Have you ever heard the saying boutique run studio, a luxury or full-service studio, and wondered what it meant? How about a shoot-and-burn, or all-inclusive studio? Does all this sound like Greek to you? I mean what does all of that even mean anyways? Does this leave you feeling confused?
What is shoot and burn?
A ‘Shoot & Burn’ photographer does exactly that – “shoots” beautiful images, taking multiple angles of very few poses. They will do quick re-touching or simple “bulk” editing many times washing out details and making skin look plastic. Their last step is to “burn” the images to a disk or flash drive. This allows the client to take their images to any printing firm or use their home printer. At the end of a brief photo session, you will receive 30+ images of similar-looking, poorly edited photos.
‘Shoot & Burn’ photography can be likened to a fast-food restaurant or a production line – where the photographer serves a high volume of customers, spending only a short while with each one and providing a limited choice of medium to low-quality products.
Although they seem to have a successful business, they have the ‘quantity over quality’ model of business, aiming to get a couple of hundred shoots a year. But many ‘shoot & burn’ photographers struggle to make ends meet because in order to get the necessary volume of customers through their doors, they are not charging appropriately for their time and talent.
What is a Boutique?
Personalized Care- The photographer takes the time to get to know you, your family, and your needs. We provide a high-end service that we customize for each client. We only take on a small number of clients each month because of the time we spend on each family.
Printed Artwork- A big part of providing a boutique experience is delivering finished artwork. And not just finished artwork but the artwork of heirloom quality that will live with your family for generations. Again another food reference, fast food verse that fine dining at a steak house or 5-star restaurant.
Specialty- If you’re working with a boutique photographer, you are likely working with someone who has specialized in the type of portraiture you are seeking. For example, I specialize in Boudoir, and fine art nudes, with emotive photography.
Pampering- I am still working on this one as I build out my studio space but a boutique experience will provide you with the option of hair and make-up and potentially a wardrobe. This way, all you have to do is show up and the rest is taken care of for you. We do have a small client closet for use and it grows every year.
Fully guided sessions, from styling to hair and make-up, to expert coaching and direction during your session, not just smile and look pretty, full coaching and direction to get amazing images that showcase the different flavors of you.
For some consumers, this level of service is not what they want or need. Some consumers are happy with receiving high-resolution digital images and creating their own albums or artwork. Some don’t see the value in this level of service. Some need to prioritize other expenses because hiring a boutique photographer is definitely an investment. As boutique photographers, we are here to serve as guides to our clients and do the creative work for them. We’re the photographers for the busy family who prioritizes service over doing it themselves.
Is Boushie Babes Boutique or shoot and burn?
I am a Boutique studio, I love to pamper my clients more, and I love collaborating with each client to create artwork of them that they want to hang up for all to see. I love giving you the finished product, not just digitals, I serve you more, and I wouldn’t do it any other way, it feels too cheap for Boushie Babes to be anything but boutique.