Photographic and graphic services.

Who is this information for?

For anyone being photographed or attending a portrait photo session with us. This information is intended to cover a range of situations from portraits of babies to adults, individuals to groups so please read the sections that apply to you and your party.

Being prepaired creates better portraits and can save you money by reducing any special 'touch up' work required.

The quality of the portraits we can produce of you, your family and friends is dependent on your preperations. We have listed a number of things you can do to ensure you are as prepaired as possible. Great portrait photography requires effort by all parties, and we want you to have portraits you will treasure of yourself, your family or party.

You can email us or phone 01494 721739 or 078 104 650 98 (please call for all urgent communications) and discuss it. Please write our numbers down and keep it with you, just in case.

If we are photographing you, please book an appointment time when you will be at your best (some of us are better in the morning and some in the afternoon or evening). If we are photographing your baby or children please think about when they are at their best. We know (being parents) that it is not easy with babies and children, all that we ask it that you try to book the best time for them. Try to avoid setting up a photo shoot when anyone being photographed will be tired, exausted or hyperactive, as this makes it more difficult to get great portraits.

NOTE If anyone looks tired, haggard or under the weather, not to mention under the influence of anything we may need to abort the photo shoot; either because they are not in a fit state to be in the studio or the images will be useless.

Use the head to toe check, inch by inch to check everything is just right. Hair, face, finger nails and toe nails, clothing, buttons, socks, etc. you will be suprised how easy it is to miss something that difficult or impossible to fix later.

Babies and children
While it is difficult to keep babies and children clean and tidy for more than a few seconds, you will want them looking great on their portraits. Please bring one or two sets of colour cordinated spare cloths so that if required a quick change can be done.

Teenagers
Everyone feels better when they look good and teenagers are no exception. When they look and feel good it will show in their photographs.

Consider the look you would like to have, be it a natural look, a casual look, a professional look or a "Dressed to kill" look and bring suitable cloths. You are welcome to bring more than one outfit and take some pictures with different outfits. The important thing is that you need to feel comfortable with what you are in. If you are going to change outfits or remove garments that may expose areas that could reveal marks made by bra straps etc. you should only wear loose clothing for 4 hours before the photo shoot. The reason for this is that it takes about 4 hours for the lines and bulges caused by tight clothing to disappear.

As a general rule ensure your hair is neat and looks natural, or the way you like to have it groomed. In general avoid using hair products that will make your hair very oily, plastered down, or shiny, as this can be a problem with image quality and can cause flare under the studio lights.

The following is a general guide for natural looking portraits, however if you are looking for a different or dramatic look then ignore some of all of this.

In general:

• Avoid using heavy face makeup. Use makeup sparingly and avoid any caking.
• Avoid using products that will make your skin shine unless this is a look you are looking to achieve.
• Do not use dark makeup around your eyes, as this generally comes out darker on the photographs and does not look good.
• Lips, generally avoid glossy lipstick as this often causes unwanted reflections.
• If you have a specific theme (sophisticated, hot etc.) for the photo shoot try to match this as closely as possible.

Having a natural or artificial tan makes us look healthy but it is very important that it is even and not patchy. Care should be taken to ensure that the tan is even into the hair line if your hair line will be seen.

• Bring a range of makeup for touching up or to change your look as required.
• Hair brush.
• Change or range of clothing if required.
• For babies and children assume you will need the works.
• If a baby their own brush.
• Some of their toys.
• One or more changes.

If you have any ideas about poses or see a suitable pose in a magazine, bring a sketch or preferably picture with you. While we will try a number of poses at the photo session your suggestions or thoughts are always welcome.

Our studio is located in Amersham (Bucks UK).

If you have any questions please contact us if possible by phone as this provides a more personal and interective exchange.

  or call on 078 104 650 98 for more information.

Click here to return to the Photographic services page.