FAQs
- What types of customers have you worked with?
Most of my child and family portrait sittings happen in people's homes. I always encourage clients with young children to consider this option (as opposed to dragging the family into the studio). This way, the child is in charge of showing me their space, their world. Usually I set up a backdrop and lights. Invariably, this process provokes lots and lots of great questions and inspires little, helping hands! Despite the artifice of great lighting and a modern backdrop, I aspire to capture only what is real, essential and true in my portraits. With children (and other humans), the only way to do this is through relationship. I talk and play and laugh and listen . . .all the while taking way too many pictures. My backdrop is their stage and they are welcome to it! When a child is particularly reticent or nervous about having their picture taken, I find it helps to let them choose a beloved object (Teddy, Blankie, Robot, etc.) for me to photograph instead. I ask them to help me show their toy or stuffed animal how to have their picture taken. Regardless of whether or not this little trick relieves them of their fears, in the process, we are working together and building relationship. With children (and other humans) there is a limited window of time to sustain such a concerted effort. My shoots usually last about an hour. I pack up my stuff and make sure everything is back where it was when I arrived. The entire shoot, from arrival to departure, takes, on average, about 1 1/2 hours. I develop, edit and upload up to 50 of the best images to a private, password-protected gallery over the following 3-4 days. Clients can share the gallery with friends and family, as well as order prints and downloads for up to 60 days.
- What advice would you give a customer looking to hire a provider in your area of work?
A beautiful portrait is something that you and your photographer create together. When looking for a portrait photographer it's important to remember that you are not simply hiring someone who understands proper lighting, exposure or other technical aspects of the photographic process. While these skills are very important and certainly necessary, an outstanding portrait photographer must do more than show up with a nice camera, lights and a competitive price. Here are a few things to keep in mind when hunting for a photographer capable of working with his or her subjects to capture something truly beautiful and of the moment: (1) Speak with former clients and read client reviews to get a feel for what the experience was like for them. We live in the golden age of easily accessible customer reviews. Be sure to read the reviews and not just tally the number of stars in the rating. (2) Look at the photographer's work. Does it feel right for you and your family? Has this photographer captured for other families what you hope to capture for yours? (3) Is your potential photographer easy to talk to or otherwise communicate with? Are they approachable? Given technical ability, affordability and a style compatible with what you envision for your photos, the #1 quality that distinguishes a great child and family portrait photographer has to do with their ability to easily connect with you, your child or your family. A photographer who is not fully present, flexible and available to the moment, will not be able to create the environment or level of unselfconscious ease that is essential for truly great portraiture. They must be open to taking, not just portraits, but your specific portrait. Call them, talk with them, and talk with people who have worked with them.