so i almost died this past Monday

yep. on monday, february 8 of 2010 i flipped off a bridge in my lancer. :/ 

and i walked out without a single scratch on my body. the only reason i am here is because of God's miraculous and loving hand of protection. and wearing my seat belt probably helped. 

anyways, here are a few pictures. 

my car landed parallel to the street, on top of that concrete slab near the graffiti. i can safely say i am truly blessed. 

i wasn't even driving fast...driving extra slow specifically because the roads were wet, and i still flipped off the bridge. i fishtailed, lost control, and flipped off the bridge. 

suffice it to say, it was a very scary moment. but God spared me, i can fully and confidently claim. 

custom photographer

before i begin, let me CLEARLY STATE that i did not write this article... i GOT IT HERE. i just love what it says, and get asked this question all the time.

Why Does Custom Photography Cost More?

Digital technology is brilliant. The digital revolution has brought amazing flexibility and amazing amounts of control for the photographer, the hobbyist, the professional, the amateur. With flexibility comes a price though. 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 all of this.

Even though you pay $1.99 for a print at your local drugstore and paying for film is pretty much a thing of the past (although you still pay for memory) you may be wondering why you may pay upwards of $40, 50, 70, 90 for a custom photography print. Some 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 the local drug store?”

The answer is multifaceted and has a lot to do with the time, aforementioned equipment costs, artistic vision and reputation of the photographer, expertise and the usual costs of running a legitimate business.


TIME of the CUSTOM PHOTOGRAPHER:

Approaching it from a time standpoint, for instance let’s imagine if you will that you have hired a photographer who has work that you love and that is traveling an hour to your on location session.
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
1 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
As you can see, average client time for a session ranges from just under 13 hours to 19 hours dependent on the photographer’s level of service. This is time dedicated only to your session. When the photographer charges $150-$300 for the photo shoot 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.


COSTS of the CUSTOM PHOTOGRAPHER:

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 up $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 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:

Often times clients will mention to their photographer that X studio in the mall/department store only charges $25 for an 8×10 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. According to several articles at the time, did you know that in February 2007 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 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 studios 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 true “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/unparalelled 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.

Special thanks to Marianne Drenthe for the above article.

h-town

so i still haven't figured out if i won that ESPN contest or not. they said that they would announce the winners on or "around" january 1... but come on, it's been a month already! 

anyways. i've tried to stay busy. i would like to be even more busy, though. 

did a few shoots in houston, and have some more stuff lined up, but we'll see how that turns out. 

i stayed with Marcos Witt's drummer for a week while i was in houston.. getting drum lessons and doing shoots.

i'm working on an idea for/with MW, so we'll see how that turns out. i might have some exciting news in the near future...hopefully!

i got my radio poppers since my last post - those are AMAZING. sure, they aren't pocket wizards.. but they still do the trick. 

here a couple of shoots i've done since my last post. i have a few more in the editing bin. 

and a new website

to ring in the new year!

something that i think is much more simpler.

i've wanted this since i made my first website, something this simple, i mean.

give me your thoughts!

www.davidteran.com/ 

happy new years

i hope 2010 is great for all you avid readers! 

be blessed.

bethany

so i had a shoot with BK (that's bethany;) on monday, and here are the results. 

i was pretty happy with how they came out. 

enjoy. 

december 27

was the one year anniversary of my mother's passing. i didn't feel like posting about it, so i'll post it now.

i surprised my dad with a Christmas present...

here is it. i did it all by myself (isaiah helped on a TINY part), and i  am very happy with the result.

sovereignty?

i can tell you first hand that we as humans have or own will. often it is good, and sometimes we believe it is good. many times it is even in our best interest, and often we only think it is. there is One who knows and desires the very best for us; that is, and always will be His will for us. 

i have come to understand that inasmuch as we all have things we desire, hope for, and sometimes even demand for ourselves and in our lives, the greatest miracle occurs when we embrace God's will for our lives. 

it is at this point that we acknowledge that we are incapable of asking for something that is better than what He wants for us. it is a major step of growth that a person experiences - not unlike when the light of understand goes on in a child's head and he grasps that mom or dad actually does know a bit more than him. 

this Sunday - December 27, 2009 - is the first year anniversary of my mother's passing. while she was going through her illness (cancer), and even against the doctor's prognosis, i remained 100% certain that God would grant me my prayer and request: that she would be cured to continue raising my siblings and me. 

i knew without a doubt that God was big and strong enough to do this miracle for me. it is not to be as i had desired...but now i've come to realize that God is much bigger than what i'd imagined, big enough to be with my family and to help us-  not only overcome the greatest lost i have ever experienced, but thrive. 

...

i know i have much learning and growing to do, but my confidence and faith is that His Word is never flawed, He will never deviate an iota from it and His promise holds true: He will never leave nor forsake me. i will not fear; i know where my help comes from. i am an over comer, because The Over Comer lives in me. 

semi recent shoots

the last ones were actually taken about a month or two ago..just goes to show my irresponsibility to my blog's fan base. 

enjoy. 

top 10 albums of all time

so i made a top 5 albums of 2009 list, and now i decided i'd make a top 10 albums of all time list. 

agree or disagree, this is my list. pipe up, though, and let me know what you think! 

listed in alphabetical order:

coldplay's "parachutes"

dave matthews' "live at radio city"

delirious' "deeper"

the listening's "lp"

mute math's "reset ep"

the national's "boxer"

P.O.D.'s "satellite"

relient k's "the anatomy of the tongue in cheek"

switchfoot's "nothing is sound"

U2's "the joshua tree"

honorable mention: 

audio adrenaline's "underdog"

blindside's "silence"

chevelle's "wonder what's next"

coldplay's "x&y"

dc talk's "Jesus freak"

jars of clay's "much afraid"

john mayer's "continuum" 

kings of leon's "only by the night"

sigur rós' "me› su› í eyrum vi› spilum endalaust"

switchfoot's "hello hurricane" 

taylor swift's "fearless"

top 5 albums of 2009

in my mind are:

5. taylor swift's "fearless (platinum edition)"

4. paper route's "absence"
3. mat kearney's "city of black and white"
2. dave matthews band's "big whiskey and the groogrux king"

and my favorite album of all 2009 was.........

switchfoot's "hello hurricane"

honorable mention: 

phoenix's "wolfgang amadeus phoenix"

chevelle's "sci fi crimes"

jars of clay's "long fall back to earth"

john mayer's "battle studies"

mute math's "armistice"

motivational seminar

today i attended a super awesome motivational seminar. 

tony parker.

colin powell.

tamara lowe.

zig zigler. 

some guy that i really, really, really, really liked, but forgot his name.

and president george w. bush. 

yes, it was awesome.

and i am totally motivated now. i will live a better life. i will, you watch and see. you naysayers, be gone. 

sobrenatural

pictures are up! check 'em out...only here, because i'm not showing any friends! just my avid readers. ;)

mwitt trip

was AWESOME! i loved it.. and i think they loved the pictures - or the ones that i have showed them already. 

and hopefully possibly maybe i'll be going with them to europe next year.. that would be PHE-NO-ME-NAL! 

here are a few shots i've edited and released. 

marcos witt

oh, and i'll be touring with marcos witt this week. 

can't forget that.

boston, ny, seattle, and los angeles.

puerto rico was (sadly!) canceled at the last second. blah. 

i'm so excited to go, though. i just rented a nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 from borrowlenses.com just for the trip. i'm sad i'll have to be returning it next monday though. :(