Beth Daane Photography | Relationship Photographer

Custom Photography and Digital Files…

Beth — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 19:17:39 +0000

With the permission of Lauri Baker, I am re-posting this interesting article on digital files and the artistry of baby photography. It was originally posted on BabyPhotographers.com blog. I also wanted to let you know our studio products and my thoughts… I do sell digital files alone or with collections. They are not included in a session.

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Surely you’ve noticed an increase in the number of photographers giving away digital files. As a customer, should you expect them to be for sale? Why don’t all photographers include them in the session fee for free, or at least make them affordable? Don’t the files belong to you anyway?

Federal copyright law is very clear about image ownership. They belong to your photographer, who has the sole right to print, display, and sell them.

You should expect the price of digital files, if available, to compensate your photographer for their work and talent. Baby photographers don’t always sell a large package up front like wedding photographers. Instead, most charge a session fee that just covers some costs of providing the shoot. We rely on print sales as our sole source of income. The digital images are the key to those print sales. This is good for you. It means I have to do a good job for you, or I won’t get paid.

While many photographers do offer the files for sale, many baby photographers who specialize in creating custom art don’t. For them, it’s a matter of quality control from start to finish. They realize cutting corners on that is a disservice to their clients.

Almost all of the file inquiries I get stem from an attempt to get my work for cheap… to get my vision, but to skip out on buying prints from me. Or from a misconception that digital is cheaper to produce than film. It’s not.

The equipment is much more expensive, replacements are necessary more often, and the workflow, maintenance, troubleshooting, and constant education requirements make digital much more expensive.

Even at that, the real value of digital files comes not from the cost, but what the files contain: the work and artistry that prompted you to choose that photographer. If you purchase files, expect to pay a price that values the work, and is sustainable for the photographer. You want him or her to still be in business when your new baby starts sitting up. Or walking. Or when your family grows.

If you’re looking for cheap portraits, and you don’t care about prints or a long-term photographer, cheap photography is available in abundance on places like Craigslist. You can have a session and all the files for very little money. But for custom baby photography, the most important things to look for are artistry, image quality, experience with babies, safety, and service. Choose wisely – baby portraits are precious memories and family heirlooms.

Silly, but not so silly.

Beth — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 23:30:30 +0000

I did something a few minutes ago… a silly little challenge that I had only 5 minutes to complete- so it isn’t fabulous, and the photo quality *is not* professional, but this is important.

WHAT is important? Well, it’s important to document your life. To stop and smell the roses and sometimes pick up your point and shoot, phone or such to just catch the little moments that are happening around you at that very minute. This afternoon while I was working I took 5 minutes to run around to every living being in my home and take a portrait of them. (My children in complete darkness because I *really* didn’t want to wake them from their naps.) I then put them all onto one collage and my challenge was complete.

While it is important to have professional portraits that showcase amazing moments in your life… it is also important for YOU to pick up that camera and record what is happening in your little moments. If you aren’t comfortable doing that- you can still hire it out— but DO IT! (I actually do this for some of my clients- most often “Mommy ‘n Me” Sessions!) Especially when you have little babies- the two OR four legged kind. They grow up so fast, you don’t want to one day turn around and see that the moments you cherished everyday are gone and all you have is a fading memory.

The title of my work today is:

Sleeping Now.

Momma on the Beach . Ft. Bragg Baby Photographer

Beth — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 06:07:52 +0000

Mary is such a beautiful woman. Inside and out, she is beautiful. Kind and sweet with her words and with such a gentle touch it makes it hard to not be drawn into conversation with her. I was able to spend some time with Mary doing a session on the beach. We did one for her family (which is yet to come) and also spent some time just on her and the sweet little baby yet to come.

At the time, Mary didn’t know if she was having a girl or a boy, but she has had the baby now and so I know. She had a healthy and beautiful baby……. Well, I think I will keep this to myself for a little while. The post about the whole family will be coming sometime soon and so the big surprise will be released then! Hee Hee!

Please enjoy the portraits of amazing, serene Mary. She is truly a woman of beauty. Thank you for inviting me into your life, Mary. I look forward to seeing you again and being able to hold your sweet little one.

Beloved Article

Beth — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 22:07:15 +0000

The Beloved Movement.

