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The next step was to become part of the live auction, which would enable us to set up a display of our photography that would be seen by the hundreds of potential upscale clients attending these events. One of our photographers always cover these events, as well. We take portraits of the guests and give them free images. If the charity charges a fee, I donate 100 percent.

Next we become part of the organizing committee. With my contacts in the wedding industry, I can offer assistance in planning these fundraising events, such as introducing fundraisers to great caterers, bands, etc. Because I’m on the committee, my name appears on all invitations, and I’m considered a guest, not a worker, at these events.

Currently, I am on the board of directors of one organization and continue to become more involved. I do all their publicity and photomontage videos, which are played at $1,000-a-plate dinners. This further develops our relationship with vendors, who have begun to refer my business even more frequently now—a win for all partners.

These are the kinds of champions I want on my side. I truly love giving back, and it shows. If you’re just doing it to gain influence, people will see through you. If this is something you enjoy, start today. All it takes is your time.

In 1985, Stephen Taylor, of Stephen Taylor Photography (www.StephenTaylorPhoto.com), in Bernardsville, New Jersey, introduced the documentary style to the social elite, branding this style “A Day in Your Life.” His studio grew to 400 events per year with a team of 30 members. He currently heads a salon of local documentary artists and continues to promote “A Day in Your Life” coverage to corporations and families and for special life events.

A Storybook Success Keepsake Books Are Popular – And Profitable

Soon after going digital in 2000, I began including “storybooks” as part of our baby and children’s collection. I had begun doing digital wedding books and saw right away how that style could be incorporated into the baby and children’s lines.

The custom-designed storybooks showcase a client’s favorite images from their session, and also include personal items and handwritten text. These products have been popular and profitable for the studio, and have become a great marketing piece because moms take them everywhere to show their friends!

Today we create storybooks for every kind of session. Some ideas include:

• Baby Book: includes birth announcement, hospital IDs, sonogram, letter from Daddy, mother’s journal, etc.

• First-Year Collection: includes images from the NB session through baby’s first birthday, and as many personal items as possible, scanned or photographed.

• Happy Birthday, Baby: images of baby with the birthday cake.

• Bath Time: bubbles, rubber duckies, and lots of smiles.

• Maternity Story: for those who love their images so much we create a volume just for them

• Day in the Life: details of a child’s day, morning to bedtime, including breakfast, playing with the dog or cat, siblings, doing some sort of art, reading books, jumping on the bed—whatever is fun for the child.

I often include the child’s art, handprints, and first signatures, and write down things the children say during the day. The whole session usually takes a couple of hours. Some of the events are staged, but since even the “real thing” ends up looking more staged when the child is weary, we keep it fun and plan each event we want to include.

All the books are printed by Renaissance the Book (www.thebookalbum.com), my pro lab is White House Custom Colour (www.whcc.com), and my lighting is from Larson Enterprises (www.larson-ent.com).

When I began doing this type of storybook, it was always an add-on, something the client would request later because they wanted to preserve all the memories from the session. Now we are commissioned to do the books at the front end.