Babies . . . You wish they would stay little forever.
But time has other plans.
Who can you trust to stop time . . .
just for a moment . . .
and capture the personality of your baby,
so that for years to come,
you can enjoy images of a time
that seems like only yesterday?
Selecting a photographer to capture the special moments of your child's life can be especially difficult. After all, this is the person you are entrusting to record the most important moments in your child's early life. How can you possibly choose?
That's why I've put this web page (O.K., small book) together. To give you some tips on choosing the perfect photographer for you; and to shamelessly explain what Lisa's Portraits has to offer you. To be honest, my studio may not be the studio for you.
If you select Lisa's Portraits great! I guarantee you'll be thrilled. But even if you don't choose me, I want you to be comfortable with whomever you do choose. A qualified professional photographer should be willing and able to answer the following questions without hesitation. As the commercial goes --
One of the first questions you may ask is "I have a great camera, and I have taken some fantastic pictures. Why shouldn't I just photograph my child?" In other words:
Photographing one's baby is typically high on everyone's priority list, and it's no wonder everyone wants photographs of their baby every few months and you don't want to forget how precious and cute he was at each stage in his life. When he grows up all you have left to remember how precious your baby was is the photographs you have, if they haven't faded. Trying to save money on your child's portraits is tempting, but it's wise to resist the urge.
You can capture the way your child looks with pictures or videos that you take. But do you capture their true spirit and personality? When you get out a camera or camcorder does your child just carry on as if nothing is different? Or does your child look up from what he's doing and smile a cheesy smile or run up to the lens and wave? It takes a special talent to capture the spirit of a child and not just their image. And it takes a lot of patience.
The snap-shots you take, or even photographs taken with a really great camera, will eventually fade. All photographs will fade, unless they have a finish on them that protects them from ultra-violet light.
Are the images on your home videos clear and detailed? Is the contrast off sometimes and parts are too dark or too bright? The resolution and or focus may not be as good as you might like, leaving the images fuzzy or splotchy.
How many times do you look at a video before you put it away? It takes a lot of time to watch a video. Eventually it will get put away forever, possibly even recorded over.
Snapshots and videos usually don't capture a person's true spirit. Snapshots don't last long enough. Neither have enough clarity. Videos aren't convenient to look at every day. Their memories aren't for a lifetime.
So you decide to hire a professional photographer. But it's not enough to just hire a professional photographer. You also want to make sure you get the right kind of professional photographer.
'fraid so. Just like doctors, some photographers specialize. Just like there are General Practice Doctors, there are also photographers who do a broad spectrum of portraits: passports, weddings, families, children, little leagues, glamour, boudoir. Pediatricians on the other hand know more about the needs of children and get into that specialty because they work well with children and love the children they work with.
I prefer to think of myself as a Pediatric Photographer. I LOVE babies and children. I relate well to them, enjoy being around them (yes, even 2 year olds). And I am VERY patient with them. When I photograph a baby or child I swell up with an all-over joy because I love working with them so much.
But wait. There's still something else to check out. Once you find a photographer who loves children, make sure you check out his or her equipment.
There are three basic camera sizes. For Digital cameras there are different resolutions measured in mega pixels: low (2-6 MP), medium (7-11 MP), and large (12+ MP); for film cameras there are: small (i.e. 35mm), medium format (i.e. 2 1/4" x 2 1/4" to 2 1/4" x 2 3/4"), and large format (i.e. 4"x5" & 8"x10 " the ones seen in old movies).
Low and medium mega pixel cameras are very portable like picture phones and pocket cameras, so they are easy to always have with you, though they usually take too long to focus to be able to capture spontaneous actions and expressions. And they produce photographs that are very pixilated (lots of little dots show) when the photographs are enlarged. Low and medium mega pixel cameras produce photographs that lack the richer depth, warmer tones, and shyarper contrast of the larger format cameras. These are about equal to 35mm cameras.
