»» What different types of photography are available? »» What elements make a superior quality photograph? »» What should I do to prepare for my portrait session? »» What should I wear for my portrait? »» Skin Care Tips for Portraits »» What should I expect during a portrait session with Blumenthal Photography? »» Why do pictures look different on the computer than when they are printed? »» What are digital enhancements? »» What if I want more copies in two to five years? »» I want to make copies of my photos. Does Blumenthal Photography really own the copyright of the pictures? Do I still have to pay the photographer if I make the copies myself at a copy shop?
What different types of photography are available?
You will need to decide what type of photography you are interested in. There are many different types of photography and considerations when selecting a photographer and style:
What elements make a superior quality photograph?
Lighting- Lighting quality is an important ingredient in high quality photographs. The light in photographs should be natural and flattering, so that the pictures look three-dimensional.
Clarity- All quality photographs should be crisp and clear with the subject in focus. The background may or may be in focus depending on the artistic style of the photograph. Any motion blur should be intentional and artistic adding to the emotional impact of the image.
Composition- Composition varies greatly between photographers. Look for a variety in subject size - a mix of distant, medium and close-up pictures. Even with groups, lighting and posing should be interesting. The well posed portrait should minimize the subjects' flaws and express who the subject is and how he/she/they feel. It is important that you share your concerns with your photographer prior to your session so the photographer can best accommodate you.
What should I do to prepare for my portrait session?
Look through magazines, BlumenthalPhotography.com, and other online sources for photos that appeal to you and show them to your photographer. It will help the photographer visualize what you are visualizing and understand your preferences and personal style. Also, many photographers can recreate a pose or set-up. Consider what props or locations you might want to use. This can make your photograph uniquely you. Props might be as simple as an ornate mirror, a window, a musical instrument, scarves, toys or larger objects such as boats, cars, planes, or motorcycles. Locations can vary from living rooms, to playgrounds and parks, or your 'special' place. Blumenthal Photography believes that when you are comfortable with a location your photographs better capture you.
What should I wear for my portrait?
Textured clothing is good as long as it does not have a busy design or bright pattern. Avoid baggy clothes because they will make you look boxy or big. Slim well fitting garments are the most attractive in photographs. Dark colors (deep red, blue, green and black) usually work the best. Choose colors that bring out your eyes. Keep the shirts darker than your skin tone. Bring a few different tops although; we may not use more than a couple. Consider a variety of necklines for the best effect. For men, layering looks good- for example: a T-shirt, collared shirt and a sweater. Other good styles for men include: crew neck, V-neck and button down shirts. For women, spaghetti strap tank tops, scoop necks and V-neck can look wonderful, however keep in mind areas you might have concerns about when selecting your clothing. For instance if you are concerned about how your arms may look in a picture you might choose a shirt that has sleeves and stay away from spaghetti straps or sleeveless tops. Basically, if you feel attractive in it, bring it along. A comfortable pair of shoes for walking is important for on location photos; however you may want to bring dress shoes for the pictures themselves. It is best to stay away from short shorts and short skirts because they limit possible poses, however many kinds of pants and skirts can look wonderful in photographs. Keep weather in mind for on location shots, if it is cold please dress accordingly. Finally, arrive with your hair and makeup complete and only do maintenance as needed. Remember, you will want to spend your time with the photographer taking photographs rather than preparing.
Skin Care Tips for Portraits
Digital photography is a sharp medium, so skin care is important. Moisturize your skin to avoid having a red, cracked surface. Exfoliation can help removed dry dead skin and makes you look fresh. Good skin care for both men and women in preparation for a portrait will make a huge impact on your image.
For the best results begin a skin care regimen at least one week prior to your portrait session. Twice a day use a cream cleanser that is gentle rather than harsh and a moisturizer. Exfoliate 1-2 times a week depending on your skin's needs. Drinking 64oz or more of water per day will GREATLY improve the health and tone of your skin. During the winter dry, chapped lips can often be a problem. Use a lip balm to soothe and heal lips, try to stay away from balms containing alcohols as they dry more than moisturize.
If you wake up with puffiness under the eyes on the day of the portraits, place cold soda cans over them for 5- 10 minutes. The cold will help the swelling go down. A second option is to use refrigerated, boiled green tea bags and place them under your eyes for 5-10 minutes. The cool will de-puff, while the antioxidants in the tea will help with any discoloration (dark circles).
