General Questions

1.  Do you use digital?
        At this point in time, the advantages of digital photography are beginning to far outweigh those of film,
        so I use digital for the majority of my work.  UNLESS you prefer film, either black and white or color.
        However, the majority of good photo labs are closing due to digital, so it's getting increasingly difficult
        to get quality lab work done.  I now do my own printing using a rather expensive photo digital printer.
        Most of the remaining commercial labs now use similar digital printers for prints larger than 8x10.

2. What brand of supplies and finished products do you use?
        If you prefer that I use film, I always use Kodak, for two reasons: 1. Kodak quality and consistency is,
        in my opinion, far superior to anything else on the market; and 2. My income is from Americans, and
        I prefer to spend it in America.
 
3.  How long does it take to get the proofs?
        For digital studio sessions, you can view them during the sitting on a monitor in the studio itself, or
        immediately after the sitting on a monitor.  Come back later the same day or the next day, and you
        can get the proofs to take home to make your selections.

4.  Can you provide images for my web site or digital files for brochures, etc.?
        Yes.  Almost all of the images on my web site are lower resolution images made by scanning proofs.
        However, more recent images are digital.   I can provide high resolution images on CD for brochures,
        web sites, CD covers, screen presentations, etc.

5.  Do you do computer retouching?
        Yes, at a small extra charge.  Please see  http://www.tpromo.com/tphoto/portrait/runfam.htm   for an example.
        Again, these images are at a lower resolution so it won't take forever to load on your computer, but the
        two 8x10's, one an original Kodak enlargement, and the other a Kodak print made directly from a digital file,
        are virtually indistinguishable from each other (other than the missing person).

6.  Do you try to work with the clients, or totally ignore them like many other photographers do?
        The customer is the one paying for the service, so they certainly have the right to get what they expect.
        I encourage people to bring up any ideas *they* may have regarding their photos, and, what's more, I
        actually listen to them and try to accommodate their needs and wishes.  This is especially important with
        Performers and Models, but applies to other areas as well.  And naturally, I have ideas of my own.

7.  When do I pay for my studio session?
        Whether it's portraits, pet photos, performers, models, family photos, etc., you do NOT pay for the session
        until you see the shots, either on a monitor or with actual proofs.  Weddings are paid in installments, with
        the last payment due upon delivery of the proofs.  Qualified commercial clients are given a statement when
        the work is completed.

8.  Do you do graduation photos?
        Yes, and I do them at reasonable prices.  For example, the Silver Session is $75 and it INCLUDES  2  8x10
        units.  And again, you don't pay for the session until you see the proofs.

9.  Do you do black and white?
        Certainly.  Some people still like some black and whites along with their color shots, either for portraits
        or for weddings.  With digital, it's an easy matter to change any image to black & white, sepia, and so on.
        There is therefore no extra charge.  Many performers require b&w, so I'm set up to shoot and provide
        conventional b&w printing services, including bulk prints at reasonable prices.

10.  Do you work alone?
        At times I have either photo students or apprentices that accompany me on weddings or other sessions.
        Under these conditions, I take all of the main shots and the assistant takes photos from different
        vantage points, etc.  I give the photographer a little something for their help, but the customer does not
        pay extra for the service.

11. What bugs you?
        Two things:
        1. People that make appointments and then don't show up without even having enough consideration
        to call and cancel.  The vast majority of my customers are great people and I love working with them.  To
        be frank, I really don't want to have those feelings ruined by working with these inconsiderate jerks anyway.
        2. Loud, abnoxious clowns in group photos.  That really slows things down, when people don't listen,
        or they want to visit with everyone around them, or go out of their way to make the photographers job
        harder and mistakenly think they're being funny.   They don't consider that they're not only making it
        harder to get the quality of photos I want my customers to have, but they are also taking up everyone
        elses time that's involved with the photo.

12. What are your hours?
        I don't keep regular hours because I do a lot of work in my home, like darkroom and computer work,
        and I have out-of-studio sessions.   However, I'm available mornings, afternoons, and evenings almost
        7 days a week.  Just call for an appointment for a session, to view samples, or to simple ask questions.
        I'm totally cell phone, so I answer at any reasonable hour, unless I'm with customers or shooting.
 

Weddings

1.  Are you obnoxious at weddings?
        Loud, obnoxious, dominating photographers should be shot.  There's nothing worse than having
        your wedding day dominated by some jerks that are building up *their* ego at your expense.  Many clergy
        have told me that they didn't even notice me during the ceremony and that I'm welcome back at any time
        to do other weddings there.  It's your wedding day, not mine.

2.  What is included in your wedding packages?
        All wedding packages include an album of at least 12 photo pages.  I don't believe a special day like a
        wedding should be remembered with nothing more than a pile of proofs.  Some packages also include a
        separate engagement session and a Signature Print.   Any additional prints are at reasonable prices.

3.  Ok.  I give up.  What's a "Signature Print?"
        Instead of signing a guest book, which nobody ever looks at after their wedding, the guests sign the mat
        around a photo or series of photos of the bride and groom.  After the wedding it can be hung in your home.
        To see samples of Signature Prints, please click on the following line, using your back key to return here.
              wed2/sigprint.htm

4.  Do you bring backup equipment to weddings?
        Yes.  At least 2 cameras, 2 portable flash units, plenty of digital storage media or film, and several
        studio lights for group shots.

5.  How long will the group photos take after my wedding?
        If everyone that is to be in the photos gathers toward the front of the church, and if people listen to my
        direction, they can go rather quickly, 20 to 25 minutes, including bride and groom (together and separately),
        several variations of the wedding party, and family photos.  It's when we have to waste time looking for
        someone that's supposed to be in the photos because they decided to wander off somewhere, or people
        refuse to listen to directions, or another person decides to start giving directions to the subjects, that it can
        all take forever.
 

Proofs

1.  Can we buy the proofs?
        No.  Proofs are not finished photos, and may be off a bit in color, darkness, etc.  Therefore, I won't
        "sell" them.  However, I have no trouble with "giving" them away.  So, for a wedding, if you get $100
        of additional prints, you can *have* them all.  For Portrait sessions, if you buy one additional unit at
        $18, they're yours.

2.  Can we borrow the proofs, or do we have to decide at your studio?
        Yes, you can borrow the proofs without having to pay a deposit.  In my opinion, trying to pick the proofs
        you want finished prints of, or designing  your whole wedding album while sitting in the photographer's
        studio, is ludicrous.  There's nothing like being able to spread them all out and arrange them the way you
        want them to appear in your album, or to let others view them and choose what they want, in the leisure
        and comfort of your own home.

3.  How long can we borrow the proofs?
        There's really no time limit so you have plenty of time to let friends and relatives look at them too.  Just
        consider though that I can't start your finished orders until I have your selections.  The sooner you bring
        me your order, the quicker you'll get the finished products.  And remember question #1 above.
 
 

If you have other questions that aren't covered here, please feel free to call at any reasonable hour, day or night, weekday or weekend, or email from the link below.