There is a quality difference between professional, pro-sumer and consumer cameras; Check it out:
The quality is in the details. Hire the BEST, don't settle for less!
We are FULL-TIME PROFESSIONAL photographers (not part-time moonlighters)
(We prefer you call ahead before stopping by to insure we aren't already tied-up with someone else.)
A quick note to the ORPHANED bride: If your photographer left you out in the cold with only a CD of your high-resolution images and you don't know where to turn or who to trust for professional help we can provide complete design, retouching, printing and album services. We can make the photos the best they can be (maybe not as good as if we took the pictures ourself, but we will try). Our complete album design & binding services range in price from $760-$6,000 depending on the size, style, number of pages and quantity. E-mail us for more information.
~ "Capturing the distinctive moment . . . for a lifetime of memories" ~
"Everything we do is customized for YOU! -- Your Day, Your Way!"
"You won't find better quality for a lower price! You Deserve The Best!"
Just about everyone today is a photographer, some for fun, some for pay, we are all just on different levels! Have you noticed that many of your friends, neighbors, co-workers and acquaintances have recently become 'photographers for hire'? "Have camera, need money!" Some have even paid for a professional 'corporate-quality' website that looks better than many legitimate professional photographer's sites. Many have bought a new, 'expensive' digital SLR camera (film cameras were never so expensive) and now to justify the expense (to their spouse?) they are peddling their services to any unsuspecting person who is willing to pay to let them practice on them. (I think they have to take on a side job in photography to pay for the gas to get to their real job!) If photography isn't really important then you don't need to pay a professional, have a friend do it for FREE and give you a CD! If the photography IS important enough to pay for, then don't gamble on the unknown --hire an experienced professional who uses the best top-of-the-line equipment and does the job right ...anything less is a waste of money.
A new photographer's limited knowledge, understanding and experience will insure a steep learning curve and lots of future problems in the "school of hard knocks." Professional photography is learned best by years of accredited instruction and real-world, hands-on training as an 'apprentice' or working professional in the industry for 3-5 years --not by internet 'hobbyists' forums or home-study courses. An apprentice who is being mentored by a responsible professional will never be given the opportunity to totally botch a job, whereas a 'new photographer' out on their own may not have the support or education necessary to prevent a disaster. (I can hear the 'internet' trained wedding photographer now: stop, hold everything, I'm having a camera issue, post-pone the wedding because I need to get on the internet and post a question online about how to set this camera.)
Today there are a lot of consumers attempting to be professionals. How do you separate the 'wheat from the chaff'? Ask questions... do they own a professional camera? Not just a starter model digital SLR. They are NOT a professional if they have to meet you at the local coffee shop or bookstore! (That's where snake oil salesmen meet who steal your money and skip town!) The biggest yellow-page or magazine ad or the flashiest website no longer means 'professional' since anyone can pay to have one. It really depends on your specific needs. If you need a contractor for repairs on your home it may not be the smartest to expect the electrician to do a good job on the plumbing. A specialist will give you the best value for the money (even though their hourly rate may be more, their experience insures they will do a better job in less time. Also a longstanding professional with a good reputation in the community will insure the job gets done right no matter what.) When you hire a 'generalist' or beginner photographer rather than an experienced 'specialist' you may not get the exceptional quality and service you expected but in the end may have only wasted your money. Nothing worse than having to pay the specialist to re-do what you already paid the generalist to do poorly.
To prevent future regrets, I will state the obvious: view a lot of the photographer's actual, verified work; ask the hard questions; if you see an image you like ask about how it was made -you may learn that it will be impossible to repeat; don't be deceived by false pretence -a photographer using a consumer camera is unprofessional; check licenses and insurance; get references; verify everything and get it in writing. Don't consider a photographer online who doesn't provide a physical address or a traceable phone number (no matter how pretty their website looks), if they are hiding from you before you've met them --imagine how much more elusive they will be if a problem arises.
The Bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten! The best photographer is never the cheapest!
