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Portrait Photo Session

Portrait sessions with Full Bucket Photography are fun and stress free. Whether it be your beloved canine companion, your child, a newly engaged couple or soon-to-be bride our goal is to capture the unique spirit and character of our subjects, best accomplished in a relaxed environment with natural light. Each session typically lasts 1-2 hours and begins with a 10-15 minute meet-and-greet to get everyone comfortable and relaxed.  We typically photograph at Laurel Valley Plantation Store in Thibodaux but are open to other locations such as your back yard or other favorite locations that may have special meaning.  Outdoor lighting is optimum for our style of photography however if you prefer indoor shots, they may be possible with appropriate natural light from open windows, curtains, blinds and doors.  If an indoor session is preferred, please be prepared to de-clutter the environment in order to decrease distractions in the photographs.

Booking your Session

We accept limited numbers of photo sessions each month to allow us adequate time to complete post-session work on the images and ensure that each customer receives the best possible photographs.  Please email us at robin@fullbucketphotography.com to begin the scheduling process.  Most of our sessions are scheduled on Sunday afternoons however weekday sessions are available on request.  In the late spring, summer and early fall, sessions begin around 6 p.m. to ensure optimum lighting.  The holiday season is extremely busy for us so please plan ahead.  Also, please bear in mind that weather can be an obstacle and occasionally sessions have to be rescheduled due to rain, hurricanes etc.

Preparing for your Photo Session

If we will be photographing your dog, please be sure that he/she has been recently bathed and or groomed.  If you need the name of a good local groomer check out our favorite links on the events page of our website.  We also love to capture you with your beloved canine companion so please come bathed and recently groomed as well!

We suggest classic clothing styles for infants, kids and adults.  Solid color with minimal patterns and stripes ensure a more timeless photograph.  Colors that tend to photograph well are red, navy, dark green, black, beige and tan, light blue, pink, orange, and brown. Jewelry and accessories should be minimal as these can also be distracting and date a photograph.  

 If you have any other questions please shoot us an email and ask!

             Investment

Dog Portraits: 

Sitting Fee:  $75.00 ($25 each additional dog from the same household)

Includes:

• 1-2 hour photo session
• treats, water and available toys
• 25-35 proof portfolio (yours to keep)
• Time, talent and expertise of photographer and creative director
• Additional travel expenses added if photographing outside the 30 mile radius of Thibodaux

Children’s Portraits:

Sitting Fee:  $50 ($25 for each additional child in household)

Includes:

• 1-1 1/2 hour photo shoot
• 25-35 proof portfolio (yours to keep)
• Time and talent of photographer

Engagement Portraits:

 Sitting Fee:  $75/hour (Local)

 Includes:

• 1-1 1/2 hour photo shoot
• 25-35 proof portfolio (yours to keep)
• photo emailing to local newspapers for announcements
• Time and talent of photographer
• Additional travel expenses added if photographing outside the 30 mile radius of Thibodaux

Pre-Bridal Portraits:

 Sitting Fee:  $75/hour (Local)

Includes:

• 1-1 1/2 hour photo shoot
• 25-35 proof portfolio (yours to keep)
• photo emailing to local newspapers for announcements
• Time and talent of photographer
• Additional travel expenses added if photographing outside the 30 mile radius of Thibodaux

What Is Custom Photography?

Article posted by the Professional Child Photographer – Consumer Guide for Professional Photographers.  February 26, 2008

The photographic art you choose to place on your wall is ultimately the result of the vision of the photographer. This vision, coupled with what you wear to your session, the environment, the lighting, even the mood the subjects are in at the time of photographing creates the work that you will want to proudly display on your walls forevermore.

Your first step in the process is more about determining who you are, who your family is and then seeking a photographer that reflects your style. For instance let’s say your family is extremely outdoorsy and loves playing on the beach. You start determining what style you like, browse through photography website portfolios and determine if any of the styles exhibited there would be a good fit with your life and family style. You have already determined that you should probably seek out a beach type photographer (that is if you live near a beach) and then begin narrowing the field down a bit.

