What to Look for in a Portrait Studio

Deciding on where to have your portrait taken can be a trying experience. There is no shortage of portrait studios, which are available in ample numbers in most areas of the country. Finding a studio is certainly not the issue, however, finding a quality studio that will provide you with a final result that meets your stylistic and aesthetic preferences is an entirely different story. Let's take a look at some of the key components to look for when selecting a portrait studio. 

A portrait, whether it is for yourself or you and your loved ones together, is something that you will want to have done right the first time. Some families that decide to have their portraits taken do so once a year at most, while the majority may make the arrangements for a family photo shoot only once every few years, if that. If you pay attention to the following ideas, you may be able to help ensure that your portrait studio experience is a positive one.

Pricing

One of the first things that you will want to consider is your current budget in searching for the perfect portrait studio. Many studios offer a wide range of packages, priced from below one hundred dollars to several thousand dollars. You will do yourself a huge favor in the long run, by establishing a budget or at least a general idea on how much you intend to spend on your portrait. One more thing to consider when it comes to price, is that you may not always get the best quality portraits just because you are paying more at a particular studio. However, your portraits are going to be with you for a long time, so don't skimp on value and wind up with something you won't be happy with.

Testimonials and Portfolio

Any trustworthy and reliable portrait studio will be able to produce testimonials and references from past clients and customers. If you were already referred to this portrait studio by a family member or trusted friend, then this will likely not be necessary. If this is not the case, you will want to talk to the owner or photographer about procuring some reviews and feedback from past clientele. This may be your only way to ensure that the studio you are going to will give you the results that you're looking for. One other way to gauge the abilities of a portrait studio is to simply ask to see their portfolio, which will likely show their best work. This is not always the most reliable way to judge a studio's overall work, however, it is certainly better than going into it with no knowledge whatsoever. You can also check on the studio's website for a portfolio, as well as links to reviews.

Indoor vs. Outdoor

Some portrait studios specialize in strictly indoor portraits and photographs. You will want to make sure that the studio you are going with meets your needs. If you were hoping to have your family portrait taken outside in a snowy landscape for this year's holiday Christmas cards, then you may be quite disappointed if the studio you select only offers indoor photographs.

Pets

Pets are a part of the family too! Some portrait studios welcome furry creatures with open arms, as they understand no family portrait would be complete without them. Others take a more reserved stance on allowing animals in the studio, and if your dog or cat is a must-have in this year's family portrait, you will want to make sure that you address this issue before you become too set on one particular portrait studio.

Choosing a portrait studio can be an easy process if your needs are simple. For families with pets and other specific requests, choosing a studio carefully is very important if you are going to have a positive experience at your next family photo shoot.

If you're located in an area served by Andrae Michaels, we encourage you to take a look at what we offer.

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Our Colorado Springs Studio:

621 West Colorado Avenue
Colorado Springs, CO 80905
(719) 434-6534

Our Denver Studio:

110011 E. Hampden Ave.
Denver, CO 80231
(303) 368-4458

Commemorate Your Soldier's Year with a Photography Session

Sending a loved one into battle is always a difficult time for any parent or spouse.  At the same time, it is also something that should be a source of pride, as your son, daughter, husband or wife has joined a team of brave men and women that are willing to put themselves in harm’s way in order to protect our country.  Today, more and more people are using photos to commemorate this proud moment with their loved one in his or her military uniform.

We would be naive and misleading if we weren't to consider the possibility, God forbid, that one of our loved ones were not to return home.  Every single one of us knows that this is a risk these brave soldiers knowingly take, and it is not something we need to dwell on.  Still, even though your loved one will more than likely return unharmed, capturing their moment of pride in a quality photo, wearing their military uniform before going into battle is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Military family portrait by Andrae Michaels

 This doesn't have to be a grievous occasion at all, as taking your loved one's military photo once they return home is just as - if not an even more - joyous occasion as prior to their deployment.  It has become the standard to capture celebratory moments on camera, and why should a soldier's return from home be any different? As we said, we are more hopeful than ever, that your loved one will return safe in one piece.  Regardless of the outcome, this truly is one of the most prestigious moments in any person's lifetime.  The only other moments that may rival or exceed a soldier in his or her uniform, may be the birth of a child and your wedding.  This brings us to another equally important point; the quality of your photos should match the significance of the occasion.

Could you imagine your grandchildren looking at a military photo of your mother or father and having to show them an amateur photo that lacks quality?  How about a wedding photograph?  There may be people that are okay with inviting a friend to snap a few casual photos to record special moments in history like a wedding, but most of us will agree that this type of special occasion deserves better quality photography.  Military photos are no different.  We all want to be able to look back and see our soldier looking his or her best.  After years of dedication and committing their lives for the greater good of our nation, to give them anything less than a professional quality photo shoot is a disservice.

The great news in all of this, besides a proud soldier returning home, is that, unlike wedding photos, professional military photos are much more cost-effective.  If you look at a professional photographers specialties and list of the types of photos that they offer along with their rates, you will notice that soldier photography is considerably lower in price.  This is due to the fact that, while a wedding photographer is often contracted to be present for the entire duration of the wedding, a military photo shoot can take as little as twenty minutes.  This results in a much smaller time commitment for the photographer, less total number of photos and a correspondingly lower price. 

Making the choice to go with a professional photographer for these special occasions is a decision that you will be very glad that you made. Your family will thank you, your loved one will thank you, and future generations will appreciate that the memories of their great grandparents have been preserved with the respect and dignity fitting of a military hero.

Book your military themed family portraits today with Andrae Michaels.

Visit our Family Portraits page by clicking here.

Visit our Portfolio by clicking here.

Our Colorado Springs Studio:

621 West Colorado Avenue
Colorado Springs, CO 80905
(719) 434-6534

Our Denver Studio:

110011 E. Hampden Ave.
Denver, CO 80231
(303) 368-4458