Portrait Photographer

Q. What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A. Ask questions! I think the most important question is: What's your guarantee? Portraits are a very personal kind of art, and I don't believe anyone should have to pay for a portrait unless they are really happy with it!

Ask if enhancements and artwork are included, or if they are available at additional charge. Portraits and snapshots are 2 different things. Part of what makes a portrait is the artwork that goes into it, making it look the very best possible.

Ask how long it will take to receive the finished portraits. In my opinion, it should never take more than 4 weeks. I always promise delivery in 3 weeks, and try to beat that deadline.

Q. If you were a customer, what do you wish you knew about your trade? Any inside secrets to share?

A. I've actually written a book for this purpose! These days there are so many folks out there with fine, professional quality cameras billing themselves as "Professional Photographers", but who really don't know the science or art of photography! It's a shame. There's an old saying, "You get what you pay for". Unfortunately a lot of people don't know what they should get for what they're paying!

Some great questions to ask before you hire any photographer to create your portraits are: What's your Guarantee? How many sessions do you schedule in a day? Do you limit the number of exposures you make for a session? Do you include enhancements and artwork?

Q. Why does your work stand out from others who do what you do?

A. I truly put my heart and soul into every portrait I create for my clients. I guarantee you will be thrilled, and not just satisfied with the portraits I create for you!

I never schedule more than one photography session in a day. I will never rush you through your session so I can get to the next job!

I will meet with you in person at no charge and no obligation on a date prior to your photography so we can get to know each other a bit, you can tell me your ideas for what you want, and I can get some ideas of how to pose and light you so you look your very best.

My background is in art and I am a lifetime art student. I do enhancements and artwork to every photograph you select in order to turn them into fine portraits.

Q. What do you like most about your job?

A. I've been an artist all my life, and people have always been my favorite subjects. I was drawing and painting people and copying great works of art since I was able to hold a crayon or paint brush.

I love working with people and photographing them. Then I do my artwork and enhancements to the photographs. All together, with my lighting techniques, composition and then artwork, I can guarantee you will look better in my portraits than you do in "real life"! But the part I really love most is when I deliver portraits to my clients, and see and hear the reactions. When you cry tears of joy, I know I've done my job well!

Q. If you were advising someone who wanted to get into your profession, what would you suggest?

A. When people ask if they can apprentice with me, I always ask them why. I'm always happy to share my knowledge, and I've found I enjoy teaching photography as it is my passion. So for a person wanting to get into portrait photography, probably the most important qualification is to really enjoy people, and working with people!

Another very important quality is the desire and ability to learn. What makes an appealing portrait? How to make people comfortable with you, and draw out their personalities. That's all fairly natural if you love people.

Then there's the actual science and art of photography. You can't learn that by setting your camera on 'Program mode' and making a million exposures. One must learn the science, learn the equipment, and study art!