help create a good balance between work and family.

My two girls are now 7 and 5 years old. I always had the mindset that the older they got the less they would need me and be more independent.  I was obviously very wrong. So much so, that most moms are probably rolling their eyes at me with a big "Duhhhhhh".

Summer is practically here and my girls have decided that they would like to be involved with a desired activity this year. To me, that is wonderful and scary! How will I ever find the time and money to balance this busy time of year? I think the answer is in setting priorities and realizing that I will never get to experience this age with my kids again, so just do it!

Lindsay Foster Photography specializes in Birth, Newborn and Child Milestone photography, and for the most part I can work Monday to Friday 9-4 easily, so therefore I will be taking weekends as my own family time. My newborn clients will be top priority within my business and would I love to offer all my newborn clients a chance to book a family session within the first year of their child's life.
Unfortunately, I will not be offering family sessions to those who have not had a newborn session with me within the year.

I have spent days and nights trying to figure out how to accommodate everyone. I get requests for newborn and family sessions on a daily basis. However, since I specialize and very much enjoy newborn up to one year milestones, I have made the decision to accommodate them the best I can.

I know this is unfortunate to those seeking family and other session types with me.  I will try my best to arrange a few outdoor family mini days throughout the year. I would also love to challenge myself by creating unique and custom sessions for a variety of different themes, ages and genres etc.. All these organized days will be announced as an event on my Facebook page. So please keep your eyes and ears open for such occasions because as we all know, these spots go fast and I can only do so many in one day. Quite often I will seek out an individual for a model and typically this is a free session, which is always a treat :)

I am so fortunate to have many photographer friends local to me and I am happy to refer people to them if a session with me is not possible.  At the same time, I feel confident knowing that they would also refer me to any newborn and child milestone requests they cannot accommodate as well.

Every year brings something a little different, so my hopes are that in time, I will be able to do a little more in regards to family sessions once my girls get older. I will do whatever I can to keep this business going strong for many years.  From taking pictures, to editing and organizing and researching new ideas, I thoroughly enjoy it all.

What I love most from all my clients, is that they completely understand my decision because they are parents as well. All we ever want to do is to create a great life for our children and know that we were able to show our children that working is important, but so is family. By creating a perfect balance between these two important matters in our life, we can keep everyone happy.

My Family

If you love photographing newborns, why charge so much??

Potential Customers, have you ever wondered why a photographer charges what they do?

Photographers, do you get this question a lot?

I know there have been blogs and posts making their way around social media explaining why they charge what they do, but I guess I wanted to create my own as well.
When I first started out I was one of those amateur photographers who said "I'll never charge what all those other photographers charge, it's a hobby, I love it too much".  Well, I still do LOVE it as much as I did when I started out but I quickly came to realize that the money I get paid by customers is not, and will never be,  "Milk Money" or "Pocket Money".



Each session I do is unique to my client, and to my portfolio. I want my client to view their gallery and know that it is custom to their needs. So in order to do this, some time is spent online researching and getting inspiration in order to create something specifically for them. 


So, let's start from the beginning to see what needs to be done and paid for in order to execute some awesome newborn sessions:

1) Research . (TIME)
(1/2 hour to 1 hour worth of time)
This requires some imaginative thought and visual inspiration. 

2) Props. (MONEY or TIME if you make your own)
(headbands $12, hats $30, sets $65, material and vinyl backdrops $100, plus all other accessories $$$)
A newborn session just wouldn't be possible without all those adorable newborn props!

3) All necessities needed for baby's session (MONEY)
(wipes, heater, white noise, diapers, pacifiers etc)

4) Posers for Baby (MONEY)
(Large pillow and all necessary posers to help position baby)

5) Equipment (MONEY)
Camera, lenses, SD cards, Battery, Lighting, backdrop stands etc)

6) Heat (MONEY)
The room must be cozy & warm for baby in order for him/her to sleep

7) Laundry (TIME & MONEY)
It's inevitable that all babies will pee & poo, so all soiled blankets and props need to be washed
and sanitized.

8) Computer (MONEY)
Photoshop, Lightroom and most photography software costs money

9) Culling and Editing (TIME)
Each image is looked at closely to see if it is "edit worthy" and once all winning images are selected, the images will then be edited.

10) Facebook (TIME & MONEY)
In order to keep my fans active and interested in my posts and images I purchase BOOST, to get my work out there for all to see.

11) Client Galleries (TIME & MONEY)
A custom online gallery of all client images are sent to them in an easy and useful email and mobile app. In order to keep this useful tool, it is required to pay annual fees.

12)  Setup & Take down (TIME)
I am not lucky enough as of yet to have my own studio, so I use my home (dining room) to do each newborn session. 
 

I am sure I missed so much more. So Photographers! Please feel free to add any add-ons in the comments below.....




