Photos above are courtesy of Kelli Achey
About Jeff.....
I got into photography several years ago unexpectedly. I was looking for a quality photographer to photograph my teen twins, Kayce and Ethan. Their photos can be found in the home page slide show, as well as in my gallery. I didn't want those cookie cutter shots like you get at Penney's or Wal-Mart, or Sears or at the mall. Instead, I wanted something different, really nice, touching and classy, that would show their personalities and inner beauty as well as the great stuff on the outside. However, I soon found that if I wanted truly unique and quality portraits made of them, it was going to cost me an arm and a leg to do it. The prices I was quoted ranged anywhere from $400 on up to $1000. That was just for taking the photos. On top of that was the insane amounts they were charging for the prints. $12 for 5x7's, $25 for an 8x10. That was NUTS!! I simply could not believe that someone could actually charge that kind of money for photography and still be able to look at them self in the mirror without shame. Well, I kind of like my extremities, and I couldn't find anyone to buy one of my kidneys, so I thumbed my nose at the greedy photographers of the world and decided that I was just going to get a camera and learn how to do it myself. Little did I know how that seemingly small decision was going to impact my life from that day on.
A 20 yr old Canon film camera that someone gave me is what I cut my teeth on. I read up on photography, bought books, read websites, practiced, went to seminars, talked with other professional photographers, and practiced some more, until several months later I finally started to get results I really liked. My kids, their friends, the neighborhood kids, coworkers and their families....all became my guinea pigs. I was learning the skill of photography while providing a needed service for those around me. Eventually though, in the community where I lived, word started getting around that I was available to take photos for free. My phone started ringing off the hook, for more and more folks, many of them I didn't know, had seen my work and wanted my services. It was at that time that I decided to go ahead and make a business out of it. Since then, of course, I've upgraded my equipment. I still have, and occasionally still use that 20 yr old Canon, but the vast majority of my work is now done with pro level high resolution digital Canon DSLR cameras and Canon Pro Series lenses. I do not use off brand or generic equipment of any kind. You demand the highest quality photos available, so I use the highest quality equipment available. Canon, in case you didn't know, is the best there is.
I had to be careful though. While there are expenses involved in this work, and my time has to be worth something, I wanted to create a price structure that allowed me to be reimbursed for my time and skills, without charging exorbitant fees for the service. I wanted anyone to be able to afford to get nice portraits made without having to get a loan, or go without groceries to do it. Some might feel that this is a ridiculously idealistic way of viewing a business venture, but it's what I want to do and it's how I'm going to do it.
That's it, in a nutshell, why I do what I do, and why I charge what I charge. I can't count how many times I've had other photographers come up to me and really give me a hard time about my fees. My print fees, especially, are really a point of contention with these folks. They are angry because my print fees are roughly a third to half what most high end photographers are charging for prints. I searched around and luckily happened across Smug Mug. Their service allows me to create galleries for each of my clients, and gives me the ability to sell my prints at a very reasonable price. Their print quality is excellent, and the service that goes along with it is unmatched in the industry. Many high end well known photographers use their service because of the quality of their prints, as well as the customer service provided when a client purchases prints from their gallery. When you order your prints, they typically arrive within 4 or 5 days. I've never had to wait longer than 6 days for prints I've ordered to arrive at my home. That's why I chose Smug Mug 2 years ago, and have stuck with them ever since.
I'm originally from down around Oklahoma and Texas, so the first thing you'll notice about me is my accent. No, I don't sound like one of those yahoos you see on CNN talking about what the tornader sounded like, but you can definitely tell I'm not from PA. I bring with me a laid back, easy going way of dealing with people that is reminiscent of the values I was raised with, along with a friendly and helpful way of doing business that clearly demonstrates that I love getting to know my clients and their kids, and truly enjoy doing what I do.
I hope that by reading this, you've gotten to know me a little bit. I'm a firm believer in the value of knowing those you do business with. I always spend a fair amount of time getting to know my client. From the first phone call to the moment when the shutter starts snapping off shots, I am paying attention to your needs, and working to always understand and provide exactly what you need and desire from my service. When you call my phone number, I answer. When you email or message me from my website contact page, it's me that replies. Fast, personalized, quality service is what I strive to provide to each and every potential client who wants to hire me for their portrait or event. I'm always available to help you. Whether it is to put together a detailed quote for some big event coming up, or to walk an 85 yr old non-computer-savvy grandmother through the print ordering process over the phone. Quality, touching, fantastic photography, along with fast, personalized, and excellent customer service, at a surprisingly reasonable price, are what you can expect each and every time you contact me for your photography needs. I look forward to hearing from you, even if it's just to say hello, and hope you will give me the opportunity to photograph you or your loved ones, and allow me the honor of putting some beautiful memories on your wall.
Thanks for your time,
Jeff Cox
The Portrait Whisperer
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