10 Ways to Spot a Fauxtographer

Fauxtographer (n.) — That overpaid guy with a camera who produced a product that looks like it came from a disposable camera someone gave to the flower girl.

Here are 10 tips to avoiding that guy:

The price is dramatically less than other photographers you’ve seen. If the price seems too good to be true, it probably is. Professional cameras, lenses and editing software add up quickly, and a self-employed professional photographer also pays around 40 percent in income taxes.

There’s little to no file backup system. What’s worse than bad wedding photos? No wedding photos. If the photographer doesn’t sound 100 percent dedicated to keeping your photos safe, keep looking.

The fauxtographer doesn’t have business insurance. A professional photographer has insurance to cover you or your venue if something goes wrong.

There’s no contract. A contract protects both you and your photographer, and you can expect a real photographer to have a detailed contract, covering everything from when the balance is due to how soon you should expect your wedding photos after the big day.

She only has one camera. Bad things happen at weddings. A photographer can trip. A flower girl can mistake a lens for a toy. Every photographer experiences an equipment mishap at least once in her career, so if it happens at your wedding, you want to be sure she can carry on as though nothing happened.

A fauxtographer doesn’t have any lenses that are f/2.8 or “faster.” This part is a bit technical, but ask the photographer to list a few of their lenses. Lenses are described in ways like 85mm f/1.4 or 70-200 f/2.8. If you hear a lot of f/5.8 or f/4, she is likely photographing your wedding with hobby quality lenses, which can be bad. Indoor receptions and ceremonies are incredibly demanding on camera equipment, and you’ll want your photographer to use the very best.

You don’t see a complete wedding album. It’s easy for a fauxtographer to take the best pictures from several different weddings and put together a beautiful album. Be sure you’re able to see a whole wedding from start to finish.

Fauxtographers will give you every picture they snap. A professional takes pride in his work, and not every click of the shutter will result in a worthy image. Be wary of a photographer that doesn’t take pride in her work and reputation enough to toss the bad shots.

He hasn’t ever been to a workshop or photography conference. Professional photographers invest in attending workshops and conferences to keep their skills and business practices up to date.

She uses the built in flash on her camera. Fauxtographers show their true colors when the scene gets dark. A professional photographer uses an external flash (or two) to control the light, often directing her flash at a ceiling or wall to create a softer look. Fauxtographers use the built-in flash on their camera, and can’t capture the ambiance of your reception.

Article by Traci Turchin

Utah family portraits - Christmas and family portraits go together

Can everyone afford me? #utahcountyphotographer

As I read other photographer's blogs and Facebook pages, I often hear the comment "I believe in offering an inexpensive product that everyone can afford!" I guess I'm not that kind of photographer. Most everyone I know can afford to eat at McDonalds. You know, I can't remember the last time I had a Big Mac. Yes, it's affordable. Do I want it? No. I'd rather pay more, and get something I'd enjoy eating. I guess that my prices aren't for everyone. I'm ok with
that.

I got together with some of the local photographers for a Christmas luncheon. It was nice to hob knob with other people that think the way that I do. One thing I think we all agree on, selling someone a CD with an entire session of (un)edited images on it is doing no one a favor. Line up 5 photographers (with professional cameras) and you get 5 similar images. But turn us loose in Photoshop, and each one of us will have an individual style manifest itself on our image. 50 files on a CD doesn't show the uniqueness and personality of the artist that created them. But give me a half hour or so, and you'll have an original portrait that I'd be proud to sign.

Here's a finished file...

and here's how it came out of the camera. It's a great photo, lighting is good, composition is balanced, but I'm sorry, It's not finished! I look at a file out of the camera as a raw ingredient, ready to create something tasty!

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An investment in emotion

Last night we photographed a family. Large family, lots of children. During their review, the mother loved their experience, and wanted to purchase a wall portrait. The father, on the other hand, was concerned about price. I explained how I would enhance this and that, and make it a portrait he'd cherish for years to come. He decided to make his sweetheart happy, and invest in a size that best suited their living room. But, I guess he set aside the joy of having a large family portrait, as he canceled his print this morning.