Large format FILM cameras are unsurpassed in the quality of their prints, but unless you're built like Arnold Schwarzenegger, you don't want to try to capture spontaneous moments with them.
Just right with a digital camera is having a LARGE number of mega pixels, 12 or more, to have the high resolution necessary to make enlargements that don't have that "digital look" caused by pixilation where the little dots aren't so little and can be seen. It also takes a PROFESSIONAL digital camera and PROFESSIONAL lens to have the focusing speed, options, and clarity to obtain photographs that capture spontaneous actions and expressions and still have sharp contrast, warm tones, and beautiful depth. With a Professional lens and digital camera with 12 or more mega pixels, even an expert can NOT tell the portraits are made from a digital camera instead of a film camera when it is enlarged to a size that would look pleasing on your wall.
The old medium format film camera is the perfect size between small and large format FILM cameras. It's small enough to be handled quickly, and large enough to produce portraits with sharp contrast, warm tones, and beautiful depth. But in this fast paced world, the finished portraits take longer from film, so LARGE mega pixel digital cameras have replaced them, allowing for the same quality of portrait in a more timely manner.
I use a Canon 5D, 12.8 mega pixel, professional camera with a Canon lens. The resolution is great enough and the lens is sharp enough to enlarge the images to any size and have sharp details and pixels so fine they can't be seen, even when one is enlarged to a size that would look balanced hanging over your sofa. And, the focusing is fast enough to capture spontaneous smiles and actions. You will have the best of both worlds, fine images and all the advantages of digital. And, if you want film, I have a Bronica GS-1 medium format camera with a 2 1/4 x 2 3/4" negative, the largest of medium format cameras.
Having the right equipment is great, but the most expensive camera equipment won't mean a thing to you if your photographer doesn't know how to turn it on. An investment in education is crucial.
I received my Bachelors of Art in Photography from Sam Houston State University, which has the best photography department in the Southwestern United States. In fact, I enjoyed going to school in this area so much, I decided to stay. I lived in Huntsville (Texas) for the first 18 years of my adult life and have been in the Woodlands since the Spring of 1999. My husband, three children and I have no plans to leave this general area. So you don't have to worry about wanting more photographs and not being able to find the photographer!
SHSU was just the beginning of my photography education. I joined the Texas Professional Photographers Association in 1980 and the Professional Photographers of America in 1983. The many seminars and workshop I attend that are put on by these organizations and taught by the top photographers in the world, have given me tremendous insight to the best ways to take children's portraits.
All of the text books, classes, and seminars in the world will never prepare you for what an actual portrait session with a child or baby is like. I've been photographing children and babies since 1976, and the experience I've gained over the years could never be taught in a classroom. Learning how to get a shy child to let me be their friend, quiet a crying baby, or relaxing a frantic mom was not learned in a classroom. These are techniques only experience can teach.
You can schedule a FREE, No-Obligation Planning Consultation with me. During it, I will explain, in detail, all of our programs so you can take portraits more than once and our individual sessions. We have several of each. And then, with the individual sessions you have a choice of paying a Session Fee which doesn't pay for any portraits. Or you can pay for a portion of your portraits up front, called a Minimum Purchase, so you don't have to pay a Session Fee, so all of your money goes towards the portraits you want to purchase. This can all be very confusing, but during the Planning Session I explain it so it is very easy to see the differences and understand. I even compare what is best under different circumstances so you can easily decide what is best for you.
During the planning consultation we can get together and discuss what you want your portraits to be like. I will ask you your preferences on all the areas I have encountered in my twenty plus years of experience and show you samples to help you know what I am asking. -- Do you want someone to be in the portrait with your baby? Where would be a special place to take your portraits? How close up do you want your portraits? What clothes should your baby and anyone else wear? What style of photography do you like? Where do you plan on displaying your portraits? Who else will receive the portraits? Do you like soft, emotional portraits? -- When we get together, we will go over all these questions. When I know what will make your portraits have emotional impact for you, I will be able to make portraits for you that you will treasure for a life-time.
