So...I have been talking with folks a lot about this lately...family and friends who have made the comment that the digital age has made things so much easier. Well in some ways. But what many seem to not quite understand is that in the days of film most photographers shot pictures and then let the photo labs do most of the work for them after that. And you got what you got based on those limitations. Then photoshop comes around and we as photographers can exercise more control over the way our work looks. Great! But.....that means we are working more after the fact. Many studios hire people to do this work for them, but right now I'm not sure how to train someone to 'see' what I 'see'. Its a delicate position for sure....I think why people are interested in coming to us for their important pictures is they are going to get our unique way of seeing. I'm the first to admit when I started doing this I really didn't know what a memory mate was. I saw collections of these individual pictures and team pictures put together in a cardboard folder. And if I thought I could sustain an interest in doing those I'd probably be able to make a little money and save myself a lot of time....but thats just not me. Right now I know I'm not delivering a product in a very fast way, but I hope it is understood that I'm trying to do something special with each image---even within these memory mates I let the athlete pick their pose and not every pose fits into the design...so I have to tweak and tweak each image. I always feel bad when it takes so long, but most of the time the client feedback shows an understanding and appreciation that I'm taking my time to make it right and unique. This next week I hope to be able to deliver the Saegertown Spring pictures and begin gearing up for senior picture and wedding season. SayerMotter Photography photographs and design by Richard Sayer