A Tale of Two Photographers

Many things have changed since I was a new mommy with a baby.  One of the major changes I've noticed is the increase in professional baby photography.

When Becky was a baby, I snapped pictures with my "Brownie" camera, took the spool of film to the drugstore, and returned 2 weeks later for my pictures!  About half of them were thrown in the garbage because they were terrible.  Does anyone remember "flashcubes"?  They didn't improve my pictures.  Imagine my excitement when Polaroid cameras hit the scene.  Still, no improvement in my baby photos - in fact, I think my Polaroid photos were even worse than the others.

Since my days of amateur photography, an entire industry seeded by Anne Geddes' famous baby photos, has bloomed around taking pictures of little ones.  There are an incredible number of people claiming to be professional baby photographers.  When we lived in the mountains, we used to laugh about the construction industry there.  Anyone who had a pick up truck and a hammer, was a contractor.  Here, anyone with a camera and a website, is a baby photographer.

What separates the real professionals from the those just preying on vunerable parents?  (Who wouldn't want photographs of every nano second of their angel's growth?  I know I can't resist photographs of my little sweetheart.)  Don't be fooled by fancy equipment and prices!  Real professionals value parents' time and hard-earned money.  Above all else, real professionals know that parents want their little darlings' photos edited and posted faster than they want their Happy Meal; and they respond by providing timely service! 

Our family is blessed to work with a wonderful professional photographer, Kira Derryberry.  Kira has it all - creativity, originality, quality and FABULOUS SERVICE!  She values Paisley Grace and her parents (and me - just the grandparent). She shows it with attention to details like taking 4 hrs. to do Paisley Grace's newborn photos, indulging our suggestions for shots (Nick is very creative), and emailing not only Becky, but me too, as soon as Paisley Grace's photos are posted!  Yes, I'm spending my retirement funds on photographs - but Paisley Grace is worth it and Kira makes me more than happy to fork it over!

Unfortunately, I've also had a bad professional baby photographer experience.  Lured to a local retail store for a free photo shoot, my daughter and I eagerly presented Paisley Grace to the photographer.  Dressed in clothing and bows sold by two vendors in partnership with the store, Paisley Grace posed and cooed.  Paisley Grace is a beauty and I knew she was "America's Next Top Model" just waiting to grow up.  Now, Mommy and I are smart.  We knew it was a ploy to get us to buy the dresses and bows - which we did.  Then we waited . . . and waited . .  and waited . .  for the photographer to post the photos, which we hoped to purchase.  Finally - 6 weeks later - the photos are posted.  To my horror - the photographer posted the photos by dumping all 194 pictures on her camera, which included all the photos taken at the store that day, on a PUBLIC site.  In other words, any family and friends I share the photos with also view the babies of total strangers and total strangers can view and purchase photos of Paisley Grace!  Then the photographer had the nerve to require a re-posting fee of $20 if anyone wanted to view the photos after a week.  This photographer had a big honking camera, professional lights on stands, drapes, props, and exhorbitant prices.  I would have happily shelled out my precious pennies for some of the photos - they were quite good. But, because of the photographer's total lack of respect and concern for us and the other families, she will NEVER see a red cent of mine! 

Read this and weep - and be smart.  Before you book a photographer, ask how the photos are posted.  Insist on password protected individual postings. 

All I can say is, use a photographer like Kira Derryberry(kiraderryberryphotography)  And whatever you do, DON'T BLINK OR PAISLEY GRACE WILL BE GROWN!

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