Portrait Process
1
Initial Portrait Consultation
Over the phone we get to know you and discover your ideas for the shoot. Our team will give you advice on hair and makeup tips, colour and styles of clothing that work best, backgrounds available to suit you and your home and will confirm the ‘style’ of portrait session you would like displayed in your home.
2
Portrait Session
When you arrive, Ray will go through what you’d like photographed and he will get to know all you better. He will show you the different styles, themes and options to ensure he photographs exactly what you want. After your experience in our studio Ray will provide you with information on the different ways you can display your portraits and their pricing.
3
Design Session
Once you’ve been photographed we will make a design session time which takes place 7-10 days after your session. (24hr express service can be booked in advance) Your images are digitally projected on a 2 metre screen to help you make the best selection. We have the technology to preview your portraits in virtual frames shown in virtual lounge rooms, hallways and bedrooms. This will help you visualise the portrait in the size that best fits your home. Your design session will assist you in designing a collection that best fits your home.
4
Artwork Approval
Once you have ordered your dream portraits we will prepare your artwork and send you a low-resolution proof to confirm that you are happy with the final retouching. We want to involve you in every part of the process and want you to be 100% satisfied with the final result.
5
Collection
This is such an exciting time for everyone. Rest assured every piece we create for our clients will be individually retouched, printed on the best archival professional papers and gallery framed or presented in the finest handmade albums.
Only a few studios in the world can offer a lifetime warranty as we do on all finished frames and albums. Our studio can guide you on hanging requirements or care of your artworks so they last for generations.
Planning your Portrait
Believe it or not what you wear can make or break your portrait. Early planning for your portrait will ensure you get the best possible result from your photo shoot. Two of the most important factors in a successful portrait are the timing and what you wear. Here is some helpful advice to help you along the way.
What to Wear:
Bright colours, bold patterns, stripes, polka dots and distinctive logos are a NO GO ZONE as they tend to draw the eye away from the people in the portrait. Instead, choose plain colours, such as white, cream, pale blue, navy, black and timeless clothing styles such as jeans. Darker colours are best to conceal areas of your body that you don’t want to be prominent. If you wear glasses, consider wearing contacts or bring with you a pair of non-reflective lenses or glassless frames to avoid lens glare. Avoid transition lenses as they will darken outside and will look like sunglasses. For men, long trousers photograph better than shorts. Closed shoes are advisable for adults and dark shoes are better than joggers.
Little Angels:
Babies change so quick so anytime is the right time for a baby shoot. From a couple days old to 18 months it is important to choose the right time of day for the shoot. Usually we find mornings to be the best time where children are at their brightest, so we all need to fit around their sleeping schedules. Babies up to 10 months old photograph beautifully in cloth nappies. Also, a portrait of a mother and her new born child or a father and son can look magical in black and white or sepia.
Cheeky Devils:
Toddlers can be so candid and portrait photography truly captures their innocence forever. It’s important that they’re comfortable and happy so bring with you their favourite toy or security item. Clothing suggestions for babies and/or toddlers are denim overalls, hats, caps and something classic or traditional. We do have lots of props for them to interact with so they will be busy here. Our policy in the studio is your children can touch anything they like so allow them to explore while they’re here, it always make for some great stories in their portraits.
Families:
When selecting clothing styles for your family portrait you must first decide whether the shoot will be semi-casual or formal. Try to co-ordinate your family’s clothing with the colours of the room where the portrait will hang. For visual balance within your portrait have everyone dressed in the same tones or colour themes, i.e. all light or all dark. By choosing complimentary solid colours and simple lines you will make the portrait more pleasing to the eye. Teens want to be seen as little adults so we will make them feel cool. If they have pimples or blemishes don’t worry as our digital artists will remove as much of this as you like. If they have a musical instrument or are involved in dance or sport you may want incorporate that into your session. As children get older it is harder to get them in for a portrait so the sooner you get them in to be photographed, the better.
Choosing your Portraits
Once you have been photographed we will make a design session time. This will take place 7 –10 days after your session. (24 hour express service available.) Your images are digitally projected 2 metre screen to help you make the best selection. We have the technology to preview your portraits in virtual frames and shown in virtual lounge rooms, hallways, bedrooms. This will help you visualise the portrait in the size that best fits your home.
Most of our clients are acquiring portraits as decorative pieces for their walls, a work of art, which features you. If you’re considering wall portraits please take note of the locations, area size and décor that your portraits will hang in. If your colour scheme has not yet been set, your portrait will be a great place to start. We also have available handmade ‘Portrait Albums’ and beautiful Portrait Boxes.
All of your purchases are produced to the highest quality using the best technology, archival papers and all portraits are retouched by our graphic artists at no charge. We also have a lifetime warranty on all of our framed portraits and albums.
