SESSION DETAILS
Pre-Planning for Best Results
First, I encourage you to visit my website and view my galleries to ensure that I am the right photographer for you and your family. My website is loaded with samples from real portrait sessions of real families just like yours, all photographed, personally, by me. The online galleries give a good overview of the type of art that I produce.
There are many styles of portraiture, from the formal to casual, traditional to contemporary, and many more. My contemporary, fine art style is apparent from my work that you will view in the galleries. If this style suits you and your family, then I may be the photographer for you! If you envision a different style for your portraits, then you might prefer the services of a different photographer.
I bring the quality and style of a professional portrait studio to your home! All you need to provide is a room with a lot of great, window light. I bring some backgrounds; although your home’s natural décor could also serve as a personalized background for your portraits. Sessions may be scheduled in the morning or afternoon, depending on your baby’s schedule, and when your home has the best natural lighting.
Before your session, you and I will have a personal, portrait consultation (either by phone or email) to discuss your goals for the session. We will discuss our creative vision for your portraits. We will also discuss options for clothing, as well as the location the photographs will be created in. We will discuss posing ideas, as well as your plans for the final portraits. Are you looking for a series of great images (perhaps a session album or storyboard is right for you), or that one great image (maybe a nice, wall portrait, holiday cards, or birth announcement)? Are you looking for classic wall art for your home? Lots of gift prints for friends and family? By planning your session, I can ensure that the portraits I create for you will be precious memories that your family will treasure forever.
My success in creating priceless portraiture is based on a pretty basic concept: I take the time to get to know and become friends with my clients. I love to chat with you about your family and receive updates about what you are up to! My goal isn’t just to create a one-time portrait, but rather an ongoing relationship with my clients. I enjoy working with “regular” clients and discovering new things about them with each visit. Some clients book my services for their “annual” portrait session, while others call on me more or less frequently. I especially love photographing a baby throughout his or her first year, sharing with you the miracles and changes happening throughout that year. Don’t worry, if you are only interested in commissioning a one-time special portrait, that’s okay too! You will receive the same level of excellent quality and service as one of my “regulars”.
Booking Your Session
Weekday sessions are usually booked 2 weeks in advance and Saturday sessions are usually booked 4-5 weeks in advance. I do my best to work newborns and rescheduled sessions into the weekday schedule sooner.
Your full session fee is due when you schedule your appointment. Payment may be made by credit card or check. (If mailing a check, I must receive it within four days, or your appointment time will be released.) Your session fee is non-refundable; however, if it is necessary to reschedule your appointment, your fee will be transferred to the new appointment time, as long as you have given appropriate notice. If your child is ill, please call to reschedule your session. Do not worry about bumps, scratches, and bruises, as those will “disappear” during retouching (which is included on all images!). “No-shows” will not be rescheduled or refunded.
The Portrait Creation Process or “The Session”
On the day of your session, I will spend as much time as needed to create your portraits. I will block out an entire morning or afternoon for your session. The actual length of the session depends on a number of different factors, including your goals for the session, the ages of the children and the number of children involved, although the average session is about an hour. Having extra time available, though, means you won’t have to worry about me looking ahead to my next session.
My only goal is to make sure that you will have portraits that you will truly treasure, and I can only do that by fully devoting my time and attention to you.
Because we pre-planned your session, I will be better able to create the portraits that will fit with your creative vision. During the session, I will be very relaxed, laid back, and looking to have a lot of fun. You will have fun, too! I will get down on the floor to play with your baby. If your baby or child is fussy, then we’ll take a break and you can do whatever you need to in order to calm him/her – cuddles, snack, change, etc. I will not rush you! If things don’t go exactly as planned or expected; it’s not a problem! Sometimes the unexpected turns up the best results!
I work in a freestyle manner that allows you to relax and have fun! I provide very little direction during the session, preferring instead to interact with you and your child and encourage natural expressions and real smiles. My goal is to capture your child’s personality!
