ABOUT PORTRAIT SESSIONS:
(AN INFORMATIONAL VIDEO ABOUT PORTRAIT SESSIONS IS COMING VERY SOON)
PROVIDED AS PACKAGES - Portrait Sessions are offered as Packages; I designed the Packages around (optimally) a Book and a USB Drive- with other possibilities available. the Packages are shown in detail further down this page, and a PDF of the Package Details is there for download. The Packages took a long time to design, but they are based on what is (in my opinion) the best way to encapsulate your session(s) into a properly-cohesive form. Each Package starts with a set amount of time for the photo-shoot itself [outfit changes and/or location changes- (each where and when possible) are allowed within ANY selected package- however, time is set].
I want to only offer Packages these days because: first-off- the time involved in travel, shooting, editing; but more importantly, I want to bring YOUR Photographs together into a completed form [...a Book... along with other items (if included in your chosen Package- or purchased additionally as 'Add-Ons')]. I want to provide the Best that I can in Service and a Fulfillment/Completion of the Project we have come together for.
The Package Details (down the page) will explain the length-of-session you would be receiving with your Package, along with the various products included. Add-Ons and Upgrades are available for the Products in any Package- PLEASE CALL ME IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS: 919-235-7695.
OUTFIT CHANGES - Any Portrait Sessions can offer time for outfit changes. I like to spend between 25 minutes to 1 hour per outfit.
LOCATION CHANGES - I recommend at least a two hour Portrait Session to be chosen if you wish to change locations for 1 or more of your various outfits. I like to spend between 20 to 30 minutes minimum in any given location.
EDITING TIME - Editing of your images for first viewing usually requires one to two weeks following the session (then, the sit-down review/meeting can be scheduled). After your images are edited, we will schedule a 1 hour (or more) meeting/sit-down together [at your home or mine (PREFERRED)] to review the images via my laptop and HDMI cable to your TV to choose images from the session for prints, for books, and/or other products.
PRIVATE ONLINE GALLERY - After editing has been completed on your portrait session, your images can be uploaded to a private online gallery for ordering and viewing on this site. Online gallery will stay active for two months & images will be watermarked. To continue hosting the images in an online private gallery- each additional month will be $50.00 (per month of hosting- after the original 2 months). [SIT-DOWN MEETINGS ARE VITAL for the selection of prints, but also this is good way to evaluate the draft(s) or your Album(s)/Book(s)]. [FOR INFO ON ALBUM/BOOK MAKING/DRAFTING PROCESSES, CLICK THE LINKS BELOW]
(Click the Links below to see more of my Portrait and Event Work)
SIGNATURE PORTRAIT PACKAGES INFORMATION & OPTIONS
BELOW IS AN EXAMPLE OF A COMPLETED BOOK FROM A PORTRAIT SESSION: 8x12 VERTICAL, SOFTCOVER
(Click on the Images to Enlarge Them)
The Left Column is the first half of the book, and the Right Column is the Second Half of the Master Copy of the Book. Each of the Girls received Her own customized (personalized-version) copy of the Book for Christmas. [Some of the right-column spreads were omitted in the various copies of the Book(s) due to length-limitations (and not being group photographs).] Each of the Girls received a 6x9 Vertical Book; the Book was designed as an 8x12 Vertical.
THIS IS THE MOST PHOTOGRAPHED GENERATION IN HISTORY AND IN TWENTY YEARS THE IMAGES WILL NOT EVEN EXIST BECAUSE THE IMAGES ARE NOTHING MORE THAN A FILE ON A COMPUTER... –Douglas Box
I WANT YOUR PORTRAIT “EXPERIENCE” TO BE JUST THAT.... AN “EXPERIENCE.”
STEP 1: LET’S TALK….COMMUNICATION:
For any and all photo shoots there are several steps. First we need to decide who will be photographed and discuss how the images will be shown (such as making a large wall print, a mix of prints, along with albums or books: I need to know what you have in mind). The next step is to choose the location(s) and atmosphere(s) of shoot- do you want to have your portrait made in your home or on location in natural location (such as a park, a city scene, etc.)?
Once we decide on a location for the session, after that, we need to have a discussion on wardrobe for the session. The clothing consultation ensures the images are beautiful and your clothing is complementary to the scene, but also we want to ensure the images are harmonious with the furnishings and colors in the location you want to place and show these images in your home.
I want you to love your images, and for that reason, I am very committed to carefully planning and choreographing our shoot so that we achieve the ultimate quality and range possible.
Questions to Consider:
- What kind of shoot will we be doing? (Individual Portraits, Family Portraits, A Wedding, etc.)
- Who will be photographed? (Adults, Children, Teenagers, Pets, The Entire Family…?)
- What theme, energy, style, etc. would you like? (Formal, Casual, Both…?)
- Where would you like to shoot? (Nature, Big City, Small Town, At Home, Several…?)
- What are your first and most important plans for showing and printing these images? (Wall Art, Collage, Books, Folios, Albums, Multiple…?)
