12/26/2017
In the last year, I have offered many people free portraits in order to get my lighting and adjustments right, as I prepared the studio for images of people, products, and art. Interestingly enough, none of those people have ever come for a free portrait.
I am beginning to think most people are wary of anything free, even if they know you are good at whatever it is.
In the last year mentioned above, I have had few studio shoots for portraits, and all were paid, at a modest fee of $40. It was a promotion I did once in the online neighborhood newsletter NextDoor/EastGhent, just to see response in such a localized website. I had a couple of other responses that never panned out, but overall it was a good experiment.
I know that everybody is a photographer now, with easy access to cellphones that take a nice image, anyone can make something to throw down on Facebook, or Twitter, or whatever.
The difference is, you prepare for a photoshoot in a studio and think in advance what will be your look, the style of it all. If you need help in deciding this, I can help and make it something you will be excited and ready for. Once in the studio itself, many images are crafted with nice lighting and a background chosen to make you look your best. After the photos are taken, editing and adjusting is done to each to make an image more artistic than your best iPhone shot will ever be. Yes, they will look wonderful on social media, but that is meant to be a constantly changing scenario based on your ongoing life and feelings. As much as it may feel bad to say it, and I work from experience on this one... later in life you will be able to look at a nice portrait and remember that time, and feel much better about your life and what you have done. It is not just a memory for others, but also for yourself. Tempus Fugit!
I have a bit of catching up to do to recover from my 2017 disaster year, and have already laid out my budget for 2018 and know what I have to do.
One of those things is to make lots of $40 portraits, and I will keep them at that price that until I have to start raising the price because they become too crowded in my calendar. If they do not, so it goes, but it will be nice to have a busy schedule of art happening again!
So... $40 Portraits, well made.
That gets you a discussion to get an idea of what you are looking for, we discuss backgrounds available, and how you might dress, so I can prepare on the date chosen. There is a bathroom to do makeup and deal with hair just off of the studio so everything can be perfect. There will be a half hour of shooting once evertything is set and lighted, and all will recieve some mild adjustment after, plus specialty editing on the one you choose as the best. It becomes an image to show the world with a smile or look all of your own, but made more brilliant due to the workings of an artisan. This is a portrait you frame and shows the best of you to the world, whether it be in your home or office, or a memory for a family member. I will send the 6 best overall to your email, or set them in an album online for you to download.
If you want a nice 16" x 20" framed print after it is all done of the best one, just drop $75 instead of $40 and it will be done.
Make 2018 a year to remember, and smile!
