Hi, I’m Susan from Sue Bee Photography. I am a photographer in Fredericksburg, VA who has a studio, a mobile studio, and also shoots on location. My passion for photography began when I was really young. I was rarely without a camera. I can’t tell you how many rolls of film I developed. I even worked at a photo lab in my 20’s. I loved learning all aspects of photography and I continue to learn as technology is ever-changing.
When I first opened my studio, actually even before that, I was what they call “shoot and burn”. Most usually know what that means, but for those who don’t, it means, you pay for the session, we shoot and you receive a disc or thumb drive of photos to do whatever you wish to do with. All this usually happens with the “mini” type session and seems very impersonal. Well, about 3 years ago, I started asking the important questions when my clients returned for another session, “What did you do with the photos from our last session?” “Where did you get them printed and where are they in your house?” The answers I received made me crazy sad. Most of them said that they didn’t do anything with them or haven’t gotten around to it and misplaced the disc/thumb drives. Oh no! I was so sad to find out that this was the case.
So, I changed my approach and became a Print Artist concentrating on a boutique model. That’s right, I’m educating everyone who will listen to me about the magic of actually getting to know your clients and printing your photos. Let’s break it down into reasons why:
- Tangible proof of experiences and moments in time.
We all have a camera in hand 24/7 with access to social media at a double-tap or swipe of a finger, but when you invest in a portrait session, you’re taking that time and making it special. We make every session more of an experience than just a simple dreaded lineup in front of a backdrop or stand here in the park. We laugh, we jump and down, we giggle, we throw things, we make silly faces. Now, don’t get me wrong, we dial it down when necessary, but overall, it’s about capturing your life and its absolutely precious moments.
- Digital files, eek!
We are all victims of a phone or computer crashing. It usually happens at the least opportune time, of course. While I back up my photography files on multiple hard drives, technology isn’t perfect and files can get lost, forever! When you have an album or an amazing piece of wall art, you have that photo forever.
- Self Esteem!
Do you remember going to your grandparent’s house and seeing all your school photos on the wall or sitting on the piano or even the extra proud grandparents who had the fold-out wallet inserts with years of photos in them? Do you remember how that made you feel? Maybe in those gangly teenage years, we hated them, but looking back, you felt loved, right? Your kids today rarely experience the validation of their lives because of the 5 minutes of social media fame and then the photos are forgotten. I remember when I took photos of my niece, who was 5 at the time, I printed her photo large in the studio and the next time she came in, she was all giddy and amazed by seeing her 36” artwork up on the wall. I will always remember the ear-to-ear grin and the little twirling dance she did for me. THAT is why I print your photos now and I don’t let them vanish into thin air. Your kids deserve to be recognized and validated in life by seeing themselves up on the wall or in cherished albums. It doesn’t matter their age, from 5 or 18, it makes them feel valued.
- Family
This one is pretty self-explanatory. You only have one family, with a few exceptions, of course. What better way to celebrate them than with the amazing gifts of printed photos. Who doesn’t like looking back through an album and telling your kids about Aunt Jane or Uncle Fred? Yes, technology is absolutely amazing and keeps us pretty connected, but does your immediate family know the rest of your family? My printed photos are done so they will last for generations.
I could go on and on about why I do what I do, but I don’t want to be one of those super long-winded people. My whole point of this article is to encourage you to start printing your photos. If you do a session with me, which I hope you do, I will introduce you to the boutique photography experience. I will help guide you through the whole process to remove any stress you may have. It will be fun, educational, and memorable and you’ll leave the experience with a new friend. But, if you choose another photographer, I, without a doubt, absolutely encourage you to get your photos printed. If you need help with that, I’m here.
Find Susan at:
175 Cambridge St., Suite 102
Fredericksburg, VA 22405
540-735-9784
