Family Session

• Published October 5th, 2009 by Mr. C's

Childrens Sessions

• Published October 5th, 2009 by Mr. C's

This session is a smaller version of our Maternity Session. The Mother-to-be will be the focus of this session. Session includes a consultation that allows you to look at a portfolio of samples and discuss your preferences with your photographer.          

Senior Sessions Guide

• Published October 5th, 2009 by Mr. C's

What to Expect Guide: Senior Sessions

• Published October 5th, 2009 by Mr. C's

• Everybody gets upset if it’s not sunny the day of their photo session. What you need to know is that is BETTER when the sun is not shining when you have your photographs taken.
• Sunny days may make you squint and can cause excessive shadows in your photograph.
• We always look for shaded areas to photograph in because the lighting is more even and there is less chance of squinting.
• Overcast days are best because the lighting is so even you can be posed essentially anywhere. Right before a storm or right after a storm can provide a photograph with interesting cloud formations.
• Summer thunderstorms are spotty. For example, it may be stormy where you live and the sun is out at the studio. Summer storms are usually short in duration. Call to check the weather at the studio, but please arrive on time, we will want to do your indoor photographs anyhow. It is much easier to reschedule just your outdoor photographs than to find a time to re-do the complete session.
• Outdoor photographs usually start in May and can go into fall as long as the temperature is above 40 degrees. Below 40 degrees is when your nose will turn red or even start to run after being outdoors only 15 minutes

1. Wear Clothing with sleeves. Bare arms add weight.
2. Solid colors are more complimentary. Patterns become larger than life and take away from you.
3. Use jackets, hats, and scarves to enhance yourself…accessorize.
4. Correct colors for your complexion will make you look better.
5. Cropped tops look bad, loose tops are easier to work with.
6. Tight fitting clothing is not always the most flattering.

• Avoid changing to a new hairstyle at least 2 weeks prior to your photo session. If you don’t like it, then you may have to wait before it grows to a manageable length
•  Do not cut or change your hairstyle after your photo session either until you have had the opportunity to view your previews. Costly mistake!
• Bring your hair care products to the studio with you. Changes in hairstyles are permitted as long as they can be done in 5 minutes or less. Time you spend in the dressing room is taking from your photo session.
  
• The photographer is not a hair stylist and they may not know if your hair doesn’t look quite right. It is your responsibility to look in the mirror while still in the dressing room. Check yourself closely before going into the camera room.
• If your hairstyle is the type that is suppose to hang over the eye, please let the photographer know. It is hard to know what everyone likes and dislikes. If the photographer keeps moving your hair from your eye please let him know that it’s okay to hang there.

Make-up Now with any any Senior Session you can add make-up!

• Kayla Vogel is our exclusive make-up artist, and is here to help make your session even more stress free.
  

Jewerly

• FLAT JEWELRY (Ex: HERRINGBONE NECKLACES) WILL RUIN A GOOD PORTRAIT. It reflects light and is very expensive to remove. Keep necklaces to the chain type and of a smaller style.
• Pearls are still great with a sweater for traditional poses.
• Hanging jewelry in a baggie then on the hanger with the clothing that you have chosen to wear is a good idea.
• Don’t forget your earrings. Earrings should go with the clothing style you pick. Large earrings don’t look proportional to your facial features in the traditional poses.
• Gold or silver, of course, is your choice. Certain skin tones will look better with one over the other.
  
• Large necklaces will detract from the portrait.

Glasses

• Glass glare can ruin a great photograph, and sometimes the glass will distort your eye shape.
• If possible, visit your eye doctor and ask to borrow a pair of empty frames to have your photograph taken in. You can return them after the photo session.
• There is a non-reflective glass that works great!
• If not, we can remove glass glare, but there will be an additional fee.

Contact Lenses

• If you want to use a fan to blow your hair in a photograph, the wearing of contact lenses may make your eyes very sensitive to wind. It may be wise to remove them during the shoot.
• Make-up application may irritate your eyes, so be prepared to remove your contacts until after the make-up application.
• Contact lenses rarely show in a photograph, but colored lenses can add a great deal of color to your eye.

Complexion

•  If you can look in the mirror from a distance of 24” and see a blemish, there is a good chance that you will see it in the finished photograph.
  
• Concealer and powder together work miracles on covering blemishes, boys included.
• If you have an oily complexion, powder is a must. A mate finish is what you are looking for. It photographs much better.
• A boy may decide to have a little make-up to enhance their previews. Many boys may decide to have a little cover up and powder applied to hide skin imperfections. Ask for assistance if you have questions about how to use cover up type make-up.