Executive Photographer's Summary
Dan Harris and staff are talented and honest visual artists using the best equipment, processes and proven technology to achieve superior-quality results at a fair price. Dan and his staff have a gift for seeing your vision and the talent to give you more than you expected in an experience that will be enjoyable for all while meeting your timetable at the price quoted! Why settle for less when you can have the best?
Top Quality - Only the Best!
As an independent full-time Jacksonville Florida portrait / commerical / event photographer working out of a home/ studio location (since 1997), we offer unique top-quality customized photography services personalized to fit your exact photography needs. We never compromise on quality or service, We give only the best! --No matter the budget! We are exclusively unique and not the photographer for the masses. If our artistic flair meshes with your vision, we can have some fun making great images that you will want to enjoy and share for a lifetime.
We are up front, straight-forward and realistic about our photographic capabilities, our customers expectations and our pricing, insuring an enjoyable and satisfying experience for all. All products are 100% guaranteed! If you don't like your photos, we re-do them!
(Please note: all the images on all of our websites are from actual client photography sessions ~the real deal~ , not from hired models or instructional photography classes / seminars.)
We design and maintain this website ourself --it's 100% 'home-grown!' Here's the wedding info site map. Unlike many websites that are only 'flashy billboards' on the information super highway, this site is designed to give you plenty of information and assist you in your photographic decisions. It's not as slick as the snazee ones the big designers get paid the big bucks to fabricate but it contains 98% less hype! ~enjoy! If you have a suggestion or find a problem with it, let us know and we will fix it pronto! For internet history buffs some pages are 'preserved time capsules' unchanged from when the internet first started, if you find them you know you have gone too far!
Fair and Honest Pricing
We not your 'traditional' photographers and don't believe in the 'loss leader' or 'bait & switch' tactics some photography studios use where they lure you in with a cheap price up front and then gouge you on the reprint costs and 'extras' later. At the time you commission us for our services you will not only know what you are getting for your money but will also know the price of any additional items. We won't brow-beat you for additional orders or add-on extras. We not a 'pushy salesman' nor do we have the time to hound you for an order because we are kept very busy with our next client project.
As the old saying goes: "you get what you pay for." In today's market too many companies are trying to charge a lot of money for very little. (not our style) We don't skimp on quality or service! We insure our customers always get the BEST for their money. We are not 'cheap', because we know what our top-of-the-line quality products and expertise are worth, we insure our customers get their monies worth!
High Definition Digital Photography (HDSP or HDDP)
In 2007 we upgraded all our equipment to be able to provide professional HDSP (High Definition Still Photography). The images we capture today have greater depth, definition, dynamic range, color and clarity than those created just a couple years ago. See the difference High Definition Photography can make compared to Standard or Consumer grade Digital Cameras. We combine HDRI (High Dynamic Range Imaging) with the principles that make HDTV (High Definition Television) to produce the ultimate in digital still photography ~ HDSP (High Definition Still Photography). The difference is similar to viewing regular TV versus HDTV.
When quality, color accuracy and superior detail are important, we use our best Medium-Format commercial digital camera (32 megapixels - 5632 x3750 pixels - 182MB file) which can capture up to 65,536 possible tonal values per pixel with true 48-bit to 96-bit output. Most 'professional' DSLR cameras have a maximum range of only 4,096 (94% less) and the standard 'consumer' camera only captures 256 possible color tones (99.6% less).
Our images look very detailed and three-dimensional while still maintaining flattering skin tones. With recent advancements in archival output, our current professional photographic products will last for many more generations than the industry standard processes used just five years ago. Our prints are archival and have been tested to not fade for over 200 years.
Professional Quality with Personalized Informal Service
Corporate customers can get top-quality waterproof images printed on-site / on-demand with our portable photo lab. (these are NOT inkjet prints).
We are willing to travel and offer Free photographic consultation by appointment. Although we have extremely high standards of professionalism and quality, our mode of operation is informal. You can call our office between 9 am and 6 pm (eastern time) daily. (If we are out of the office or with a client just leave us a message and we will get back to you) We have covered weddings as far away as Alaska!
