About The Author
After being told by two different photographers that Canon digital cameras seemed like the best choice (very convenient, since all my equipment was Canon), we decided to move the studio into digital.
"For us, it was just a missing piece of the puzzle "
Now, I must be clear for any other photographers reading this. Going digital only really meant one thing to me. The ability to enhance (retouch) portraits. Because of our 1 hr. equipment, we had never been able to offer professional level enhancement on our portraits. That was the reason never felt I could charge as much as traditional studios. I had been working with digital imaging for years ( I have actually been editing images on the PC longer that Adobe has had Photoshop available for the PC). It was worth a try. For us, it was just a missing piece of the puzzle that most photographers already have. A service that I could not provide before, that I had been competing against (reasonable successfully, especially since high school seniors tend to need retouching the most). If you are able to provide good retouching with film through your lab you do not fell the need to buy all the digital equipment just to “go digital”.
"you need to look at the quality the photographer produces and the service they provide"
For non photographers reading this, looking for a photographer, when you are deciding on a photographer, you need to look at the quality the photographer produces and the service they provide. Not if they are digital or not. Good photography is still good photography.
"I had actually been working 80 hours a week for several weeks."
Digital has still had its downside. My first year of digital photography had me working very long hours. One night I actually counted the hours I had been working for several week straight. I had thought I had been working about 60 long hour a week, never really counting them (I work by salary). I had actually been working 80 hours a week for several weeks. Digital does have its drawbacks.
"On Good Friday 2005 our film printer went up in a puff of smoke."
On Good Friday 2005 our film printer went up in a puff of smoke. It was found unrepairable (after $1000 in attempted repairs). We decided not to try and stay in the 1 hr. film business. We are now trying to follow Charles Lewis’s suggestions. Somehow I think we would have been better off listening to him years ago.
But then, I would not have the experience I have now to share with you, and help you take better photos.
God works in mysterious ways.
James