You'll have a chance to look at several albums of baby and children's portraits -- alone and with family members. In the studio, outside, and in homes. Dressed up and casual. You'll get to see what some Footsteps Watch-Me-Grow albums look like.
My philosophy about great children's portraits is that they have to be made at a time that is good for your child. If your child is hungry, sleepy, or doesn't feel well, it is hard for him to look good in a portrait. I try to schedule sessions with babies and children at a time that is usually good for them. Then, if during the session your baby is not happy, I give you time to cuddle, feed, change him, etc., until he is happy. If he just can't be pacified, then we reschedule. You aren't just stuck with unhappy baby portraits.
Speaking of photography philosophies, here's another one of mine: Communication and having fun are very important to great portraits. I need you and your baby to be comfortable and relaxed around me. It is the only way you and your baby can look natural in your portraits. Whether it's making a request, asking a question, voicing a concern, or expressing an opinion, it's extremely important that you be at ease with the photographer you choose. If you feel at all uncomfortable or ill at ease with your photographer your baby will pick up on it and it will show in his photographs.
I am going to play with your baby or child(ren). We are going to have fun. Lots of times children don't even realize I'm taking their portrait. We just get together and play. They have their toys (anything special you want to have in the portrait, i.e. blanket, doll, truck, book, rocking horse, pet) and I have my toy (my camera). I don't tell them to smile. I solicit the smiles by playing with them.
I also don't pose children. I let them be natural and take portraits of them being who they really are. Parents love the realisticness of the portraits.
If you are holding your baby, I let you hold him the ways you usually do, so he will be comfortable. I don't have you hold him backwards so he can stare at the camera.
It isn't always easy to predict a baby's mood. Just because you want them to take a nap or eat at their usual time, doesn't mean they will. Lots of times we stop the session to feed or nurse a baby, change a diaper, walk outside or inside to change the mood, change clothes, or even take a short nap. Having patience almost always pays off. Every once in awhile, when all else fails, we reschedule and try again on another day.
Anywhere you want. I have a studio in The Woodlands where I take lots of babies' portraits before they learn to walk. Mostly with white or pastels to show their innocence. Or with a warm brown background to show off their delicate skin. After they are mobile, I take portraits of toddlers and children in their homes, yards, favorite parks. You name it. And if you want, your little baby can be photographed in your home, yard or favorite park and your mobile child can be photographed in the studio. You pick a location that is special to you or that has the look that you want, keeping in mind where your baby will be comfortable. If you don't have a special place, I can suggest some nice places.
I don't charge a dime more to go to locations that are within 15 miles of my studio. After that I only charge $2.00 per mile round trip (from the studio, to the location, and back to the studio). That covers the extra time it takes me to drive both ways that keeps me from being able to have a session during those times. And of course a little of that goes towards gas and wear and tear on my van.
If you want to know how far your favorite location is from my studio, the following are approximately 15 miles from the studio: Interstate-45 & Loop 336 North in Conroe; half-way out FM242 towards Splendora & New Caney; FM2920 & Hwy 249 at Tomball; FM1960 & Hwy290; FM1960 & Hwy 59 at Humble; and I-45 at Beltway 8 in Houston.
When we take your portraits we will schedule you, and anyone
involved with the decision of purchasing your portraits an appointment
to view and order your portraits, approximately 4-7 days after
your session. With our unique projection viewing system, we will
show you your portraits in all the available sizes so you can
see how they will look in the sizes you are considering. You will
be able to compare multiple images, see and choose cropping, and
even choose matting and framing. And we will be there to answer
all your questions so you will know exactly how your portraits
can be enhanced and the way to get the best prices.
Then, it only takes 2-4 weeks for you to receive your finished portraits. You shouldn't have to wait until your baby goes to Kindergarten to have your portraits.
