JRP Family Welcome Guide

JODY RAEL PHOTOGRAPHY

Family

WELCOME GUIDE

Elevate your family story

PAGE 5: NO TIME LIKE NOW

Wondering if family photos are for you? The present is always a good time.

PAGE 7: CHOOSE A PRO

A professional photographer enjoys the process and has the technical knowledge to back up the creative impulse.

PAGE 9: LOCATION

Brainstorm locations in advance to best portray your family’s passions.

PAGE 13: FAMILY WARDROBE

Choose perfect coordinating apparel and accessories to show your family’s personality and common interests.

PAGE 17: THE CAMERA’S EYE

Professional hairstyling and makeup bring the realism of three-dimensional people to two-dimensional prints.

PAGE 19: SET THE SCENE

Advice to help lay the groundwork for a terrific portrait session.

PAGE 20: SESSION PRICING

Four options to make your session fit your family’s life and style.

PAGE 22: PACKAGE PRICING

Established product combinations make selection simple. À la carte options are also available.

History in your story

Many families only see a professional photographer a handful of times in their lives, and often, it’s for a senior portrait or wedding portraits. These photos record wonderful formal moments in a family’s history.

Professional portraits can also preserve a family’s day-to-day joys, capturing interests, tastes, and personalities at an everyday level. A prime time to take family photos is when the oldest child in a family is a high school senior — making many of the decisions that will shape adulthood, but still under the same roof as parents and siblings.

For most families, this is a unique opportunity to preserve a complete image of your family before children establish independent households, a separate hectic schedule, and their own families.

Many people consider this investment as treasure. Portraits age gracefully from beloved décor to an essential part of the family chronicle passed down from generation to generation.

Professional photo creation

In this day and age, with the advances in technology, it seems really easy for just about anyone to pick up a digital camera and create a decent photograph.

The art of photography is more accessible than it has ever been, but there is still a distinct separation between the professional photographer and the photography hobbyist, both in the quality of the images and in the overall experience.

A professional photographer knows the equipment inside and out, and also knows the importance of posing, wardrobe, proper lighting, and getting the clients’ personalities to shine for the session. With hundreds of hours of training and experience, a professional photographer creates timeless images that you will be proud of — not just today, but 30 years from now.

By choosing our studio for your family portraits, you can be assured that:

1. You will look your best in each image because we know how to light and pose all body types.

2. Your images will be professionally color corrected using calibrated monitors and equipment.

3. Your images will be professionally retouched using professional-grade digital darkroom software. You will not see strange skin tones or overly whitened eyes or teeth.

4. Your images will be printed on archival paper using the highest quality inks. We have hand-selected our print labs based on their quality and standards. Prints are professionally framed or mounted with professional design and materials.

5. We will effectively communicate with each other to ensure your family portraits portray an accurate image and representation of your family. This studio thrives on client communication and invites you to be a part of the planning process.

Location sets the mood

Your family photographs capture memories in a tangible form. Part of the planning for your session includes choosing a great location — or multiple locations, depending on your package.

Location is an important part of your family’s memory. Do you spend your days at the lake and evenings at the ball field? Is your family’s history intertwined with church, horses or car shows? Do you have a family business, or a shared interest in flying, music or architecture? Taking your session to locations you know and enjoy adds layers of interest and authenticity, and portrays your family’s personality in the images we capture. The locations we agree on will set the mood for your session. As we plan the session together, we can discuss the pros and cons of the locations and how each will affect the mood of your portraits. There are so many possibilities when it comes to choosing a great location — we just need to narrow it down to the perfect place or places for you and your family’s unique style and personality.

Wardrobe for looking your best

Thoughtfully deciding what to wear is one of the most important steps. A family session wardrobe must coordinate and complement — without being matchy-matchy. The location also influences your choices. Will the clothes you plan to wear work in that setting?

Great clothing choices allow each person to feel confident and convey that in the photos. Choose timeless styles that are the type of clothes you normally wear. Shoes should complement an outfit, not detract from it. Wear boots instead of sneakers, or ballet flats instead of flip-flops. Try everything on to make sure each piece fits comfortably, and on the day of the session, make sure all clothes are clean and pressed. Accessories such as jewelry, flowers, scarves and vests should be chosen to complete a look, not to be the star of the show.

Texture is wonderful. Tweed, crochet, embroidery and ruffles add interest to solid-color clothing. But, be cautious with patterns. The camera’s eye interprets smaller patterns as solids, which helps families achieve more variety within a color range. Too many large patterns and certain types of very small patterns should be avoided. Tiny patterns trick the digital camera and cause a rippled discoloration effect called moiré that can be visible in large printed portraits. And a dramatic pattern — like a large-scale floral or paisley print, or an argyle sweater — should be limited to one person per group.

The One-Pattern Option. Choose a single person to wear a larger pattern on a sweater, blouse or dress. Then, others can choose solids in tones of the colors in the pattern. This is the most common option because photos look more natural and candid. In very large family groups, two people can wear a large pattern, as long as the patterns are of similar scale and colors.

The Solids Option. Pick one or two colors in common, and wear solids in tones of these colors.

The Neutrals-and-Brights Option. Choose a single neutral, such as taupe, gray, white, or black, for all individuals to wear. Then, choose two or three bright colors — turquoise, pink, yellow, red, and so on — for solid-color tops and accessories.

