Bill Kratt Photography

Ok, so we're going to start off 2012 with hopefully many more blog posts! Let's see if I can keep it up....Also, if you have questions, or would like to see a topic discussed, or if you just want to know how I produced a certain image, feel free to email me....It'll give me something to write about and you'll have more to entertain you that way! bill@billkrattphotography.com

If you're looking for photos, we specialize in:

High School Seniors - Family and Children - Maternity - Engagements - Bridals - Weddings - Models - Business and Environmental Portraits

2011 was a year for getting established again in a new location, and starting to rebuild a client base in a new city! Thanks to everyone that came out to support us, and help us grow! 2012 will be our growing pains! We're pushing to increase our customers, and reach out to those who may not have seen our work or have heard of us yet! We're also working on possibly bringing in some sales professionals to help with our growth, so if you know anyone, have them get in touch with me! These will be outside sales to start with, but we hope to grow quickly!

We've had so many wonderful photo sessions since we last posted in October, so I thought for the beginning of the year that I would have a few images for everyone to look back on, and gather ideas for your shoots in the upcoming months.

Here's to a fantastic 2012, and thank you again to everyone who helped make 2011 a great success!









So, a few shots to show off, and hopefully inspire you! What are you waiting for! We're already booking for upcoming months....

Well, it's been way too long since my last blog entry. Sorry folks! It has been extremely busy here at the studio, there were holidays involved, kids, family, traveling, cookies....well, you get the point. New updates will be coming on a more frequent basis.

October and December were great months for us, and we had several specials going on. A Halloween shoot, some holiday family photos, and even a pet session for Christmas to help the Humane Society of Stanislaus County!

We are also in the process of making some slight changes to the business, and the pricing structure. The goal is to better suit our clients, offer a simpler, easier to understand pricing structure, and fix a few issues that popped up throughout the year. One of those being printing. To all of you that loved the fact that you were able to send your prints out wherever you liked, that will be changing slightly! All of our packages will include a CD with web-sized images for you to use online, and share with friends. However, we will no longer be giving out the print resolution images, unless you have purchased a print from us first (8x10 or larger). We've had too many people coming back with printing problems from discount companies, or non-lab quality printers. I would then take it upon myself to have quality prints done of the same images, and then allow the customer to compare the final products. Needless to say this is a waste of your time and money, as well as mine.

A few bad apples as they say....And just a reminder to everyone, certain "bargain stores" and "drug stores" are not professional printing labs. You will get what you pay for, but it has become too time consuming to try and bail everyone out when prints go wrong. Please leave it to the pros!

Also, all sessions will begin with a consultation. This was always optional in the past, but we are going to make it a requirement going forward. Too much time is spent in the studio, trying to decide what the look, mood, and goal of the photographs are before the session starts. If you're paying for an hour of photo time, you should be getting that full hour. I've been running my sessions long to make up for the 10 or 15 minutes it takes to try and get the lighting set for you, and decide on backgrounds and color schemes. Again, not fair to your time schedule nor mine. During your consultation, you will also be making the decision on if you even want to use our services! We hope you will, but once you see our samples, talk about the session, and decide what you really want, we may not be the studio you are looking for. That is perfectly fine, everyone has different styles and tastes, and we definitely can't be everything to everyone.

I'll be posting some new images soon....but I'll leave you with one of our most current to start you off. This is an example of our new Extreme Photoshopping option. Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, things just don't work out with family shoots. Getting everyone to smile at the same time. Getting everyone to look at the camera. Capturing each individual personality in that family portrait. This session allowed each member to show off, and be themselves without worrying about everyone else. This was 5 different individual photos, built together into a final family photo that would be exceptionally difficult otherwise...especially with children! Set up an appointment so we can can discuss this, and any other ideas you may have as well!

Have I mentioned I love my job! Yes, quite often it's a lot of work, and long hours here at the studio and away from my family. But, doing what I enjoy really makes all of it worth while. No, I'm not getting rich ( yet! ), and sometimes it is a struggle, however, shooting families, working with kids, seeing great scenery and making new friends as I go is a welcome change to sitting in an office from 8 to midnight 6 or 7 days a week...Sure I miss the paycheck, but not the stress and elevated blood pressure!

I've attached a random sampling of new images from the month, and there are some great new wedding photos under the "Wedding Portfolio" tab as well. Let's see how much we can add today!

Working with kids is always a toss up! Sometimes they run and move so much all you get is blur, and sometimes they cry as soon as they are plopped down on the studio floor! Paige was another story! She loved being in front of the camera. Not bad for a 4 year old! She posed herself in most of her photos, and took direction perfectly in all her other shots! Very animated, and great facial expressions!

And for all you photographers out there that may be looking at this....All this consists of is a 4 year old, a black paper backdrop and 1 light (with a beauty dish attached).







It was a full month of shoots, such a great time for the studio, so I haven't had much time for updating my blog, but I thought I would throw in a few samples from some other shoots, since I'm not sure how long it will be before I get back on here!

Here's your first shot, for those of you not from California, this is in Yosemite National Park. I had the opportunity to get out for a day and see something other than the walls of the studio.





A great family photo shoot!




And, just because I love things that done fall under your traditional family studio from time to time, here was a fun shoot, of course featuring tattoos!

So it's been a busy month! Lots of photo shoots, advertising, and some wedding work as well. This is just a quick not to say congratulations to Brandi and Zack on their wedding, 9-10-11-12, and thank you for having me be a part of it all! A beautiful day to get married, on the beach in Lake Tahoe. Photos will be coming soon, but here is a teaser for you to start with.



As always, book your sessions soon, time slots are filling up fast, and email us to find out about our holiday specials for families, holiday portraits, halloween surprises!

So, here are a few shots of some seniors I had worked with right before graduation. Gearing up for new the busy seasons coming up, and trying to get a few days off here and there!

Also, see our new ad in this months copy of Stanislaus Magazine! You can pick them up at various retailers around town (several in McHenry Village), or here at the studio! We are also going to be a featured deal this month on Modesto Dealsaver, so if you haven't signed up yet, do so! Last time I checked, new members were entered into a drawing for an iPad! Works just like Groupon, but is put on by the Modesto Bee, and features only local businesses!

Fauxtographer - I came across this term on another website, and loved it! It's loosely defined as someone who gets a camera, takes some photos of their kids, pets, friends, etc...and thinks, "hey these are great, I'm going to be a photographer now...I wonder how much I should charge?".

Now, I know everyone needs to start somewhere, and if it's a passion to take great photos, then go for it. However, in my definition, a fauxtographer is one who starts out as mentioned above, but doesn't do anything to improve themselves. No classes, no learning, no studying, no internships. I've had a camera in my hand most of my life, but I still jump at the opportunity to learn. If I have any free time, I'm reading about new technology, learning tips on photoshop, trying out new software, experimenting with lighting techniques. I read many other photographer's blogs, and study their photos. To me, a real photographer is humble, and knows there is always room for improvement in their work. If the day comes when I know everything there is to know about photography, that is when I will lay down my camera.

I've looked back at early works that I had done, and was proud to show off, and am now embarassed by it. I've hidden those images away where they won't be seen again, and push myself to do better. I've learned from my mistakes, and it's made me a stronger photographer, and I look forward to the day when I can hide away my current work, for it doesn't hold a candle to what is to come.

And with that said, a congratulations to my sister on her engagement! I'm happy to have gotten the first engagement shot in!