As you may have already guessed by now, no one has ever accused me of being vague. Any photographer you interview should be direct and very up front about what you get and what you don't get. If you're not satisfied with an answer push!
You deserve to know exactly what you'll be getting for your money. Speaking of being specific, when you have Lisa's Portraits as your photographer you receive the following:
* A FREE, No-Obligation planning session with us to plan your photographs.
* An appointment for each time you come to us (there is no waiting and you always get our undivided attention).
* Adequate amount of time to take your portraits (not just 15 or 30 minutes).
* Enough portraits to choose from so that you get a really good one of everything you want (I don't skimp on capturing images).
* Creative natural poses (no line 'em up and shoot 'em).
* Portraits taken in any location you choose.
* Your choice of which photographs you want to purchase (you get the one(s) you want, not the ones we choose for you).
* As many or as few portraits as you want in whatever sizes you want (we don't print the portraits until you tell us what you want).
* A protective acrylic lacquer finish on all the portraits that guards them from moisture, fingerprints, and fading caused by ultra violet light. (Glass in frames and plastic album pages will protect from moisture and finger prints, but photos will stick to them if they touch. And only an ultra violet inhibitor will protect photographs from UV fading.)
On top of all of this, the portrait packages we offer are very flexible to meet your needs. There are multiple number of poses in the packages and you choose what sizes you need. Plus, if a package doesn't fit your need, you can order the photographs individually or you can mix and match a package with individual portraits. You can have whatever poses you want in any sizes and quantities you need.
* Retouching of baby fingernail scratches, toddler bruises, stray hair, family members double chins, glass glare, (the list goes on and on--ask us) and all of these are FREE! (Removing braces and combining multiple images does cost a little bit.)
* Frames and mats that will make your baby stand out, not the framing stand out -- are 50% OFF at the time you order your portraits
* Footsteps Watch-Me-Grow Program that displays portraits from your baby's sessions in a RENAISSANCE Life-Time Guaranteed Durapelle Leather Album.
* With all the planning that goes into your portrait session you will be thrilled with your portraits.
* If your baby is having a bad day, we can reschedule another time for you. Even if we have already started the session and we just can't get him happy. There is no extra charge for rescheduling.
* If for any reason you aren't happy with your originals when we are projecting them for you, just tell us (before you place your order) because lots of times there are things we can retouch, crop, or do in printing that will make the portraits EXACTLY what you want. If not I will do additional poses to your liking at no extra cost to you or refund your entire Fee, PLUS FIVE DOLLARS!
* If there is anything about your finished portraits that doesn't meet your expectations, we will make them over to your liking, at no additional charge, or your money will be refunded, PLUS FIVE DOLLARS!
* If at any time during your lifetime you are unhappy with your portraits due to Kodak's product performance, new prints will be made at Kodak's expense.
* Your images will remain safely on file with us indefinitely.
* Lisa (that's me) will be your photographer no subcontractors or free lancers.
* If you have us frame your portrait(s) before you take them home, we Unconditionally Guarantee both the photograph(s) and the frame(s) for Life!
* If I can't satisfy you, I will refund your money, PLUS FIVE DOLLARS.
* I even guarantee the weather! Clouds or a lightly overcast sky can soften lighting & enhance outdoor portraits, but rain, of course, makes taking outdoor portraits impossible. -- So, if it is rainy at your outdoor session time, we'll reschedule a time for you on a nice day for your baby's portraits! -- Do you know any other photographer who is willing to guarantee the weather in Texas?
Your images are burned to 100-year DVDs and put on file indefinitely so that you will always have the chance to order more reprints at a later time. Lots of time you will find that someone wants more than one pose or you forgot to give a portrait to someone special.
PLUS, if anything should ever happen to your portraits, we will have the images to reprint them.
Now for . . .
There's a saying that goes:
"The bitter taste of poor quality lingers long after the sweet taste of a low price has long been forgotten."
