New Metal Wagon Prop for Babies and Children November 21, 2007

Our latest design in the "Elegant Garden" category of props is the Metal Wagon for babies and children.  This prop is an excellent choice for both boys and girls.

It features a wood seat with an additional jump seat (easily removed), tasteful metal sides and a metal undercarriage and wheels with a rubber rim.  Possible poses and uses: older babies and toddlers can sit comfortably and hold on to the sides for support; use a cushion and pillow liner (as seen in our baby basket) to pose a propped baby; place toys, dolls or bears in the wagon with the child standing close; use outdoors with one child in the wagon being pulled by a another child; and, finally, use the wagon in a wedding procession to include a baby or toddler in the wedding.

Price is $279.00 with some assembly required (screwing the metal frame to the bottom of the wood base and putting the wheels on the axles).  For an additional $75.00 fee, we will fully assemble and ship the wagon. 

Wood seat base measures 28" x 14";  the height of the metal back of basket section is12"; overall back height is 27"; and Jump seat is 8" from the top of the sides.

New Metal Wagon Prop for Babies and Children  November 19, 2007 

Our latest design in the "Elegant Garden" category of props is the Metal Wagon for babies and children.  This prop is an excellent choice for both boys and girls.

It features a wood seat with an additional jump seat (easily removed), tasteful metal sides and a metal undercarriage and wheels with a rubber rim.  Possible poses and uses: older babies and toddlers can sit comfortably and hold on to the sides for support; use a cushion and pillow liner (as seen in our baby basket) to pose a propped baby; place toys, dolls or bears in the wagon with the child standing close; use outdoors with one child in the wagon being pulled by a another child; and, finally, use the wagon in a wedding procession to include a baby or toddler in the wedding.

Price is $279.00 with some assembly required (screwing the metal frame to the bottom of the wood base and putting the wheels on the axles).  For an additional $75.00 fee, we will fully assemble and ship the wagon. 

Wood seat base measures 28" x 14";  the height of the metal back of basket section is12"; overall back height is 27"; and Jump seat is 8" from the top of the sides.

8 techniques to help you survive in today's market place November 19, 2007

Get "Real" Article in PP of Ohio Magazine September 20, 2007

We found this article below by Patrick Rice in the Professional Photographers of Ohio magazine to be very timely and helpful to all full time portrait photographers with so much competition going on.  For those of our valued customers who are part time, we ask your indulgence and urge you to review earlier blogs which been addressed to start up and part time photographers.

Over the past ten years, the photography business has become more challenging for many of us.  "Real" professional photographers are retiring, downsizing and going out of business.  There has never been as much competition as there is right now. Uncle Harry and Digital Debbie are taking a bite out of the wedding photography business [note by Wicker By Design: we see this new competition throughout portrait photography].

More and more consumers are buying high end digital cameras and taking photos themselves instead of hiring a professional.  I am hearing of "real" professional photographers lowering their prices in order to compete.  This is certainly a recipe for disaster.  Other "real" professionals are panicking and deciding to relinquish their digital files with the assignment.  Again, another misguided attempt to solve the problem of less business by not addressing the "real" issues.   Lowering prices or giving away files only lowers your profits and potential sales.

As "real" professionals, we need to differentiate ourselves from just anyone with a camera.  Start by emphasizing the fact that "real" professional photographers belong to professional photographic organizations.  That "real" professional photographers have a vendor's license and liability insurance.   Show potential clients that there is a "real" difference.  Produce only the highest quality products.  I can't believe that some of our "real" professional photography colleagues still use Sam's Club, Wal-Mart or Costco to print some of their work.  If you use the same level of photo finishing as consumers, how can expect to get paid better for your images?

Create a "real" professional experience for your customers.  Have a respectable looking place to see your clients with awards and membership certificates on the walls.  Keep the place neat and clean.  Vacuum and dust once in a while.  Answer the phone when it rings.  Forward your calls if you need to, but don't just let an answering machine or voice mail take your calls.

Remember, Uncle Harry and Digital Debbie are probably at their day jobs during normal business hours and can't take calls at work.  "Real" professional photographers do business during normal hours.  Call people back in a timely fashion.  It is amazing how many customers tell me that they never get called back from other photographers. 

As I have written before, "real" professional photographers are responsible for many of the problems that now face.  If we act like Uncle Harry and Digital Debbie, we deserve to be treated and paid like they are.  Get "real."  Enough said.

Further note by Wicker By Design:  We cannot help noting that Patrick Rice's emphasis on quality is dramatically underscored by your props.  We have heard countless photographers tell us how "wowed" their customers are when they see our props, both because of the unique design and the extremely high quality of the construction.

Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep: A wonderful charity 9-15-2007

As you many of you know, Wicker By Design strives to be a good citizen in relationship to the suppliers of our photo props in the Philippines.  We tithe 10% of our profits to poverty relief and economic development in the Philippines and advocate for greater charitable giving for the relief of poverty, hunger and disease in the world's poorest countries. 

We also like to highlight charitable activities of others in the portrait photography industry.  We have been particularly taken by the work of Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep (NILMDTS).  Founded by Sandy Puc and Cheryl Haggard, the organization provides portrait photographers on call to photograph newborns who are critically ill in a hospital or hospice situation.  NILMDTS is a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization and can always use donations to keep the program growing and support the photographers who donate their  time.  With NILMDTS's permission, I have taken more information from their web site and present it below:

Pregnancy and birth are miraculous journeys.  This amazing time of life is full of mystery, anticipation, joy, hope, and wonder. Feeling the powerful energy of birth and new life, watching as a new family is born unto each other. These things humble and amaze. These are the things that we celebrate when a baby is born.

But there is another aspect of pregnancy and birth. There is an unexpected place in this journey where some families may find themselves. When a baby dies, a world is turned upside down. There is confusion, sadness, fear, and uncertainty that cannot be explained. There is sorrow where there should have been joy. During this time, it might be impossible for families to know what they might need in order to heal in the future.

This is the place where the Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep Foundation gently provides a helping hand and a healing heart.  For families overcome by grief and pain, the idea of photographing their baby may not immediately occur to them. Offering gentle and beautiful photography services in a compassionate and sensitive manner is the heart of this organization. The soft, gentle heirloom photographs of these beautiful babies are an important part of the healing process. They allow families to honor and cherish their babies, and share the spirits of their lives.

The Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep Foundation is there for parents and families to help aid them in their Healing, bring Hope to their future and Honor their child.  It is through Remembrance that a family can begin to heal.

The Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep Foundation (NILMDTS) administers a network of nearly 3,000 volunteer professional photographers in the United States and eight International countries. At a family's request, a NILMDTS Affiliated Photographer will come to your hospital or hospice location and conduct a sensitive and private portrait session. The portraits are then professionally retouched and presented to the families on an archival DVD or CD that can be used to print portraits of their cherished baby.

Our entire network of affiliated professional photographers graciously donate their time and talents to our families and we are proud to be able to offer our services at no cost.

Here is an interesting fact: Did you know that the Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep Web Site has approximately 2,000 unique visitors EACH DAY who browse – on average – 16 pages. That's approximately 60,000 VISITORS each month.  Just imagine if each visitor would donate $1.

Vintage Victorian Portraiture

Images from:  

Barnes Portrait Clothin

Childrens Fashions of the Past in Photographs  Edited by Alison Mager

A Victorian Portrait  by Asa Briggs with Archie Mills