When I first worked on designing various Collections that I would offer to prospective clients, one thing was certain — I knew I would be including the digital files in each and every package. In the photography world, there are two very different ways of doing business. One is called IPS which stands for In Person Sales; this means that after your session, you must meet with the photographer to review the edited images and select which ones you’d like to order prints of, or include in an album. Sessions are usually less expensive and the majority of your money is spent on products after the fact. The other method is called Shoot & Share and this is how my business operates. Rather than having the client select only a few images after their session or wedding, we charge a bit more on the front end and supply the high-resolution files to them directly. This means the client can use whatever vendor they would like to print photos, design albums, order canvases, etc. 

Living in a digital world, I know how important it is for brides and grooms to have flexibility with their images, but I still want them to print their photos so they can enjoy them on their walls and coffee tables, not just their devices! As a photographer, I have access to vendors that only professionals in the industry can use and, as such, I offer my clients the option to purchase a wedding album through me.  I want to ensure they have the opportunity to purchase an heirloom that can be shared with generations to come. Think about it… CDs are basically obsolete and the latest Macs don’t even have a USB drive. So who knows what technology will be utilized in the future, but one thing is certain: professional wedding albums will stand the test of time. 

For the past few years, I’ve been seeing a trend of more and more couples deciding to go this route — for 2018 alone, over 75% of my couples have already purchased an album! They are absolutely an investment, but I would encourage any couple on the fence to think of them as exactly that: an investment. Trust me, I know wedding days are expensive, I was a bride too after all! But once the cake is eaten and the flowers have wilted, the one thing left are your images. So if you’re looking for the perfect way to say ‘thank you’ to your parents for helping you plan for the big day… buy them an album. Or instead of asking for another pair of boots this holiday season… ask for an album. Or pass on the new anniversary band for you and golf clubs for him and instead… share an album. They truly are the gift that keeps on giving for years and years to come.