Finally after a bit of internet research, you have narrowed it down to two photographers who do what seems like solid work, the sort of outdoor beach look you desire.  It is now time to ask yourself: Do you like photographer A’s style over photographer B’s style? Is it because the people in the images of A’s style are having a great time and it seems very caught up in the moment vs. B photographer more posed, looking in the camera images? If this is a case, you probably like LIFESTYLE photography or perhaps even take it a step further and define your desired style as a PHOTOJOURNALISTIC photography style. The photographer you probably should choose is photographer A because their style is very similar to the style you desire.

What custom photography ultimately is all about is choice and experience (as in THE experience). Custom photography is about finding someone who will photograph your family, give you devoted 1:1 attention without worry of the next ‘in line’ or the feeling of a crowded portrait studio. A custom photographer will typically show you a fairly extensive gallery culled to only show the good images that meet the photographers’ creative sensibilities. Often the images are fully edited images-color corrected with blemishes and under eye circles removed. Custom photographers are also known as boutique studios, offering a range of products and unparalleled service. Think Lexus vs. Hyundai, think Nordstrom vs. WalMart.

Custom photography should have you, the client and your experience in mind.

Why Does Custom Photography Cost More?

The digital revolution has brought amazing flexibility and ability to control various factors during the image taking and making process.  Photographers, the hobbyist, the professional, the amateur all benefit from this ability to manipulate pixels.  However, with flexibility comes a price.  Digital camera equipment is still considerably more expensive when you factor in its’ lifespan, the need for additional resources for processing those images, the time it takes to get a usable image and the effort that goes into creating a work of photographic art.

We all know that you can go to the local Walgreen’s and pay a $1.99 for a print - as a client you may wonder why you may pay upwards of $50, $70, $90 for a custom photography print.   Photographers hear this statement every once in awhile:

“How in the world can you charge $60 for an 8×10 if it costs me less than $2 to print at x store?”

The truth of the matter is the answer to this question is multifaceted.  Much of the cost of a photographic print produced by a professional photographer has a lot to do with the time,  equipment costs, artistic vision and reputation of the photographer not to mention expertise and the usual costs of running a legitimate business.

The cost of TIME

Approaching it from a time standpoint, let’s imagine that you have hired a photographer who has work that you love.  This photographer is traveling an hour to your destination to photograph your session.  Here is an example of a time break down:

• session prep time (30 minutes - 1 hour, includes equipment and back up equipment checks + vehicle checks)
• one hour travel time TO session
• 15-30 minutes prep time at client’s home
• 90 minutes-2 hours with client photographing subject
• one hour travel time FROM session
• 30-45 minutes uploading time from digital cards from camera to computer
• 30-45 minutes time spent backing up the original images
• 2-5 hours editing time to present you with a diverse gallery of edited images
• 1 hour prep time getting ready for ordering
• 2-3 hours time with client for ordering images
• 1 hour sorting through and checking order
• 30 minutes-1 hour prep time for delivery
• 30 minutes-1 hour getting order shipped
• any additional phone time or time needed for add on ordering, shipment issues, quality issues

In this example, the time spent per client can range from just under 13 hours to 19 hours - dependent on the photographer’s level of service.  This is time dedicated only to ONE session.  When the photographer charges $150-$300 for the photo shoot (aka SESSION FEE) you are not just paying for the two hours of session time, you are paying the photographer for 12-19 hours complete time for your session. The COSTS of Maintaining a Custom Photography Business:

Regarding equipment costs, a good quality professional camera with a selection of good optical quality lenses and digital storage mediums and computer set up can run from $10,000-$30,000 costs dependent on the photographer.  Even though you can purchase a really good quality digital SLR for about $2100 there are still other costs related to photography.  A good lens for portrait photography can run from $900 to $2500.  A dependable computer system with software loaded for business and creative usage can run $2500 to $8000 dependent on the photographer.

