We’ve already booked a few sessions for each date but we have plenty of room for YOU! Please
email me for available times and a contract to book your spot. You’ll receive a disc of edited images from the session, or for a small up-charge, you can swap the disc for a 6×6 album. These are SUPER fun sessions and CaraSue and I are only able to offer 2 to 3 of these per year due to our wedding schedules, so be sure to take advantage now! I’m so excited to now have my studio in which to shoot boudoir, the vintage vibe and cool old furniture is just perfect for these sessions. And with CaraSue’s Dalla Cima Salon located RIGHT ACROSS THE HALLWAY (same building!), well, how can you go wrong?

Hope to see you in February or March! (if those dates don’t work for you, I offer private sessions including mini sessions every Monday! see my full boudoir guide here!)

I’m including a couple of (cell phone, so please excuse the quality – yes the photographer FORGOT TO PACK HER CAMERA) images of my booth, so those who weren’t in attendance can see the setup and those who were there and are stopping by will think “oh, yes, I remember that awesome couch!” A BIG THANKS to friend and fellow photographer Kelly Knetter for helping me out at the booth during the show – sometimes the traffic is just too much for me to be able to talk to all of the people lined up to take a look at my work!

A couple of quick notes for those that met with me at the show as well as those who are considering booking: 2012 is nearly full, and I anticipate it will be full in as few as a couple of weeks. There are a handful of remaining dates that have multiple couples interested; just a reminder that your date is not considered booked until I have your signed contract and retainer fee in my hands. Not one or the other, but both Then you are golden! Also, since I do have a couple of dates open that proved to be pretty popular at the show, an unfortunate part of this business is that sometimes I have more than one couple that wants to book the same date at literally the same time. I can’t “hold” a date for anyone (see signed contract and retainer requirement) – the absolute ONLY way I can be fair to all parties is to treat booking on a first-come, first-served basis. Honestly, I wish I could book you ALL and if for some reason I do not have your date available, I would be more than willing to help you find a fabulous photographer with a similar style that is still available!

Again, thank you to ALL for stopping by and saying hi. It was fantastic to see some familiar faces, even previous clients, and meet all of the new ones and hear about your wedding stories in-the-making. Here’s to a fabulous 2012 wedding season, and if KC Weddings was any indication, 2013 as well!

-Sarah

Most of my portrait clients purchase a disc of at least a few of the images from their sessions, and my wedding packages all include a disc of high resolution, edited images. Unless the client chooses not to, I always blog highlights from sessions where the client is going to be receiving images on disc, and allow these clients to use their “sneak peek” images on Facebook, with watermark intact, since they have purchased the full-resolution images that will be coming later on disc. I actually enjoy the excitement that comes with sharing around their preview images. The operative word here is “purchased” – the clients in this case have paid for images on disc already.

These clients receive a print release with their discs. This is NOT a copyright release and this is a term I hear bantered around by clients (and usually prospective clients when inquiring if they get a “copyright release” with their discs) incorrectly. What is the difference? A print release specifically states, in my case, that the client may print the images, design an album with their images, and share them online with friends or on personal websites. The images are NOT for commercial use. A simple way of thinking of it may be as a “shared copyright” of sorts. Why not a copyright release?

A copyright release turns over ALL rights to the images to the client. This means I no longer own any stake in the images that I took, and I have no permission to use them on my website, on prints or in albums in studio. Obviously, as photographers we gain new business by showing….our work! If we turned over copyright to our clients, we would no longer have work to show because we would not own any of our work. Purchasing full copyright to images is MUCH different than purchasing print rights to images, and would come with a pretty hefty price tag. (Think of purchasing the copyright to a song vs. rights to play it!) I hear a lot of fairly new photographers throwing around the term ‘copyright release’ as well, and I hope this post educates at least a couple of them a bit as it can put you in a pickle if you don’t watch your legalese!

