You should schedule your portraiture session a minimum of two weeks in advance, although it’s best to schedule at least four weeks out. About 90% of the scheduled portrait sessions are on the weekends, so the available dates are limited. It is sometimes possible to schedule a session at the last minute; you just have contact me as soon as you decide to have pictures done to check my availability.

It depends on the client and the type of image we are after. A family portrait with young children could last a couple of hours, as we set up the shot, get the adults in place and work the kids into the portrait without locking them down and making it a miserable experience. An individual wanting a simple head-shot could take less than an hour, depending on how many variations we are shooting. In general, most sessions are 1 to 3 hours with breaks and setup changes. For a specific concept shot, it can take a few hours to nail a single look. It starts with makeup, hair and clothing then we work on lighting and composition. The remainder of the shoot we focus on details, small but intentional changes until the shot is captured. If the session is on location, away from my home studio, you can add an hour for setting up equipment, lights, etc…

I hate to keep saying it, but “it depends…” Your project could be more or less than any example I provide here. A single headshot in my studio can start at $250.00 for the session and low resolution file for internet use. What the image is and how it used make a difference. That same client would pay extra for prints and or high resolution files for printing or publishing. Each project is quoted individually; please contact me so we can discuss the scope of your project.

On average, more people are surprised at how affordable it is vs. how expensive it is. I think everyone is surprised about how much time and effort actually go into a good, professional image. When you do choose a photographer, make sure you get what you pay for. What services are offered, what equipment are they using, how much experience do they have and do they have examples of what you want? One mistake a client may make is to assume that all photographers are skilled in all genres of photography.

I can have the proof images cleaned up and edited for your review within a few days or even the next day in some cases. Following the photography session we will schedule a viewing session to review the select images. The total number of days depend on your project and needs; how many different images (files) you want and how extensive the editing requirements are.

I work with new and experienced models and actors. Regarding TFP sessions, you will need to send me some examples of your work via email attachment or website link. Rates can vary depending on what you need, a headshot or comp card, printed or digital files only. Do your homework and know what you need for a particular assignment, audition or agency. Model TFP Explained.

Great question and the answer is too long for this FAQ. See this article on what to wear for portraits.

The location of the shot largely depends on you and what you want from your image.. I can shoot up to five people for group portraits in my home studio.. The real advantage here is all of the equipment is setup beforehand so we are shooting shortly after you arrive. We can also shoot at your residence if you have the necessary space and ceiling height. We can shoot on location somewhere else, indoors or even outside. My studio is in North Denton, but I can travel in around the DFW Metroplex when necessary. I have equipment for both studio work and location work, indoors and outside. Natural light portraits outdoors can be very effective but we are extremely limited on the useable hours of the day. The midday sun makes for lousy lighting so the preferred times are the first 2 hours and last 2 hours of the day.

Don’t get too caught up in the actual location itself. The location’s purpose in a portrait (should be) extremely limited with the exception of environmental portraits. A photograph should emphasize the person or the location, but not both. The location is just a place to set up the equipment, pose and capture the subject and the light. Typically the surroundings are blurry and not the purpose of photograph so the person looking at the image will focus on the person in the portrait.

I prefer to shoot tethered if we are in studio or on location indoors. This allows me (and the client) to review the portraits on the computer screen as we shoot and make any necessary adjustments. At the conclusion of the shoot, if time allows, we can review the session right away and make some preliminary selections based on the type and number of images agreed upon before the session ends and I start the editing process.

All original / RAW files will be editing to some degree. What to touch up and how much is a matter of taste, and individual tastes will vary. Portrait editing typically involve removing blemishes, whitening teeth, brightening eyes and so on. Advanced touch-ups are available when requested.

Digital files come in two formats: High Resolution (300 dpi) and Low Resolution (72 dpi). A low resolution file is all that is required for internet, website use. If the image is intended for printing or publication, a high resolution is required. You do not have to purchase any digital files. I recommend that you do not purchase digital files with the intent on saving some money to have prints made somewhere else or on your printer at home. You will never be able to produce prints near the quality of the commercial lab I use. If you are going to spend money to hire a professional photographer for a portrait, it doesn’t make sense to have a consumer lab process the professional image. If you want prints, wall hangings or framed artwork, let me get this done for you because you really do get what you pay for.

Every project is discussed in detail beforehand including how the image is used and what rights you are purchasing. Digital photography has changed the game for consumer photography. It sounds odd but a client isnt purchasing a photograph as much as they are purchasing the right to use that photograph. This is common practice between professional photographers and commercial clients. Commercial clients may purchase the rights to use an image in a specific advertisment of a specific issue of a specific magazine and not have rights to use that image again. All rights are discussed and negotiated beforehand with everyone. It’s not as scary as it may sound.

Copyright Act – all digital images taken by me are forever owned by Mike Robison Photography as a function of current copyright laws and The Berne Convention. This is simply the state of the photography business and not unique to my business. The Copyright Act protects photographers by giving the author/creator of the photograph the exclusive right to copy, edit, and distribute image by sale or transfer. Rights to use an image can be signed over or purchased by the client. Different types of copyright agreements range from “one time use” to “exclusive” and everything in between. Generally speaking, when you purchase digital files you will have the right to produce prints or use that image online but you do not have the right to sell or profit from the use of the image other than self promotion.

Scanning photographs? The Copyright Act does not allow you to make copies unless you have purchased the rights to do so. Even with the better scanners out there, the quality is not going to be the same. If you need digital images for internet use, let me know beforehand and I can make a CD/DVD with low resolution copies of the images. These files will have a watermark (Mike Robison Photography) and they are fine for internet and email use but not for printing.