“……. I wouldn’t have to pay a photographer.” I blame no one for this phrase. I have zero hate for it. I UNDERSTAND it. You see, Photography was my answer. I needed a way to make a good amount of money and be home with my boys. Enter my genius fool proof plan: I’d buy a camera off of craigslist and commence taking pictures of people. They in turn would throw money at me. Problem solved.

If you are a photographer or know even just a little bit about photography let us pause to have a good laugh together.

Ok, good? Good. Photography is NOT pushing a button. Well, it is…… And then another button, and then these two buttons together, and then this button while rolling that dial. Quick, look at that meter. Now a mathematical equation. Got it? Ok good. Now we….. Oh wait. The sun went behind a cloud.

You’re going to need to start all over again.

That’s the abridged version of photography. The extremely abridged version of just the TECHNICAL parts of photography. The creative stuff like deciding exactly what you want your image to look like and knowing what data to input into your camera to achieve it….

What do you want in focus?

Do you have more than one person in the image? Are they on the same plane?

Are your subjects moving?

Are your catchlights in the proper place?

DON’T forget posing. Dear lord, not knowing your posing never ends well.

If there are children involved you must add a clever song and dance to your repertoire. If you don’t, all the technical knowledge in the world won’t save you.

Now look around for the proper light. What?! Exactly. You must be able to “read” light as well. What it is, how it falls, when it happens, what to do when you don’t have optimal lighting…..

Exposure.

ISO.

Depth of Field.

White balance.

Must I keep going?

All factors. All buttons.

And for Pete’s sake, please be fast enough with all of the factors because you have exactly 18.2 minutes before Pete decides he is done and starts running circles around everyone. At that point you’d best hope you know shutter speed and how to get your camera into “Continuous” shooting mode.

No pressure.

This is a very tiny part of what you need to know for photography. TINY.

Let’s not get into editing. Just know that our day isn’t over when we walk away from your shoot. We do not earn hundreds an hour. I’d have a MUCH bigger house.

To sum up?

We do push a button. We also do a ton of learning to input all of the data that is necessary BEFORE we push that button. Then we spend many hours after making it even more beautiful.

I’m not looking for pity. I love photography. I LOVE what I do.

Just know…..

When you pay me what you pay me…..

I have worked and am still working extremely hard to make you a unique, beautiful image. A million tiny factors that you didn’t know existed…..

All coming together to create an image that will take your breath away.

Now if you’ll excuse me I need to get back to my bon bons and my “stories”.

NOT.

My name is Rebekah McClelland. Those that I love call me Bekah. I am a newborn, baby, and child photographer in Cleveland, Ohio.

I chose photography.

Nix that.

Photography chose me.

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