Presenting images with personality
Contact Joan (518) 346-4485
Contact Joan (518) 346-4485

You’re hiring me to photograph your event only for my wit, right?!

I would hope you value the work of a professional photographer; but with cell phone cameras, we can take our own just as good as a pro. Right?  YIKES, no!!

Pros understand composition, lighting, different techniques, oh!, and have a wit about them to captivate the audience to get the right shot.

Don’t have that?

Then feel free to contact me at joan@joanheffler.com and visit my website at www.joanhefflerphotography.com.

Photos for Free. Really?!

Scenarios like the following knock me out. People don’t get it.

I’m photographing an event and one of the guests asks me to take a photo of them with a VIP and then hands me their card and says “could you email that to me?”

For free???? Really. This is my life’s work and I can’t give it away for free. I say, “if you wish to pay for it, I would be delighted to email that image to you.” I get a frown.

Folks, you don’t go into a store and ask to borrow a dress for one evening for a gala and then return it the next day do you? Then please understand that photographers take images at events for pay, not for free.

I would be happy to photograph for anyone wishing to value the work of professional photographers. Feel free to contact me at joan@joanheffler.com">joan@joanheffler.com and visit my website at www.joanhefflerphotography.com.

Kind Words by Clients of Joan Heffler Photography

Outstanding Capital Region Photographer!

Joan is an exceptional photographer. Period!

Amazing Photographer

Tailored, Stylish, Attractive–didn’t know I could photograph that way?!!

Joan is the consummate pro.

Joan Brings Out Your Personality!

Joan Heffler Photography Is Amazing and Works Magic!

It had been 8 years since having my last professional head shot taken and one that received a lot of praise. As such, I had a bit of trepidation going into my appointment with Joan Heffler Photography knowing that we had to “beat” a picture taken almost a decade earlier, but she blew the old one away – twice! That’s right, Joan took two great head shots in just minutes! In fact, one of my head shots was the first or second picture taken and between two wardrobe changes she took no more than 15 pictures total and TWO AMAZING photos came out of it. Needless to say, Joan is amazing if not the best! Absolutely use Joan Heffler for your photography needs, she is GREAT!

The 3 events that made this photographer even better!

Albany, NY Photographer

Just in the last decade, the advent of digital photography, the major camera manufacturers like Nikon and Canon making SLR cameras less expensive and advertising how even amateurs can take professional looking photos, and the iphone almost crippled the photography profession.

Everywhere you go, the iphones and amateur cameras with WiFi are up and clicking; whether it be at a concert, a wedding, an event, or even on the streets. Iphones and WiFi equipped cameras are everywhere and the images are posted immediately through social media outlets.

How do you overcome such obstacles says a professional photographer?!

Well, you get better at what you do technically and educate your public through social media. Post those images within an hour of creation to Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and any other outlet and show your stuff! Write a blog about how you got that image to educate the iphone and amateurs how taking a photo by a professional is much more highly valued. Show them through your images your creativity and beauty and technique.

This is what made Joan Heffler Photography a better photographer!

You are in good hands with a professional photographer!

A professional photographer is like a psychologist, artist, time management professional and all around “Jill of all Trades” when it comes to planning an event.

What separates out the professional photographer from the newbie or weekend warrior is the immediate feeling of security that the pro will take care of you, ally all fears, anticipate any challenges and map out a strategy so the day of your wedding, portrait session, or event runs smoothly and you trust you are in good hands!

Most often, people don’t know what to expect or how to plan. Most often, people call and ask how much before they understand the elements that go into making a perfect event unfold. When speaking with Joan Heffler Photography, know that you are in good hands!

Family Portrait Photographer, Albany, NY

Photography With Personality!

Photography with Personality!

I’ve been told I have plenty of personality, so why not let me make all that I photograph full of personality too!
When I began my professional photography career 15 years ago (it was a lifelong hobby), I was told by marketers that I needed to brand myself, and in that branding, clarify what makes my style of photography different from all others. I would ask myself everyday, “Why am I different? What is my style? What makes me different than all others in my field?”
Finally one day, it struck me like a thousand flashes going off at once. I have so much personality, why not showcase that in a style…in my own style.
My style demonstrates how I interpret the world, and how I interpret personalities. Everyone and everything on this planet has a distinct and unique personality; and in my photography work, I wish to capture that. I want to share my gift with you, and capture your individual personality and hope you that your uniqueness shines through.

I invite you to delight in my work, and if you are interested in further information about my wedding, event, portrait, or corporate work, please contact me at 518-346-4485 or joan@joanheffler.com.

Do Not Choose A Photographer On Price Alone!

How Much Will It Cost Is Not The Only Question To Ask of A Wedding, Portrait, Events or Corporate Photographer

I belong to a number of online wedding, events and corporate photography internet services; and every week I am forwarded requests asking about photography services. Invariably, there is a comment posted with the request such as this:  We are on a limited budget and want an elegant wedding and full day wedding photography coverage with all the bells and whistles and have less than $___ to spend. Please email us your pricelist.”  Or, “I am looking for an events photographer in your area. We are looking for the best price. What are your hourly charges?”

When prospects only want an emailed pricelist, and do not pick up the phone to talk with the photographer, then the gambling game begins!

