Ceremony: Belin United Methodist Church
Reception: Inlet Sports Lodge
Wedding Dress: Poffie Girls in Gastonia, NC
Hair & Makeup: Oceans Edge Salon and Spa
Tuxedos: Jos. A. Banks
Cake: Mrs. Janet Adams
Flowers: Lazelle’s Flower Shop
Music: Myrtle Beach DJ’s, Joe Durivage
Officiant: Dr. B. Mike Alexander
Catering: Bliss Restaurant and Lounge
Before I begin this post, I’d like to state that I understand every business is different… many people may not agree with my stance on this subject, and that’s ok. There is some strong debate amongst photographers about digital files, and I am not here to debate. I am simply here to share what works for me and my business. 
Do I sell my digital files to my clients? Yes.
I understand that we are living in a digital world. People want access to their digital files… period. And it’s (usually) not because they want to save money by getting their prints made at Costco. It’s because they want to know that their files are safe, and that they can view them anytime they want. When I got married in 2007, I specifically looked for a photographer who would sell me the disk of images… and to be honest, I think I’ve made maybe 5 prints from that disk since I received it. Because it’s not about saving money… it’s about knowing that today, 6 years later, I can pull out those images and look at them on my computer, on my phone, on my tablet… wherever I have them saved. And I have peace of mind knowing that 10 years from now I’ll still be able to do that.
So yes… I absolutely, positively believe that my clients deserve to have their digital files.
That being said… you do need to price your files accordingly. Price them so that if you don’t make a single penny off of reprints, you can still pay yourself an honest salary, on top of your tax and business expenses.
My wedding collections include the full set of digital files. And I’ve priced my base package at a place that I am comfortable with. Yes, I do get occasional print orders, but that’s just gravy… extra income that I am not relying on. At the end of the day, I can still pay my taxes, support my business expenses, and feed my family. And my bride has all of her photos… forever. Win/win.
Portraits are a whole different ballgame. My portraits collections include digital files (a selection of 10 files or the entire set), as well as a product credit that can be used for prints, canvases, etc. I do this because I want to satisfy my clients desire to have her files, but to also make sure that she has some sort of professionally printed product that she can display.
That being said, there are tons of photographers out there who run very successful businesses without selling a single digital file. But for me and my business, this is what I’m comfortable with.
And because no post is complete without some adorable imagery, here’s a shot of my baby girl. 
March 21, 2013 - 9:39 pm - This is great option...I have no problem buying the images. You deserve to get paid for the wonderful work you do. This is one major reason I picked to work with you. You see, my in-laws and sister in law are in Sweden and have not even had the chance to come and see their own grandson / nephew yet due to work schedule and money issues. It is so nice to be able to mark each milestone my son has and have the chance to send them a copy for them to keep. You are doing a great thing...keep up the good work. Can't wait to work with you again soon!
March 21, 2013 - 9:27 am - I couldn't agree more. What's sad is that my daughter was in a fashion show last month and there were "photographers" 1 of them gave me my images on a disk and the other well i keep asking her for them and she keeps making excuses , even had me give her my dropbox email (thinking she would of put them there by now and haven't) Anyways the disk of images i got are horrible. I'm no photographer but these are bad ! I think i could of done better LOL....You are an awesome photographer now and always was back in high school :) I always knew you'd be successful Crystal so well done :) ...
Welcome to another edition of FAQ’s! Every now and then I ask for questions from Photographers on my Facebook page, and answer them here on the blog.
Remember… the beauty of this business is that there are a million different ways to do everything. My opinions and techniques may not work for everyone, and that’s ok.
Do you have any magic tricks to keep newborns asleep?
Patience! Seriously… there’s a reason why I block out a 4 hour window for my newborn sessions. Most of that time is spent soothing baby, feeding baby, cleaning up baby messes, and soothing baby some more. I turn the heat up to 80 degrees, play some white noise on my iPad, make sure baby has a full belly, and pose baby slowly and patiently. If baby is awake at the beginning of the session, I’ll start with a swaddled pose to try and get their eyes open. It’s tough, but if you can capture that moment when a newborn locks eyes with your lens, it’s amazing! Newborns can’t control the movement of their limbs, so swaddling helps keep those little twitches at bay and baby can relax.
If baby needs soothing, I bring her back over to Mom and Dad and let them have some snuggle time. If some time passes and baby still won’t settle, I will take the baby myself and see if she will relax for me. If Mom is breastfeeding, the baby may smell her milk and associate that with food time. A pacifier (if baby takes one) is also a fantastic tool to keep on the side. Newborns have a natural urge to suck, and pacifiers help them feel comfortable and relaxed.
The biggest tip I can give is to just be patient… stay relaxed, and take baby’s cues. Not every baby will do every pose. Just remember that baby’s comfort is more important than ‘the’ shot that you’re determined to get for your portfolio.
Do you plan the colors for the whole session to coordinate with each other? Or do you try to different color setups throughout the session?
I’m a major planner… I like to know exactly what I’m going to do. It makes the whole session just flow so much better if I’m not fumbling around trying to decide what color backdrop to use. My main objective with my newborn and milestone clients is to come up with something that is special to them. This bit of personalization is what differentiates my boutique studio from the chain studios.
I start by finding out what colors and themes are in the baby’s nursery. Mom worked hard on making the nursery special, and I want her baby’s photos to reminiscent of that. If I have enough time before the session is scheduled, I can even purchase backdrops and props specifically for that particular client.
Do you work with an assistant?
For weddings, yes, I always hire an assistant. For my baby sessions, no. Unless it’s something complicated, like triplets, I have no need for an assistant. If I’m doing poses with baby that require a spotter or a composite, I will have Mom or Dad jump in and help me out.
And that wraps up another FAQ’s post! Feel free to ask additional questions in the comments section, or send me a message on my Facebook page.
by Crystal
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