Rather Zen-like, but very true. Consider this:
You know the story you take your baby to the discount store, stand in line with tons of impatient parents while your baby goes from smiling and cooing to crying and screaming.
About the time your little one is falling to sleep, it's his turn before the camera! Then a frazzled photographer props your baby up in front of the same pull down background that's been used a thousand times before and tells your infant to smile! Your baby screams at being put down and has no intentions of opening his eyes.
Soon afterward a clever salesperson will try to show you a picture package of the worst pose. You want to choose the one that you kind of like, but that's going to cost you more.
Eventually you leave the store having spent a good deal of money on pictures that you really didn't love. Memories of a lifetime? Sounds more like a nightmare.
No doubt you have seen advertising from other studios and department-store photographers advertising "low prices." Portraits are often advertised on price alone, because prices are easy to compare. What isn't as easy to compare is what you get for your money. When you shop for Pampers or Johnson's baby shampoo you always go for the lowest price because you know that those products are the same wherever you get them. But portraits are not at all the same between any two studios. It's like comparing the price of a Mercedes at one dealership to a Hyundai at another dealership.
The "quality" in a portrait is determined by many factors: your baby's expression and how his personality is portrayed; the naturalness of the poses; the clothing; the props used; the portrait location; even the little things, like: how you were treated by the staff, was your baby kept happy, did they start on time, and did they deliver everything as promised.
Because your baby is growing up so fast that he may double in size in just a few weeks, you can't afford to choose a photographer who is going to make you wait in line until your baby is crying or scare your child into tears. By the time you have a chance to see your portraits and have them retaken, he may look and act completely different. You commit to hiring a studio before you see the results of your portraits (you can't "test-drive" your portraits like you can a car), so your decision of where to go is even more important.
Realizing that each portrait session is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, makes it easy to see how you could actually end up paying too much for a "cheap" portrait, especially if you don't like it.
Oh, right cost. Well, when you come for your FREE, No-Obligation Planing Session you will receive a folder with a price of packages we offer, plus prices for wall portraits, individual portraits, wallet portraits, even retouching (for the rare occasions when it isn't free). You'll know exactly what you're getting. I also show you samples of portrait sizes and portrait finishes so you will know what to expect.
There are no hidden costs. Something else you should look for. Make sure you know exactly what you're getting for your money. Most photographer's portraits don't include protective finishes for durability, or mounting of photographs for rigidity.
At Lisa's Portraits, all prices and charges are up front and explained in detail during the Planning Session in terms you'll understand. That may be why we may seem more expensive than other studios, when in fact, when all is said and done, you may actually be spending less. You'll even find the payment system easy (if that's possible). You can pay with Visa, Master Card, American Express, Discover, checks, money orders, or (if you really push) cash. And you don't have to pay it all up front. When you order your portraits you can pay it all or you can pay half then and the other half when we deliver your portraits to you. You get to see the finished product before you finish paying. Or, you're welcome to set up a layaway plan to make small payments by the week or by the month, and we order your portraits when you make your final payment.
If you haven't slipped into a coma yet, hang in there, we're in the home stretch! Next is a summary of 31 questions you should ask any photographer you're thinking of hiring:
If you would like to get all of the information you will need, to decide if we are the photographer for you and to prepare for your session, here's all you need to do:
Contact us NOW to Schedule Your FREE, NO-OBLIGATION Planning Session and/or to Schedule your Portrait Session: email: lisa@lisasportraits.com or call 281-419-7444 or toll free in Texas 1-800-558-LISA(5472).
Then: Relax, your baby's portraits will be wonderful.
Cordially,
Lisa K. Garner
P.S. I know I said I'm not into high pressure sales. However, I should mention I photograph lots of babies and the best appointment times fill up fast. If you're interested, please don't hesitate to contact me today. I would hate to have you not get to take the portraits on the perfect day and time for you and your baby just because you waited one day too long.