What are you really paying for?

Do you really get what you pay for? In most cases I am inclined to say yes. Are you always paying for a better product? Absolutely not! So what exactly are you paying for? Maybe it's that extra special treatment you receive. Maybe it's the fun way the product is presented to you. Value is perceived differently by each individual person. Where am I going with this you say? Well if you have visited me on Facebook either on my personal page or my business page you know that my 2.5 year old daughter is forever breaking and losing her glasses. We started this journey with glasses in June of 2014 just a few weeks before she turned 2. Fast forward 9 months later and we are on our 5th pair of glasses. Most recently the 4th pair was lost and so we had to start from square one. Because we are paying for her glasses out of pocket many of our lovely friends suggested we try one of the very popular online glasses stores. Well I had visited this option initially when I was told that she would need glasses. After all, I am a coupon-er and a deal searcher by nature. I was completely overwhelmed with the choices, not to mention the jargon. I mean how did I know if I was measuring her pupil distance correctly?? Last I checked I was not an ophthalmologist. So I went to a vision store and sought the help from the professionals. Well, after 4 trips down this road I was again urged by friends and family to try the internet. I think I invested approximately 6 hours in the search before I lost my mind. If you wear glasses than you know there are certain numbers for each person. Well nothing was matching up for me. Then the question came, how was I going to adjust them to fit her when they arrived? Would I have to take them somewhere to have them adjusted and then pay anyways? I finally found a pair that would work! Oh I thought I was golden, but then came choosing the correct kind of lenses. Guess what?  Her prescription only works with certain lenses. Good grief I was in tears. Literally sobbing. When was this madness going to end?? The following day I headed out to the vision store not part of a box retail store. If you have gone through the experience with a toddler you know it can be very unpleasant. Eye glasses flying every where. My baby girl and I sat down at a station while the worker brought us choices based on what I told her I wanted. 

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Here was my request. "I want a pair of black glasses, no cartoon characters, no crazy designs and preferable rectangular shape (change it up a bit)."  Well of course the rectangle ones I wanted were just a little too wide for her face so we ended up with the same shape she had ( I think it is called wayfarer). The lab technician spent 30 minutes fitting the frames to Baby Girl's face. Oh I thought this process would never end, but I can tell you this is the best fitting pair of glasses she has had over the course of 9 months. They took photos of her eyes to measure her pupil distance. I was grateful to not have to hold her in headlock while someone tried to measure her eyes with the special ruler as I have had to do in the past. Fast forward 90min (not 2 weeks) and we are walking out with a beautiful little bag and a brand new shiny pair of glasses. These glasses are by far the most costly glasses I have purchased, but with the service I received with them, I would have paid even more. 
This experience got me thinking about my own business and changes that I have been slowly making over the last few years. I know people like to have control over their own digital files and some even choose to print their own, but some of you find that overwhelming. Allowing people to have control of their own images also allows me to keep the prices down. Know that I am here to walk you through the process. From choosing your proofs to designing beautiful wall galleries in your home. I never want anyone to feel boxed in to only having one way of doing things.  So In 2015 I have still kept the option for you to be in control of your own files as a low cost option, and while my helping you along the way has always been an option, it will be something that I will continue to focus on even more. I truly believe that not offering this is a disservice to my business and my work. And yep you are going to pay a little more for that 8 x 10 from me , but I can promise you the absolute best customer service and experience that I can provide for you. 

Thank you for joining me today. I know it has been awhile. Spring is here and I am so looking forward to getting back outside and shooting! 


What do you think of the new website design? It is still a work in progress but I am slowly finding my happy place with it.