One thing I have found very true in life is that "You get what you pay for."  And when something is cheap, there is probably a reason for that.  I am reminded of this a lot when I find myself trying to go the "cheap route."  Once, I bought a cheap brand of spray sunscreen, and it nearly exploded on me the first time I tried to use it.  (And a few times after that until I finally realized my mistake of going cheap and I finally threw it away.  That caused quite a funny scene at the community pool!)  It was cheap.  It was not well made.  It was a good reminder that in many things, the cheap route is not always the best route.  

Especially when it comes to once-in-a-lifetime moments in life.  

I want to show you an example of our work at Miles of Smiles Photography and our progress over the years at different experience levels and price points.  This comparison is just in my Newborn work, but this also applies to my Family, Cake Smash, Seniors, and other work as well.  

In the images below (my very first Newborn Session in early 2011), I had just started my photography business.  And shooting newborns.  And everything about these images hints at that.  I believe my pricing was something like $190 for 30 images on a CD.  (No Studio, no prints, no art, no design, no service.)  I was actually LOSING MONEY on every session by the time I spent hours (and hours) editing and finalizing the orders.  It was not a good route to continue down, I knew that it wasn't where I wanted my business to go, and I never could have made a living doing it that way.  I also knew that my technical skills needed to improve greatly.  

(Note: The family below is perfect in every way, but I want to show the technical side of things and where I started.)  

In the images above and below, you can see my growth.  In every area.  The detailed posing, the quality of props I now use, my lighting and technical skills, the overall feel and flow of the session, and my amazing and fully stocked Studio.  

Newborn photography and posing is a science.  And posing safely and efficiently in a "newborn posing flow" to get all of those gorgeous shots and angles is even more of a science.  I have done hundreds (probably thousands) of hours of study on newborn posing and safety, as well as investing in one-on-one mentoring with an AMAZING photographer in New Mexico back in 2015, attending (and presenting in) a number of national photography conventions, and completing countless online courses.  I have spent tens of thousands of dollars on THE best camera equipment and THE most beautifully made and high-quality props, outfits, my Studio, my Staff, and everything else I offer for my clients.  I want my clients to experience the very best.

(And a 2021 update... my Austin Newborn & Family Specialist, Lauren, has been deeply trained by me and is doing AMAZING things in the Austin sessions I am not there to photograph.  Learn more about Lauren, her journey in my business, and her awesomeness here... https://www.milesofsmilesphotography.com/blog/amazing-lauren-our-newborn-family-specialist-in-austin)

You know the saying "over 50% of new businesses fail within the first 2-3 years?"  Let's just say if I continued charging that amount and working as much as I was in 2011, I would have gone down VERY quickly.  My pricing has increased greatly over the years, but more importantly, EVERYTHING in my business has become highly professional, truly fine art, boutique quality, and my business, team and Studio are streamlined, efficient, and cohesive.  This business is not a hobby.  It costs a lot of money to run a full-time business.  It is a business that pays me a salary, pays my Staff, pays My Studio rent (Austin & Durango real estate costs are crazy these days!), and helps fund my children's college savings and our retirement.  

There is a lot of work that goes in to creating the perfect newborn session, creating the perfect environment to ensure a happy, sleepy, and posable baby, a fun experience for the family, and in creating gorgeous images and ARTWORK from the session.  And back then, I was just starting out on that journey.  

When I started in 2010, I was a "shoot and burn" photographer.  That means I shot the session, burned the images on a CD, and gave the CD to clients and hoped they printed their images and didn't just let them sit on a disc in a drawer somewhere.  The ARTIST side of my brain and personality just wasn't fulfilled with that.  I searched the photography market high and low and found THE best Products out there to offer my clients.  (Those high quality products are not cheap in price.  But they are also not cheap QUALITY wise.  I do not sacrifice quality for price, and truly believe in offering products that last a lifetime.)

Do you know how many clients have come to me (after having their first baby's newborn photos done somewhere else before finding me) and told me, "Sarah, I'm so embarrassed.  My first baby is 3 (or 4 or 5), and I still have not printed any images from his/her newborn session!  I'm SO glad we are creating this artwork now with this baby and our family that I can actually display and enjoy every day in my home." 

Now (and since 2012), I offer custom design and ARTWORK for my clients' homes.  When you invest in professional photography, you should get something TANGIBLE from the experience.  Something that is ready to hang, and even better - READY-TO-ENJOY and cherish every time you walk past it in your home.  I specialize in design, and can show my clients exactly what THEIR images will look like on THEIR exact wall(s).  

I know how much enjoyment I get on a daily basis when I see my favorite images of my children and family proudly displayed in my home.  SO. MUCH. ENJOYMENT.  And that is worth every penny that I have invested in those images and products to me.  

For my full-sessions, I offer a virtual Order & Design Appointment to walk my clients through every step of the ordering and design process, and to take all of the guess work out of it for my clients.  My clients (for full-sessions) get to see an adorable slideshow of their images, we walk through every image, and I am there to walk them through every step of the process, answer any questions they may have, and help them design THE perfect artwork to display proudly and cherish in their homes.

Since the early days of 2010, Miles of Smiles Photography has grown incredibly quickly from a hobby into a legit, legal, very busy full-time Studio and Portrait business.  And in 2020, we expanded our business to now serve Durango and Telluride, Colorad.  (Read about that here.)  

There is NOTHING cheap about the experience you will receive.  An incredible customer service experience from start to finish.  Great communication.  Custom design, artwork and images that are designed to be cherished daily.  Products designed to be proudly displayed on your walls.  

Thanks for taking a little peek into Miles of Smiles Photography, our Studio, our Work, our Products, and where we have come since starting our business in 2010.  It has truly been an incredible journey, and we are beyond blessed to get to work with so many amazing babies, children, and families, and capture such special times in their lives through our cameras.  

Miles of Smiles Photography is a full time, fine-art portrait business, Team & Studio in Austin, Texas and also serving Durango and Telluride, Colorado since 2020.  We specialize in baby, family, cake smash, and senior photography, and offer a popular Baby's 1st Year Plan.  Our Studio is filled to the brim with amazing things for clients to use.  Sarah specializes in customized design for her clients' homes, and making memories into ART.  Sarah and her amazing Team work hard to provide the very best for our clients.  Our Studio offers a full line of heirloom products ranging from Canvas Gallery Wraps, professional prints, heirloom albums, digital images, and more.  

Our calendar usually fills 3-4 months in advance.  Contact us for details and availability.

Find full details about our beautiful Products here.  PRODUCTS