Photographer

SingleMom31 · August 2013

hile I was pregnant, I signed up for a "year of photos" with a local photographer. After the first photo session, I found out that she required you to do a "viewing and ordering" appointment in order to even see the proofs. She'll only do them during the week, so my choices are either to take time off work or giving up a whole evening (it's a 3+ hour time commitment since it's a half hour each way, plus like two hours to go through all of the photos multiple times). I also don't like that it feels like a lot of pressure -- I can't take the proofs home and show SO, can't ask my/SO's parents which they'd like, etc. since I need to order them right then. After all of that, she'll put the proofs online for me in case anyone would like to order additional photos.

Has anyone had a similar experience? Is this normal? My only other experience with a professional photographer in recent history is our wedding photographer, who'll post all of the proofs online by Monday morning (it's a Saturday wedding). When I asked her to just do that before, she told me that she can't because then she'd have to for everyone.

I guess I'm mostly venting. I don't think that I have an alternative other than going along with it at this point. Part of me doesn't want to make time though, and just look at them at our next session.

Beth.1212 · August 2013

We chose someone who sends a disc of the photos (jpeg, enough resolution for an 8x10 or smaller print). We really dislike the whole "I own the photos that you paid me to take of your family, and now you need to pay me through the nose for prints" thing.

If you view the photos at your next session, I see nothing wrong with that, esp. if your SO will be there then.

Jackiemxoxo · August 2013

I think photographers can range but a lot let you view proofs online or have a sneak preview. I always try to find photographers who will do a deal with a disc (like pp) because otherwise it gets pricey after the session and individual prints. My sister had the same dilemma as you though she hated driving to see her photos but the lady did that for all her boudoir sessions. I think its pretty crappy though that your photographer only does viewing during the week (she probably shoots on weekends though) which makes it really inconvenient for you. Also, it is odd that they will put the proofs up for everyone else after to buy. I wonder what she does for people out of town?

JessAnnJ · August 2013

I won't count the wedding photographer because I think weddings tend to be different, but I have hired 5 different photographers. We generally choose photographers that will provide us with all of the digital images. In those instances we have either received a CD in the mail or downloaded them from a website. Our most recent photographer was someone we had a living social voucher for. Our deal included 5 digital images. She put all of the photos online password protected, we choose the 5, and she emailed them to us (we could have asked for a CD but I didn't want to wait).

Personally I would never hire a photographer whose either did not provide digital images or charged a rediculous price for them. I understand that they view the images as their work, but they are my memories and I want to have the archived electronically.

IMO, and considering it is now 2013, I would say you photographer is a bit abnormal in requiring you to go there. It seems like the purpose is to pressure you.

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