Recommend Seattle photographers by the hour?
September 7, 2010 11:20 AM Subscribe
Can I pay for a photographer's time instead of paying for a set number of poses and prints? Why won't Yuen Lui quote me an hourly rate? (Seattle)
I want to have some couples photos taken with my girlfriend.
The studios I've called quote low prices for the sitting and make their money on the prints. I'd like to pay for their time/expertise and be given the full quality digital files to print at my processor of choice.
Is this a question of who owns the rights to the photos? Why is the pricing structured this way?
I love the diffused glowing photos produced by Yuen Lui. How do I find a studio or photographer with a similar look but a different pricing structure?
I want to have some couples photos taken with my girlfriend.
The studios I've called quote low prices for the sitting and make their money on the prints. I'd like to pay for their time/expertise and be given the full quality digital files to print at my processor of choice.
Is this a question of who owns the rights to the photos? Why is the pricing structured this way?
I love the diffused glowing photos produced by Yuen Lui. How do I find a studio or photographer with a similar look but a different pricing structure?
I've noticed from looking at photographer sites that they operate much like you state in the original post -- they make their money on prints, not their time, and in fact when I was shopping around for a wedding photographer, I couldn't find any that would let you keep the original files.
posted by mathowie at 11:53 AM on September 7, 2010
posted by mathowie at 11:53 AM on September 7, 2010
I think I operate my business the way you wish this other photographer did. The client and I agree upon a number of retouched photos from a session and I quote a fee. In all cases, I retain the copyright.
Personally, I find the strategy of low sitting fee plus high print prices unrealistic and outdated. Its also infinitely easier to not have to deal with prints and their delivery.
posted by blaneyphoto at 12:02 PM on September 7, 2010
Personally, I find the strategy of low sitting fee plus high print prices unrealistic and outdated. Its also infinitely easier to not have to deal with prints and their delivery.
posted by blaneyphoto at 12:02 PM on September 7, 2010
Hire a photography student or someone that does commercial photography.
posted by dripdripdrop at 12:04 PM on September 7, 2010
posted by dripdripdrop at 12:04 PM on September 7, 2010
If you want to own your photos and just pay for time (my photog sister and I have agreed to Never Bring This One Up Again; I'm on your side,) look for a student who wants money and a few shots for her portfolio. The attitude in the industry at large is... Let's just leave it at that. Yeah.
posted by SMPA at 12:07 PM on September 7, 2010
posted by SMPA at 12:07 PM on September 7, 2010
My wife and I were able to buy the original digital files from our wedding for an additional (non-trivial) cost, but that was an option provided by the photographer, and one she did not push upon us. Rather, she was fond of the photo books, and had the option to buy the original files outright as a last option, if none of the book options struck our fancy.
posted by filthy light thief at 12:10 PM on September 7, 2010
posted by filthy light thief at 12:10 PM on September 7, 2010
Addendum: the photographer can ensure what a print looks like if they do all the pre-processing and deliver it to a print-shop of their liking. If they hand you the originals, even if they get paid for their editing and fine-tuning, you could print them at at sub-par quality, and that would reflect poorly on the photographer. Even if you clarified "we printed these ourselves" to people who saw them, there's still an assumption that part of the flaw is due to the photographer.
posted by filthy light thief at 12:13 PM on September 7, 2010 [5 favorites]
posted by filthy light thief at 12:13 PM on September 7, 2010 [5 favorites]
We used a photographer for our wedding who charged a set rate for the time, a set of prints of all the photos, and gave us the negatives (nine years ago). We also had family photos done last year where we worked with a different photographer at a local park, again for a set period of time and flat fee; she did all the pre-processing and gave us all the digital files and we had them printed ourselves. These are both in Seattle; if you want names, send me a message.
In other words, look for an independent photographer rather than a studio. As mentioned above, the studios make their money by controlling the sale of prints (and keeping their ownership of the copyright). An independent is much more likely to hand over all the originals/negatives/digital files. They might be slightly more expensive, but I vastly prefer an independent to the studios for just this reason.
(Side note: I am not a fan of Yeun Lui, mostly because they are overpriced and seem to have a stranglehold on the dance recital/sports team photos/other kid-type events here in NE Seattle, at least.)
posted by Lulu's Pink Converse at 12:44 PM on September 7, 2010
In other words, look for an independent photographer rather than a studio. As mentioned above, the studios make their money by controlling the sale of prints (and keeping their ownership of the copyright). An independent is much more likely to hand over all the originals/negatives/digital files. They might be slightly more expensive, but I vastly prefer an independent to the studios for just this reason.
(Side note: I am not a fan of Yeun Lui, mostly because they are overpriced and seem to have a stranglehold on the dance recital/sports team photos/other kid-type events here in NE Seattle, at least.)
posted by Lulu's Pink Converse at 12:44 PM on September 7, 2010
Most photographers won't give you raw digital files because you could do a horrible job on printing them and they don't want their name aaaociated with the end result.
posted by fshgrl at 2:03 PM on September 7, 2010
posted by fshgrl at 2:03 PM on September 7, 2010
Best answer: Disclaimer: this is either totally against MeFi terms, or exactly what MeFi is for... but...