Prepared to look your best

Family portraits are your opportunity to put your best foot forward for one another to preserve your personalities, interests, joys, and tastes at this moment in time. Knowing you look your very best lets your personality and confidence shine.

In the weeks prior to your session, avoid sunburn, and stay on top of hydration and moisturizing. Don’t skimp on the water, and don’t skip the lotion. The better hydrated you are, the better your skin will look.

We offer professional makeup styling with all sessions, and professional hair styling may be added to any session. Our stylists are fully licensed professionals who are highly trained in their crafts, and they use techniques and products specifically designed for photography to help you look your best in print.

Professional makeup for photography is not the same as everyday makeup. Equipment, products and application methods are different. An expert’s cosmetics and shading techniques emphasize the natural contours and beauty of three dimensions that the camera takes away in the translation to two dimensions.

Set the Scene to capture family moments

FEMALES

Wash your hair the night before your session. Squeaky-clean hair does not hold styling well. Make sure your nails are clean and filed. Clear or colored polish is fine, but steer clear of anything too bright or too trendy. Remember, the focus is on you overall, not your nails. Choose wardrobe pieces in solid colors and with a variety of necklines, and try everything on. Bare arms and legs are often not flattering in photos, so bring a jacket or sweater to pair with sleeveless blouses. Need advice on what will or won’t photograph well? Take photos on your phone ahead of time, and text them to Jody at 702-596-0940. Consider dressing in layers. If you are self conscious about certain areas of your body, a layered look can help hide those areas and boost your confidence.

If you are wearing a dress, consider bringing a pair of sheer, nude pantyhose. Nonshimmery hose that fit you properly won’t show in the photos. Your legs will look great, and you will look more put together.

BOTH

Do not get sunburned in the weeks leading up to your session. Lobster-red skin and tan lines are not photo-friendly. Peeling skin is the worst.

Stay hydrated in the week leading up to your session and on the day of your session. Proper hydration works wonders for your skin, leaving you glowing and looking healthy. Consistent, daily use of lotion will help, too.

Get a great night’s sleep before your session so you will look and feel your best.

If you’re due for a cleaning at the dentist, a week before your session is a great time to book. Your teeth will be clean, white and looking great! If you aren’t due for a cleaning, consider an at-home teeth whitening treatment. It’s a quick boost for your smile.

Discuss family outfit color and make sure all members are ready. Don’t choose matchymatchy shirts! Instead, choose coordinating colors. Groups of four or fewer should make sure only one person has a pattern; others should wear solid colors. Groups of five or more should have only two patterns.

Come with your wardrobe selections pressed.

Groom your eyebrows three to five days prior to your session. Remember to shave!

MALES

Get your hair cut about five to seven days before your session. Plan to arrive for photos clean shaven or with your beard neatly trimmed.

Make sure your nails are clean and trimmed.

Ask for help, if you need it, when choosing your wardrobe. Your wife, mom, sister, girlfriend, aunt or any important lady in your life is better than a mirror for making sure the clothes you bring look good on you.

Make sure the bottoms of your shoes are clean and the tops are free of scuffs and dirt.

Sessions

Completely customize a session of up to two hours. The Milestones Session includes hair and makeup services for three people.

• 75 images to choose among for products

• minimum portrait investment 4995

MOMENTS

Tell your story in a session of up to one hour. The Moments Session includes makeup services for two people.

• 50 images to choose among for products

• minimum portrait investment 2395

ELEMENTS

The Elements Session is a simple portrait option for 30 minutes at the studio or within walking distance. The session includes makeup services for one person.

• 25 images to choose among for products

• minimum portrait investment 995

EXCURSION

The ultimate oncein-a-lifetime Jody Rael Photography experience is open to just a handful of families per year. We will customize your perfect three-hour session in a destination of your choice. The Excursion Session includes makeup services for up to six people.

• custom wardrobe fitting before travel

• 200 images to choose among for products

• minimum portrait investment 9995

995 395 595 1495 domestic

1995+ international details upon request

Products

VIP FAMILY

• Premium Album

• Framed Portrait Collection 3 or 5

• Metal, Canvas or Block Collection 1

• 25 Gift Prints

• 25 Designer Christmas Card Set

• Personalized USB Drive with Session Proofs

16,995 additional card sets 395

ESSENTIAL FAMILY

• Basic Album

• Metal, Canvas or Block Collection 2

• 10 Gift Prints (8x10 and smaller)

• 25 Simple Christmas Card Set

• USB Drive with Ordered Files

6295 additional card sets 295

DELUXE FAMILY

• Designer Album

• Framed Portrait Collection 3 or 5

• 15 Gift Prints

• 25 Designer Christmas Card Set

• Personalized USB Drive with Ordered Files

12,995

additional card sets 395 premium album upgrade 2495

FUNDAMENTAL FAMILY

• Designer Book

• Metal, Canvas or Block Collection 1

• 25 Simple Christmas Card Set

• USB Drive with Ordered Files

4995

additional card sets 295

SIMPLE FAMILY

• Budget Book

• 20-inch Canvas, Metal or Block Portrait

• 25 Simple Christmas Card Set

• Digital Download of Ordered Images

2395 additional card sets 295