Defining Imagery, LLC - Professional Photographers

Serves Floral Park, NY

35244

Hired 423 times

Not yet available

21 years in business

$395

4.9

This pro accepts payments via Cash, Credit card, and PayPal.

Next Service

Hours

Sun 10:00 am - 9:00 pm

Mon 10:00 am - 9:00 pm

Tues 10:00 am - 9:00 pm

Wed 10:00 am - 9:00 pm

Thurs 10:00 am - 9:00 pm

Fri 10:00 am - 9:00 pm

Sat 10:00 am - 9:00 pm

Credentials

Background Check

Jo Anne Richards
Completed on 2/16/2021

Introduction

I'm so happy you're here! Thank you for visiting! :) I love making this process easy, simple and fun, making your whole experience an amazing memory, to go along with your gorgeous photos! Focused on love and amazing Soul connections, I'm all about meeting people on a deeper level. My heart goes into capturing each and every image. I'm so grateful to have been truly blessed with the very special gift of being able to make people feel incredibly comfortable in front of the camera - from baby to Grandpa, and everyone in between - even if your camera-shy or think you're not photogenic. This allows you to relax and let the real you shine through, so you'll look your very best, allowing me to create the most beautiful images you've ever seen of yourself & your loved ones... "You'll Fall in Love with Yourself!"(c) Comparing photographers can be VERY confusing. That's where people get in trouble. Inexperienced newbies & amateur hobbyists try to lure you in with a ton of cheap digital shots. They can't impress you with quality, so they try to lure you in with quantity. But in reality, what's more valuable - a 1kt diamond or 1,000 plastic fakes? Because they don't have the skills & experience, they have to take a ton of shots to hope they get lucky with a couple. As an true professional, I have mastered lighting, posing, composition, and all the technical aspects of photography. I set up a shot, capture it beautifully, then move on to the next one, all while you're having a fun time! My greatest gift is making people feel comfortable in front of the camera, that helps your inner beauty shine, and that allows me to capture those gorgeous organic smiles! :) Unfortunately, anyone can slap up a profile or website and claim they're a photographer. That means so many are not legitimate businesses, so they also don't behave professionally... They don't provide a contract & don't take retainers... and that means they often don't show up! That can actually be a blessing, because If they do show up, you typically end up with a disk full of unusable amateur snapshots, and you find yourself having to spend again to hire an actual professional to re-do the session the right way. Real professionals are legitimate, full-time, licensed, insured businesses that... A) Offer a full line of printed products that will last for generations - not disk of digital snapshots that will corrupt & be lost forever. B) Provide a written contract to assure they'll show up & do what they promised they'd do. C) Require retainers - paid via credit card - NOT unreported Zelle or Venmo payments to their personal bank accounts! Avoid getting burned by asking about these things up front! It's important to me to do things right, so you feel safe, comfortable & stress-free, every step of the way. I want you to have a great experience, and get the best value for your money! It thrills my heart to know that the images I create with you today, will be cherished for a lifetime and passed down through the generations as your legacy. This is your family history - one day these images will hang on the walls of your children and grandchildren, as their most precious possessions! 1.) My packages include an Image Credit Allowance to give you the freedom to choose what you want to purchase AFTER you've seen your images. How can you possibly commit to sizes & quantity before you've even seen the images? I'll never stick with a package that forces you to buy things you don't want, in order to get what you do want. It's simply my job to create beautiful images, and allow you the freedom to buy what you love! :) 2.) I deeply discount my packages to make them affordable, putting world-class imagery within reach of virtually any budget. Everyone deserves to be surrounded by incredible images of themselves and their loved ones. Photographs make a house a home! By providing amazing value, I offer a safe way to obtain beautiful photographs at affordable prices. And for those severely restricted budgets, doesn't it make more sense to invest in my smallest package, with just a couple of gorgeous, high quality professional images to adorn your walls, admired for decades - rather than a cheap disk of amateur snapshots that aren't even worth printing? 3) I protect you by running a legitimate, licensed, insured business, with a rock solid reputation for excellence. As a real business, you have the convenience & safety of using a credit or debit card. My accounts with professional labs (for pros only!) assure you the highest quality prints, books, albums, etc., which will become your priceless family heirlooms to pass through the generations. 4.) I commit to a written agreement to provide you the peace of mind that I'll actually show up for your session, and deliver exactly as promised. 5.) I've dedicated myself to my art, through endless ongoing training in professional lighting, posing, artistic technique & all the technical aspects of photography. With over 20 years experience as a photographer, I've received numerous awards and over 200 5-star reviews across the internet. I'm also published world-wide in books, magazines, brochures, etc. & am a member of Professional Photographers of America. When you hire me, you can rest assured that you're working with an experience, proven, professional. 6.) After your session, I'm still there for you, helping you through the selection process. I don't leave you alone in heap of overwhelmed confusion, with a load of digital images to sort out, crop, sharpen, and otherwise prep for final output on your own. Most people end up giving up, resulting in them finding a scratched disk at the bottom of a drawer five years later. As a full-service professional, its MY job, not yours, to complete the job! I continue walking you through the process, instead of abandoning you. At your in-person selection appointment, you'll view an amazing slideshow of images from your session, set to music. You'll laugh, ooh and ahhh, and cry tears of joy! (I never get tired of THAT!! :) Then we go through the images one by one, to give them star ratings, to make it really easy to see which are your favorites! My clients LOVE this process! Once you've picked your favorites, its really simple to guide you through the options for the best ways to enjoy your amazing images - choosing an assortment of ready-to-hang wall prints or loose prints to slip into a frame yourself, and perhaps a gorgeous hand-designed Coffee Table Book or a luxurious leather Album, to enjoy the rest of your favorites when you run out of wall space! :) See, it's actually really easy, simple, and fun, when you hire me. I'm always on your side, helping you sort it out! My 5-star reputation shows that I'm always going above and beyond, creating not only gorgeous photographs, but an experience you'll fondly remember, every time you look at your amazing portraits. :) It would truly be my honour to be chosen to create these magical moments with you! It just thrills me to know that your heart will sing, when you gaze upon these images that you'll cherish for a lifetime... as you relive those moments of the most precious times, with your most precious loved ones. To me, it's all about connecting at a beautifully deep level, in an experience of fun, joy, and love. We meet for a brief moment in time, to capture those moments that will be your family's priceless keepsakes, for you to enjoy for all time. And that's why I do this... it makes MY heart sing! :) For questions or to book, you can also call me. Most people prefer a no-obligation chat so I can answer all your questions on the spot. Please feel free to call, 9am-10pm daily - no need to pre-arrange a call time. Thank you for the opportunity to share some amazing moments with you! This will be a lot of fun!!! :) Warmly, Jo Anne