There is an amazing movement that was started by an artist named Jesh deRox. I have been witness to Jesh speak on two occcasions and have been blown away each time with his passion and insight for photography, art and other human beings. I fully and completely believe in this movement. It is a manner of celebrating love and bringing love for one’s self and for others forward. As your photographer in a Beloved Session I am invited to bear witness to your love. It is humbling to say the very least, to be invited to partake in a Beloved Session with you.

I was a bit embarrassed about this article that was published by Sac Talent Magazine in June, until I started thinking about what it really was all about. See, when the editor and I were talking, I thought the article was going to be about the Beloved Movement. The amazing people that have started this journey with me and those who have yet to come. When I saw the published article, it was written more about myself then I cared for so I tucked it away and didn’t want to blog about it. As I thought more about what the Beloved Movement meant, I realized that the most important part about this article has nothing to do with me. It is all about YOU. It is about the celebration of your love. So, for those who have already allowed me to celebrate your love and life, I thank you.

You are beautiful.

You are utterly amazing.

You touch my soul in a way I can never undo, and I thank you for blessing me with that.

Without further adieu, here is a snapshot of the article that was published. Please, enjoy in the celebration of life and love with the BDP family. (Thank you truly, for inviting me in.)

Family Love . Sacramento Family Photographer

Beth — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 07:24:32 +0000

I was going through some sessions that I have done in the past that I have neglected to blog about. There are quite a few, so not only will I be blogging about current sessions, but I will also be bringing back some wonderful sessions from many moons ago.

The Steele Family is beautiful. They love one another so much and are completely in awe of their little Mr. L (Who couldn’t be- look at that adorable miracle… and I still can’t get over that super adorable hat that he completely rocked!) I just wanted to say thank you again, for inviting me into your life. I have enjoyed our time spent together and getting to know you.

(You might remember this post from a while ago- it is their family representing the “America’s Cutest Family” model contest to support Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep.)

Green | Sacramento Food Photographer

Beth — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 16:45:00 +0000

I shoot food. I love shooting food. It is beautiful, creative and the best part is that I get to try the food after I am done photographing it! I work with Chef Pajo Bruich of Pajo’s Catering on a number of assignments and it is always such a delight.

This dish was absolutely stunning. It is an avocado dish and I was inspired by today’s post when I saw the start to finish product. The green is absolutely beautiful and the dish was delicious.

Mommy Needed a Turn | Sacramento Family Photographer

Beth — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 20:21:31 +0000

If you haven’t ever been to Ft. Bragg, California you are greatly missing out on a serene and gorgeous bit of Earth. It isn’t an easy location to get to. (Especially coming from Lincoln, California, in my humble opinion!) You drive through fields of nuts and fruits, next around Clear Lake (which is crazy beautiful!) then a long and winding venture through twists and turns on Hwy 20. After you clear those twists and turns you end up- BAM- on Hwy 1 on the coast of sleepy and charming Ft. Bragg. The long awaited (approximately 4 1/2 hour) journey to the coast of the Mendocino County is so worth it. The relaxation and step into a slower pace of life has just arrived. I would be foolish to let the time there have been hurried and unappreciated. I spent time moving a little more slowly, drinking a bit more coffee, wearing a few more layers of clothes and having a little less technology access then normal.

I went up to visit my brother and his beautiful family. I was also able to do a little work and had some limited edition beach sessions that were so much fun! (I LOVE calling what I do “work” because I have the best job EVER!) I really have to say that I wish it were easier to get up there, because I would be there every week doing sessions and hanging out with my fam! …and hanging out on the beach listening to the waves crash, breathing in the fresh sea air and hanging out with some fantastic coffee in fall clothes …which are my FAV!

Before I left, I had to spend some time on the beach doing sessions for my own two little babes. As we were on our way out of town I stopped at the beach that I did most of my sessions at so that we could spend some time there for our own session. (Pudding Creek Beach if you are familiar with the area.) I don’t always get to do it, but when I have limited edition sessions for clients I also like to do the same sessions of my own children. When I talk about how important it is to photograph your babes and family professionally- I really mean that, thus my babies get them too! I also always want to make sure that my own children’s lives are documented also. Not only in the snapshot-grab-a-pic-quick kind of way (because those are AWESOME moments) but also professionally with the time and care they deserve.

