daniel mcgarrity photography

Professional photographers, like me, price our work based on the cost of doing business, not just the equipment/insurance/our own bills, but charging enough that this is our ONLY job- rather than a side hustle or beer money- Taking the photo is the culmination of years of experience- knowing light- composition - and having the gear- but it is the smallest component of what we do- making sure clients can and want to find us, making sure our work stands far above what clients believe their phones so magically with filters- and editing late into the night to make your pictures not only worth a thousand words, but be a part of your families history- adorning the walls of your grandkids with that picture from the beach- or the first dance- or even the graduation picture. Knowing how to get all that done running our own home and business, all without being in a full or part time job to supplement our incomes- that is what makes up my pricing

talking- i’m a very good photographer, but i’m a terrible mind reader, there is no better indicator or success than a good plan- understanding expectations, logistics and having a plan B for when things don’t go as planned, is the most important part of my process with every client

I went back to school for photography after years of taking picture- with my previous job and life experiences I, like other photographers over 40, have developed a knack for how people behave and react and that “on the job training” tends to be more than a little helpful in every photography situation

I always enjoyed photographing throughout my childhood, I began taking pictures with an old film camera, eventually did lots of weddings, and moved on to just Portraits and Events- while I don't do weddings or engagements any longer, I do have a great deal of satisfaction, and a very successful business, to make this different direction of work artistically satisfying

I’ve worked all over the US, Canada, Western Europe, Turkey, and Peru- in that time i’ve done portraits, families, food, conferences and weddings- From the individual professional portrait in Montreal, a birthday party for a british prime minister in the UN, to the family vacation in Venice, the food stalls of Istanbul, and the Bar Mitzvah in Maryland, i’ve worked with every group, culture, religion, gender, age, and calorie count that you could imagine …but i don’t do pets..

Hi, it's always great working with clients who are involved and communicative. "I'm a great photographer, but a terrible mind reader" is the line I always tell my clients. it isn't that I don't have the skill to make things happen, but what I need is the clients perspective to bring my skill to their needs, it makes for great projects, better pictures, and return clients.

Consider your budget- nobody is telling you that you can afford something that you say you cannot, however photography is ultimately a luxury service, when done well, and you should expect luxury service when you hire a photographer. Small budgets can work too, but you should expect limited time under 30 minutes) only a few images, like 2-3- and often newcomers to the business, folks who- despite best intentions, don’t always meet expectations due to time constraints, experience, or business mindsets- very few will be focused on simply taking your money- but the less experienced are more often the subjects of the bad outcomes of people hoping for low investment rates. A great rule of thumb is this, consider your budget- and the amount of time it takes to get the “one good” picture from the session. - and double your estimate - it is pretty accurate and will come a great deal closer to you getting exactly the pictures you want and rightfully expect and provide you with a photographer you can use for a long time

“Have you done work like this before” “ what is your backup plan when things go sideways?” “when should we expect our images?” “will it be you who photographs our session?”