I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard this in Wexford: “But I already have an iPhone — why pay for more?”
Fair question. Phones are great. They take sharp pictures, they fit in your pocket, and they’ve made everyone feel like a mini-photographer. But here’s the truth: a selfie and a professional portrait are not the same species.
Let me explain.
Why your iPhone isn’t enough
When you take a selfie or hand your phone to someone, here’s what really happens:
- Lighting is flat or patchy. Phone cameras can’t shape light — they just record what’s there. That’s why selfies often look washed out, with shiny foreheads and shadows in the wrong places. In the studio, I sculpt light so cheekbones pop, eyes sparkle, and skin tones look natural — no editing app can truly fake that.
- Angles distort faces and bodies. Phones use wide lenses that bend reality. Ever notice your nose looks twice as big or your arms stretched weirdly? That’s lens distortion. My studio gear uses portrait lenses designed to flatter people — no accidental “funhouse mirror” effect.
- Backgrounds ruin the shot. In selfies, there’s always a bin, a car, or someone’s elbow in the background. Studio portraits strip out the clutter — your focus is on the people, not what’s behind them.
Selfies are fine for Instagram. But they’re not the photos you’ll want hanging above the fireplace in 20 years.
So, why go for more than an iPhone?
Because you deserve photos that don’t get buried in a phone gallery. Photos that belong on walls, albums, Christmas cards, and family histories.
A real story: the M. family
The M. (name changed, but they’ll know it’s them!) have booked me three times already. The first shoot was actually a gift — they came in skeptical, saying exactly what I mentioned above: “We’ve got loads of selfies, do we really need this?”
When they saw their gallery, the first thing they said was: “We’ve never seen ourselves like this before.”
Now their favorite portrait, the one where the kids are laughing and Dad’s holding Mum’s hand — is printed nearly a metre wide in their living room. It’s the photo the kids point to whenever grandparents visit. Compare that to the selfies they took the same week: blurry, too dark, and sitting in a forgotten camera roll.
They’ve since come back twice more, not because they needed more photos, but because they loved the experience of capturing their family as it changes year by year. Their selfies still exist — but their portraits live in their home.
Why Studio Portraits Matter (More Than You Think)
They last.
Phone photos look fine on screens, but try printing them big and you’ll see pixel noise, blur, and lifeless colours. Studio portraits are made to be printed, framed, and passed down.
They capture personality.
I don’t just line you up and say “smile.” I use movement, prompts, music, and sometimes a bit of playful chaos so you forget about the camera. That’s why real laughs and natural connection show up in the final images.
It’s an experience, not a chore.
The session itself is half the fun. Kids get to play, parents get to relax, and you all walk away with a story behind the photos.
So, why go for more than an iPhone?
Because a phone photo is a quick memory. A portrait is an heirloom.
One will live in your gallery, maybe get a like or two. The other will live on your walls, in your albums, and in your family’s history.
👉 Want to see the difference for yourself? Book your own family or couple portrait session in my Wexford studio. It’s central, relaxed, and designed to make you look and feel incredible.