In that regard, I don’t usually follow strict rules when posing. I think that it’s more important for you to relax and be comfortable! (I won’t contort you into weird positions!) For families, I usually give loose guidelines for a pose, let you get comfortable, then “tweak” as needed to make sure that you look great! If I don’t say anything, then it usually means that everything looks fine! If you have any ideas for posing or ideas of how you want the images to look, then please feel free to make any suggestions that you like during our pre-portrait consultation. Be assured, however that I have lots of ideas and you’re not expected to come up with your own!
Behind the Scenes – Image Preparation
Once the session ends, my fun is over and the work really begins (although, to tell the truth, I really enjoy this part, too!). I will individually review each image, carefully selecting only the best images for your gallery. While I will capture many images during your session, you will see only those images that I believe perfectly capture our combined creative vision. Images with eyes closed, heads turned, duplicates, etc. will not be shown and are removed from my archives permanently. Each image that “makes the cut” will be “pre-touched” -- carefully rendered to ensure maximum artistry and technical perfection. Any blemishes will disappear! This process may take 3-4 hours, depending on the complexity of the shoot. Once I am satisfied with your images, I will create your personal, online portrait gallery. Most galleries contain between 40 and 80 finished images (not “proofs”, which are unfinished representations). Your final gallery will include a unique blend of natural color, artistic color, black & white, and specialty tones. This process usually takes about two weeks. I will email you with the link to your gallery when it is ready for viewing.
Viewing Your Image Gallery
Your images will be presented to you in an online gallery within two weeks of your session. The final images will include a unique blend of natural color, artistic color, black & white, and specialty tones. Most galleries contain between 40 and 80 images. Your gallery will be online for two weeks. Feel free to forward your gallery link to friends and family who may be interested in ordering portraits. You will need to place your portrait order within that two week period. There will be a $25 fee per week to extend your gallery.
If requested, I will schedule an in-person viewing for you to view your portraits on my laptop computer and we can plan your order together. (Please note that I do not provide printed “proofs” or contact sheets. The only printed images I offer are finished, fully-enhanced, quality portraits – not “proofs”.)
You have the option of viewing your images at a time and place that is convenient for you. For most new mommies, that’s about 3 a.m. when you have a computer mouse in one hand and a nursing baby in the other!
In a gallery of 40+ images, I promise that you will absolutely LOVE most of them. Although, there will probably be a few that you won’t care for. That’s okay! I shoot a wide variety of images, and some may not fit with how you see yourself or your family. Just focus on the ones that you love. I promise that it will be hard to choose! (That’s why my Gallery Albums and Art Books are so popular!) Keep in mind, however, if you don’t like ANY of the images, please let me know within 24 hours of being notified of your online gallery going up. I will delete the entire gallery and offer you a complimentary “make-up” session. I do not want you purchasing portraits that you do not LOVE! (This very rarely happens – but, sometimes, it’s just a bad day for baby!)
Please note that your gallery and all of the images in it are the property of Deb Evans Photography. Each image is fully protected by U.S. Copyright Laws. It is illegal to print, save, or copy any of the images or to copy any of the prints that you purchase. I strive to keep my products affordable, while maintaining high quality and professionalism. I can only do this when my clients respect my work.
About our Portrait Products
What could be a better way to decorate your home than with a one-of-a-kind work of art featuring your children or family? My wall portraits are a true work of art; each is artistically crafted and enhanced, then custom printed to my exact specifications by a professional lab, mounted on art board, and signed by the artist. For the ultimate in art, your portrait will be printed on canvas and mounted on a stretcher frame, just like you find in a museum. Gallery-wrapping provides a high-end, finished look to your canvas and allows you the option of hanging the canvas directly on the wall with no framing required! Because the frame itself extends 3 inches from the surface of the wall, this method of display is not only beautiful but also makes a grand statement and works with all types of decor, both traditional and contemporary. Or you can choose a traditional wrap and have your art piece custom framed to match your décor.
Wall portraits are available in sizes ranging from 11x14 to 30x40. The smaller size is most appropriate for close-ups featuring just one or two individuals. The 16x20 size is appropriate for full-length images of one or two individuals. The larger the group, the larger the portrait size should be to ensure that each person is visible in the finished print.
