Shared with the permission of the author, Katie Duda of Claire Alyse Photography.

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If I were you…I promise I’m not trying to be smart… I mean it literally. If I were you, the client. Well, a potential client actually. Here’s what might be on my mind.

“I want professional photos of my family (or wedding), but my brother’s friend’s cousin’s daughter’s babysitter just got a really nice camera and she’ll take photos of us and give me a disk of all the images for only $xxx. She has a website, so she is legit.”

Here is an analogy for you:

I have bad hair. It’s too thick, it’s sorta curly, sorta wavy, frizzy and a bad ashy brown color. My brother’s friend’s cousin’s daughter’s babysitter Jackie will cut, weave and blow dry my hair for $90. My other option is going to Jeff the hair stylist at the salon across the street. He charges me $250 for a cut, weave and blow dry. I decide to try both.

I’m sitting in Jackie’s laundry room waiting for her to gather her things when I realize she’s going to wash my hair in the utility sink. Leaning over the sink kneeling on a folding chair proves a little difficult, she gets shampoo in my eye and water drips down my neck into my shirt. We go in the house and she sits me down in her dining room, her husband is sitting on the couch watching Nascar and drinking a 40. He leans forward to grab a bag of chips and I notice his butt-crack. I remind myself that Jackie only charges $90, she probably can’t afford to rent a station in a salon, so I divert my eyes and forgive her. She begins to cut my hair. It seems to be taking quite awhile. She looks a little nervous. I remember that she’s still fairly new to cutting hair. I rationalize that she’s still better than I’d be at it, after all. Plus, she has like 500 fans on her Facebook page, and that has to mean something, right? Jackie disappears to mix my color. She’s gone for a long time. I get nervous that she doesn’t know what she’s doing. What if she screws it up and my hair falls out? I start to wonder… maybe there is a REASON why she only charges $90. Is that the only way she can get clients? Then Jackie weaves a beautiful blond into my hair. I try to forget about my nerves and begin to get excited. A cut and color for only 90 bucks, I can’t wait to show everyone my hair! She finishes up the blow dry and I turn to the mirror to discover its really yellow and brassy. The cut is a uneven and boxy. I take a deep breath and calm myself down. Well, it looks better than it did before, I guess, and I only paid $90. The next day I meet up with some girlfriends for drinks. No one says anything about my hair, and I’m afraid to ask what they think because I know it just looks average, or maybe even bad. I feel disappointed. $90 seemed like such a great deal.

I suppose it’s only a deal if the value is greater than $90.

Two months pass and I find myself sitting at Jeff’s station in the salon across the street. The receptionist offers me a cold drink and the most recent issue of People magazine. Jeff comes over introduces himself and asks me what I’d like to accomplish today. We talk for a few minutes about the specific color of blond I’m looking for. He asks me questions about how I style my hair, what I like, what I don’t like, and tells me a little about whats in style right now. Jeff seems as excited as I am for my new look. I look around to see all the latest flat irons, blow dryers, collections of brushes and combs. Jeff rattles off instructions to his assistant while examining my hair and she’s back in a jiffy with 4 bowls of color. As Jeff begins to weave in and out of my hair with light blond and medium honey and chestnut brown I close my eyes and listen to the calming music on the satellite radio. I feel relaxed and confident. I trust him. I sit with my hair under the dryer and once again I’m offered a cold drink and a magazine. Jeff comes over to inspect the progression of the color. He exclaims how perfect it looks and brings me to the shampoo station. There is a big cushy leather recliner. I put my head back and he begins to wash. The shampoo smells like mint and lavender and he spends an extra few minutes on a mini scalp massage. Jeff dries and styles my hair with ease.

