Portrait Experience
A lot of people feel a lot more comfortable when they know the process of something unfamiliar. But how much info is too much or too little? Hard to know, everyone’s so different. So we decided against making that choice and are sharing it two ways. For the bullet-point folks - here’s a quick summary. For the gotta-know-details folks - read below!
Summary:
15-Minute Complimentary Online Consultation (are we the right fit for you?)
90-Minute In-Home Consultation (wardrobe, walls, artwork preferences, photography styles, and more)
Photo Session Day (up to two hours of your choosing on either Saturday or Sundays)
Image Review & Ordering Session (back to the studio one or two weeks later - then we order your fine art & albums)
Installation (pending our QC of your artwork & albums)
Complimentary Online 15-Minute Consultation
Whether you’re inquiring for a photoshoot, video or both - by filling our initial inquiry form, we’ll receive all the info we need to call you back and setup a time to meet online or over the phone and talk a bit further to help answer any initial questions you may have. To Learn More About our Video Workflow, please go here.
Why online? Regardless of wherever we may be, this is the easiest way for you to find out more. The true goal is to meet in person, but sometimes life, schedules, traffic or geography get in the way, so we’ve found it’s best to start here. This could be with Zoom or a FaceTime Call. Let us know which one you prefer!
Can we do our initial conversation on the same day we reach out? If we can - absolutely, yes. Once our client sessions are completed, we will happily reply to any emails, text messages or phone calls within normal business hours, but please give us 24 hours to reply.
What will we cover in this meeting? This is your time to ask us all the hard questions, but we shoot with the end goal in mind so the most common discussion topics are Ballpark Pricing for Portraits & Albums, Photography Style and Schedule. But just as there are no two families alike, neither are your homes. Everyone has different size walls and taste so we will spend time also potentially identifying where you would like to celebrate your life by showing off your fabulous self or family each and every day.
After our initial chat… if you’re still interested and want to move forward - we’ll end the call by setting up a date & time for your in-home consultation.
90-Minute In-Home Consultation
Regardless of whichever Premium Portrait Collection you choose, (or where you are located), the next step is for us to schedule an in-home visit or a more in-depth online session (or a combination of the two). Our goal is to meet everyone and collaborate to help see your vision. We are committed to making your photo session as unique and memorable as you or your family! This process allows us all to relax, have fun, discuss whatever comes up and PLAN your day!
Below are the “things” we’ll take a deep dive, discuss and plan for with you:
Session Date & Time
your day is our day. no interruptions.
Family Members
it’s time fo us to meet and greet - we hope with everyone!
How many will be present at the session, what are their names and ages?
The Look of the Session
We’ll identify which photographic style you prefer
We’ll discuss your preferred post-process (how much touch-up is too much or too little?)
The Style of the Session
This is when we help you make final decisions on how you want your day to look.
Wardrobe and Props
we will help style your day - this is deliberate and planned out.
it can be existing clothes in your wardrobe, clothing you purchase explicitly on your behalf for the shoot or a blend
if you have any personal items you want to include (skateboard, books, for example), this is when we identify them.
Hair and Makeup.
plan to arrive camera ready for your session.
Tips & Tricks.
to help make this your best day.
Prints & Sizes
While we offer digital headshots and branding services, we are a print-first studio and shoot with that in mind. We will help refine your ideas by identifying areas within your home for your Primary Portrait. Before we capture your very first image, It’s really very important to know where these images will live. After we’ve identified your wall art placement and sizing, we will design your Album with the very best of all your session images. Beyond your two primary products (wall art and albums) there may be additional gift-size images you want to think about for nightstands, home office or extended family members). Gift Images are 8x10 and smaller.
Contract & Payment Schedules
Within 24 hours after meeting, we’ll send you a contract along with an invoice for the Session Fee to secure your Session Date. We’ll also provide you an initial quote for your prints based on the items we’ve identified as part of your experience within our Collections.
IMPORTANT: All the Person(s) who make Financial Decisions MUST BE PRESENT at this meeting.
Session Day
Your day is our day. But what does that look and feel like?
Plan for half a day away from home for a fun and relaxing photo session.
The studio is located in Old-Town Pasadena across the street from the historic Castle Green. Depending upon what time of day your session begins, you may want to make a day of it and take in a movie, have a late breakfast or early dinner. Take a quick look at those links for some initial ideas! If you’re a coffee-holic, there’s a really good coffee place downstairs from the Studio.
The Day Before
Get plenty of rest the night before and hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! It really does help your skin look more refreshed.
Hang your clothes out and make sure they are as camera ready as you will be!
Getting Here
We recommend parking in the “Marengo Garage” structure located at 155 East Green Street, Pasadena, CA 91105. If you’re not familiar with Old Town, Green Street is a one-way street (west to east) and the easiest entrance is on the right-hand side of Arroyo Parkway. It’s just past the Studio where your car will be in a covered parking lot and it’s a very short walk to the Studio. If you have an electric vehicle, this parking structure is home to Tesla Superchargers on the roof and J1772 option on the second floor. If you are planning to stay longer in Old Town, you’re already parked! Everyone’s needs are different - please use the address link to give you custom directions on how to get there. Currently, their max parking fee is $12 for the day, with $1/hour for the first two hours and $2/hour after that.
Detailed Studio Information will be shared during your In-Home Consultation.
Session Day
Come dressed comfy and casual - plan to change at the Studio. (do not wear your session wardrobe in the car)
If you have favorite playlists - bring them with you on your smartphones and we’ll turn the music up!
it really helps relax you and bring authentic expressions to your session
Your Day is DONE!!
Image View & Ordering Session
Schedules permitting, we’ll see each other one week later at the Studio for you to review mock-ups of your images on your preferred walls and pages within your album layout. These images have been touched up as per your instructions during our In-Home Consultation.
This is when you provide the final approval on your images and payment before we submit everything for printing.
If you’ve chosen gift size images for family members that do not live locally, we’ll review the prints when they arrive and either hand-deliver them to you or ship them directly per your instructions. If you want us to include any hand-written notes with the shipment, please have them completed and sealed for hand-off at this time.
Installation Day
Once we receive all of your artwork, we’ll inspect the finished products and if it meets with our satisfaction, we’ll then schedule your Installation Date. Depending upon the number of pieces you’ve selected, this process can take up to two hours. Please make sure to have someone available at your home during the agreed upon time.
We Thank You For Your Business and Look Forward to Collaborating Again, Soon!