I'm visiting Seattle next week (14-18th) and actually need a real couple to photograph. You'd be doing me a big favor, so I'd be happy to provide a disc of images in return. My email (and website) are in my profile if you're interested.
Otherwise, check out the Photographer-Finders for both Wedding & Portrait Photographers International (WPPI) and Professional Photographers of America (PPA). They'll provide you with a list of member photographers, most of whom are hip to contemporary business practices like digital files, etc.
• PPA Lookup
• WPPI Lookup
As others have mentioned, stick to independent photographers and avoid studios like Sears, etc. Studios are in the business of cranking out high volume, low cost work. Independent photographers charge more but have the advantage of developing a relationship with you, which translates directly into the photographs.
posted by Hankins at 3:46 PM on September 7, 2010
I'm visiting Seattle next week (14-18th) and actually need a real couple to photograph. You'd be doing me a big favor, so I'd be happy to provide a disc of images in return. My email (and website) are in my profile if you're interested.
Otherwise, check out the Photographer-Finders for both Wedding & Portrait Photographers International (WPPI) and Professional Photographers of America (PPA). They'll provide you with a list of member photographers, most of whom are hip to contemporary business practices like digital files, etc.
• PPA Lookup
• WPPI Lookup
As others have mentioned, stick to independent photographers and avoid studios like Sears, etc. Studios are in the business of cranking out high volume, low cost work. Independent photographers charge more but have the advantage of developing a relationship with you, which translates directly into the photographs.
posted by Hankins at 3:46 PM on September 7, 2010
We have been going to Yuen Lui for about 4 years now and it's no Sears or JcPenney. Great quality, great prices and I have never not once been pressured to buy more or buy at all. Super nice people. I have 3 kids and we go often. I would suggest going to the studio and asking for the price sheet for ordering prints. They often have sales and do larger packages that include the rights to the image. I do this all the time, you get a disk with the images. I think if you want to know how much it will cost that might be easiest way to do it.
posted by 58 at 6:29 PM on September 7, 2010
posted by 58 at 6:29 PM on September 7, 2010
I now realize that I didn't address in my first reply that you don't want to pay per print or whatever. I just wanted to stress that you *can* buy the rights to the images, you just have to pay for them. If you get the price sheet you can find out the exact cost. It's not how you want to pay (package vs. hourly rate) but you can get what you want in the end. Sorry for the extra post.
posted by 58 at 6:48 PM on September 7, 2010
posted by 58 at 6:48 PM on September 7, 2010
Different photographers have different business models.
There are plenty of good photographers around who will handle this kind of a shoot the way you'd like. You just haven't found one yet, and there's no need to resort to using some student to shoot these pictures.
I'm on the opposite coast from you, and I don't shoot couples anyway (except in the course of commercial shoots for businesses, institutions, etc.), but if i did, my business model would work for your needs.
Be aware that pretty much any professional photographer is going to perform and bill for some degree of post production work prior to delivering your digital photos.
posted by imjustsaying at 4:26 AM on September 9, 2010
There are plenty of good photographers around who will handle this kind of a shoot the way you'd like. You just haven't found one yet, and there's no need to resort to using some student to shoot these pictures.
I'm on the opposite coast from you, and I don't shoot couples anyway (except in the course of commercial shoots for businesses, institutions, etc.), but if i did, my business model would work for your needs.
Be aware that pretty much any professional photographer is going to perform and bill for some degree of post production work prior to delivering your digital photos.
posted by imjustsaying at 4:26 AM on September 9, 2010
Response by poster: Just a very late update here for anyone who discovers this post: MeFi user hankins shot our photos in Seattle and it was an outstanding experience. The shoot felt natural and the photos turned out great.
posted by reeddavid at 12:45 PM on June 15, 2011
posted by reeddavid at 12:45 PM on June 15, 2011
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So, for portrait sessions I limit my clients to a set amount of final photos, and charge them for anything above and beyond that. Family sessions and events I handle in a slightly different way based on the needs of the client.
Many professional photographers make their money not from the session, but from the prints. This results in reluctance for the photographer to deliver their photos digitally to you. Additionally, delivery of digital photos to the client requires the photographer to give up a certain amount of creative control. For professional photographs, many photographers have a lab they tend to work with that produces quality photos; issues like color matching and print quality come into play here. If your client takes the photos and prints them out on their home printer, there will be a much different result.
tl;dr - You're not just paying for the photographer's time with you in front of the camera.
If you're looking for your finals digitally, look for photographers in your area that will deliver your photos on a CD or DVD. Suggested google terms - "engagement photographer" + seattle . Find ones you like and inquire as to their pricing/delivery structure.
Engagement photographers are good to search for because they'll be used to shooting couples. This applies even if you aren't engaged / if you are already married.
posted by kellygrape at 11:36 AM on September 7, 2010