Lots of exciting things happening - some photography related, some not.
We are still working on the Survivor Project. Will be contacting more people to participate in the coming days. If you know of someone who has cancer, or who has been successfully treated for cancer, have them call me asap - 405-392-3929 - so we can include them in the project. Initially, we're planning a calendar; ultimately a coffee table book. Both will be sold to raise funds for the American Cancer Society. If you or someone you know was treated at OU Medical, be sure and let me know as we may be doing a separate project for them.
We have a dance studio project and a couple of weddings coming up. We are still photographing seniors for the class of 2011, but are looking for spokes models for class of 2012! Spokes models, we need you now to provide you with sample images you can use to help promote Carr Portrait Art with your fellow seniors. We are looking for people who want amazing senior portraits and aren't willing to settle for mediocre (or worse).
I'm also working on some photography programs that I can share at professional photographer associations. God has blessed me with great mentors who helped me learn how to create beautiful portraits and how to market my business, and it's time for me to pay it forward. Also, if anyone is interested in photography classes or PhotoShop classes on a local level, I would be willing to set up some classes at my studio. These classes would oriented to amateur and advanced amateur photographers to help them learn how to better use their cameras and to do basic photo editing. If you're interested, call me: 392-3929.
On a personal note: I am working on getting my book published. It's a book sharing some very foundational principles for living a victorious Christian life. In conjunction with that, to help spread awareness of the book, I've started a separate blog at: www.heisarewarder.blogspot.com and opened a Twitter account. Most of what I'll be "tweeting" will be related to the book, but there will also be some photography related tweets as well I'm sure. So, I hope you'll sign up to follow this blog and the book blog, as well as follow me on Twitter!
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Family, winter photos, and projects
I've been out of town a few days. My brother-in-law passed away and we went to the funeral. Got to see (and meet) a lot of relatives. On the way back, stopped and visited with cousins from my mom's side of the family. It really was a week that reminded me how important family is. We all have a desire for roots, for a place of belonging, for people who care about us, somewhere we fit in. We benefit from the emotional security and strength that comes from being part of family. We may have close friends with whom we spend more time than we do with anyone outside our immediate family/household, but it's still comforting, encouraging and strengthening to at least know family is there and that they care.
We're starting off the year with a couple of projects in the works. We just sent out a mailing to part of our mailing list of current clients with a winter portrait/Valentines promotion. If you didn't receive it and would like to know about the specials, give me a call: 392-3929. We will also be sending out one final Class of 2011 senior mailing with some specials on reprints for those who've already done their senior portraits, and some specials on sessions for those who haven't.
I've got a couple of personal projects I'm working on as well. Foremost is the Survivor Project, photographing people who have or have had cancer and want to fight back by being part of a fund-raiser. I need to get phase one wrapped up soon, so if you have or have had cancer, please call me and let's schedule a time for a photo session for you to be part of this vital project. For more information you can visit www.carrportraitart.com.
The other project is something I'd like to do just as a personal photo project - maybe come up with an art print-style image I could submit to professional photographic print competition. I need a couple with a newborn - preferably less than 3 weeks old. If that's you, and you'd be willing to help, give me a call.
Rick
We're starting off the year with a couple of projects in the works. We just sent out a mailing to part of our mailing list of current clients with a winter portrait/Valentines promotion. If you didn't receive it and would like to know about the specials, give me a call: 392-3929. We will also be sending out one final Class of 2011 senior mailing with some specials on reprints for those who've already done their senior portraits, and some specials on sessions for those who haven't.
I've got a couple of personal projects I'm working on as well. Foremost is the Survivor Project, photographing people who have or have had cancer and want to fight back by being part of a fund-raiser. I need to get phase one wrapped up soon, so if you have or have had cancer, please call me and let's schedule a time for a photo session for you to be part of this vital project. For more information you can visit www.carrportraitart.com.
The other project is something I'd like to do just as a personal photo project - maybe come up with an art print-style image I could submit to professional photographic print competition. I need a couple with a newborn - preferably less than 3 weeks old. If that's you, and you'd be willing to help, give me a call.
Rick
Saturday, January 1, 2011
1-1-11
Happy New Year everyone! I am so excited about the New Year! I know, as one of my Facebook friends pointed out, it's really just another day. Yet somehow, this year, it really does seem to be an opportunity for a fresh start. I think it's just how the lessons of last year timed out. It's as though it took me right up till the end of 2010 to grasp some of the things the Lord has been showing me and get a handle on the lessons, etc. So, it really feels like a new beginning - an opportunity to take what I'm learning and run with it.
