7 Secrets to a Great Family 2021

SEVEN SECRETS TO A G R E AT

FAMILY

Portrait

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1. BEGIN WITH THE END IN MIND So, you’re due for a portrait. To get to your destination, you must know where you are going. The same is true for a portrait. Here are a few questions to aim you in the right direction: ▶Why do I need a portraits? For a loved one? An anniversary? The kids are of a certain age? Our family is overdue? ▶Who will be in the portraits? The children? The immediate family? The extended family? A couple? Solo? A combination? Pets? ▶Where are you going to put it? Will it go on your wall? Which one?

Perhaps you need a custom size over a couch or above a fireplace. Maybe you need portraits that compliment a series of older portraits.

▶Are you looking for a wall display or a collage? Do you have limited wall space, or an open floor plan?

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2. CHOOSE WISELY When hiring a Portrait Artist (a professional photographer), learn about them. In this world of cell phones where everyone is a “photographer,” consider investing in a trained professional portrait artist. There’s a difference. A big difference.

Here are a few questions to ask: ▶Do they offer any guarantees? ▶Have you seen a portfolio of work, not just a couple images? ▶How many years in business? ▶Do they have a studio? ▶Are they accredited with Professional Photographers of America (PPA) or do they have any other professional accreditation? ▶Do they have testimonials? ▶How do they handle retouching?

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3. CONSULTATION We recommend a one-on-one consultation with your photographic portrait artist in person (or by screen share) for the best results. ▶At the Consultation, meet with the photographer to see their work, tour their studio, talk about clothing, location, style of portraits, retouching, investment, and what to expect. ▶Discuss location vs. studio portraits. Formal or casual? ▶Describe the characters in your family. What does everyone do? Who is shy, outgoing, rebellious? Understanding the family, helps the portrait artist to capture their personalities and how they interact.

▶Get to know the photographer’s personality. Are they good with children? ▶Will you have a pet or two in the portrait?

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4. GUARD THE DATE Pick the date and keep it sacred.

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▶Guard this date like you would any family vacation. ▶Don’t let work or activities torpedo your battleship. When the weather gets nice, families are often going ten different directions. Summer soccer can wait. Ten years from now, no one will remember the summer-league soccer game, but no one will forget the family portrait. This is an investment in your future. Your portraits will bring you joy for years and years to come.

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5. DRESS WELL Clothes are essential to a great portrait. ▶The more you coordinate the clothes, the more the clothes fit the motif, the better the result.

▶Once you have determined the style of portraits, then you can start selecting colors and clothing styles.

▶Clothes should complement the portrait and the environment, not dominate it.

▶Avoid bold patterns and stripes in group photos, anything that draws too much attention.

▶When in doubt, limit your color palette, wear solids, long pants and long sleeves.

▶Having hair and makeup done professionally is a plus. ▶Jewelry and accessories often add to a portrait.

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6. VIEW & ORDER

Be sure to schedule a time when all the decision makers are there. Ideally, you’ll want to view your images projected large on a screen. Select your favorites.

▶Choose the right sizes for you. ▶Consider where you’ll be displaying your portraits. ▶Take a picture of your wall(s) in your home you're considering for portraits. Share this image with the photographer. A professional can project your portraits on your wall to size. There is nothing better than seeing your own portraits on your own walls in the appropriate size. ▶Do you want a wall display? A wall grouping with an arrangement of images in various sizes makes for a beautiful display. ▶Do the portraits come framed? ▶Do the portraits have any guarantee?

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7. FINISH WELL Finishing well is as important as starting well.

Work with your professional photographer to design an entire look for your finished portraits: ▶The display. The look. The walls they hang on. ▶What kind of retouching is offered? Can they tuck, tweak and slenderize? Can they fix backgrounds? Can they enhance faces?

▶Do they offer finished custom-printed ready-to-hang portraits or are they shoot-and-burn digital only?

▶Do they offer framing? Do they have a selection of frames to choose from? Do they have frames that compliment the piece?

Do they offer hanging hardware? Suggestions on how to hang?

▶Recommendations on care and maintenance of your portraits? ▶Suggestions on lighting your portraits well?

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