How do I book my portrait session?
What can I do to prepare for my portrait
session?
Can I bring someone with me?
What can I expect in my studio portrait
session?
When do I get to see my previews?
How can I see my previews?
You took so many photos. Will I have to choose among all of
them?
Are my prints retouched?
How do I place my order?
How do I pay for my order?
How long does it take to get my prints?
Can I reorder prints in the
future?
What if my parents and I like different poses from my
Senior Portraits?
Can I have my portrait taken
somewhere other than in the studio?
Can I be photographed with my pet?
Do you photograph weddings?
Whom should I order prints for?
How do I care for my prints?
Why are my prints dimensions
different than my previews?
Why are your print prices so
much more than what I can get prints made for?
Why are your prices so much
lower than other local studios?
What if I'm
not satisfied with my photos or prints?
How
long do you retain my photos?
What if I have other questions?
How do I book my portrait session?
What can I do to prepare for my portrait
session?
Can I bring someone with me?
What can I expect in my studio portrait
session?
-
Fun, for starters! You might be a little
nervous at first, but not for long. Our friendly atmosphere will have you
relaxed in no time. The studio is a 15'x25' room with a 10' ceiling that
has a separate changing room and bathroom. To make the best use of your
portrait session time, you should plan to arrive wearing
your first outfit. There are multiple strobe lights and different backgrounds
available. You will be seated or standing in the middle of the lights. Some
people find the flashes from the strobes very bright, but most people get used
to them quickly (if the studio flash units are a problem, we have studio
lights that don't flash). When you arrive, we will discuss wardrobe and poses and then begin
photographing. Depending on what you are looking for, you may or may not change outfits
during the course of the session. That's about all there is to it. Oh. One more
thing. It'll be fun!
When do I get to see my previews?
How can I see my
previews?
-
The best way of seeing of your
previews/proofs is with an in-studio meeting where we view the images on a
large monitor. This allows us to work together and help you make your print
selections. We can also answer any questions on things such as cropping,
retouching, etc. Alternatively we can create a private
proof gallery on our web site for you, but there is an additional charge of
$30 for this.
You took so
many photos. Will I have to choose among all of them?
Are my
prints retouched?
-
Yes. We want to provide a wonderful
portrait experience to you and deliver artwork that will be cherished for
years to come. As such we have a trained staff to handle retouching and put a
lot of effort into your photos before they go to the lab. General retouching
is included without charge. Other retouching options are available for a small
charge. Please see our retouching services
for what is available. If you would like some work done to your photos that is
not in the list, please let us know what you would like.
How do I place my order?
-
Once you have chosen the photos and the sizes of
each, just give us that information, and we will begin processing your order.
You may e-mail, call, mail, or tell us in person the photo numbers, sizes, and
quantities.
How do I pay for my order?
-
Payment is required at the time you
place your order. We accept cash, check, or a credit card (Mastercard,
Visa, or Discover).
How long does it take to get my prints?
-
Generally it will be two to four weeks
from the time we receive your order to the time we deliver your prints. Two
weeks is the norm, but busy times will
take a little longer. And if you want to expedite your order, we can put a
rush on your order for a small fee and have it for you within a few days to a
week.
Can I reorder prints in the
future?
-
Yes. Photos that you have previously
ordered are archived for five years and may be reordered any time within that
time frame. Please note that any photos not ordered within 30 days of your
photo session are permanently deleted. We wish we could keep them longer, but
we have many client photos and limited disk space. If you think you might want
to order a print after the 30 days, we recommend you order a small, low cost
print so the file will be available in the future.. There is a small
handling fee for all reorders.
What
if my parents and I like different poses from my Senior Portraits?
-
This is actually quite common. We create poses
that will please both you and your parents, so you can both have prints that
appeal to you. And if either of you change your opinion in the future, you may
be able to
reorder prints at that time (see above for archiving time limits).
Can I have my portrait taken
somewhere other than in the studio?
Can I be photographed with my pet?
Do you photograph weddings?
-
Yes. We offer two photographer coverage
in order to provide you with multiple angles on key events and to be sure to
capture some of the precious moments that might be missed if there were only
one photographer. For weddings, I team up with another well respected, local
photographer, Jerry Callaghan.
Whom
should I order prints for?
-
This is a personal decision and depends
on your own circumstances, of course. However family, friends, and other loved
ones are always good candidates for prints. But don't forget that college and
job applications often want a wallet sized photo attached, so be sure to order
an adequate supply of wallets.
How do I care for my prints?
-
All of our prints come with a water-based finish
that is an environmentally
friendly, non-flammable coating which protects against UV light, finger prints
and dust. While the prints may be displayed as is, you can further protect
them by placing them in photo frames. You should also try to keep
them out of extended periods of direct sunlight, which over time would fade the image.
Why are my
print dimensions different than my previews?
-
The camera creates images with a 2:3
ratio between height and width. Standard print sizes come in different ratios,
such as 5x7, 8x10, and 11x14. 4x6 prints will print the entire image because
they correspond to the 2:3 ratio. Standard prints generally will lose a little
bit from the long side. For instance, a 5x7 print will lose about 7% on the
long side. 8x10 and 11x14 will lose about 16% each. This should not be a
problem however. The portraits have been photographed with this conversion to
print size in mind.
Why are
your print prices so much more than what I can get prints made for?
-
Prints are just one piece of the overall
product. There is a great deal of time that goes into setting up the
equipment, the photo session, and post production, including preparing the
proofs for display and for printing. Prints can be made very cheaply at
various discount locations, but I use a professional lab with high quality
equipment, product and staff, and there is a considerable difference in price
between this lab and the Walgreens of the world. You are also paying for my extensive training and
investment in state of the art equipment. Larger sized prints also take more
time and effort to get just right since any flaw will be more noticeable. What you will find however is that my print prices
are often less than prices of other local studios. Sometimes significantly
less.
Why are your
prices so much lower than other local studios then?
-
There are a number of answers to this
question. The main answer is that my overhead costs are much lower than other
studios since I don't have to pay rent on my studio space. I'm also looking to build a reputation and get my name out there, and
it seems like a good way to do that is to offer better prices than you can
find elsewhere. Lastly I really enjoy this job. It's very rewarding to capture
beautiful images and to present quality prints to clients and to see their
reactions. That is worth a lot to me right there.
What if I'm
not satisfied with my photos or prints?
-
It is our goal to make beautiful photos
that you will enjoy for years to come. If for any reason you are unhappy with
the results of your photo session, we will photograph you again at no additional
cost. If you are unable to come back or are unhappy with the second set of
photos as
well, we will refund your money in full. This is our guarantee. And if there
is anything wrong with your prints, we will make it right in whatever way we
can. We are not happy unless you are happy.
How long do you retain my photos?
-
Your photos will be available for
viewing and ordering for
30 days from the time of your photo session. After that time your images may
be deleted because we have limited storage space on our computers, so it is
imperative that you set up your proofing session within the 30 days. Photos for which prints or other products have not been ordered
will be deleted. Photos that have been ordered will be
retained for five years and additional prints can be ordered any time within
that period. If you would like prints after the time limit, please ask because
we may still have the photos in our archives.
What if I have
other questions?