How I Ruined my Sister's Photos

“Please don't ever do this to me again.”

That's what my sister told me years ago after I photographed her family as a favor on Thanksgiving. 

I'd squeezed her in during the busiest time of year. The photos were great. We had great weather, beautiful light, and all the kids were happy - basically a miracle to happen at the same time. 

But, I didn't do for her what I do for all my clients. 

Instead of carefully culling her images to the best of the best, instead of showing her a beautifully designed album, instead of picking the right images and frames and finishes for wall art - I just gave her a thumb drive of all the images I had taken. 

Clients ask all the time - Can I just get everything you take?

And the answer is no.  

It's no because leaving you to do ALL the work means I'm not doing my job. 

Just like my sister never sorted through hundreds of almost identical images, never did anything with those photos, never printed anything, never created an album, never hung anything on the wall – when seeing your images becomes just one more chore you have to do, it's easier to just not decide.

It's my fault that some of the best images I've taken of her family went on to die a digital death buried on a thumb drive that lives in some drawer who knows where. 

To this day, I do things differently. 

• Instead of hundreds of nearly identical images, you see the best images from your session. 

• Instead of leaving you to figure out how to create an album, you see a beautifully designed album that tells the story of your day and captures all the sides of your dog's personality. 

• Instead of trying to figure out canvas vs metal vs print or deckled edge vs float framed vs mounted, you see the most impactful images for the walls, in the right medium to print them, finished with the right frame.

You deserve better than a bunch of pixels on a screen.