You know, I have my parents' wall portraits from years and years ago. I cherish them. I don't know how much Dad paid for them. No one remembers. I guess my point is, the price you paid is important to you now, but not later. The joy and emotion that a quality portrait will give you, your children, and generations down the road will far outweigh the cost you pay today.

Big flash cards!

I'm still waiting for my new camera to arrive. But, I got the new compact flash cards today. 16gb! I put them in my spare Canon 40D, and the exposures remaining pegged at 999. I photographed for about an hour, and it still read 999. Technology has came a long way! Seems like yesterday that I could take 36 exposures, and had to change the film.

My daughter dropped by... all three of us spent the afternoon in the studio trying out a few new backdrops. It makes me appreciate our customers even more when it's my turn in front of the camera. Just keep smiling, just keep smiling. I felt like the fish from Finding Nemo.

We're photographing some of the students from American Fork High School tonight, it's their Preference Dance. It's different than photographing families and such, you have just 3 or 4 exposures to get it right. It's a real challenge, but still a lot of fun. Kind of like speed dating...

Cameras shouldn't look new.

As many of you know, while working with a family the other day, up in American Fork Canyon, next to the river, my camera, lens and flash decided to go swimming. Water and electronic equipment just don't mix! Luckily, the session was about over, and we finished up with a backup camera. I called my good friend Stephen at Kew's Camera Service in Provo, and he delivered the news that my equipment was DOA. Now I have a bag of the dripping wet camera equipment, that yesterday was worth a little over $3000. Perhaps I can use it to make desk paper weights, or Christmas ornaments. As I was working with my insurance, they needed a letter from Stephen stating the condition of the equipment. It was kinda funny, as he has taken each of the ruined items apart several times for various repairs. He said you can tell the professionals from the "want-to-be's" by how nice their equipment looks. A photographer that photographs thousands of portraits will wear out his equipment. Accidents happen when you use your stuff so often. I remember reading in the classifieds someone was selling their camera because it cost so much that they were afraid to damage it. Go figure. That's like being a race driver and being afraid of getting flat tires. The good news... my new camera, flash and lens is on order and will be here shortly!

Utah family portraits- The Okerlund family

DS Portraits is a award winning photographer that photographs baby, infants, High School seniors, families and weddings.  We photograph all over Utah, Idaho, Nevada.  Lehi, American Fork Salt Lake City, Riverton, Sandy Alpine, Highland.

The Vanalfen Family

Utah's voted #1 photographer Utah County- Melanie

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Kittens! Our cat snuck out in the middle of the night for a romantic kitty rendezvous. But, they're cute as a button! Until they're old enough to give away, we'll be taking their picture with your child in our portrait gardens. Please call for an appointment.

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Utah Family photographers- Sunset portraits, American Fork Utah, Alpine Utah,Highland Utah, Draper Utah, Sandy Utah, Salt Lake city Utah

Now booking for Utah or Great Salt Lake sunset portraits. July 19-22. There are only a few appointments available. Call 801-763-7838

Utah -DS Portraits Family photographers

This cute family came in the night before their son went into the MTC. Well, the gardens were not quite green yet. Now the great thing is that Alan is certified in Adobe Photoshop. That is how we can make a very dull background into a fun background.

Now it is nice and green.

Utah -DS Portraits -graduation photography- Shannon

Best Photography Studio in Utah Valley

It's official! We've been voted "Best Portrait Studio in Utah Valley"! Thanks for voting for us!

Utah Wedding photographer Love is in the air

Utah Wedding photographer -Katrina and Carl #utahweddingphotography #utahweddingphotographer #theknotutah #americanforkutahphotographer #americanforkutah #utahwedding #utahbride #ds_portraits #happilyeverafter #newlywed #weddedbliss #fantasybridalut #rockymountainbride #americanforkweddings #bridalsutah #saltlakeweddingphotography #saltlakewedding