When he’s finished he spins my chair around and I hardly recognize myself in the mirror. I look like I belong in a fashion magazine. The cut frames my face perfectly. It’s sassy with a hint of modern, just the right amount to suit my style. The color shimmers as I turn my head. It seems almost as if there are thousands of shades of blond intertwined throughout the locks of hair. It reminds me of what my hair looked like when I was little, after spending all summer in the sun. I feel proud. I meet up with some friends for lunch the next day. They must have commented on my hair 10 times. One of them demanded Jeff’s phone number and asked me how much he charged. “$250″, I told her. She replied, “Well it looks a-MAZE-ing, what a great deal.”

The $90 Jackie charged me wasn’t a great deal. The $250 Jeff charged me was. How is that possible? They both gave me a cut, weave and blow dry.

The difference was the experience and the quality. The $250 that Jeff charged me included a cold diet coke, and comfy chair, state of the art equipment and supplies, experience, knowledge, and a quality product. It included a feeling of pride and excitement that lasted until it was time to return for more. The $90 Jackie charged me included cheap dye, dull scissors, a wet shirt and a butt-crack.

When I thought about it later, I thought, well wouldn’t it be great to find someone who was somewhere in between, you know, someone who is amazing and cheap? But the problem is there is no such thing as in between. When someone offers quality, they have to charge for it, they have to cover the cost of running the business, continuing education, supplies, marketing, and they have to cut themselves a paycheck. Otherwise they are not running a business, they are the proud President of a Non-Profit Organization.

So if you find yourself presented with what seems like a “great deal” for your family photos, ask yourself if the [low price] is worth an experience with Jackie. Personally, as a client, I’d rather pay [more] for an experience that feels priceless, than waste [one penny] on something sub par. Value is a magical thing.

There are so many talented professionals that will be at the show, so be prepared to be dazzled! For wedding gowns, From the Gown Up would be a great stop to make. Many of my brides from last year and this coming season have found their perfect gown there. I keep hearing amazing feedback, plus the owner Zerlinda is great!

For flowers, Laurel Mitchell of Laurel’s Floral Decor always creates the most inspiring and beautiful flower arrangements. She’s an absolute doll, and worth a look if you still need a fab florist for your big day.

For flower-girl dresses, Jenn makes super cute dresses for The Flower Girl Boutique. I did a few photo shoots featuring her dresses last year. Be sure to check out the spring and fall photos we did together.

For make-up/beauty, Allison and Alysha of Venia Beauty are an unbeatable pair. They have a booth at the Seattle Wedding Show for the first time this year. Please stop in and show them some love! Their booth is #321.

Lastly, but most importantly, my good friend Rebecca Grant of New Creations Wedding Design & Coordination posted some great tips for first-time show-goers and I’m reposting them here with her permission. She recently announced a super exciting partnership with Pottery Barn’s Bridal Gift Registry. Feel free to check out the post on her blog for more info! Below, she’s pictured with Christy & Darrin, a delightful couple from April 2011.

Rebecca’s tips for attending the show:

1.  First and foremost- wear comfortable shoes!! Cannot stress enough how important this is.  As you walk up and down the aisles of the Seattle Convention Center, if your feet hurt, you will not be focused, and may even become grumpy.  So do yourself and your fellow participants a favor, and wear comfy shoes!  :)

2.  You will be overwhelmed.  Have a game plan of searching out the vendors you are specifically looking for.  You will have thousands of wedding vendors shoving their flyers in your face hoping to catch the eye of a perspective bride.  Take your time!  Politely decline to take the flyers of the vendors you are not looking for, and only take the handouts of those vendors you are looking for- who you have talked with. This will pay off big time after you get home to help distinguish who you may want to follow up with, because you will have remembered talking with them.

3.  Bring return address envelope labels with you.  Remember all those free mailers that get sent to you?  Well sometimes they come in handy.  Pull out those return address labels with the picture of the cute puppy or the kids crayon drawing on them, and put them to use!  This will save your hand and your time.  You will be asked countless times for your name, address, email address and phone number.  Having pre-printed labels with this information already printed on it will be invaluable.

