Tom Cornett Photography

Children’s Photo Special!! April Only!

For the month of April only! $50 Children’s Portrait special with a free 8×10! If you weren’t satisfied with this year’s school photos, then this is a great opportunity to get quality photos of your children this year! Great for Mother’s Day, too!

Details::

• In studio only, children only
• Up to 2 children, each additional child is $10
• You will receive 2 individual shots of each child, and a shot of all children together
• One free 8×10 ($20 value), additional prints ordered at current print pricing.
• Don’t forget to add 6% PA Sales tax
• Check, Visa, and Mastercard accepted

Again, this is for April ONLY! Appointments will be limited! Contact me now if you want more information, or to schedule an appointment!

Memador Albums Closure

Ok… so today I got word from my friend (and fellow wedding photographer) Lisa (http://www.lisanikole.com), that Memador Albums closed their doors today… for good. It was only appropriate that I get the news from Lisa since Lisa was the one that turned me on to these albums… lol…

Anyway, what does that mean for my clients? Well fortunately, I didn’t have any outstanding orders with them! So no one is directly affected. But if you had your eye on one of these magnificent albums, we’re out of luck.

I’m currently looking into other high-end album companies in order to find a replacement product that looks just as great. Once I find one, I’ll definitely let everyone know!

My first lighting & composition workshop!

Ok, so this weekend was the workshop! If you missed it, you missed a great time! The class was very small, but that probably worked out for the better as I was really able to focus on the things that my students really wanted to learn. Perhaps I’ll hold another one in the near future. If you’re interested in this kind of a workshop, either email me (tom@cornettphotography.com), or leave a comment here. If I have a good enough response, then I’ll hold another!

And a big “THANK YOU!” goes out to Holly & Becca who modeled for us. As always, you two were a lot of fun! I didn’t shoot much of you guys since I was teaching, but below are a couple shots for ya.

Holly:

Becca:

Choosing the right professional photographer

Here’s a little bit of information I’d like to share with everyone regardless of whether or not you choose me to photograph your wedding.

First off, notice the title… "Choosing the right PROFESSIONAL photographer". Why choose a professional photographer? To put it bluntly, you get what you pay for. Having "Uncle Bob", who owns a "nice" digital SLR, photograph your wedding may be economically beneficial (and who could argue the need to be economical these days), however, will you be happy? Does "Uncle Bob" have the experience and knowledge to capture your memories? Remember, these are memories that will last a lifetime… and you only get ONE SHOT at getting it right. Can "Uncle Bob" handle that pressure knowing he only gets one chance? And most importantly, can "Uncle Bob" concentrate SOLELY on photographing your wedding without being stopped by every other family member to chat? The benefits of hiring a professional photographer over "Uncle Bob" are definitely worth the cost. Not only do you get the knowledge, and the talent to make you look your best, but you get someone with the experience to not let his/her nerves get the better of him. Furthermore, you get someone who is able to design and deliver a professional album which details your day as opposed to a pile of 4×6 prints.

With that out of the way… we’ll move on to the next part, which is choosing the RIGHT professional photographer. When you interview a potential photographer, there are a few key things you should really pay attention to. I’ve read plenty of articles that say "ask your photographer about his equipment." Well, you should… but that shouldn’t be your first train of thought (we’ll get to equipment later). Instead, your first thought, in my opinion, should be "do I LIKE this person?". If you meet a photographer, and right off the bat you get a bad feeling from him, it’s probably best to move on. You want someone that’s personable, and can easily make you feel comfortable around him or her. They should be able to talk to you on a personal level. Really, just ask yourself "is this photographer the kind of person I can be friends with?". The answer should be yes. You can really see the difference in your photos. When you’re around a photographer that you like, someone that makes you feel comfortable, your smile is more natural and your poses tend to not look as "forced" (as well, they shouldn’t be forced). Why is that? Well, because it’s much easier to smile, be happy, and let your real emotions out around someone that you like. Around someone that gives you that awkward feeling, you just feel nervous and you can’t wait for the session to be over.

If you make it past the initial meeting, take a good look at his work. Do you like his work? Does his style of photography fit your personality? What about the quality of his prints? Make sure the prints are made in a professional lab, on good quality paper. That way, you know they’ll last. Prints made on a home photo printer tend to not last as long, and have a different look to them. Prints made at drug stores, and discount stores usually have problems with color. But prints made in a professional lab will be of the highest quality, with excellent color. Also look at the photographers album designs. Make sure the final product you’ll be getting fits your expectations.

Now look at his equipment… A professional photographer should be using professional equipment. It’s true that it’s not the camera that makes the photographer. But having the right tools makes the job easier, quicker, and less stressful for all parties involved. For example… if you’re building a house, would you rather use a regular hammer, or a nail gun? Both get the job done, but one of those options makes the job much easier. Also ask about backup equipment. A professional wedding photographer should show up to your wedding with at least two camera bodies. It’s not uncommon for a camera to fail. Having two cameras guarantees that if one camera fails, your photographer can still finish the job.

One final note… ask to see a contract, and go over it with the photographer. Make sure he is willing to answer any questions you have about the agreement. Make sure you understand all his policies regarding cancellations, deposits, etc.