Why does this matter to me, the photographer, you ask? I mean, most of my clients get the image on disc, with printing rights, so what is my concern? I have two. The first is usage of web-resolution images for printing. I realize clients get SUPER excited about getting prints on hand from their wedding or portrait session. However, the images posted to my blog are NOT optimized for printing (and are watermarked). The image quality of the final product will be subpar, and of course being an angst-ridden artist (ha!) I want my work displayed at its best. And the images of YOU displayed at their best! If you just can’t wait to get your hands on one of the images, and you’ve purchased a disc from me, just send me an email and I’d be happy to send that particular image along for your use, in full resolution with the proper print release.

The second and biggest thing that affects us as photographers concerns stealing of unpurchased images, and this is where I’m going to spend most of my time here today. As a former event (horse show) photographer, this is a huge issue and has become so widespread that many photographers have had to seek income elsewhere (such as weddings) or have closed shop altogether. Event photographers are hardly ever paid by the event to be present. When I shot shows, I had to front my gas, meals, and hotel in hopes that a lot of exhibitors would buy prints or files from me. How disheartening to spend this money, then go home and see that some of these exhibitors had either a) taken an iPhone image of the proofing screen at my ordering station at the show and posted it, or b) had done a screen capture of the image on my online proofing site. If you have not purchased an image from your photographer, and you do this, you are stealing. There’s no kinder way to put it – it’s stealing and it’s also copyright infringement. Yes, the photo is of you, or your daughter, or other family member – but the photographer was contracted to cover the event by event management, or in the case of a portrait session, hired by you to shoot – and retains copyright to the images created. We all work hard to pay our bills, right? Well, photographers choose photography as a way to earn a living, and our livelihoods depend on being compensated fairly for our work. Our long hard hours on our feet, time away from our families, and expense incurred photographing the client. Whether you were an exhibitor at a horse show, a parent at a softball game that had a photographer present, or a portrait client who had a session done but has not purchased prints or files, you MUST have purchased the image to use it online.

an example of an unpurchased proof (from my horse show days) – NOT cool to steal and share on Facebook!

another example with a different watermark. If the image is watermarked, ask before using. If you’ve purchased a digital file or print from the photographer, they can tell you where you can and cannot use the image (and may supply you with a low-resolution copy for Facebook use, or give you the option to purchase one at a nominal fee!).

Hopefully this helped clients understand the differences between print and copyright releases, and when it is and is not legal to print an image or share an image online. The bottom line is – if you have a question about whether you can or cannot do something with a professionally-shot image, ask. And if you’ve not purchased an image (or disc of images) but wish to share it online, most photographers will sell a web-resolution image for  a small fee for you to use on Facebook or your personal website.

With SDP’s next wedding scheduled for December 10th, you can look for next week’s Wedding Wednesday article to be the first in a winter series featuring other fantastic local wedding vendors! Stay tuned!

-Sarah

I’ll be sending an email to all clients later this week with the same information. The best part of this sale? Even at sales’ end, Christmas delivery is guaranteed with the Priority Mail shipment option!

The studio is in old downtown Liberty, and from I-35, is most easily accessed by exiting at 152 Highway and heading east into Liberty. Just stay on 152 until it turns into Kansas Ave, and eventually as it hits the downtown district it will go to one lane. You don’t need to turn at all until you hit the square – after you pass the old courthouse on your left (impossible to miss), take a left on Water Street and go straight past Jesse James Bank on your right (on the corner of the square). 111 N. Water Street is a 3-story brick house that sits RIGHT behind Jesse James Bank. There is a small parking lot on the near side of the building, and PLENTY of street parking as well.

In other news, quickly: please note that the studio will be closed next week on Monday and Tuesday, as I’ll be attending a two day photography workshop. I will not have email and voicemail access these two days, so please be patient! The studio will also be closed November 23rd – November 27th for the Thanksgiving holiday, as I will be traveling to Kentucky to spend the weekend with family.

And did someone mention holiday? YES, the SDP 3rd Annual Holiday Sale is coming! 25% off everything in the online ordering galleries from November 25th-December 9th. Stay tuned here on the blog for more information and the discount code – 2011 clients will also receive an email with the information.