Our personalized service, professionalism, eye for quality and attention to details extends well beyond our photographic skills and manifests itself in the finished products. Taking the photos is only half of our service, we assist our clients along every step of the artistic process including choosing, editing, croping and designing their finished artwork, albums and frames --this enhances the final outcome and insures total satisfaction on your unique 'one-of-a-kind' project.
Although we specialize in a realistic photojournalistic style of photography at events, we have the flexability to offer an extensive repertoire of photographic styles that blends technical details with creativity and photographic artistry to insure you get just what you want.
Amateur & Consumer Photography
With cameras changing from film to digital photography you can hear consumers everywhere, every day getting very excited about the picture they just took as they look at the little screen on the back of their new digital camera! They are amazed as they have never taken photos that look so good and of course the instant gratification of seeing them in seconds is enough to make one scream in a strange foreign accent while pinching themselves, "I'm as happy as a little girl!" The problem is most every picture looks good displayed on a 3" backlit LCD screen! Too often what looked like an 'awesome' photo on the back of the camera ultimately doesn't look as good when viewed on a full- sized computer screen or printed and is totally unusable in a commercial or professional application. That's when it is time to call a full-time, experienced professional!
Reality Check
There are many occasions where consumer digital (or even a camera phone) does a great job, easier, quicker and more convenient than ever before. But advanced computerized technical wizardry doesn't a professional photographer make! Anyone who has played extensively with their digital camera and had their work printed, published or enlarged realizes there is more to it than just pushing a button on a sophisticated box of electronics. If the photography is important, don't skimp or do-it-yourself, hire a professional!
In the days of film you could recognize a professional by their professional equipment, today too many 'self-proclaimed professional photographers' are attempting to produce 'professional' images while using consumer-grade equipment. Image quality has dramatically improved both on the low-end and high-end of the spectrum. Rather than striving for the best, too many people are accepting mediocre for 'good enough'. Taking magazine-quality images for publication is a whole different animal than just taking 'family' photos on the beach to display on the internet.
In critical situations it pays to hire a true professional with the right equipment and the years of experience, know- how, education, training and proficiency in lighting, composition and many other techniques (including computer wizardry) to get the job done right. We really shine in those difficult situations and requirements, try us and you will see. (Future customers and would-be photographers; follow this link to learn more about the businesses of photography)
2009 Industry Outlook - Technology is only a tool
As photographic digital technology improves most consumers have a false belief that the $1,000 camera they just bought is 'professional' quality. Granted it is a marked improvement over anything they have owned before and mimics many of the settings contained on a $8,000+ professional camera but doesn't come close to the capability of a $36,000 Medium Format Digital camera. What they don't realize is while there have been vast improvements in the consumer side of the business, there have also been major improvements on the professional side. Set an appointment with us and we will show you the difference between 'consumer/prosumer' and true professional photography. The best tools in the hands of an experienced, well-trained professional still make the best photographs. Better equipment in the hands of an amateur still only makes better amateur photographs.
Photography has similarities to professional singing... just because everyone has a voice, doesn't mean they can or should sing (even if they say or think they can! --just watch American Idol for proof of that! --or listen to Dan in the shower -but not in the same room) and very few photographers really make it as full-time professionals! (just talk to your co-worker) Just because a person can buy an expensive camera, likes taking pictures and takes some photography classes doesn't mean they are professional.
Prosumer Photographers
Today's new Digital technology has helped to 'blur' the lines between consumers and professionals. In fact, manufacturers have created a whole new class of equipment for the buyers they call 'prosumers'. These are the people who 'think' they are a professional and spend more on camera equipment than typical consumers but in reality are only 'advanced amateurs' or part-timers. The industry has created equipment, marketing, classes, etc. specifically designed for this group.
The problem with this new group of 'prosumers' is they often 'don't know what they don't know' and some arrogantly misrepresent their abilities and unintentionally lie about their capabilities and ultimately sell inferior-quality products, because they are working from the 'one-size-fits all' model thus creating a dis-service to the industry as a whole. A professional photographer will make decisions and equipment choices based on producing the best quality for their clients project needs and will be honest about their capabilities and expertise. (We would rather be honest upfront and lose the job than lie to get it and disappoint you later or risk damaging our reputation.)
