This is our family portrait this year, taken by an aspiring photographer, Megan Matthews, who I was mentoring.
I have talked many times about the importance of getting family portraits done. It is a part of your family heirloom. Family portraits are what people look back on years down the road to remember family members who are no longer with us. It is a way to share your growing family with others who may live far away. I have heard from so many people, "I have been wanting to get new family portraits done for so long, and I keep putting it off!" Maybe this story will inspire everyone to make the decision to finally get them done, sooner, rather than later.
This letter was shared from a fellow photographer. It was written by one of her clients after she made the decision NOT to get her portraits done one year.
July 2nd, 2011
Jeanine -
Today I am writing for a couple of reasons. I have some quiet time at the moment and need to get a couple of things off my mind. I will leave this for my husband to deliver to you when he is ready.
You photographed my wedding, you photographed my first pregnancy and my first baby. I contacted you awhile back to photograph my 2nd child and family. After getting prices and realizing I would want all of the pictures as we love your work – I decided against spending $500+ – which is what I normally spend for portraits and prints with you.. Please know it is not because I don’t value your amazing eye, or how much we love the experience.
That week that I decided to NOT do a session with you, this is how I spent some money.
On Sunday I called and cancelled our session. Monday I went out and got my hair cut ($39+tip), and colored ($65), Thursday I had my nails done ($24), my family went out to dinner at a somewhat expensive restaurant for no particular reason costing us $79 + tip. This was just 4 days since canceling our session, already totaling over $200 for un necessary things. My nails only lasted about 2 weeks, my hair is gone, and seven weeks passed when I got the phone call from our doctor. It was not something I expected and the cancer has spread very quickly. I will be leaving my husband, my 6 year old girl and my now 2 year old – not by choice. It is very hard for me to talk about it which is why I need to write you.
I watch your Facebook page and your posts about the value of a photo and if I could give back all of those things that I purchased this few weeks after I cancelled my session with you, knowing what I know now, and have that session, well… I would do it in a heartbeat.
Now my time is done and there are no more chances for me. The next time someone cancels a session – my wish is that you forward this letter to them. Time is fragile, it is gone before you know you had it. If you charged $200 for one print it wouldn’t be enough for what it is actually worth. I cringe to think that my priorities were a manicure over a memory to pass onto my babies and husband.
My love and thanks for what you have given us from past photos. I am so sorry that I did not see it as more than paper until now.
So, with Valentine's Day just around the counter, I have the perfect gift for your loved ones! A family portrait session!! Contact me right away and I can send you your gift certificate via e-mail for you to print and wrap by Tuesday! Husband, have you had your wife asking you for years to get a family portrait done? Ladies, have your mother's or mother in laws been asking for an updated family portrait because the last one is missing a few of your children? Now is the time! Don't wait any longer!!
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