Have a great weekend, everyone, and hope to see you at the open house!

Alas, SDP is embarking on a campaign to expand our portraiture offerings, so when CaraSue Hall of CH Makeup Artistry contacted me to tell me she was opening a salon just off the square in Liberty, and had room for a studio for myself (with shooting space), I had to take a hard look at things. Plus, Liberty puts me closer to my mother’s home, my sister, my grandmother, my horse, AND our little airplane – so from a personal standpoint, that really made me smile! CaraSue bought the existing salon Dalla Cima, moved it next door, and I will be moving my studio effective November 1st to 111 Water Street in Liberty! As I said, we’re JUST off the historic square – SUCH a charming place to visit. Farmer’s market on Saturdays, the JEM restaurant and lounge (home to some awesome live music and great food and drink), Crepes on the Square, a frozen yogurt shop, a mexican restaurant, a breakfast/brunch hot spot (Ginger Sue’s), and LOTS and LOTS of cute little stores and boutiques. Our building is directly behind the Jesse James Bank (which sits on the northwest corner of the square), with ample street parking and a parking lot adjacent to the building. The building? It’s actually a historic home, and you’ll find in addition to SDP and Dalla Cima on the 2nd floor a vintage/antique shop, Aggieal’s Attic on the first floor, and in the basement, you’ll find Mind-Body Nutrition Day Spa and Barista De Casa (a coffee shop!). The Historic Downtown Liberty Shopping District’s offices are right above us on the 3rd floor.

As you can see, there’s a lot to see and do right around SDP and even in our own building! You can even sit on the gorgeous, furnished porch and sip on your coffee before or after your shoot or meeting.

And speaking of shoot? We will now have indoor studio space, which was the big reason for our move to the new studio. We’ll be offering in-house boudoir sessions (with CaraSue right next door, available for makeup and hair), as well as a great place for newborn/baby sessions and small children. Right out our doorstep is the quaint square, a great place for an on-location shoot, and there are a couple of fantastic, large parks within 5 minutes offering wide open spaces and tall grass.

I’m super excited about our new studio, and hope you will be too! Look for lots of photos once we’re settled in, and we’ll also be announcing an open house in conjunction with Dalla Cima, coming up in November. Stay tuned!

Sarah

Also, I think most of you know this but as the only employee of SDP, sometimes things do get a bit crazy during peak shooting season(s), namely mid to late spring and especially the fall. I’m really, really booked full with weddings and portrait sessions right now and this week that we are starting right now is likely the busiest of the year. As such, I sometimes get a bit bogged down with emails and phone calls. Please know that I am returning inquiries and other requests as quickly as I can in between shoots and getting client orders out in a timely fashion, and sometimes (especially as we near the weekend and on wedding days), I get a little behind on responding. Be patient and I will be in touch as quickly as possible. Also, email is the absolute best way to reach me right now. For instance, there are three days this week that I will be out of the office all day; constantly moving from one meeting/shoot to another. Emails are easy for me to respond to early in the morning before I head out (and before anyone is up to receive a return phone call!).

As we head into the latter part of October, my workload should start returning to a bit more “normal” level.

Have a great week everyone!

I am often asked “is an hour long enough to get a good amount of variety?” The answer is a resounding YES. We are working in a very small area and outfit changes are easy and quick – you will be surprised at what we can accomplish, and the variety you will receive! Engagement sessions, for example, are two hours long usually – but we are walking all over the place to get to different areas, and often drive to a completely different location! Do note that I give EVERYONE the full hour – so occasionally the later-day sessions may run a tiny bit late. Plan to allow enough time to be early! There will be plenty of area to relax while you wait your turn with CaraSue, and we’ll have all kinds of goodies available for you. Yes, this is a weekday marathon – but weekends are difficult for clients this time of year with vacations and lake weekends, as well as for us with weddings. Plus, think of it this way – if you take a bit of time from work, will your beau EVER know what you are up to?? I did my own boudoir session for my husband on a weekday morning so he would NEVER know what I was up to

Please email sarah@sarahdickersonphoto.com with any questions or to book your session. I accept checks, cash, Visa, Mastercard and Discover for both the deposit and final payment (which is due at the session; and you can decide then which package you’d prefer once you get a chance to look through the sample album). Remember, only 6 slots remain right now, and this is the last marathon we will do until after the holidays!!!

