I offer School Portrait, Family Portrait, “Wee People” Portrait, Pet Portrait, Special Group Portrait and Environmental (work setting) Portrait services.

My portraiture photography has developed and continues to grow as I have found that my service is as much about establishing a genuine rapport with people as it is about capturing valued images for customers that preserve memories of special people for years to come and allow them to easily share images with family and friends.

My Environmental Portrait Service is offered to businesses that want to capture images of their employees and work environment so they can visually convey more of a personal connection with their customers, either in print or electronic form.

My Portrait photography business has evolved (like other areas of my photography work) with the acquisition and use of more advanced digital SLR camera equipment and support accessories along with advancements made in image refinishing software.

Who are my customers?
My portraiture photography offering typically appeals to people that are looking for value based service that provides them greater choice and control over the handling and re-production of their portrait photos. My services also appeal to people that are interested in capturing both formal (posed) and candid/informal pictures during a portrait session.

What makes my services different from other portraiture photographers?
I offer you “Choice and Control” when it comes to getting prints and/or enlargements of the images I capture for you during a portrait session. I turn over original and select refinished full size digital images and grant you the right (signed Re-Production/Re-Print Release) to reproduce digital images I captured, so you can choose to print copies and different sizes on demand, allowing you direct control over managing the cost of printing pictures. I give you the ability to print or electronically share images for yourself or for family and friends on your terms.

Photo eScapes retains the right to freely use tasteful images from your portrait session in print and electronic form, to advance my photography business through portfolio presentations, website publishing, advertising and promotional campaigns.

I do not charge a per person sitting fee for any of my portrait sessions. I look for opportunities to leverage the cost of my time to bring more content and value to the portrait session you have hired me to do. Typically for a high school portrait session I’ll encourage you to include (usually at little incremental cost or no extra cost at all) having some family (group and individual) or holiday card portraits taken within the same portrait session. I encourage my customers to consider including any four legged friends they may have at home in a family portrait session.

I schedule portrait sessions during the daytime, evenings or weekends, whenever it is most convenient for you and your family (I’ll work around your Family’s schedule).

What is my philosophy?
I firmly believe that if I do a great job for you and provide you with superior value, you will refer me to other acquaintances when they have a need for photography services that I offer.

I’ve purposely positioned myself to be a more flexible, value oriented alternative to other bona fide business based photographers that provide portraiture photography services.

I understand the importance of selecting a photographer that works within your budget, fits with your personal chemistry and can fulfill your portraiture needs.

I am not a pressure sales person. Your portraits are too important of a matter to make decisions that you are not comfortable with.

What does a typically base portrait session of 30 minutes consist of?

• I capture a variety of posed and candid images in color in high resolution digital format.
• I travel to a location of your choice (e.g. favorite park, at home, inside, outside, wherever you feels connected and at ease). The World is my Studio!!!
• 30 minutes of actual portrait shooting time (not elapsed time), minimum of 60 images taken. Based on experience, 70% to 80% of the images taken are viable for printing and/or additional optional refinishing.
• I typically offer more choice, control and variety with portrait content during a portrait session when compared to indoor studio operations.
• I do NOT use high pressure sales tactics to sell you prints/enlargements on the spot.

What does a base portrait photography package consist of?

• You receive 4″ x 6″ prints (18 to 24 glossy or mat finish prints of select refinished images) in a Brag Book (additional prints can be provided at an extra charge).
• You receive one (1) 8″ x 10″ refinished print and twelve (12) wallet size prints (You can swap two (2) 5″ x 7″ prints for one (1) 8″ x 10″ print if you’d like).
• You receive full sized original and select refinished digital images on CD or DVD.
• You receive a Re-Production/Re-Print Release form that grants you full rights to manipulate/print portraiture images I capture and turnover to you. This release should eliminate objections a photo finisher might raise when they’re asked to print any portrait images I provide you with.

How much does portraiture photography cost?
Cost for base services is usually determined by the amount of time I spend taking actual portrait photographs. Price may vary somewhat based on variables such as portrait locations, number of outfit changes and other factors that increase my cost/effort to provide you with my basic portrait photography services.

For 2008, base level portrait services (30 to 60 minute portrait session) typically ran from $100 to $250. I expect a similar price range for comparable services delivered during 2009.

I don’t try to sell you expensive print enlargements, unnecessary prints with the print sizes you want or other fancy frills as a part of my base portrait photography service. I do offer optional services to provide for such things as refinishing/touching up selected images, making print enlargements and more on a time and material basis that we agree on in advance.

How are the portraiture day photos captured?
I capture all images in digital form using high quality advanced digital SLR cameras and lenses. The digital images I capture are suitable for 11″ x 14″, 16” x 20” up to 20” x 30” size quality print enlargements without compromising picture quality/sharpness. All digital images are captured in color. Any color image can be converted to black and white or other looks on your own or through my optional refinishing services.

If necessary, I will use fill-in flash to knock down unwanted shadows or to capture more content from different backgrounds when capturing portrait images.

Digital images are easily shared either through print or electronic media. Digital images can be directly refinished (touched up) through the use of powerful, versatile and affordable computer based photo finishing software packages which are widely available to the general public

What is my portraiture photography approach/style?
I don’t use a formal studio for my portrait work. I view the world (surrounding environment, indoors or outdoors) as my portrait studio. I ask you to think about places that have some meaning to you (you have a connection with) that add a unique/special dimension to your portrait. As an alternative I ask you to consider a place that puts you at ease so you can feel comfortable and truly be yourself. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy; it can be something even close to your home or at your home.

I encourage you to consider having one or more outfit changes along with a change in settings (background) during a portrait session, in order to capture a wide variety of images and looks.

When I take portraits, I can set up positioning so I intentional blur out the background so it appears with a solid or textured look or keep background somewhat in focus.

My portrait shooting style of any kind can best be described as relaxed. I carry on an informal two way interaction with the person or people I’m photographing for portraiture. I provide posing/positioning guidance throughout the session that still allows me to capture natural and candid expressions, so my portrait work reflects the true character and personality of the person or people I am photographing.

Is a portable backdrop available for portraiture photography?
If necessary, I have a portable backdrop (easy 5 minute setup) that can be setup with a variety of color backgrounds. I’ve also been known to a favorite fabric you have (comforter, bed sheet, etc.) for special more personalized background or to create a unique look to Holiday/Special occasion portraits. It’s whatever you’d like.

Do you provide school portraits that meet yearbook specs?
I provide (through refinishing/cropping) the tighter head and shoulders images (digitally and in print) usually required by yearbook specs. I rely on you to provide me with written yearbook submission specs that are usually provided to each student by their school (Yearbook Advisor, Teacher or School Administration).

What extra/optional portraiture photography services are available?
When we get together to create a Portrait solution that suits your needs, we can also talk about additional prints, enlargements, optional matting and framing prices if it is something you’d like to look into.

I offer optional services and goods at an extra cost. This is meant to allow you the opportunity to manage the cost of portrait photography services (e.g. enlargements, etc.) that you may prefer to do on you own (at your cost and time) or with varying degree of agreed to assistance from me.

Of course I will print and/or refinish additional images over and above base offering if you prefer that I provide you with these goods rather than doing this work on your own.

I offer the option of printing large size portrait(s) on canvas. Canvas adds a painting like look to portrait images.

What is the next step?
If you like what you’ve read and seen, the next step would be to call me at 585-663-9063 or contact me via the “Contact Us” page to schedule an appointment to discuss your portraiture photography requirements and my services in more detail.

I believe it is important for you to meet me in person so you can gain first hand insight into my work and how I operate before making any decision to utilize my portrait photography services.