Q&A

What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?

It's my goal to create the most beautiful photographs you've ever seen of yourself and your loved ones! (Even if you're camera-shy or "not photogenic"!) :) PORTRAIT SESSIONS: Each package includes your session, along with an image credit allowance for you to spend towards your selection of beautiful print or digital images. Also included is your complementary in-person selection appointment, where you'll view a beautiful heart-warming slide show of amazing, professionally edited images from your session, set to music, from which you will make your selections. You’ll get to view each image individually, in full detail, on the big screen, rating them by stars to determine your favorites. This makes the selection process so much fun and really easy, eliminating the overwhelm of trying to figure it all out on your own! :) EVENT PHOTOGRAPHY - starting at $395 for the 1 hour. Prices vary based on event type, length, and location. Contact us for a custom quote for your special event. We'll provide you with the greatest value package for your budget and needs. It's always best to call for a no-obligation complementary consultation to help you decide on the right package for your needs.

What is your typical process for working with a new customer?

My clients love how simple and easy I make the process! Usually we chat a bit to go over the details to see what package works best for you. Calling is better than messaging, because I can answer all your questions at once, immediately, instead of having to wait for emails to go back and forth. :) Because of my reputation, some people even just mark me as hired based upon my work and reviews, then message me to set up the appointment time and details. I'll then send you the paperwork to lock in your date. This gives you the security in having a written agreement that details exactly what you're receiving, and that I'm actually committed to showing up! * Always get everything in writing! Amateurs are known to cancel last minute!

What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?

I am a lifelong learner! I believe that if you're not growing, your dying! Not only do I always seek to become a better photographer, I am always seeking to become a better me! I've been educated by amazing world-reknown photographers like the legendary Monte Zucker, Sue Bryce, Peter Hurley, Scott Robert Lim, Clay Blackmore, Hanson Fong, David Ziezer, Lindsay Adler, Rick Salmon, and so many more! I take every class that's available to me, that I can fit in! As I do my editing work, I've got educational videos playing virtually all the time!

How did you get started doing this type of work?

I was interested in photography since I was a child. I got my first (toy) camera for 99 cents, when I was 9 years old. The problem was that I wanted no part of playing with nasty chemicals in a dark room, and I wasn't about to send my art to a lab where strangers would work on it. LOL! I'm too much of a perfectionist when it comes to my images and I want full control. I never seriously pursued photography until the "digital age" made photography "my way", without chemicals, possible!

What types of customers have you worked with?

I've worked with people of a wide variety of ages, nationalities, and family groupings, in all different genres of photography... portraits for individuals, couples, families, corporate, and assorted groups... glamour sessions, headshots for models, actors, and entertainers... and of course, weddings, Christenings, charity events, quinceaneras, sweet 16s, children's birthday parties, adult birthday parties, and all sort of other parties and events. My clients range from 7 day old babies to 90+ year olds... scared camera-shy people to outgoing life-of-the-party types! People who need to be posed from the top of their head to the tips of their toes, to people that can flow more easily into it. I just especially love when someone comes in scared and dreading the session, and leaves laughing and confident, having had a blast during their session! My real specialty is making newbies look like polished pros!

Describe a recent project you are fond of. How long did it take?