National Airline History Museum, 201 NW Lou Holland Drive, Kansas City, MO 64116  - from 10am to 7pm each day

Time Out Deli, City Center Square, 11oo Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64105 – from 7am to 4pm each day

At the Museum, there is a drop off area in the lobby, which is located on the east side of the building (facing the airport ramp area and our HUGE L-1011, can’t miss – park and walk to the right/east side of the building, against the airport fence and up the side!). I personally will be there from noon to 7 tomorrow! I’ll be there on Wednesday a fair amount, as well.

At the Time Out Deli, there is a drop box just inside the front door to the deli, which is located in the building’s food court.

Jim and I (and perhaps some other individuals, depending on the amount of goods that come in) will be making the trip on Thursday. What do we need? Essentials for both victims AND SAR/volunteers/recovery and cleanup personnel – which include bottled water, toiletries (toothpaste, deodorant, feminine products, soap, antibacterial wipes/gels, sunscreen), ready to eat foods such as granola bars, batteries, gloves, flashlights, anything you think would be of essential need to not only those who have lost everything, but the workers who have a VERY long road ahead of them.

I will post images from the collection efforts and our drive down on Thursday right here. Feel free to email me if you have any questions about donating. I can pick up if you collect your goods in an area near the downtown Kansas City area. Otherwise, perhaps I will see you at the museum! (did I mention there’s some REALLY cool stuff down there, plus a second Time Out Deli location that has JUST opened inside the lobby?)

Oh – and even if you don’t have time to drop by a donation or do a quick office collection, “liking” this or linking this post on Facebook would be much appreciated to spread the word.

Thank you so much.

Sarah

I’ll kind of hit things point by point, as I have several TO hit!

1. The boudoir marathon is all but full – but get this, ONE SPOT remains! It is at 1pm, this Saturday. The marathon will be held at Studio 501 at 10th and Broadway in downtown Kansas City, which is a super cool loft-style photography studio. For $350, you can get hair and makeup (even lashes!) done by CaraSue Hall of CH Makeup Artistry, an hour of shooting with me, and a disc of your images. Or, you can add an album instead – or do both the disc and album! Full pricing can be found here. I sure hope to see you – we’ve got a good number of awesome girls signed up and let me tell you – the shots from this session are going to be AWESOME.

2. April portrait sessions are filling FAST and there aren’t a lot of slots left. There’s always a mad rush of senior portrait sessions here in Kansas City just in time to get graduation announcements out – so I’m forewarning all of you who may be interested in doing a senior session, you might get on the calendar NOW.

3. I am NOT accepting portrait (family, senior, engagement) sessions in May. The only exception will be for clients who have booked their wedding with me and need their engagement session shot (and if you are one of those and are considering May for your session, contact me ASAP!) I have SEVEN, repeat SEVEN weddings in the month of May, and need to devote my full attention to editing and delivering images to all of these fantastic clients! Again, if you are on the fence about contacting me to schedule a portrait session, well, jump off that fence and get on my April calendar and get ahead of the May madness! (or get ahead of the game and schedule for June, when everything will be back to normal!)

4. The regular website (www.sarahdickersonphoto.com) just saw an update – FINALLY – and the blog will be next with a minor design overhaul and more ease of browsing for you all. Stay tuned – I hope to have it done next week.

5. A birdie told me a print sale may be coming. Just sayin’.

That about takes care of the updates! I am looking forward to another fantastic year filled with wonderful clients and great weddings and shoots. I’m truly blessed to have ALL of you as clients, and truly blessed that my business has grown as rapidly as it has!

Sarah