Then come lab costs for specialty products.  A good photographer knows the lab is integral to their success.  Photography labs dedicated to the professional photographer  often cost more and offer a range of products that allows the custom photographer to continually offer new, innovative products for you, the discerning client.

Discussion other costs of running a photography business could take awhile so we’ll skip many of the intricate details.  There is of course much more: including costs of running the business, taxes, studio rental/mortgage if the photographer has ownership of a dedicated studio, vehicular costs, costs of advertising/marketing, costs of sample pieces that the photographer will likely bring to your session, etc.

APPLES to ORANGES to BANANAS:

Often times clients will mention to their photographer that X studio in the mall/department store only charges $19.99 for an 8×10 “sheet” or they may mention other things related to discount photography chains.  The fact is those discount chains make their money on volume, not on customized 1:1 service.  In February 2007 leased photography retail space by a rather well known discount department store that started in Arkansas closed down 500 of their portrait studios across the nation?  The reason is simple you cannot make money on 99¢ “professional” prints if you do not sell enough of them.  Interestingly enough - those same studios that offer the loss leader packages often charge much more for their a la carte pricing (as high as $40-50 for an 8×10).  The whole reason the big department stores began offering portrait services in the first place was to get you, the savvy consumer, in through their door so that you could spend more money with them in other departments.  Your “PORTRAITS” are considered the “loss leader”.

Going to a chain studio, as a consumer, you don’t have the benefit of 1:1 attention for 2 hours at your home where your child is allowed to explore, play and be comfortable in their home environment, nor do you get the experience that many custom photographers are known for or the lovely captures of natural expressions.  You simply get a bare bones, “SAY CHEESE” experience.  Keep this in mind when selecting a photographer.

REPUTATION/EXPERTISE of the PHOTOGRAPHER:

Being in demand, being well known for quality work, having a good reputation often costs time on the photographer’s part.  Their expertise comes at a cost, their time learning their craft and learning the intricacies of lighting and the commitment put forth on their end to create a persona about their business that oozes professionalism.  A great number of photographers go a very long time from the time that they purchase their first good camera to making money at the business of photography.  Many photographers, when first starting out, rush in thinking that the business will be easily profitable in no time, how expensive could it be to get a camera and use it to create their dream?  They often neglect to factor in the cost of business, the cost of equipment, software, back ups, etc.

Being of sound reputation, a better professional photographer knows that they must always reinvest in their business to create the reputation of being top notch.  To create good work good equipment, reliable equipment, back up equipment is a necessity.  The photographer who desires to be known as better/best/unparalleled reputation-wise knows that the most important thing they can do for their business is reliability and dependability.  This is how reputations get built.  Good work often is a wonderful side product of building that good reputation.

I hope this (lengthy) article helps shed some light on WHY a custom photographer is a better choice for your family’s memories.  The photographs that are produced as a result of the professionalism and dedication that your photographer has will be cherished for a lifetime (or more) and great thought and consideration should be placed into hiring who is right for your family’s most precious investment.

Custom Photography as something "special"

Custom photography is more of a luxury than your entry level cookie cutter chain experience.  Custom photography truly is not for everyone it requires a level of commitment, investment in time and money, forethought and planning on the part of the subject/client and requires a larger time commitment for the photographer as well.

Clients who enjoy taking a more active role in the creation of their families’ memories have the desire to have portrait art that is truly personalized.  These more discerning clients have been known to budget and allot time for a custom photography session.  Many clients opt for it to be a once a year special experience, some opt to have custom photography sessions done to record their child’s stages in life.  Having said this, it is clear that custom photography is not in everyone’s budget,  it is something that most families save for to splurge on from time to time to memorialize their children as they really are  (not posed and primped in the cookie cutter studio setting).