January 2010 Senior Special

We are bringing back our best special of the season!

Book any date in 2010 (pay for it in January) and recieve:

$15 Off Your Session
48 Free Wallets
Free Facebook Images (with order)

Call ASAP 870-268-1848
Visit our website www.lairdstudios.com

Go Pro and Save Some "Doh!"

No that’s not a typo. Homer Simpson is notorious for saying “doh!” when he realizes he made a mistake. In today’s digital age there are a lot of new “photographers” who claim to be a “pro” but when someone uses one of these photographers trying to save some dough (yep that’s the one that means money) they find themselves banging their heads on the table screaming “Doh!” when they have to settle for sub-par pictures or have to pay to have them retaken.

In this blog entry I am going to give you some tips on how to avoid spending some doh (head aches) and make sure you get the most out of your dough (money) when you have your senior portraits made.

1. Ask to see a portfolio of the photographer’s work. Make sure your styles match.

Any true pro will have many samples readily available and you probably won’t have to ask to see them, they will be on display either on the web, in studio, etc. As a pro myself, I want my clients to choose me based on my work. This way, I know they understand my style and are hiring me because I create the type of portraits they are interested in. If you have to coach your photographer to get the look you are going for then you probably aren’t going to be satisfied with the end product. Never ask a photographer whose style looks more traditional to create something trendy and vice versa. (so don’t ask me to be too stiff, it always comes out bad)

2. Look for quality in the sample photographs the photographer shows you.

Are there good color tones or do they look too red/blue/orange? Are the eyes lighted well or are they hidden in shadows? Look for the same in the face. Is the face lighted well or is it too dark or too bright? Are the eyes clear or do they look a little blurry? What about skin? Does it look plastic or all smeared around? Are there shadow outlines of the people in the background? These are only a few things that photographers notice and pay attention to.

3. Find out what is included and what is not. Get your priorities straight.

Does your potential photographer retouch all your portraits before you see them? (we do) Do you have to pay extra for retouching? (not here you don’t) Are there pose restrictions? If so, how do they work? (every new set/print is a new pose here) Where are your images printed? Professional photo labs provide a noticeable difference in quality and if you want your portraits to last without fading, get your money’s worth and make sure you know where they are coming from.

Ok so the last one was a little plug for me, kind of. But those things may be important to you and if they are then it is important that you remember to find these things out.

Good luck in your search for a photographer! I hope this helped you make a more educated decision.