Custom Portrait Design
A Craft portrait is truly a one of a kind piece of original artwork. It is custom designed for you alone. The creative possibilities are endless. Together, you and your photographer will create a portrait that is a true reflection of your unique personality and relationships. The result will be a work of art that you can display with pride, knowing that you were involved in creating a lasting family heirloom.
The choice of portrait style is up to you. The environmental settings available at Bear Creek are endless. From the historic barns and the stone walls, to the creek and the graceful fields a variety of environmental portrait choices are available in all four seasons. Or Dennis will also meet you at your favorite location; the beach, your home, a favorite park, the choice is up to you. We also have a variety of traditional style backgrounds that create a striking background for black and white or studio portraits.
There are many decisions and choices to be made, and we will be here to assist you every step of the way. Whether you prefer formal, informal, classic, contemporary, romantic, storytelling, impressionistic, or realistic styles, we will work together to determine an appropriate mood and location for your portrait session. The more specific you are about the placement and style of your portrait before the actual portrait session, the easier it will be to create a portrait that exactly meets your expectations.
Together we will create a portrait that your family will treasure for years to come. Whether we go on location or select a background at the studio you can be assured Dennis will use his years of experience, talent, and personality to bring out the best in everyone in your portrait.
A Few Suggestions
Relax and have fun! Be yourself. I know it is easy for us to say, we aren't the one sitting in front of the camera. Your portrait session is guaranteed to be fun. Dennis has the ability to help you to relax and have fun. At the same time, he knows how to capture those fleeting moments that reveal true personality. The result is a portrait with natural expression and tremendous emotional appeal.
Some Recommendations for the "Little Ones"
When you discuss the upcoming photography session with your children, do not instruct them to "smile" or "be good for the pictures". Simply let them know how much fun they will have and how much you are looking forward to the session. Leave everything else to Dennis. After all, that is why you have commissioned him to take your portraits. Well meaning instructions from parents are one of the biggest barriers we have to overcome. We know that you want natural, not "posed", expressions, and we ask you to help us by not "coaching" your children. Occasionally, when we are working in the studio with children older than babies, we may ask the parents to step out of the camera room. Or he may ask you to help get the expressions from your children. If we work as a team your child will not be confused on who they are performing for.
Babies, one of our favorite subjects! Babies are so sweet and soft. Please remember this when selecting the clothing for your baby's portrait. We suggest plain, simple outfits without big collars or ruffles to get in the baby's face. Bare feet are adorable, shoes or socks often make the feet look large and out of proportion. "Bare feet, chubby legs, and arms are what a baby is all about!" It is a good precaution to bring at least one extra outfit in case of an accident. You may want to dress the baby at the studio to prevent any mishaps on the way.
Children, we love to capture the simplicity and innocence of childhood. It is our goal to have your child be the most important and prominent element of the portrait. Often we will work with just the child, with few or no props at all. It is the simplicity of the clothing that will "make or break" the portrait. Your child will be much happier if they are photographed in comfortable clothing. This can be either a casual or a dressy look. If you would like to include a toy or a special item from home, feel free to bring it with you.
Clothing Guidelines and Helpful Hints
One of the major keys to successful portraiture is proper clothing selection. Remember the objective of this portrait: a beautiful, sensitive image that shows the relationship and personalities of each person in the portrait. Because you want your portrait to stand the test of time, and not appear dated by fashion fads, your clothing choices should be simple and classic.
Our goal is to produce a timeless portrait for you. The subtlety of your clothing is very important. Complementary colors make a large group blend together and create a feeling of family unity. No one person should "jump" out of the portrait because of the color or style of clothing, simple, timeless outfits photograph best because they are not distracting. This allows a viewer's eye to go to the faces in the portrait. It is faces, not clothing, that should dominate a portrait. So when selecting clothing, work for simplicity, balance, and color coordination.
In general, three quarter or long sleeves work best for both ladies and gentlemen. Clothing should fit comfortably, and you should avoid clothing that restricts movement or sitting positions. For example, you might be asked to try sitting on the carpet, lawn, or on the edge of a chair in order to create an attractive angle. Your clothes should not restrict these actions.
Make Up. Because our medium is fine portraiture and not a "fashion" style of photography, we recommend that women follow their normal make-up routine. Because the central point of interest in a fine portrait is the eyes, eye shadow should be applied lightly and with care, and apply two coats of mascara on both upper and lower lashes. Bring your make-up with you, in case any minor modification is required. Men should be sure to shave just prior to the portrait session, as there is no way to hide a "five o'clock shadow" in photography. Children and men do not require any make-up. Clean natural skin is the only requirement.
Hair Styles. Hair should be styled and groomed in a manor that is completely natural to you. Now is not the time to experiment with a new look, or major change in styling or color. Keep in mind that you want your portrait to represent you for years to come. Both men and boys should avoid the just cut look by having hair trimmed a week or so prior to the portrait session. If facial hair is part of their style, it should be neatly trimmed and styled.
Glasses. If you wear glasses, please ask your optician to supply you with empty frames for the day of your appointment. Glasses not only catch light reflections, they also can distort the eyes and cheek-line in the face. This is almost impossible to remove from finished portraits. Photo-gray glasses darken under studio lights and in sun light, this also cannot be removed with retouching. If you wear glasses it is very important that you have an alternative plan. Empty eye glass frames or contact lenses are the best.
