Portrait Process

Portrait sessions have a certain rhythm to them and it may help you to anticipate questions or to generate posing ideas if you have some idea how the portrait process works. This is a high level overview and your session may vary somewhat from what you find below. But, in general this offers a good idea of what may happen in your portrait session.

Initial Greeting

Once we meet at the portrait session, whether it is at our studios or at some other location you have requested, we will make any necessary introductions and discuss any last minute details that need to be addressed. We will also normally ask you if there are specific poses you would like to capture and if you have any questions we can answer. We'll also give you some time to freshen up and prepare yourself for your portrait session. This provides you an opportunity to check makeup, hair, and clothing to ensure everything is set for your portrait session.

Studio Familiarization

If you are having portraits done in our studios then we begin the portrait session by briefly showing you our studio and the equipment we will be using for your portraits. We'll also discuss the strobe lights and demonstrate them for you so you will know what to expect when they flash. We will then show you the area or areas where you will be posing during your portraits.

Initial Poses

We will begin the portrait session by doing some simple poses. In some cases these will not involve the camera, but are primarily practice poses. At other times we will begin taking pictures immediately. We are most likely to do some practice posing if you have complex or difficult posing requirements with which you will need to become familiar.

If you are having senior portraits taken then the initial poses usually are the more formal poses. This allows you to get the required images out of the way early so you can then concentrate on the images you want to convey your personality and interests.

Film Changes

If we are taking your portraits using film then we may need to pause periodically to change film. This generally happens about every tenth picture. It doesn't take very long, but you will see us swapping out a film canister or removing film from a canister and replacing it with a new roll of film. This is a good time to ask any questions you may have or to suggest alternate poses you would like to capture.

Outfit Changes

If you are planning to change outfits during the portrait session then we will break periodically (at the end of a roll of film is a convenient breaking point) to allow you to change. We will first discuss the poses you would like to capture with your next outfit and may suggest some additional poses you might try. Then, while you are changing, we will make any necessary modifications in our studio setup to accommodate your next series of portraits (this is usually not required, but does happen).

Once you have completed changing, checked your hair, makeup and clothing and returned to our portrait area, we will then begin taking portrait images again.

Changing outfits when we are on location can be very simple or may be somewhat difficult. If we are taking portraits in your home then it is obviously a simple thing for you to change outfits. Working in a public park may impose some difficulties, however, especially if there are no public restrooms or they are closed for the day. Other public locations may make it extremely difficult to change outfits with any privacy (or without attracting unwanted police attention). If we will be shooting portraits on location and you will require a change in outfit, please consider how the change of outfit will be accomplished in the selected location.

Location Changes

Some portrait sessions require more than a single location. When this occurs we will complete our portrait series in one location and then make plans to meet at a specific time and place in the next location. We ask that you please be prompt. This can be especially important near the end of the day when we want to capture the fine and elegant light of the sun before it sets over the horizon. The sun sets surprisingly fast and being even a few minutes late can result in many missed photographic opportunities.

Last Call for Posing Ideas

When we have completed all of the planned poses and outfit changes we will then ask for any final poses or ideas you may have for portrait images. If time and film permit, we will then take any additional images that are suggested to complete your portrait series.

Wrap Up

Once the portrait session is completed you will be given an opportunity to change clothing if required. We will then let you know when you can expect your portrait proofs to be ready (usually within two weeks).

After the Portrait Session

Once your portrait proofs are ready we will also make arrangements for you to view the proofs either online or in our studios.

If you would prefer to view the proofs in our studio then we will make an appointment for you to come in to review a proof print for each image. We will then review your print needs and describe relevant portrait packages and how you might mix and match portrait packages and individual portrait prints to obtain a portrait print series that fits your needs. We will also discuss various portrait options that will help you achieve your objectives and requirements.

If you would prefer to view the proofs online, then we will email you the login and password information you will need for your Private Gallery. The private gallery will allow you to view each print online and to share the gallery with others. Even friends and relatives in other states can review, comment on, and purchase portraits online, but only if you give them your login and password. One advantage of this is that you do not need to track and coordinate orders from multiple individuals, perhaps spread around the state or around the globe. Each person can order their own portrait prints online, if you authorize it. Your Private Gallery also contains all the information necessary for you to review the various portrait packages, examine individual and custom print options and select a complete portrait package that contains exactly the prints you require. All pricing and descriptions can be easily reviewed from within the private gallery, and all from the convenience of your home or office computer.

When the Prints are Ready

When we have completed your prints we will ship them to you or notify you that they are available at our studios in compliance with your requested method of delivery. If you wish to pick them up in person then we will schedule a convenient time for you to come in and review your portrait prints.