I ended with the Setup & Take down because I wanted to create a visual for all those that don't know how much time & work is put into setting up and taking down. It takes me me a total of and hour to get the studio ready and to put my dining room back together after a session hours later. So, it makes perfect sense why a deposit is required. If you are a no show or call last minute to cancel, at least the deposit pays for some of the time spent preparing etc.

I took this video with my GoPro3. I couldn't get the camera to work fully for me for take down, but at least you get an idea of what it takes to set up.

LFP 2000 Fan Giveaway!!!

Seriously!!? Over 2000 Fans!!!?? WOW

I am beyond excited to offer all my fans a Giveaway to celebrate not ONLY 2000 Fans, but for a great 3 years as Lindsay Foster Photography. This is truly a Dream come True!!!

I would like to Thank all the wonderful vendors that participated as well. Without vendors, I just wouldn't be where I am either. Here are a list of the Prizes and the many vendors that have offered some great items to be won: (remember to enter the Giveway below!!)

 

ENTER THE GIVEAWAY HERE!!!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The BIG Question.....Where do I get my images printed??

I need to start off by saying that it is a HUGE pet peeve of mine to see people taking pictures of printed pictures and posting them on their Facebook page. However, for this particular reason I am going to break my rules only to make a visual point perfectly clear.
I also realize that these pictures are in no way compared to actually physically seeing the pictures to make an exact comparison.

Twelve images taken by me, Lindsay Foster Photography, were randomly chosen to be printed as a comparison print for my clients to have a visual when they come see me. They spend a lot of money for their sessions and all I want for them are the best quality prints. However, most times I get the big Question.......Where should I get them printed? Well, my first answer is: "Through my gallery lab"of course.
I understand that the digital images are theirs and they can print them where and when they wish, but what if they could see what kind of quality they are actually paying for before they make that choice?

There are 4 very common places to get your images developed here in Kingston, Ontario

-Costco

-Blacks

-Walmart

-Shoppers

I compared images printed from these places with my own chosen gallery Lab. All images can be ordered directly from the online gallery upon viewing. It's quick & easy and they deliver right to your door.

Let's stop reading and take a look at a few comparisons shall we??........

 

Now for my Critique: (everyone is different, to each their own)

LFP Lab: (matte)

*Ordered online through my gallery - quick and easy

*Delivered directly to my door within a week

*Quality: Most exact likeness to digitals and very consistent- Excellent

Expense for 12 images 5x7: $37.20 CAD

(to me the cost is worth knowing I will get the best quality)

Shoppers: (matte)
*Ordered online through their website

*upload time was average and fairly straight forward

*Picked up at local store when they arrived one week later

(they do have 1 hour printing if you go to the store to order from their system)

*Quality: Okay, I found the it was lacking some magenta, a little under saturated in colour

Expense for 12 images 5x7: $11.88 CAD

 

Walmart: (matte)
*Ordered online through their website

*Upload time was average and fairy straight forward
*Ready in one hour option

*Picked up at store in Kingston (not local to me)

*Quality: Poor. These prints in no way compare to the digitals given on gallery

*Expense for 12 images 5x7: $23.64 CAD      WHAT!!!????

 

Costco: (matte)

*Ordered online through their website 

*Upload time took a long time, glitchy and can be quite complicated for some

*When ordering online you have to watch the 

small print instructions. Make sure to select do NOT compress my files.

*Quality: Pretty good actually ;)  Some tones are a little off. Kind of purple.

 However, I find them to be the closest comparison to my Lab prints.

Expense for 12 images 5x7: $3.48
Must be a Costco Member

 

 

Blacks: (matte)

*Ordered online through their website

*Upload time took a while, but the site was fairy straight forward

*1 hour pickup. Picked up in store in Mall. Not local to me.

*Quality: Full of contrast and very sharp images. Definitely NOT 

a true likeness to the digital edits.

Expense for 12 images 5x7: $6.10

I thought for sure that Blacks was going to be the best for prints other than using my online gallery lab. I was shocked to see how far off they were compared to my digital images.

So, in the end I would have to say that my professional lab service is the most reliable for getting the most exact likeness to the digitals you get from me. I would highly suggest using me for your large size prints for wall mounting.

I will now make to sure to have these comparison prints out and available for all my clients to see.



Cheers!
Lindsay

 

 

 

Who said this is Easy?

"Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm" ~ Winston Churchill

In reality it's only been 3 years since I started by photography as a business. It took me almost 2 years before then to convince myself I had what it takes. And though it should've been reason enough to "hear" that I had a talent for photography from family & friends, it just wasn't.  I felt that my confidence needed to be stronger and I needed to be able to say that I was able and ready to take on whatever challenges lay ahead. Best of all I needed to convince myself that I could actually charge a reasonable rate for my "artwork".

