Why My Sessions are Long
☽ Taking Time
A few times over the years, I've been asked why my sessions are so long.
My best answer is that it's what I need to offer my clients the best experience.
I'm drawn to adventure & focusing on making my clients feel at home. I want to get to know them, talk about life, explore whatever location we are shooting at, & make memories. Honestly, it's really tough to tell a story that you don't know. That's why I'm not a fan of showing up & only having 30 minutes to take photos of someone. As much as I know that I can do that, I choose not to. I guess it feels like I'm somehow negotiating the potential of special moments for the sake of just "getting the job done."
For my photographer friends, what you need to ask yourself is, "What does it take to give my clients the best experience?" Maybe that's 30 minutes for you or 3 hours for another person, depending on what kind of photography you specialize in. Please don't base your experience on mine, but do realize that your clients deserve the best of you. If you openly communicate what your experience is like through social media/branding/website, you are most likely to attract clients that vibe with it. You are not going to be the right photographer for everybody, but your goal should be to connect with people that connect with you & your work.
TIP: Sometimes, my sessions are a little under or a little over my stated shooting time. It's important to keep tabs on your client by listening/watching them while you are shooting. You can ask them how they are doing. Some clients may hit their wall/threshold for photos & others may be having so much fun that we've all lost track of time, lol. You want to be confident that you have enough photos to work with, but you also don't want to be pushing your clients to the point of, "Can we be done now?"
XO, Dakota