What should I expect during a portrait session with Blumenthal Photography?
The photographers with Blumenthal Photography prefer working in on-location settings rather than in a studio. We work at being very flexible and keeping the posing natural and relaxed. We give general posing suggestions, but, in order to keep things relaxed, we don't tweak every little thing or facial expressions, However if the photographer sees something that doesn't look right or natural it will be pointed out. We try to put the person, family, or couple in a relaxed setting and allow them to simply "be themselves". A lot of times we'll setup and take some pictures looking at the camera, for couples or groups- several looking at each other, and several looking away from the camera. Then we will switch poses or locations to a different setting. Blumenthal Photography is also very open to any suggestions or ideas from the individual, couple, or family in relation to settings they would like. Blumenthal Photography often end up with many "settings" and a large number of photos depending on the length of the session and what is desired. The photos will vary from - close ups to wide angle or landscapes, posed shots to casual walking or motion shots. Sessions usually last about an hour or an hour and a half.
Why do pictures look different on the computer than when they are printed?
Every monitor has a different color and contrast balance, and web colors are different from print colors. Images viewed on a computer screen might appear too dark, too light, too yellow or blue, etc. Don't worry about that. Only consider your facial expression and the composition of the photograph (background, cropping, angle and clothing) when making a decision. Blumenthal Photography will color correct the image you choose for the best balance of color and contrast.
What are digital enhancements?
Basic skin refinement (removal of red spots or blemishes on faces) and basic color correction and cropping are included in all post processing completed by Blumenthal Photography. We will not charge extra unless specified for these services. Other digital enhancements will be listed below. The Photographer will use some of these techniques at their discretion during the post session editing. If you wish to add effects to more photos there may be some additional fees.
Airbrushing- whiting teeth, removing red from whites of eyes, removal of significant skin blemishes
Basic Color Correction and Contrast- White Balance, removal of color cast, and correct light/dark contrast
Body Sculpting- can be done on some photographs depending on the pose of the subject, clothing in photograph, and background of the photograph. Some examples of body sculpting include bust enhancement and waist size reduction, as well as changing the appearance of a nose or ears. If you have any area you might want sculpted please ask the photographer.
Selective Coloring- This is when an object, person, or part of a photograph is in color while the remainder of the photograph is black & white. This can be a magical effect that draws the observers eye directly to the highlighted section of the image.
Photo Clean up- cleaning the background of a picture- such as removing a distracting sign or a person who appeared in the distance of a picture.
Vignettes- this is a darkening/and or blurring around the outside edges of a photograph. It is often used to draw the attention of the eye to the subject of the photograph and give a photograph a 'wow' effect. Vignettes can be applied at all intensities from very subtle to strong, intense looks.
Black & White- With Blumenthal Photography any image can be rendered in Black & White or in color. Adding a Sepia tones to a Black & White or color images is also available.
Sketch and other artistic renderings- There are many artistic renderings of photos including objects, environments, & people if you are interested in something of this style please ask your photographer. Please also see examples in the portfolio section of the website.
What if I want more copies in two to five years?
There are two options available from Blumenthal Photography. You can purchase the full-size digital negatives and copyright from Blumenthal Photography directly, which allows you to get your pictures reprinted at anytime in the future. The second option is to order reprints by contacting Blumenthal Photography. Blumenthal Photography will keep your images on file for a minimum of five years. Before Blumenthal Photography purges images from our backups we will attempt to contact you regarding the negatives provided we have current contact information.
Blumenthal Photography has found it takes a professional color lab to produce great color prints from digital files, so owning the files does not guarantee that you are going to get the best image reprints. However, if you own the images you can use them on a website, email them, and make acceptable prints.
I want to make copies of my photos. Does Blumenthal Photography really own the copyright of the pictures? Do I still have to pay the photographer if I make the copies myself at a copy shop?
According to federal law, images produced by a professional photographer are copyrighted the moment they are created. Federal law prohibits copying or reproducing copyrighted material without permission from the owner of the copyright, i.e., Blumenthal Photography. If you copy or scan your photos, Blumenthal Photography should be paid just as if you were buying reprints. If you or your videographer transfer the proofs to videotape, the photographer should be paid just as if you were buying reprints. The option to purchase the digital negatives from Blumenthal Photography is available and would allow you to reprint or use your images at your discretion.