STEP 2: CHOOSING THE LOCATIONS FOR YOUR PORTRAITS:
I want you to love your portraits- I want us to choose locations that you are enjoy being in. What are your favorite places: the outdoors (flowers, fields, forests, etc.), the city (small town, big city, outdoor restaurants, landmarks, etc.)? I want us to talk places you would really like to find and use for your portraits- I would like to offer to shoot in two or more locations so that we have a beautiful diversity of images for making a beautiful Storybook for you, as well as having many options Wall Art prints, as well as collages and many other small print products. I have many dozens of locations to choose from, and if you know of a cool and beautiful place you would like to shoot in please let me know. Please contact me with your thoughts, questions, and let’s plan an awesome shoot!
Dependent on where we decide to shoot- we will be able to better choose the time of day to go there, where best to meet, how long we will shoot, outfit ideas, and where our other best (closest) locations to our primary location will be- as well as where nearby is a bathroom for changing outfits. If we choose a wildlife preservation area or somewhere that is a little less accessible to lots of cars (or not that clearly marked), we will probably be best to meet at a shopping center nearby to ride together or follow each other to make things simpler in getting to the same area of the shoot site.
I want you to have a blast during your portrait session- that starts with picking a location that inspires and also relaxes you. I want us to shoot in places that are beautiful and unique. I want your images to excite you, be one of a kind, and for you to love looking at and showing them to your friends. If you need some ideas for cool locations or want me to choose with a little help from you, let me know- I have dozens of cool and unique places all around North Carolina which I have found and used over the years. I promise to find you the best place possible!
STEP 3: FINALIZING THE DETAILS- DATE, TIME, WARDROBE, MEETING PLANS, (etc.):
After choosing the location and the wardrobe, then we are able to refine a time to meet in carry out our shoot. Timing (especially time of day) will dramatically impact and in rich the images or potentially create issues during the shoot, depending on how sunny and hot or perhaps dim and dark conditions are. I love natural light, but I do use equipment to supplement natural light-I use a very faint amount of flash or strobe lighting to help in portraits, especially when we need more light, or if we need to reduce the amount of shadows and improve the quality of the light on a person in a portrait.
Often times I tried to keep my portraits within a window in early morning between 7 AM and 10:45 AM or within a window in late afternoon between 4:45 PM and 8:30 PM-these times are referred to as the sweet light, that is because the sun is at a low angle and the color of the lighting is very rich and warm in most cases, but also the light is directional, and it has a much more beautiful look to it, then sunlight in a later time of day (such as afternoon or high noon sunlight, which is for industry portraits). Oftentimes we schedule, maybe two weeks out from the day that we are talking about wardrobe and locations, however, we might be able to shoot within just a few days. Having about two weeks of time (or maybe more) before the shoot allows time for you to gather your wardrobe and consider if there’s anything else you want to do in the portraits that you would like to try and add in or ask me about-I want your portraits to be very special to you and to be truly priceless and spectacular and so not rushing things is a good first step, then above that making sure we planned as many details as we canceled things run smoothly is extremely beneficial.
I will call and email you (usually one or two days) prior to the shoot to check in with you. Make sure that were all on the same page that you haven’t thought of any new things that your needing to ask about her wanting to add into a shoot and just make sure that I have followed up with you to just confirm for absolute certainty the time, place and date of our shoot (along with the details of where we are meeting, how long we are shooting, possibly some pricing information, and how many outfits to bring, along with the weather forecasts and anything else I think is relevant). I take great pride in my photographs, and my portraits our collaboration between me and you-beyond that they are family heirlooms, and for that reason, they need to be as perfect as we can make them.
We usually meet at the location, but in some cases, we might meet at a shopping center drive one after another to the locations so that we park together and there’s no confusion. Shoots usually last between 30 minutes in an hour and 30 minutes-if the portrait session is involving children duration of the shoot is judged based on the child’s interest level, age, energy and stamina. My shoots are fun-I want your portraits to be an experience in a memory that you love and remember fondly when you look at your images.
Your portraits are a window to a particular time in your life-they are a record, a frozen moment of your life or your children’s lives-memories in love are two things that are truly priceless. In this world and I counted a privilege to be your photographer and your friend because I get to share in those two things, and I’m given the blessing and privilege of actually documenting a part of your life and creating a window back in time for you and those after you to see who you were and what your story was. Please have portraits made of you and your family because memories are special and now is only right now, and the life is only a moment in the history of the world. Portraits made for your family and decorating your home connect you and your family and make your connections to each other deeper and they strengthen the family and provide a window for you as well as future generations to look back and experience all over again.
BELOW IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF A COMPLETED ALBUM FROM A PORTRAIT SESSION: 8x12 VERTICAL METAL-PRINT COVER ALBUM
(Click the Images to Enlarge Them)
The Left Column is the first half of the Book, and the Right Column is the Second Half.
This Family Portrait Session was mainly taken in the park and walking trails around the outside of the North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh, with the second outfit(s) being photographed at JC Raulston Arboretum. Children grow far too quickly, portrait sessions can be a source of familial bonding, building of self-confidence, and of course these shoots are a source of memories and a window into your (family & life) history. Whatever you do- you need to make the time (with regularity) to have some good photographs made of your family (as often as possible).
FAMILY & TIME TOGETHER IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN OUR LIVES.
I want your portrait shoot to be personalized, be exciting, be a source of memories, and to result in beloved and timeless images of your family and yourself- "a window in time." I want to earn your trust and become THE Photographer you call upon for your big and small moments, your family and friends, your history...YOUR LIFE.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS:
(Click the Links below to see more of my Portrait and Event Work)