Dear Senior,
Congratulations! For as long as you can remember, you have been working hard toward this goal. You finally made it to your Senior year! You have grown into a unique and special young adult. Your Senior Portraits should reflect that. That is why we like to get to know our Seniors and what they like, before the shoot. You will probably have questions for us, too. So our Senior Portrait process starts with a consultation. It is a short meeting at the studio, a week or more before your shoot. At your consultation, we will make decisions about:
Your Sets and Props - Please bring all personal props to the consult, except pets. Let us know though, if you have a pet you would like to include. Pet's are hillarious. We will need to plan for someone to bring your pet and take them home when their big moment is done. We will be choosing the backdrops, sets and props that work best with your clothing, eyes, hair and physique. A few minutes between shots is not enough time to pull everything together in an exceptional way. We want to make sure we understand exactly what you want and like. Some Seniors prefer to sit back and let us make all the decisions. We do that too, then we just make sure to get your approval. We will be planning indoor and outdoor location shots. Rain and snow don't get in our way, sometimes those are the best shots. However, if the weather isn't what you hoped for, we can delay your shoot an hour or two or reschedule.
Your 3 to 5 Outfits - Please bring the clothes you are considering using to the consultation. The more you bring for us to choose from, the better it will be. Remember, solid colors photograph best. Of the solids, greys, blues and blacks are most flattering. In most cases, long sleeves photograph better than no sleeves. Earthtones work best outside. Bring what you feel good in and we will make it work. You are welcome to leave all or part of your things here so you don't have to haul them back again. On your appointment day, you will want your clothing on hangers, to avoid wrinkles. Girls may want their own make up for touch ups, different jewelry, and hair accessories to change their look between pictures. Guys may want their brush, gel or hats. Guys - if you're thinking you'd rather not mess with changing outfits, just layer a dressier shirt over a favorite t-shirt or bring a jacket or blazer. Bring uniforms, costumes, and any other clothing that makes you, you. Please bring at least one dressy outfit for your traditional, yearbook shot. Something to keep in mind; if you choose all outrageous and trendy outfits, you could regret them 10 years from now. When trends change, those old styles can look a little silly. We are marking your Senior year however, so don't be overly concerned about it. I just wish someone would have told me, in 1988, to rethink that fluffy, green prom dress!
Your Package Size - At your consult, we will need to know which package you are getting. Packages can be upgraded or downgraded, even after your sitting. However we do need to know what we are shooting toward. For instance if you got a small package with shorter sitting, then later decide you want a Dvd slideshow for your open house, we wouldn't have the right amount or type of pictures. Ala carte items can be added, too. Your pictures will be online at collages.net. You'll be able to share your login code and gorgious, new pictures with whomever you choose. At the site you'll be able to tweak your pictures on your own. You can crop, switch them to black and white or sepia, create folders of favorites, compare pictures side by side, enlarge them, etc. Others can order from the site, but don't have to. It's free for them to enjoy for about 6 weeks. Your pictures can still be ordered after that date. We will archive your pictures at 1 year after your sitting. Orders after that date will have a 30% archive fee added, but they will be available to order indefinately.
Your Appointment Time - A lot of Seniors have full schedules, you may want to bring your day planner. This would be a good time to tell you about our Senior Portrait Special. When you schedule with a friend, you each recieve an 8x10 and 32 wallets - FREE! You'll have separate consults. We plan sittings for each individual, so nobody gets short changed. We photograph one while the other is changing. This works out especially well for best friends that want a picture together or couples that were coming together anyway. Besides, it's a lot of fun!
Your Choice of Payment - 50% of your package price is paid for at your consultation. The remaining balance is due before or on the day you pick up your pictures. We accept checks and all major credit cards.
Your Photo Shoot - On the day of the shoot, your main objective should be making your pictures the best they can be. You probably won't want to spend the entire day before, at the beach, getting sunburnt. And you might not want to go to bed with your make up on if you know it makes you break out. Am I sounding like your mom yet? Pack up what you can the night before, so you have time to remember what you forgot. If you are using props, like your car or instrument, they may need shined. If your hair looks best in the first 10 minutes after you blow dry it, feel free to do that stuff here. You will have a bathroom of your own at the studio. We'll plan between 2 and 4 hours for your shoot. It is okay to bring a friend or parent to your sitting. Keep in mind, more than 2 additional people would crowd us and can be a distraction. We'll turn on your favorite music and build the whole shoot around you. Just speak up if there's something you need. It's your day!
Your Online Presentation - After your sitting, waiting times vary, depending on our workload. We'll contact you to let you know your when your pictures are ready at the studio and/or online. We'll give you a code for sharing online presentations. We will remind you the website address is www.collages.net. You can view and order from home, or you are welcome to view and order from the studio. You SHOULD NOT order through the collages site. You'll have already paid for your pictures. There will be a shopping cart and check out available to your guests. Your people can order their own or just enjoy viewing them online for free, for about 6 weeks. That time can be extended.
Your Order - At Artistry In Photography you get all editing, retouching and enhancing FOR FREE! It's often an expensive service people have to go without. We remove all blemishes, stray hairs, unflattering shine, take glare off of glasses, fix chapped lips, take off the 10 pounds the camera added, etc., unless for some reason, you wanted to keep those things. We also whiten teeth, soften lines, straighten clothing, and brighten eyes. We think you'll be happy leaving all that to our discretion. We don't over do it, but certainly, tell us if you have concerns. And let us know if you have special requests like removing moles, birthmarks, piercings, scars, braces, slimming waistlines, etc. If you have braces, have clear rubberbands put on. You'll want to make note of which orthodontist appointment is the one before your Senior pics apppointment. Rainbow teeth can be pretty, but isn't the look we're going for with your Senior pictures. You put a lot into your Senior portraits, and they should be everything you hoped. You may also choose to add text or your signature to wallets. If you want a print cropped or done in black and white, sepia, or spot colored, those options are free. We also do hand tinting on black and whites and sepia tones. We offer metallic/pearlized photo papers and all sorts of textures. Matting and framing are available too. We will call and let you know when your pictures are ready to be picked up. Then your images become part of our archives, meaning, reorders will be available for years to come.
Don't worry about having to remember anything. We will remind you of everything you need to know along the way, beginning with your consult. You may have noticed, everything you need to bring to your consult is in blue print. See, isn't that easy! Your Senior portraits should be a wonderful experience for you. And our job isn't done until you are absolutely thrilled with your pictures. We back all our work with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Remember to visit the Senior portraits gallery and the FAQs page on our website. There you'll find lots of helpful tips like ... "During your shoot, try not to squish your arms against your body or clench your fists" - or - "Earth tones work best outdoors". If you have questions email us or give us a call. We look forward to hearing from you and making your Senior Year even more amazing!
Sincerely, Stephanie Lain, Owner and Photographer
Artistry In Photography ~ 574-522-3938 ~ Email: Artistryinphotos@aol.com
Our Senior Portrait Prices
Our Senior Portrait Gallery