4.  Arrive late.  Yes, this is the instance where being a bit late will pay off big time!  Especially if you have not pre-purchased your tickets, this is an imperative tip.  Most Brides cannot wait to get to the show, somehow thinking begin the first one in the door is the best.  All you’re missing is a mob scene.  Relax, go get coffee with your girlfriend or mom, and get to the show about an hour and a half or two hours after the doors open.  You will have  missed the mobs, allowing you a much more pleasant, leisurely experience.  There will still be just as much to see, but without the chaos.

The show is this coming weekend, January 7th & 8th, at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center.  Tickets are 17$ and can be purchased at the door.  For complete wedding vendor information, Seattle Wedding Show information and all the details, check out their website.

Risa & Abel were easygoing, fun, and clearly there to enjoy every moment to the fullest. I love when couples are able to put their stresses aside and soak up the best of their wedding day! Congratulations Risa & Abel!

Love you, Sofia, and can’t wait for all the adventures we have ahead!

Happy New Year all! I’m excited to be one step into 2012, and hope you are too! I’m a dreamer at heart, so I spend a lot of time every December in anticipation of the newness that comes with the flip of the calendar…

In celebration of a whole new year before us, this January and February I would like to photograph a few in-home sessions with newborn babies less than 10 days old. I’m definitely going to need help finding the right families for this personal project, so if you or someone you know is giving birth to a baby anytime in the next two months and might be interested in a complimentary newborn session, please put me in touch! I think it may be best to connect with expecting mothers before baby arrives, whenever possible, and all sessions must take place before March 1, 2012 in the Seattle area. I’d especially love to have the opportunity to photograph newborn twins, but singletons are great too. Contact me for further details and please help to spread the word! Thanks a million & Happy New Year!

We’re coming to the end of what as been a spectacular year. We offer our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has supported us this year, in business and life, in both the big ways and the small ways. There is no way I could mention all of you by name, but in a way, the simple fact that I can’t make a comprehensive list of all our blessings this year that have come because of you both astounds and humbles me. Toward the beginning of 2011, a friend told me she thought this year would be one of unleashing…letting go of the limits we experienced in the past, unleashing our potential, and releasing God’s blessing in our lives. It’s been that and so much more.

Of all the memories that stick with me from this year, I have to mention the courage and strength of friends facing all kinds of hardships who managed to dig deeper still to love extravagantly, give generously, and bravely move forward through their challenging circumstances. You folks (should) know who you are, and you should also know that you inspire me greatly!

I have to mention and thank all the generous families who made our goal of sponsoring a child in 2012 a reality by passing on the word and participating in our Spirit of Giving Portrait Sessions. Thanks so much for helping to make that happen!

I would like to applaud the talented wedding professionals we worked with throughout the year, and especially thank those who believed in us enough to send clients our way. We can’t thank you enough!

For the couples who have invited us to become part of one of the biggest milestones in their lives this year – Thank you for sharing your love with us. I loved how each of your events were uniquely meaningful and beautiful, and I hope the coming years hold just as much meaning and beauty for each of you.

Lastly, the growth we’ve seen in our little family is something I will cherish always. I’m proud of the goals we’ve accomplished, and the dreams that we’ve realized, the milestones we’ve passed, and the adventures we still have ahead of us.

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a HAPPY NEW YEAR! With love,  Emily

These cool cats are our terrific friends Sarah & Angelo. If I’m honest, they have become one of the many reasons we have grown to love living in Seattle. They’ve been constant support, encouragement, and all-around amazing friends to us these past two years since our return to the Northwest. I’m so glad that after seven years of marriage, they still like each other! The Merry Christmas sign was inspired by Pinterest and created by Sarah the morning of their  photo shoot. Fun times! My hope for anyone reading this is to wish you all a truly Merry Christmas, and a holiday filled with meaning, not just stuff. If you’re doing any traveling this next week, be safe and enjoy your loved ones!