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Creating Individual & Couples Portraits

Step #1: Complimentary Consultation
The more we plan your portrait in advance, the more successful your finished portrait will be. A consultation before your portrait session will help you consider the available range of portrait possibilities and help us understand your preferences and concerns. Together, we will decide on the location, clothing and mood that is best for your portrait.

There’s literally no end to the possibilities for your portrait, and considering the choices is part of the fun. You may prefer to be portrayed in the classic simplicity of a studio setting, relaxing at home, or enjoying your favorite recreational activity outdoors. Maybe you like the elegance of being formally dressed, or you might feel that jeans and sweaters would bring out the real you.
 
Guidelines: Simplicity is the key. We want your faces to be the focal point for the portrait. Solid colors are best. Avoid large or bold patterns and bright colors - they draw attention away from the face. Save patterns for accent items like scarves or neckties. We recommend long sleeves. Coordinate your attire from head to toe as our photographer may portray you in a full length pose. Darker clothing tends to minimize body size; light tones tend to emphasize body size. White or light clothing generally looks best against a light background. Choose either formal or casual attire, but keep it consistent don’t mix the two. Clothing that is neither very dark nor very light (middle tones) usually works best. In any case, keep the tones consistent within your group. Light skirts or trousers, such as khaki slacks, can be the brightest thing in the photograph and draw attention away from your faces. Keeping slacks or skirts darker than the tops is a good idea.

Most important of all, choose clothing you like! If you obey all the rules but wear something you dislike, you won’t like the portrait. To ensure a successful portrait, you are welcome to bring several clothing options from which to choose.

Step #2. The Sitting
It’s fun! Our job is to create the posing and lighting, to put you at ease, and to make the exposure at the perfect moment. All you need to do is relax and be yourself - that’s what your portrait is all about. You are welcome to bring clothing changes and any special props that may be meaningful to you. We will take enough images to offer you a great variety of poses and expressions to choose from.

Step #3. The Viewing
Your portrait choices will be ready to view in the studio as soon as an hour after your session or at a later time convenient to you. You will be able to see the range of expressions and poses we created. You can even see how your favorite poses look in different wall portrait sizes, but these are still only rough drafts. Your finished portraits will be fully retouched and beautifully printed.

Step #4. Printing and Finishing / Pictures on Disk
We retouch all of our portraits here in the studio. Custom supervision of the printing brings out the most natural and pleasing colors and tones in your portrait. With our professional retouching and finishing, all the little touches of time, such as shadows and wrinkles around eyes and mouth and the special little blemishes that sometimes appear on picture day, will be smoothed and blended in a way that leaves each face looking natural and fresh.

We create so many great choices in a portrait sitting that it’s often hard to choose! With our pictures-on-disk option, you don’t have to. You can take home ALL the portraits we show you. These don’t include all the retouching that goes into our portraits, but this is a great way to keep and enjoy all the variety of expressions and poses you love.

Step #5. Mounting on Canvas or Artboard
Mounting your portrait on canvas, stretched on a stretcher-frame like an oil painting, is a classic portrait presentation. We use European canvas for fineness of weave. We also offer mounting on artboard, for a smoother finish. Either way, your portrait will be finished with several layers of lacquer that give a lustrous look and protect your portrait.

Step #6. Picking Up Your Finished Portraits, and Framing
This is the nicest step of all. You will be delighted with your finished portraits. We guarantee it.

We can also help you select the perfect frame for display in your home.

We welcome your inquiries and comments.
Call us at 425.454.7676 for further information or to schedule
an appointment.