It's my anniversary, 33 years married to my best friend, Trish. So, I'm not going to spend a lot of time blogging or Facebooking. But I just wanted to throw some of my optimism over the new year out there on the first day of the year, and get that fresh start started!
It's my anniversary, 33 years married to my best friend, Trish. So, I'm not going to spend a lot of time blogging or Facebooking. But I just wanted to throw some of my optimism over the new year out there on the first day of the year, and get that fresh start started!
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Expensive? or just care too much?
I used to have clients tell me they came to me because they heard I was really good, but I was cheap, too. I never wanted to compete with department store studios on price, because I felt my quality was better, even when I was just starting out. I've always been sensitive about whether our prices are too high. I don't want to be "expensive." I didn't want "cheap" to be associated with my art either. I've always longed to have my art evaluated on quality and the emotions it evokes, and not price (even when people thought I was "cheap").
I understand that sometimes there just are budget limitations, and you have to make a choice based on whether you can afford something. However, I also know that almost all of us spend money on whatever we really want to spend money on. We eat out, we buy cars, we buy pets and invest in food, vet bills, toys for them, etc. It's called discretionary spending, and if we really want something badly enough, we'll find a way to get it - charge it, save for it, stop spending on something we value less - whatever it takes.
The past couple of years, with the pressure we've all felt due to the national economy, I've often second guessed my prices and whether I should lower them (in spite of the fact I have a consultant who tells me I'm "giving away" my wall portraits and should at least double my prices immediately). I know people invest in photography for emotional reasons - because of love for family, because it makes them look good and feel good about themselves, because it captures and preserves special memories and moments in their lives.... When it really touches the heart, price is irrelevant. (If it wasn't, I know of some studios that could not possibly still be in business, because they are really "expensive." Yet they are in business, and quite successful.) Even so, when the economy is tough, and people are struggling to make ends meet, it pushes me to get really analytical about my prices.
So, today, I took a recent client's order and compared it to the prices of three other studios. One is in a small west central Oklahoma town. One is an independent studio in the OKCity Metro area. One is a chain of studios with several studios throughout OK and No. TX.
The client ordered a 16x20, a collection of 8x10s and 5x7s, and 90 wallets (3 poses, with free name imprint). Our wall portraits are framed (even a 20" senior portrait gets a nice frame of your choice - from 20 or more frame moldings) and carry a lifetime guarantee. The frame is included in the price. The small print collection had no limit on poses, they wound up with 11 different poses, plus the wallets. All our portraits, whatever the size, receive basic retouch - removal of blemishes and softening of facial lines. But we also soften the skin, enhance the eyes, remove stray hairs, and do any other art work that's needed to get the best possible print. We just care. We want people to be absolutely thrilled with their portraits and look their absolute best, and never have to settle for something less. The client's total with tax was a little over $800. We included a bonus 5x30 6 image digital composite (framed), and a DVD of images for Facebook.
She called the chain studio, and was told she could get the same thing for a little over $600.
Using the price lists of the three studios I mentioned above, here's what I found. None of the other studios included the extensive retouch we do. They all included basic retouch, but for the softening, the removing of stray hairs, whitening teeth, they all charged additional fees. None offered the 5x30 as a bonus item, and only one offered the DVD. Only one offered a frame, but it was a basic 1" cherry or oak frame. Anything else would be additional. The studio that told her she could get the same for less, also limited the number of poses in the collection to four! For additional poses, it was $12/pose. All charged extra to imprint the name on the wallets. The most notable difference between Carr Portrait Art and the other three studios is none of them offered a 100% money back guarantee, and none of them offered a lifetime guarantee on wall portraits!
To get exactly what she was getting from us from the other studios, here are the price tags:
The west OK, small town studio - $1080
The OKCity Metro independent studio - $968
The chain studio that quoted her $600+ - $1,127 (plus - she'll have at least an $80 session fee)
Now, if she drops the frame, the name imprint on the wallets, the 7 additional poses, the 5x30, the DVD, and the softening of the skin, enhancing the eyes, and removal of stray hairs the price at the chain studio will be $608 (plus the $80 session fee).
That's why we don't post our prices on our website - an apples to apples comparison would take more than a quick glance. If you looked at the individual print prices, ours would appear more expensive. To get what we offer you for our price, you'd have to read through pages of price lists at the other studios to find all the details and the added fees. You may not even realize you might want some of these things. We used to offer a pricing structure like the other studios. But even though some of our clients "settled" for the cheaper prints, I couldn't. I wanted them to look great in their portraits, and usually did the extra artwork anyway. A photograph is more than an image on a piece of paper. It's the moments, the memories, the emotions it evokes. That's why we are committed to excellence.
