Troutman Photography

Hiring a Photographer for your Family Reunion

troutmanphoto — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 17:49:17 +0000

Family Reunion Portraits

Summer is upon us, school will be out in the next few weeks. People are getting ready for their annual vacations.

Occasionally someone will ask us to shoot a family reunion. Everyone loves the old black and white images of the 1920s and 30s of their relatives, and most would like something to pass down to future generations.

Taking pictures at a family reunion takes a special kind of finesse. Needless to say, families are all as different as they are the same.

First the basics. Pictures earlier in the day are best, for multiple reasons. Children haven’t gotten dirty, or sunburned, no one has spilled their food or drink. I hate to say it, but old family squabbles also haven’t had time to rear their ugly heads. For shady locations it won’t matter as much, but for photos out in the open, before 10 or after 2 is better, if that fits within your timeframe.

Various groupings of family members can be very nice to have for the future. You can consider having an all girls picture, and all boys picture, an all kids picture etc. The current scrapbooking trend encourages these types of family groupings.

Frequently families will decide on the spot that they’d like additional photos of their individual family unit. This is a good thing to discuss with the photographer before the day of the reunion. If the photographer has a shoot scheduled after yours, they may not be able to stay and take additional pictures. If they cannot, you can mention that to family members prior to the reunion so they are aware that the photographer is on a set schedule. If the photographer is willing and able to stay, you can also mention that to your extended family in advance. Usually the photographer will waive the additional sitting fees in cases like these.

Make sure you discuss appointment fees and print prices with the photographer prior to the event. Some photographers charge extra if you have more than a set number of people, so you will want to have that covered beforehand. You’ll also want to discuss the price of reprints. Regularly a family member, perhaps even someone who couldn’t attend the reunion, will ask for additional photos later. You’ll be glad you have a couple of extras.

Oregon Senior Portraits

troutmanphoto — Fri, 09 May 2008 13:18:15 +0000

It’s May again. This year’s Senior Class is just about ready for caps and gowns and next year’s soon-to-be seniors are trying to (not to anxiously) hurry them out the door. Which means it’s time to start thinking about senior photos. The Willamette Valley, while known for its comfortable summer clime, it not known for the duration of its sunny months. Thus if you are hoping for outdoor senior portraits, it’s time to start the search for a photographer who will fit your needs.

The easiest way to weed through photographers is to base everything on location and price. However, even with the price of gas as outrageous as it is, your senior portraits are a lifetime memento of where you were in this instant, and traveling 5 miles or 50 miles really shouldn’t be a consideration. Also, if you wish portraits in a special spot, Silvercreek Falls, Yakina Head, Green Peter Dam, you’re going to have to travel anyway, as will the photographer. So location doesn’t have to be as big of a consideration as it first may seem.

Which leaves price as the other main consideration. When comparing photographer prices you need to make sure that you are truly comparing apples to apples. In most photography businesses there are two pricing models. There are those who charge a sitting fee, in which case you should expect a higher initial cost, with a lower per-print fee. There are photographers that don’t charge a sitting (also called an appointment) fee, but hope to make up the difference in the prints.

So first find out what the appointment fee is. Ask for a print price list. Some photographers will be hesitant to give you a copy of this, but they should be comfortable enough to talk to you about package options at the very least. Ask if a cd of the images is available for an additional cost. If so, are the images provided high or low resolution? If they are low res images, they will only be good for email, websites etc, not for printing. If they won’t discuss prices with you at all, you should probably move on to the next studio on your list.

You’ll want to know how much, or if the photographer is going to charge you to travel to your desired location. Usually they won’t charge within a 15-20 mile radius. How many clothing changes will you allowed? A note of caution: Be careful not to waste too much of your allotted time in the dressing room. Come prepared in your first outfit and have your additional outfits arraigned prior to arrival.

Can you include a friend or a pet in the photos? If you bring a friend, can you split the sitting fee? Is there a “finders fee” if you send more work the photographers direction? Is there a monthly special you should be aware of? Is there a day of the week that they offer discounts? All good questions to ask. You’ll find that every photographer is different, and while everyone offers some of these options, no one offers them all.

Your next questions about pricing should revolve around the end processing. How much does a studio charge for airbrushing? Is some airbrushing included in the package pricing? How much more do reprints cost? Some studios charge up to 200% for reprints, so it can be cheaper in the long run to purchase a few extra images.

When you find a photographer you like, book your appointment fairly soon. Occasionally emergencies or weather delays will cause you to reschedule. Booking early gives you more flexibility in your schedule in case of a setback. Most high schools will need your images by late September or early October, and you’ll need time for decision making and photo editing. When you book your appointment you can usually expect to pay a small down payment to hold your date, usually in the range of $50 to $100. You can also expect to sign a contract at that time. A good contract protects both parties and their interests.

Above all else, remember that this is supposed to be fun. You’ve done the work, now relax, and enjoy yourself. Be natural, be real, and it will come through in the pictures!

Clare

Troutman Photography

Troutman Photography’s First Post

troutmanphoto — Sun, 04 May 2008 13:47:24 +0000

Hey Everybody. Hum, about us… My husband Daniel and I run a photography studio in the heart of the Willamette Valley Oregon. We moved to Jefferson last year and are still getting settled. Daniel shoots portraits, commercial and fine art. I’m the “everything else” person. I don’t pick up the camera, but I do marketing and sales and networking and whatever else needs done. We have three beautiful children, Terra ( 10 ) Danae ( 8 ) and Darren ( 1 ). Our little family is rounded out by our not-so-little dog, Olive. She’s a bull mastiff crossbreed. She’s beautiful, and I’m sure she’ll show up in the photos at some point also.

Well, first we’d (Daniel and I) like to say “thank you” to Jim Carroll of Jim Carroll Photography in Corvallis Oregon. Not just because he was nice enough to answer all of my questions about his experience marketing in the Willamette Valley, but also because he turned us on to our new web provider. And I love the picture on his new splash page. http://jimcarrollphoto.com/ I know, I know, I shouldn’t be forwarding potential clients to another photographer’s page, but it’s a fun picture.

We’re making some nice headway on getting the new site off the ground and it should be up and running sometime in the next couple of weeks. Also I will be attending Salem’s “Show Biz” on Thursday with my new friend Kim of Blazing Images Web Design. Next week Daniel and I are going to attend Jefferson’s Chamber of Commerece meeting.

We finished up two senior portraits this week. I’m attaching an image of Cielo and Janessa together.

Daniel and I will both be writing, you’ll be able to tell which one is Daniel by the acerbic wit.

Later,
Clare
(Business Development)