Too often the prosumer, 'aspiring photographer' will think more like a consumer and will make decisions based on their own needs (rather than the clients) --thus compromising the overall quality of their clients projects. Prosumers want ONE camera that 'does it all', lightweight, automatic, easy to use. This is physically and scientifically impossible. Too often their choice of equipment is based on ease of use, convenience and their limited budget, none of which translates into any benefit for their clients. Some cameras are better at low-light situations, some have better wide-angle optics, some are superior in speed and agility while others have incredible levels of accuracy, tonal range and clarity, anyone who says their 'one' camera can do it all is mislead and ultimately only produces mediocre quality on most everything!
Camera Hobbyists
Serious hobbyists toying with becoming a 'professional photographer' and experimenting with photography will eventually raise their own education level and develop a true appreciation for the experienced professionals. It still takes 4-6 years of 'practice' to become proficient at photography. Too often the 'semi-pro', practicing to become a professional, can only deliver under certain circumstances (when the camera is set on automatic?)...some of the time. Photography is an Art, a Science and a Business... not many photographers are proficient at all three.
An experienced professional is able to draw upon their knowledge and experience to make the best decisions regarding how to use the latest technology to achieve the best end result. Technology is only a tool. As more technology options are developed in photography there will be more confusion in the marketplace requiring even greater knowledge and experience to know how best to apply that technology to get the best results possible.
Professional Tools in the hands of the Artist
Dan has worked for several newspapers over the years. Journalism was his college major. As an experienced photojournalist, he is well prepared to cover your events in both black & white and color, film or digital.
We own some of the finest professional cameras ever made (both film and digital) along with the best top-quality lenses - from10.5mm fisheye to 1680mm zoom. Digital and Film Medium Format (6 x4.5) and Full-Frame 35mm formats. We are able to handle most any situation. We choose the appropriate equipment / film / lighting based on your final output requirements.
References are available. We are pleased to refer many of the professionals we have worked with in the past. Call today to set an appointment to discuss your exact needs.
"Dan, The photos you took for us are by far the best photos we have of our fans or our customers anywhere! That is a genuine compliment as we have hired photographers from all over the country and our library of images is quite extensive. . ."
~ Heather, Big Ass Fans Company, Kentucky
Attn: Event Clients from 1997-2007 we have run out of room and are selling our old negatives
contact us immediately if you are interested in purchasing your negatives. (before we send them to the recycler)
Dan Harris PhotoArt started as a sideline business of selling archival Fine-Art photography (PhotoArt) to supplement Dan's journalism income.
PhotoArt evolved into Photography of art for artists (PhotoArtSlides.com) and grew to include portraits, modeling and corporate photography.
Although Dan continues to offer these services, he has become best known for his unique International Award Winning wedding and event coverage.
Now in its tenth year, Dan Harris PhotoArt, LLC continues to grow and improve to create the best possible 'PhotoArt' for both your business and personal needs.
New for 2006 and beyond, all images archivally stored in a fireproof safe on:
Our archival 4x6 reprints are printed on genuine, Professional Photographic (RA4) Kodak Portra Endura Papers for 100 - 200 years of lasting quality.
Member of: BBB- Better Business Bureau PPA- Professional Photographers of America WPPI- Wedding and Portrait Photographers International PPSNF -Professional Photographers Society of North Florida
Recent publications include: Southern Living Magazine, Bridal & Reception Services Magazine, Premier Bride, The Knot Wedding Pages, The Water's Edge, Worksource, The Iron Horse, Out in the City and The Locator magazine.
Professional Quality with Personalized Informal Service
manifests itself in the finished products. Taking the photos is only half of our service, we assist our clients along every step of the artistic process including choosing, editing, croping and designing their finished artwork, albums and frames --this enhances the final outcome and insures total satisfaction on your unique 'one-of-a-kind' project.