Large Props | What to Bring In 

Photographing Your Transportation

• Your car doesn’t have to be spotless in your photograph to look good. The camera doesn’t see some of the dirty spots like you do, so if your vehicle gets a little dirty on the way to the studio, its okay.
• Do clean the tires and make the black look dark. Clean tires will show in your finished photograph.
• Classic autos or motorcycles make an incredible prop if you can find one or even borrow one for a photograph. Most collectors are so thrilled that you asked to use “their wheels” that they will bring them to the studio when you need them. We try to take a picture of the vehicle alone for the owner. These are used outdoors and need to arrive at the studio 45 minutes after your scheduled photo session starts.
• If we encounter really bad weather we can hold a couple of exposures just for a special vehicle and then reschedule it at a later date. Please keep the appointment though so we can do everything we need to do indoors.

Collections & Special Props

• Collections are part of you and they show your involvement in extra activities. We suggest you pick these props with care, bringing everything you own doesn’t make for the best photograph. Frequently you can show the same idea with only a couple items. Too much in your photograph will take away from you and clutter a great pose.

Extras | Friends & Pets

Friends | Having your friends in your photos is part of the fun of the senior portrait. The main thing to remember is that they are part of your overall senior portrait session.

• Ask when they should be at the session. If they are going to be part of your indoor session, they should be at the studio when you arrive. The only exception is if your session is going to include makeup. If they are going to appear in the outdoor part of your session they should arrive ½ hour after your session starts.
• Friends are great to have with you during your session to help you relax and feel more comfortable, they can however be a distraction as well so just keep that in mind if you invite them to join in on your session.
  
• A boyfriend/girlfriend watching the photo session will sometimes prevent you from relaxing during the photo session. If you feel that this may happen, you may want to think about asking them to leave after their part of the photo session.
• This is your day so we suggest photos with friends be limited to 2 or 3. If you want more photographs taken than this, it may be best to schedule an appointment just for you and your friend.

Pets | Cats & Dogs

Cats

• Can be very difficult to photograph because some are very independent.
• Use a carrier to transport to and from the studio. The last thing that you want to happen is to have them get away.
• Should be used primarily with your indoor poses.
• A cat can be calmed down by having them sit on a heating pad before and even during the photo session.
• They are difficult to get their attention to look into the camera. Poses that show interaction can work better than those looking into the camera.
• Other animals may be at the studio while you are there so you need someone to watch them when they aren’t being photographed. 

Dogs – you are responsible for their actions.

• May be used either indoor or outdoor depending on their size. Large dogs should be used outdoor always.
• If a small dog is to be used as part of an indoor session bring him with you but someone should be attending your dog at all times. There may be other animals at the studio while you are being photographed.
• If the larger dog is to be used outdoors it needs to be at the studio ¾ hour after your photo session is scheduled to begin. You may want someone to bring him to the studio and then leave after he has been photographed.
• Bring a bowl for water so they won’t get hot and their tongue won’t be hanging out during the photograph.
• Different breeds of dogs have a varying temperament. It is your responsibility to inform your photographer as to whether or not a dog is approachable.
• Make sure he uses the bathroom before coming into the studio. It may be necessary for you to clean up any accidents.
• Bathe him the day before, so you won’t have to rush the day of your session.
• Most dogs are easy to photograph and react well to the whole experience.

What Can We Remove?

The camera isn’t a magic wand, but our Production Artist is. You don’t need to re-schedule an appointment because a sunburn or a blemish. If you don’t want it in your picture, it can be removed. 

Sunburn

• The redness from the sun will photograph. Do not take excessive sun days before a photo session. Allow it to tone down by at least one week before a photo session.
• Pealing is a problem that is hard to correct. Coupled with red skin, it becomes a sever problem,. Digital imaging may help to tone this problem but it will be at an additional charge.

Severe sunburn is a reason to reschedule.

A Tan & Strap Marks

• A sun tan is a great addition to your photograph but with that come strap marks. Of course thinking ahead you can vary the type of top that you wear and prevent the problem in the first place.
• Over tanning will dry out your skin and actually age its appearance. Tan in moderation.
• This problem can be corrected but it is at an additional charge.
• Our cameras are set to enhance the warmness that you might experience from tanning. Let us give you that golden look, just ask.