If you only choose on price, it may be like ordering an item online without knowing what it will look like, and once received, it is the wrong size. If you only choose on price, you don’t get another chance to have those images that capture your event….you know, the once in a lifetime, elegant images which you deserve and will cherish year after year.

If prospects do call, the photographer must convey how important it is to choose wisely and not just by price; book a real professional with credentials and not a neighbor down the street who has a tiny digital camera and who wants to make a few hundred dollars.

First, I would like to caution prospects NOT to ask the photographer to email a pricelist without meeting in person or speaking on the phone. You lose so much information by judging just from a pricelist. Not only will most photographers customize packages for you these days, it is so very important to talk on the phone and meet in person since the photographer wishes to establish a comfortable relationship before the day. You want the photographer to know you and really capture your heartbeats in fantastic images. Feeling each other out, getting in sync with each other, understanding what is important and what style the photographer will offer you is critical in having products with the pizzazz and personality and radiance you are expecting.

So, let’s discuss how to choose wisely, and not by price alone. Don’t make it a gambling game! Meet or talk with the photographer and let him/her do her job…it’s not just taking photos.  Talk to me at www.joanhefflerphotography.com

 

Passion In Photography

Alex and Grey having fun at a Non profit formal gala in Albany NYWhen I was in the first grade my teacher asked the students to draw themselves 20 years into the future. While the others drew themselves as nurses and teachers, I drew herself as an artist! Twenty years ago, I left a career in fundraising to explore my passion in photography; and with surprise and delight, made it a successful business. Specializing in people photography, my goal is to create Pictures with Personality and offer you images that jump off the page and delight your spirit. I invite you to delight in my interpretation of personalities  for weddings, corporate, events and portraits and if you are intrigued, contact me at www.joanhefflerphotography.com

Advice On Choosing a Wedding, Event, Corporate or Portrait Photographer

Q. What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a wedding, event, corporate or portrait photographer like you?

A. If the quality of your wedding, event, corporate and portrait photography is important; I am the professional you should be contacting! The number one thing to look for in their wedding photographer is personality. The photographer is the only individual who will be with you all day, and you want to feel comfortable with the person. So, when you are meeting them, you are checking them out for comfort. See how you feel around them. Can you picture them with your family and friends?

Q. If you were a customer, what do you wish you knew about your trade? Any inside secrets to share?

A. If I only knew to NOT choose on price alone; and to get to know my photographer before the event.
If the photographer is within your budget, give or take a little, pay attention to how it feels being with that person. If you feel celebrated and comfortable as though she were your friend, that is the person you want photographing for you once you know the person is trustworthy and her quality matches yours. Look for an established and reliable photographer whose work moves you, whose technical quality is tops. If you find a photographer who makes you happy, you never will regret your investment.

How do you choose GOOD photographers for your wedding, bar/bat mitzvah or event?

Bar Mitzvah Altar shot putting on the tallisWedding Party photo taken in Troy NYBallroom Dance recital at the Marriott Albany NYNot everyone knows what makes good photographs and they don’t know how to choose a good photographer for their event. What are you supposed to look for?

There are so many photographers out there it is a daunting task to choose a good photographer. In fact, some newbies are quite good sometimes and most often cheaper than professional photographers.  However, when they see all the results of a newbie amateur…well,you deserve better.

Good photography and a good photographer doesn’t come cheap mind you. There is expensive equipment to purchase and maintain and there is technique to be learned and continually upgraded.  And the cost of building and maintaining a website is not cheap today either.

All that is well and good, but what I want to know is How Do I Know What To Look For? Just like buying anything, you do need to know what you are looking for to make the right choices.

Most people don’t know what they are looking at is bad photography! Here are some things to think about when searching for a good photographer:

1. It’s in the lighting. A good photographer knows how to create beautiful images in any kind of light whether  in a dark banquet room or outside in the summer heat. That photographer knows how to adjust their camera to get consistent quality images.  When there is a loss of detail, it is overexposed. If you can only see white faces and black backgrounds that image is underexposed or the photographer doesn’t understand camera settings.

2. Composition makes a balanced photo. If a photographer crops in so close as to cut at a joint such as wasteline or elbow, the person either looks huge or that he or she lost an arm. That is so unflattering. Professional photographers crop in between joints to make for a beautiful balance.  The eye should be drawn to just one point of interest in each photo. Do you get confused as to where to look in a photo? Is more than one thing going on? That is bad. One point of interest…that is good!

Also not every person in a photo should be centered. If you are shooting a family in a beautiful setting, most often including mountains or streams and the natural environmental symmetry makes for a spectacular image.

3. Focus. Photos should not be fuzzy or soft. They should be crisp especially the face, and eyes should sparkle.

4. Contrast  If the photographer shows you a flat image, run away! Images should have contrast from light to dark to hold your interest. It makes a two dimensional photo look like it is three dimensions and pops off the page likes its real life.

5. Backgrounds. So many photographers zoom in so tightly they don’t get how to incorporate nature’s beauty into their images. Not good! A good photographer knows how to do that. That is what makes them good and you should be looking for that kind of photographer for you.

Are you getting my point???!  

Kind Words

Kind Words

Echoes of our weddings still chime through our days. We are truly newlyweds in our delight. It was wonderful to have you there ~ and with camera in hand. The pictures are great! I’m so glad you captured the waltz ~ you were the only one who did. Your photographs are clearly at a high artistic level ~ you saw the subtle, the beautiful and the meaningful.

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