We spent time there just having fun! There is a little “creek” that runs along a small cliff that we all played in for a while, (and the water was really warm!) then the open beach, (where the water wasn’t quite so warm) some awesome rocks, an amazing pier… the places to take in are endless. A photographer’s dream! We were the only ones on the beach most of the time we were there. I kept thinking about how nice it would have been if I didn’t have to have the camera in my own hand and could have had someone else taking the shots so that *I* would have been in them. Although I am not a huge fan of having my own portrait taken, my kids deserve to have me in one every now and again. (Yes children… Mommy WAS around!) As luck would have it, another photographer showed up on the beach. We swapped a couple happy exchanges about the perfect shooting conditions and went about our merry ways. After a couple minutes I decided that I really needed to bother the poor man (who was a landscape photographer) and ask him to take a couple shots of my babes with their Momma. Sooooo… we were able to get our documented moment and I love my babies and the few portraits we now have together. I was thrilled that I decided to go out on a limb and talk with Mr. Photographer who I will forever be grateful to for giving us a few minutes and a lifetime of portraits .

Thank you for letting me share my (our) moment with you. I hope it reminds you about taking a moment for yourself… everyday is important. Every new adventure, every change… every simple day… is important. (I did these in different tonalities and kind of liked them just as they are. I sometimes like tones to all be the same when there is a theme that is the same, but in this situation I like it just how they are. My favorite- the last one.)

Innocence | Ft. Bragg Children’s Photographer

Beth — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 19:48:05 +0000

The best thing about trying to “direct” a child when you are photographing a child is that they are going to do their own thing bigger and better then anything you could even think of. I don’t tend to do a lot of directing with kids, but sometimes there is a vision that I have that I want to see happen. When I photograph my own children I spend quite a bit of time NOT directing them, but then I will see a location that I MUST get a particular shot and and when I have little models with me I try to get them to fit the idea that is in my head.

That’s pretty funny when you think about the fact that my children are 3 and 2. Yea- ok… why don’t I just tell them to do X, Y or Z and see what happens. It certainly won’t be what I had in my head.

You know what though- they end up doing things that I had never thought about. My clients do too- all the time! From toddlers to adults- when I start talking to try and give a direction my wonderful clients end up taking it somewhere I couldn’t have even thought about. I love that. How boring would it be if I only had myself to rely on?!

Being on vacation I am always finding spots that I drool over wishing I could just pop in a subject. Once again- thankfully I have two little babes that I love to photograph and photograph often. (Your babies are only little for so long- DON’T forget that it’s important to catch those tiny moments as well as the professional photography moments!) My brother’s home in Ft. Bragg has some of the most beautiful backdrops and the weather is always perfect for photographing. (A photographer dream!)

Today I was determined that I would spend some time photographing my daughter (3 1/2), son (2) and neice (21 months) and try to catch some of THEIR little moments. I know it’s hard to photograph your own children. Try your own AND your niece! ha! I am in the upload process now, but had to share this one of Reagan where I was asking her to do something and while I was asking her to do whatever it was (I don’t even KNOW what I was asking her) she was reading my body language and doing something similar to what I was doing. How typical is that of a child? A good reminder that they do as we do, not as we say! I loved this portrait of her and wanted to share.

Have a beautiful and peace filled day.

truly,

beth

A Bee Sting

Beth — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 23:41:58 +0000

My poor little boy… he had a bee sting his eye!

I wished that I could have taken all the pain and awfulness away, but I couldn’t. As his Mommy, I just had to sit this life experience out with him and wait to see what happened. It certainly wasn’t a fun experience for anyone! (If we are connected on my personal page on Facebook, I THANK YOU for helping me out with options of what I should do!)

Lucky enough, our little man isn’t allergic to bee’s and his swelling only took 3 days to go away. (Yipee!) He is doing great now, but I tell you, he certainly had a rough go at it for about 24 hours! (He also hurt his other eye a few hours before the bee sting- it’s swollen and scratched!)

I love you, my little Trev. I am so happy you are feeling better!

Nohah and the Flower

Beth — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 06:41:14 +0000

A little girl and her sweetness of a simple flower. I love that little girls love, love, love flowers the way they do. It doesn’t matter to them if it’s a weed or not. If it’s colorful and has petals- it is perfect. Really- why wouldn’t it be?! Who ever said a dandelion had to be a weed?