Tattoo

The main thing that needs to be discussed about a tattoo is of course whether or not you want it to be seen in the photograph. Please advise your photographer so he will know your feelings about your tattoo.

Facial Scars

• Please let us know whether a visible scar is something that you would like to have retouched or not. A retouch artist always wonders whether or not you want them to show or not. Sometimes removal of a scar may require an additional charge. 

Freckles

• For many fair complexions, the summer brings out the freckles. Many times in black and white high contrast photography these will appear to disappear. In color photography it is a little harder to remove freckles. The best thing for you to do is to apply make-up to minimize their appearance, if they bother you. 

Moles & Beauty Marks

• These personal attributes are what make you who you are. An artist may remove them inadvertently thinking that the mark is a blemish. If you want a beauty mark to remain or even to be accented, please mention that to the sales person who you are working with in writing up your order.

Braces

• Most everyone likes to have a few poses taken that shows their teeth. If you have braces please practice smiling naturally. Sometimes we find students are so self-conscious of their braces that they smile and try not to show their teeth. Don’t worry about the braces showing because with the technology today, they can be removed in your finished portrait order. This service is an extra charge, but it isn’t as costly as having an orthodontist remove them for your photo session. Waiting for them to be removed may make you miss a deadline or even great outdoor sessions. We suggest that you smile, don’t worry about braces, evaluate your photographs and then decide which one you would like to have corrected.

After the Session | What to Expect

Your Projection Appointment - This is a very important and memorable part of your senior photography session! The projection appointment is a time for you along with your family and friends to view all the photographs set to your own personal sound track.

1.      Your slide show with music – the opportunity for you to see how your photographs look and to make sure you are happy with your photography. Don’t miss it! Music for the visual portfolio is provided by you so that we may customize your DVD.

2.      An education on how you can save money by ordering certain ways.

3.      A complete explanation of pricing, packages, finishes, custom framing.

4.      A required appointment if you want to take home your DVD with your Projection Book that has all your images from your session.

Portrait Ordering

1.      Mr. C’s Photography believes that you purchase just what you want.

2.      The price you pay for your photographs is dependent on the number of photographs you purchase. The pricing is designed for those who purchase more, the more you purchase, the more you save.

3.      You buy what you can afford.

4.      Great photography sells itself, many students do buy a lot of photographs because they like them so much.

5.      No one will ever pressure you to purchase anything. Give us 30 – 45 minutes to explain prices at the projection appointment, leave $129.00 as a non-refundable advance to take your DVD home.

6.      Return to the studio in one week and start your order with ½ deposit of your total order. Your portrait consultant will assist you with custom framing if you desire.

7.      Payments may be made to get ½ down to start your order and sent off to the lab to be printed and payments can be made to complete payment towards your finished order.

8.      It is necessary to hold your complete order until full payment is made. No partial orders may be picked up.

9.      Remember, we are fair and honest people. If you have a budget let us know and we will be glad to work with you to purchase just what you want.

Special Concerns

Think About Bringing a Parent - Parents are always welcome. A parent can be very helpful to you in the dressing room to double check to make sure you look great and haven’t forgotten anything. Parents can be with you while you are being photographed or wait in the waiting area. This is your choice. We advise parents not to say anything that might upset their child like, “you have a terrible smile”, or “didn’t you bring what I wanted you to be photographed in?” Work these things out before the photo session.

Music - Each studio can provide almost any type of music, just ask. Music can put you in a great frame of mind and make the session even that more enjoyable.

Children – Some bring children to the photo session. If they are in a pose or two, its okay. They should leave the camera area after their photos are taken. They could be very distracting and interrupt the whole session.

Cap & Gown – Cap and gown photographs are important to some people. These photographs are not normally taken and should be requested at the time of the interview with the photographer while he is going over clothing changes.

Proofing - We take the time to customize every senior experience, to make it special and unique for you.

 We provide a custom DVD portfolio, set to your own music, this is meant to be a once in a lifetime movie like experience made especially for you. Music for the DVD must be supplied by the client, with 5 songs on one CD, within 48 hours of your projection appointment. The CD that you provide will be retained in your file for future legal verification. If music is not supplied and you recieve a visual portflio in a collection, or you purchase the DVD, there will be a $25 reburn fee charged so that the music you selected may be added to your DVD.

Let us tell your story with our one of a kind table books! These books are 12 pages plus a cover custom designed specifically for you.

for your convienience you may also view all  your photographs on-line

What to Expect Guide: Family Sessions

• Published October 5th, 2009 by Mr. C's