The numbers show we aren't the most expensive studio around, especially for our level of experience and the quality we offer. Maybe I just care too much? But I have a hard time using the bait and switch tactics of showing one level of work on my website, displays, and studio walls, but quoting a price that does not offer that level of work without additional fees.
We want you get to know us, and know that we really care, that we are going to take great care of you and create beautiful, meaningful portraits for you. We guarantee it!
I understand that sometimes there just are budget limitations, and you have to make a choice based on whether you can afford something. However, I also know that almost all of us spend money on whatever we really want to spend money on. We eat out, we buy cars, we buy pets and invest in food, vet bills, toys for them, etc. It's called discretionary spending, and if we really want something badly enough, we'll find a way to get it - charge it, save for it, stop spending on something we value less - whatever it takes.
The past couple of years, with the pressure we've all felt due to the national economy, I've often second guessed my prices and whether I should lower them (in spite of the fact I have a consultant who tells me I'm "giving away" my wall portraits and should at least double my prices immediately). I know people invest in photography for emotional reasons - because of love for family, because it makes them look good and feel good about themselves, because it captures and preserves special memories and moments in their lives.... When it really touches the heart, price is irrelevant. (If it wasn't, I know of some studios that could not possibly still be in business, because they are really "expensive." Yet they are in business, and quite successful.) Even so, when the economy is tough, and people are struggling to make ends meet, it pushes me to get really analytical about my prices.
So, today, I took a recent client's order and compared it to the prices of three other studios. One is in a small west central Oklahoma town. One is an independent studio in the OKCity Metro area. One is a chain of studios with several studios throughout OK and No. TX.
The client ordered a 16x20, a collection of 8x10s and 5x7s, and 90 wallets (3 poses, with free name imprint). Our wall portraits are framed (even a 20" senior portrait gets a nice frame of your choice - from 20 or more frame moldings) and carry a lifetime guarantee. The frame is included in the price. The small print collection had no limit on poses, they wound up with 11 different poses, plus the wallets. All our portraits, whatever the size, receive basic retouch - removal of blemishes and softening of facial lines. But we also soften the skin, enhance the eyes, remove stray hairs, and do any other art work that's needed to get the best possible print. We just care. We want people to be absolutely thrilled with their portraits and look their absolute best, and never have to settle for something less. The client's total with tax was a little over $800. We included a bonus 5x30 6 image digital composite (framed), and a DVD of images for Facebook.
She called the chain studio, and was told she could get the same thing for a little over $600.
Using the price lists of the three studios I mentioned above, here's what I found. None of the other studios included the extensive retouch we do. They all included basic retouch, but for the softening, the removing of stray hairs, whitening teeth, they all charged additional fees. None offered the 5x30 as a bonus item, and only one offered the DVD. Only one offered a frame, but it was a basic 1" cherry or oak frame. Anything else would be additional. The studio that told her she could get the same for less, also limited the number of poses in the collection to four! For additional poses, it was $12/pose. All charged extra to imprint the name on the wallets. The most notable difference between Carr Portrait Art and the other three studios is none of them offered a 100% money back guarantee, and none of them offered a lifetime guarantee on wall portraits!
To get exactly what she was getting from us from the other studios, here are the price tags:
The west OK, small town studio - $1080
The OKCity Metro independent studio - $968
The chain studio that quoted her $600+ - $1,127 (plus - she'll have at least an $80 session fee)
Now, if she drops the frame, the name imprint on the wallets, the 7 additional poses, the 5x30, the DVD, and the softening of the skin, enhancing the eyes, and removal of stray hairs the price at the chain studio will be $608 (plus the $80 session fee).
That's why we don't post our prices on our website - an apples to apples comparison would take more than a quick glance. If you looked at the individual print prices, ours would appear more expensive. To get what we offer you for our price, you'd have to read through pages of price lists at the other studios to find all the details and the added fees. You may not even realize you might want some of these things. We used to offer a pricing structure like the other studios. But even though some of our clients "settled" for the cheaper prints, I couldn't. I wanted them to look great in their portraits, and usually did the extra artwork anyway. A photograph is more than an image on a piece of paper. It's the moments, the memories, the emotions it evokes. That's why we are committed to excellence.
The numbers show we aren't the most expensive studio around, especially for our level of experience and the quality we offer. Maybe I just care too much? But I have a hard time using the bait and switch tactics of showing one level of work on my website, displays, and studio walls, but quoting a price that does not offer that level of work without additional fees.
We want you get to know us, and know that we really care, that we are going to take great care of you and create beautiful, meaningful portraits for you. We guarantee it!
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