The Short and Sweet Difference Between $30 and $70

That $30 or maybe less with a coupon is going to net you an assembly line portrait with a gawdy background, harsh lighting and a bright flash directly in your face. These places turn a quick buck through volume, not quality of work. To call these mall or retail photo studio employees photographers is a bit of a stretch. Perhaps camera operating technician is a better title.

Good photography involves a thorough understanding of light and how to capture and manipulate it for the best results.

That $70 you hand over to me will get you an hour of studio time with someone (me) less interested in bringing in the bodies and more concerned with taking the time to produce a quality portrait that you will be pleased with. I have the knowledge which allows me to suggest the best pose, the proper lighting for a desired effect and how best to compose a shot.

If you doubt me, stop by a mall portrait shop one day. Just how much time is that camera operating technician taking to arrange the lighting or even make adjustments with the camera? Hardly any I tell you. They are basically given a template to follow. They set up the stage and dial in the camera settings based on the little booklet they were given in training. And those settings remain the same, regardless of what they are shooting.

So the next time you might wonder why the difference in price between a real photographer with a studio and a retail photo outlet, now you know.