There are so many challenges, and so many failures, but amongst the most common issues a photographer endures, such as weather, lighting, composition, corrupt SD cards, software failure, time crunches, editing failures, forgetting equipment, non-cooperating clients (ie: kids, babies), marketing, scheduling conflicts, financials etc, ..............there are EMOTIONAL Challenges & Failures as well.

I walked straight into this business with the confidence I felt I needed, Finally. But I wish I had someone tell me that I also needed the strength, positivity and courage to deal with the "other" hidden challenges. The ones that most keep bottled up or vent to with only their closest and most trusted companions............

Most of us photographers only work alone. We love the fact that we can use our own styles, make our business successful by whatever path we choose; use whatever techniques we want to in order to create that perfect composition or how we will go about marketing ourselves. We never considered how hard it would be to cope with politics, and those devastating, unanswered reasons why a past client went to another photographer after a successful last session with them.
Oh come on! Admit it, we have all had it happen. And if it hasn't yet, it will ;)

Does it mean that you need to pack it all in and give up? Nahhhh. Not at all.
Does it mean that you don't have the right to ask why? or feel betrayed, jealous or hurt? Nahhh, Go ahead. We all have feelings. We all wish we could get the answers right from the source. But in reality, you don't need it. YOU DON'T! Why? The answer is clear...............

Cients will come and go. Some will come to you because you specialize in newborns and go elsewhere because the next photographer specializes in families. Some will come to you before looking at your portfolio and then realize that your style just isn't their preference. Some will go to those that charge less. Some will go to those only because they received a gift card for another photographer. There are many reasons why........try not to let it get to you.

Now, who would've thought that being in your OWN studio, in your OWN home editing or out on your OWN session would land you in the middle of photography politics?? What kind of photographer chooses to judge you for what you post on Facebook, who you use as a vendor for props, what you choose to do with your skills or what clients they get over yours?
Well....... these just may be the ones that DO like your work and feel the need to keep close tabs on you *wink wink*. 

I truly believe that jealousy and competition are on the same team
So try, try, try to NOT get caught up in the middle of it. Do NOT bite back.

It's funny, because I thought that I would have so much to say about "Competition/Politics" but I almost find it's so "simple" it's stupid.

"I would much rather create as many friends within my photography circle as I can. It's so great to work together, share together and feel like you belong to a supporting community." ~ Lindsay Foster Photography

Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.
Winston Churchill

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_success.html#qQwhmBqIG3VsdOB1.99

Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.
Winston Churchill
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_success.html#qQwhmBqIG3VsdOB1.99

Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.
Winston Churchill
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_success.html#qQwhmBqIG3VsdOB1.99

Paycut for Happiness

This image above couldn't explain it any better. 

I get the question quite often:

How does it feel now that you are a FULL time photographer & doing what you LOVE? 

Well, it's only been two weeks and I am a whirlwind of emotions. I am so happy that I am finally doing what I love to do. Getting up every morning to start the day has more purpose than ever before. However, it is such a drastic change to my every day routine that I am a little shell shocked and scared.
I literally wake up every day and go straight to my computer to edit, market, email, research etc. with pure enjoyment that I occasionally stop what I'm doing, feel guilty for doing it, and then quickly realize, HEY! This IS what you are supposed to be doing, YES, keep going!! 

I never knew it was possible to enjoy work so much that you feel guilty about it, HA!!!

What's my biggest Challenge?
Well, like most, making sure I can keep it going financially is a challenge. It's certainly a cut from what I was used to getting. But, like I said, I am getting a paycut for happiness.
Another is sticking to a routine. I have a huge list beside me of things that I MUST get done. I have so much to do that I get quickly sidetracked and jump from one thing to another. However, I do get things done, plus more ;)

What are some other perks about your new job?

Hands down, having my 3 year old home with me 2 days a week. I spent so much time, while working my last job, booking photo sessions after work or on weekends that I felt as though I never got to see my kids. So, this is perfect in every way. Come summer, I will have both of them home with me two days a week. Time to try to make up for lost time.

What is your new schedule now?
I will be booking Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and 2 weekends out of each month for families. I thought I would have issues booking during the week since most people work, but I have yet to have any issues with that. It works out so great!

Do you have new prices now that you're full time?
Not really new pricing, just simplified pricing. My goal is to make all my prices fit everyone including myself.
http://snack.to/fhp5o55j

What is a Welcome guide?I created a Welcome Guide for all my potential clients to get to know me as a person, what my goals & objectives are, where my specialties are and how to prepare yourself and your family for your session with me. Everything you need to know is all in this guide.
http://snack.to/f71i45in

"I am so thankful for my husband and children for believing in me. There's no better feeling!"
~Lindsay Foster