Spruce Up Your Website

Summer is a good time to update portraits and product photos on a website because the pressure is off.

While a few businesses are busy now, many slow down as employees take time off and some workplaces even close.  Given that the population is not in high gear, there is an opportunity to develop new web content and roll it out with a bit of fanfare when the weather cools and people get back into a productive mode.

Why include staff portraits on your website?  Websites are virtual storefronts and pictures tell stories formerly communicated in person.  A portrait can convey subtle messages of trust, dependability, and confidence.  Customers will want to receive your product or service because they’ll anticipate satisfaction… all based on the non-verbal communication expressed on a face.

Those pictures can also describe quality of service – an important component of every business.  There are enough messages in the media and in classrooms telling business owners how to delight customers and meet expectations that customers know they can expect a rich experience when they conduct business.  Or, they can take that business elsewhere.

What are the important aspects of a web portrait?  A good one should capture the subject’s confidence in his or her job skills.  Premier Portraits knows that’s not easy because most people will forget just about everything, including their names, when facing a camera lens.  All too often, the people most comfortable in their job will be very, very uncomfortable when photographed.  We learned how to relax people and get them to be themselves.

Product photos may seem less involved but don’t be fooled.  There are subtleties that make it difficult to capture inanimate objects at their most appealing.

Which brings up the idea of post processing.  There are often little details that ruin an otherwise perfect portrait or product photo.  A professional photographer has the tools and skills to quickly fix the problem.

So, consider using the summer productively to boost your business and elevate your web presence.

PremierPortraits Studio is locally owned and operated at 260 East St in Plainville, CT and is committed to supporting the community with quality service and portraits. 860.410.4303

Finding the Right Wedding Photographer

Marriage.  That moment in time when it is absolutely critical that a woman asks the right – although tough – questions to ensure the success of her relationship with that oh-so-important person… her wedding photographer.

Yeah, there is a groom but those are a bunch of different questions.

Choosing the right photographer for your wedding day makes everything go much smoother. It can mean the difference between a warm, gushy feeling as she looks on those pictures or a cringe of regret for years to come.

It is our philosophy that wedding photographers should create beautiful portraits with minimum distraction on your wedding day. Guests and others in the wedding will not even notice our presence. We believe in photographing a wedding in a manner and style that captures the events of the day. We want to show people in a relaxed and happy environment.

The first question you should ask yourself when choosing a photographer is, professional photographer or amateur?  We’ll come back to that one, it’s one that a lot of couple start with but isn’t a good starting point.

Best start with who you are and what you want.  Do you want a photographer to be posing you throughout the day or one that can get great candids?  Remember, you’ll be busy on your big day.  If your photographer is counting on you to remind him or her that there needs to be a shot with Great Uncle George and another with all of your female cousins, you had best have a lot of energy, organization, or an easy going spirit if some of the shots are missed.

What photographic style do you like?  Take the time to see samples.  Do faces look happy or is there a theme of impatience, which indicates people felt they were away from the fun too long and frustrated with the photographer?  You’ll also get fresh ideas for your photos.  Is the photographer willing to do something other than the cookie-cutter poses?

That said, some traditional poses are really worth having… the walk down the aisle, the first kiss… does the photographer do these well?

What do you get for your money?  Do you get the photographer you’ve interviewed and decided is a good person or is there going to be a surprise?  You’ll be spending at least as much time with that person as your wedding party so don’t pick someone you can’t stand.  Will you be able to get digital images or must you and family members buy reprints from the photographer?  What is the cost and quality of those?

Now, back to the first question… you can’t take your own photographs so you have to find someone you trust.  If you’re thinking of having a friend do the photography to keep costs down, ask these same questions of the friend.  While you may save some dollars, hiring a professional like Premier Portraits may save you much more in terms of lost images that can never be recreated or an ugly argument with a soon to be ex-friend.

Wedding & Engagement Information 

– We have over thirty years experience creating memories that will last a lifetime!

·      Engagement Sessions:
Take place at our studio or on location.
Several different poses and background to choose from.
Background replacement capabilities, which allows us to use almost any background you can imagine.
To compliment your session we have “Save the Date” cards available.

·      Photography Services:
Proof book with all your images.
DVD slideshow with images and music of your choosing.
Private online gallery for easy ordering.
Photographers full attention for the day.

·      Video Services:
1-2 hours of fully edited video.
One manned and one stationary camera.
Wireless microphones used during the ceremony.

·      Albums:
Based on cover, number of pages, photos and size of album, we work with you in selecting the album that is right for you. We will even design the album to beautifully showcase your special day.

Prices vary, please call for details.

PremierPortraits Studio is locally owned and operated at 260 East St in Plainville, CT and is committed to supporting the community with quality service and portraits. 860.410.4303

Lighting and Portraits

The best lighting available is that from Mother Nature.

It’s lucky then that the weather turns comfortable and the days grow longer, giving us more access to that great light to capture some of the biggest milestone moments in our lives – graduations and weddings.

If you’re shooting indoors, find the largest window and pose your subject toward the glass to get a soft, natural lighting effect.

By positioning people at an angle to the window, you can get different lighting effects.  Use a large white object to reflect light onto the shadow side of your subject.  A white umbrella, large sheet of stiff paper or poster board or even a sheet will work well.

Pay attention to where the sun is in the sky.  You don’t have to know that the window is west facing if the late afternoon light is burning through the panes of glass… you need to pay attention to the amount of light coming in and if that amount is going to create a harsh effect.  If you can’t see the source of the light, the effect will be softer.

The same thing goes for posing outside.  The new greenery makes for a great backdrop but don’t shoot into the sun or place your subject in the dappled shade under a tree.

Use a tripod.  Whether indoors or out, those three legs will be steadier than your hand and give a sharper, clearer photograph.

Take the time to learn the features of your camera.  Most equipment will offer more just flash on or off.  Is the scene right for enough flash to remove red-eye or maybe just enough more to fill in shadow areas?

Practice.  Don’t wait until the family has gathered from far away to start learning how light will effect your shots.  Despite the fact that digital cameras offer instant results, none of your subjects will want to wait while you work through trial and error to get the right effect.  Their exasperation will appear on their faces and can ruin a once-in-a-lifetime moment.

Finally, consider a professional portrait.  Premier Portraits is able to offer the security of knowing that these important shots will come out as beautifully as you anticipate the moment will be.

PremierPortraits Studio is locally owned and operated at 260 East St in Plainville, CT and is committed to supporting the community with quality service and portraits. 860.410.4303