Professional Portrait Prints or Pictures on a CD?
There are some photographers who offer their clients images on a disk; however, I believe it’s best to create beautiful fine art prints for my clients. Many of the photographers who offer images on a disk may not know much about how to artfully craft a final printed piece. Some of them are weekend hobbyists and don’t have time to spend on anything but snapping the pictures. They let the client worry about getting prints, and the final quality really suffers when photographs get printed at the local drug store or one hour shop. This type of offer should raise a red flag for anyone who values quality photographs and considers family portraits to be meaningful heirlooms that will last for generations.
There is a lot attention that goes into the creation of a finished portrait compared to the actual taking of the pictures. When I work on a portrait in Photoshop, I think of it in terms of classical painting. I have a huge toolbox of effects and software I rely on to enhance photographs in so many ways. I can control the tone and atmosphere of the setting which compliments the family relationships. I use techniques to uniquely frame and highlight the photograph, and most importantly I lightly re-touch the subjects in the image so they look their familiar best to loved ones.
One of my favorite techniques is to find the most attractive expression for each of the subjects in all of the images, and create the ideal photograph that captures everyone at their best. We call this a “head change” and it’s wonderful because it makes a group picture of everyone perfect! When I find an expression that really enhances the feeling of the overall portrait, it helps tell the story better.
Our portrait finishing is handled by a professional lab for high quality printing. For the past 25 years, I’ve had a close working relationship with my color lab and I have a high level of trust in the work they help me produce. In addition to a well printed image, there are options for dry mounting, UV lacquering that protects the piece and surface treatments that enhance the fine art quality of the image. There are choices for types of paper such as canvas, watercolor, luster, and even metallic. I also help advise on display choices and will mat and frame the work.
By the time the artwork is finished I’ve put my heart into it completely and given families an heirloom they’ll cherish forever. The care, attention to detail and passion I have for creating a beautiful final print is what my clients truly deserve!
The circled heads or people were changed in the finished print to make the final photograph perfect!
Here's the perfect portrait!
This is the original image taken in the studio
We changed out the expression on the child to one that was more relaxed during sleep. I also wanted to create a more timeless feeling with more subdued colors. The vibrant colors in the original were too harsh and didn't support the sleepy mood of the baby.
Original print taken in the studio
The masculine, gritty look of the firefighter is contrasted with the soft innocent look of his son in this handsome birth announcement.
This is an example of an image before I worked on it.
With enhancements, this portrait has been transformed into a nationally award winning image!
Family Relationships Shine Through Because of Openness
A client’s trust, openness and generosity with information about their family’s personality really helps me tune in to their feelings and relationships. I love nothing more than collaborating with people to achieve the style and mood of photography that suits them best. I recently photographed a small extended family on the beach who responded to our Family Information questionnaire with a touching amount of sincerity and humor that really opened the door to their story.
Meg’s email says, “I want to remember this time with both extended and immediate family groupings; the fun that we have together, and how we love each other and enjoy being together. Our relationships extend beyond just the immediate family groups and cross over between the smaller family groups. I like some posed images, but I really like the casual ‘activity’ shots.” She goes on with some funny and descriptive anecdotes about her family as she sees them. On her feedback form she lets us know who’s a funny-guy cut-up, which little granddaughter loves to pose for the camera, which grandson is a bit shy and how he opens up around the family dog, and how their children met their spouses through a shared college cheer leading connection!
With this understanding, I was able to set up playful scenarios to capture candid moments on the beach. I saw all of the beautiful elements that make up Meg’s family as she experiences them. I’m so thrilled by the images we made together; it was truly a collaboration and it all happened because Meg opened up her heart. Check out these lovely images!
I love the innocence of Children.
- At June 4, 2011
- By rgregoryphoto
- In Children's Portraits
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Sometimes a portrait of a child can be very powerful with out a smile!
A peaceful expression shows a completely different side of a little one.
A very important part of her personality that we will want to remember.