Well, one of my favorites was the woman who came in a rush for a corporate portrait. She told me six ways from sideways how I wasn't going to get a good shot of her and she told me every flaw she had. Well, her biggest flaw was that all her beliefs were wrong! I could see the beauty inside her. Within two minutes of arriving at my studio, she was in tears - already touched because she sensed how I could move past all her defenses and see right into her heart - her beautiful heart. And because I am sincere, she new she could trust me, so she let those walls down and we got GORGEOUS images of her! So, this woman who walked in the door telling me she had only ever had one decent image of herself, ended up ordering 6 different poses in sizes from wallets to wall art! (And then she booked a session for her teenage daughter!) You can't even begin to imagine the magical impact a session can have on a client. Truly, it can be a life-changing experience. You'll fall in love with yourself! (c)

What advice would you give a customer looking to hire a provider in your area of work?

Firstly, you've got to make sure that they are actually a professional with a licensed, insured, company. ASK! Then go through the checklist below: - Beware of lowball prices! That's a huge red flag that means your dealing with an amateur or newbie! They're likely handing you off a cheap diskful of unusable snapshots. They try to impress you with quantity because they can't deliver on quality. Photography is not a commodity! You are commissioning custom artwork that takes many hours/days to create. You're not saving money if you have to pay a second time to hire someone else to re-do your session the right way. Calculate the average bid price, then trash the lowest 3/4 of them and only keep the top 1/4. So, if you have 12 quotes, eliminate the lowest 9 prices and compare the 3 highest prices. This virtually eliminates the hobbyists looking to make some cash on the side, so you can compare actual pros. Trying to compare more than 3-4 pros often leads to data overload and confusion, and the client putting the project on permanent hold from analysis paralysis! - Ask if they accept credit cards. Real pros have merchant accounts to process credit card payments. Amateurs don't. - Make sure they have dozens of high quality images in their profiles. Anyone can get a few lucky shots, but can they repeat that for you? Look for consistent high quality and lots of examples. - Look for dozens of great reviews! Anyone can get some friends & family to write reviews, so you need to see WAY more than a couple dozen. - Expect detailed responses to your questions. They should sound like they really know what they are talking about. Once you've passed on all the ones in the danger zones above, It's all about connecting. The images will only be as good as the connection between subject and photographer. If you're not immediately comfortable with a photographer, move on. Go with your gut! This is a relationship. This is a person you are inviting to share in the most precious moments of your life! This is the person you're entrusting with your cherished memories! It's hard enough being in front of the camera... being there with a photographer who intimidates you??? Your real personality is just not going to shine through. The subject will mirror the photographer. I've heard it so often, yet it truly astounds me each time I do, when people tell me that they can see my passion for photography in my images, and my love for my subjects. It's real and it's there, amazing as it is, but you need that level of trust and comfort. I just feel so good when my clients tell me how comfortable I made them! It warms my heart. :) I always try to make the session fun! It's just as important for adults as with children, so they are comfortable and warm up to me quickly. So, get a sense of their personality through their emails and see if it seems like a person you'd be comfortable with. Phone calls are great too! Photography is art and emotion. It's the relationship between the people on both sides of the camera. If it's not a comfortable fit, their heart won't be in and and neither will yours. And most of all, if you're not sure, ask! Don't assume anything. Just because the last photographer you worked with did things one way, doesn't mean the next one works the same way or offers the same packages. Have fun with this! You're hiring a photographer for a happy reason, so make it an enjoyable experience by going with the right one, that you feel confident in. As long as you're not just choosing by cheapest price, you should do just fine by following these guidelines... and your gut instinct! :)

What questions should customers think through before talking to professionals about their project?

Think about how you will be using the images. Where will you hang them in your home? Would an album or book be a wonderful option for the images you don't have space for on the wall? So many people are asking for digital images because they think it's trendy. That trend has had a tragic ending. Children who's parents captured their childhood digitally, and never printed, are now left with no images of their younger years. No images to show their own children how much they looked like them at their age. Digital images are NOT considered archival and they will, given time and circumstance, corrupt, or devices will fail, taking precious memories with them. Hard drives crash. Computers get replaced every few years. Phones get replaced every year or two, or fall into toilets. Technology changes making the images inaccessible. Do YOU still have an 8-track player, a cassette player, or a record player? Can you access old files on a floppy disk, diskette, zip drive? Even if you could, the data has most likely corrupted. If you want your cherished memories to exist in years to come, order prints! Any legitimate, responsible, professional photographer will be in on the movement to encourage printing. Prints can last for decades and be passed down through the generations as your legacy. Your children will want to see your wedding photographs. Don't bequeath them a thumb drive of corrupt files that no device could access, even if the files were good. A printed photograph requires no technology on which to play it. Be sure your treasured memories exist for your loved ones, long after you are gone. They will become their most cherished keepsakes. I shoot from the heart to make images that capture the real you! It's all about the connection between both sides of the lens, when it comes to creating the art that you will cherish for a lifetime and beyond, for generations to come. Exist in prints, and let these prints exist as your legacy! :)