FAQ

Planning for Purchasing Your Portrait

Where are you going to hang the images?  With whom are you going to share the images?  What types of products do you need?

Most clients come with a reason for having a portrait now but they often have not thought about where they want to hang their wall portrait and to whom they intend to give additional prints.

Where to display?

Even before you have your session, you need to think about how to display the images. Some images have elements within them that make them better as vertical or horizontal displays. Knowing the possible display locations and the colors around the location can give us important information in planning your portrait session. We will ask you to take “cell phone” images of the places you are considering to hang your art.

With whom are you going to share the images?

Friends? Family? Business associates? What types and sizes of images do you wish to share? If you know before we plan your session, we easily include settings to meet all of your needs.

Products

  • Wall Art: The starting size for wall art is 16×20. A single family wall art portrait is most often the family’s first choice. It can be a framed paper or metal print, or a framed or unframed stretched canvas.
  • Gift Prints: These are prints 11×14 or less. They are mounted on a hard board for protection and ready to be displayed in frames (not included) without the need for glass.
  • Packages: All Packages contain at least 1 framed portrait 16x20 or larger. Packages are discounted over the ala carte pricing of Wall Art & Gift Prints.
  • Collages: These are 2 or more images displayed within the bounds of a frame around the perimeter.
  • Collections: These are multiple independent prints (framed and unframed) that are arranged close together on a wall to tell a larger story about the subjects.
  • Albums: Albums usually contain 10 or more images in a bound volume. These can be in the form of a coffee table book or a photographic paper bound album.
  • Novelty Items: These are cards and gifts. Some items are only available seasonally or during special promotions. We will do our best to provide you special requests.

We review our entire product line and pricing at your free planning consultation and again before and during your image reveal & ordering session when final product selections are made.

CREATING IMAGES THAT WILL BE FAMILY HEIRLOOMS

What to Wear to Your Family Portraits Session?

For an environmental engagement or a family portrait, we have a variety of suggestions for what to wear.

  • The goal of choosing clothing is to be sure it does not draw attention away from everyone’s faces.
  • It is very likely that stripes and bold patterns will not be good choices. Stick to solids and very small patterns.
  • Long sleeve or ¾ length shirt/blouses are best. Knits don’t show wrinkles. Sleeveless or strap-tops are distracting because they draw your attention to arms and shoulders and away from people’s faces.
  • In Texas jeans are classic portrait dress. Jeans and simple, medium colored earth tone, un-patterned shirts or tops are good. Bare feet are great with jeans … weather permitting. Sandals are easy to quickly kick off
  • Everyone looking similar is best. No one should stand out by being dressed differently. This classic, simple jeans look will look great on your wall for years and be coveted for generations.
  • A more formal look of dark solid-color pants or skirts and matching medium colored shirts will also be coveted. For example wearing very dark pants/skirt, then a slightly less dark matching top (for example everybody in maroon) can be nice
  • If shoes are to be worn, brown or black shoes look much better than white or brightly colored sneakers. Again light colors draw attention away from faces.
  • Please don’t wear sunglasses or the type of glasses that darken in the sun. Both will obscure the eyes and make the faces unpleasant looking. It is fairly easy to pop out the lenses if the glasses need to be worn so the image looks like you. Your optometrist can do this for you.
  • For older adults, please wear dentures. The face will show a happier look.

General environmental portrait locations may not be the right conditions for people who can’t hold their eyes open in bright sunlight or bright shade. Tell us before we plan your session so we can find a setting that is in deeper shadow. We could also suggest an in-studio portrait.