Desk/Mantle Portraits – 8x10 and 5x7 prints make ideal portraits for display on a desk, tabletop, or mantle. These sizes, as well as wallet-sized prints, are also ideal for gift giving.
ENHANCEMENTS & PORTRAIT FINISHES
All finished prints include basic retouching and enhancements. You have the option of color, black & white, or other artistic tones for any print. Deb offers a variety of optional enhancements for your images, including watercolor art.
Other Products
Storyboards
are wall art that containing multiple images, creatively designed into a
cohesive art piece.
Gallery Album – 20 of your favorite images, matted
in a leather album, available in 5x7, or 8x10 sizes.
The Coffee Table Art
Book – A hard-cover, library-bound book featuring your favorite images
printed directly onto archival quality, gloss paper. Books are available in a
variety of sizes and include a minimum of 20 sides (10 pages).
Jewelry and Custom Handbags -- What a unique, contemporary, and
upscale way to show off your beautiful baby or child! Deb offers a variety of
design options, so there’s something for everyone! Visit Portrait Products for more
info.
Ordering Your Favorite Portraits and Portrait Products
Although, most of my clients are excited about their portraits and expect to purchase a variety of different images/products, you will never be under any pressure to buy; that’s just not my style! You are never required to purchase any minimum number of images or spend a minimum dollar amount. I am happy to offer advice based on the needs and desires you expressed during our pre-planning discussion; however, I am also happy to let the images sell themselves.
You may order your favorite images directly through your gallery, or, better yet, call or email me with your order. I offer a variety of specialty products, including gallery albums, handbags, jewelry, and note cards, that are only available by ordering directly from me. There are many bonuses that may be available with your order, including extra prints and our new purse album. For a complete price list, please email me.
Payment may be made by cash, check, or credit card. Orders must be paid in full before production begins on your order. You may change or update your order within 24 hours of placing your order. After that point, custom work begins on your order and no changes can be made. (If you’d like to add to your order, you can place an additional order.)
Images that are ordered are further reviewed and enhanced by Deb, including custom cropping to the final print size, so that the final portraits are perfect! Your finished portraits will be ready for delivery within 4-6 weeks. Portrait products including purses, jewelry, and storybooks require 6-12 weeks for delivery. Your final order will be hand-delivered or delivered via Priority Mail or by UPS, directly to your door.
Your portraits are 100% guaranteed. If you are not 100% thrilled, please contact me within 24 hours of receipt of your images. If I do not hear from you, I will assume that you are satisfied. (Of course, if you are happy, I would love to hear from you, too!) Portrait prints will be reprinted to your satisfaction. Due to the custom nature of your portrait products, there are no refunds available. Storybooks, handbags, and jewelry are only guaranteed for defects in craftsmanship.
About Your Investment
Choosing Deb Evans Photography for your family’s portraits is an investment in preserving your family’s memories. My in-home, custom photography service is an upscale alternative to the retail photography experience that most of you are familiar with. This exclusive option is ideal for families that desire the very best in quality, value, and convenience. Most clients who choose custom portrait photography are seeking one-of-a-kind artwork for their home, or a unique, personalized presentation of their children’s portraits. They are also looking for the luxury of the experience – a session that totally revolves around you and your needs – no waiting, no rushing, no pressure…Instead, you’ll experience a stress-free, enjoyable experience.
I spend hours on every session before, during, and after your actual portrait session, including the time spent retouching, enhancing, and preparing your images for viewing. Beyond that, I am constantly investing in improving my photography skills to ensure the best possible product and experience for you. My prices reflect my experience, talent, and skills, while remaining affordable for most families that value priceless portraits of their families.
For more information or to schedule your session, please email me at debevansphotography@yahoo.com . If you do not receive a reply within 24 hours, please try again. My clients are very important to me and I always try to get right back with current and prospective clients, however, I've had a few people tell me that their emails have bounced back. So, if you don't hear back from me, it might be because I did not receive your email. If you prefer to communicate by telephone, please email me your phone number, and I will give you a call. I do not post my phone number on this website.
Thank you for your interest in my photography services,
Deb