FAQs

DO I GET PRINTS, DIGITAL FILES, OR SOMETHING ELSE?

I shoot only digital and give you jpeg digital files. No prints are included in the packages. How many (or few) prints someone might want can’t be predicted, so it’s best to leave those out of the portrait packages. Prints can be ordered as a separate option. You can pay me to do it, or you’re welcome to use the digital files and make your own prints, at a local place or online, such as www.shutterfly.com

IS MY PORTRAIT TOUCHED UP?

Yes, it is. Basic touch up includes softening lines, taking out stray hair, and removing any temporary blemishes. I also take care of other obvious visual distractions such as pet hair on shoulders, long button threads, shiny reflections, adjusting contrast, brightness, levels, and color balance as necessary. Normal Photoshop prep work is moderate, not overboard, and does not misrepresent the person.

DO I GET TO CHOOSE THE PORTRAIT I WANT?

Yes, absolutely! At the time of shooting, we review the shots on the back of the camera. We save the good ones and delete the not-so-good ones. Shoot several batches, typically. The saved ones are made into a proof sheet and emailed to you. You can select the one you want to go with from that proof sheet. This lets you to take the time you need, show it to whomever you want, and more realistically see how it looks on a electronic screen.

WHY IS ONLY ONE PREPPED PORTRAIT INCLUDED?

It keeps a reasonable cost to the basic portrait package. More shots would require more time on the clock afterwards doing Photoshop prep work, which of course would add to the price. Almost all my clients need only one best image for their purposes, they don’t use second best or runners up. However, additional shots from the session are always available, either now or in the future, they are $65 to prep, size, and process. When prearranged, additional shots can be included in the initial plan. See more: PRICES

CAN I HAVE MORE THAN ONE SHOT?

Yes, you can, at extra cost. The basic portrait fee includes one shot from the session prepped, sized, and sent to you as digital files. Including additional shots in the basic package would make the cost go up from its base price. Additional shots from the shoot are always available, either now or in the future, for $69 prep fee per shot. No photos are released right as they come from the camera. Every portrait needs prep work. Most clients need just one very best shot of themself, not a bunch of runners up or second best.

CAN I PAY YOU WHEN WE’RE DONE?

Yes, you can. PayPal, Venmo, Apple Pay, credit card, cash, and check are accepted. There will be 6.35% CT State Sales tax as well. An invoice and receipt will be emailed to you for your records along with the proofs.

CAN YOU FOLLOW MY COMPANY’S PORTRAIT GUIDELINES?

Yes, I can. Send them to me via email or text beforehand so I can review them and make sure they can be followed. If there’s a particular background or color required by those guidelines, there may be a cost and/or delay involved. But if that’s the case, we’ll factor that into the scheduling.

DO I HAVE COPYRIGHT USAGE OF MY PORTRAIT?

I grant you broad copyright usage. You don’t have to come back to me for nickel-and-dime requests to use the photos for another purpose. Taken from the Estimate/Invoice language: “RIGHTS GRANTED: Multiple non-exclusive usage rights are granted to Client for web site, social media, online, PR, advertising, marketing, collateral materials, and published articles. Media usage rights, as defined herein, are granted conditionally upon receipt of full payment of price indicated herein. Photographer will not permit photographs taken for this assignment to be used by any third parties without written permission from Client. Photographer agrees to withhold usage of all photographs by direct or indirect competitors of the Client without written permission from Client. All photographs are copyrighted by Peter Billard Photographer. Photographer reserves use of photos in aggregate form for portfolio or sample purposes. All rights are reserved except those specifically granted by the invoice. This is not ‘Work Made For Hire’.”

DO I OWN ALL THE IMAGES?

No. You don’t physical own the images. They exist as intellectual property with multiple possible tangible forms. As part of your portrait, you receive digital copies and own broad copyright usage rights. You are paying for the performance of a professional service plus the usage rights of the image(s) you receive. As the client, you receive prepped digital images which you can use in myriad ways. Every photograph delivered to a client as a final image receives necessary prep work. My professional reputation is protected by allowing only prepped and optimized photos to be released. I do not give out second-best, runners-up, or poor looking images that would damage my professional standing. To literally ‘own’ everything is called a ‘buy-out’, can cost $4,500 and up, and must be negotiated.

WHAT DO LO-RES AND HIGH-RES MEAN?

The terms may refer to one or more things: 1. an arbitrary description of a high quality and sharp digital image, or a low quality, less sharp, or chunky pixellated digital image; 2. a designation of overall kilobyte/megabyte file size as well as width x height pixel or inch dimensions; 3. a rough indication of the photo’s purpose, hi-res for large prints, large display size, or publication purposes, and lo-res for social media, emailing, thumbnails, profile shots, and proofing purposes.

WHAT SHOULD I WEAR FOR MY PORTRAIT?

Three thoughts to consider: 1. You know your wardrobe best. If you have a favorite outfit that you think you look really good in, wear it, and you will look good; 2. How are you going to use the photo, where will it appear, and who will see it? Use answers to those as your guide; 3. Do you have any corporate or professional guidelines to follow?; 4. It rarely hurts to dress up a notch or two; 5. Bring more than one outfit or top to the shoot and we can figure out which will look best here at the studio.

WHAT’S THE RIGHT PORTRAIT STYLE?

The right style depends on you, the person, since it’s going to be your portrait. Several thoughts: 1. is it for personal, business, or some other use? 2. your personal likes and preferences are important things to consider. 3. do you have any likes and dislikes about previous your portraits? 4. have you seen a portrait style somewhere else that you admire could be used as an inspiration? 5. if it’s for work, do you have corporate or professional guidelines to follow? 6. there are many styles and flavors to consider: casual, distinguished, meditative, outgoing, pensive, chic, jovial, reserved, enigmatic, mellow, classy, artsy, demure, expressive, animated, cool, effervescent, elegant, heroic, nonchalant, outgoing, and more. Style can also be influenced by your personality and character, as well as the purpose of the portrait.

IS IT BEST TO WEAR GLASSES FOR A PORTRAIT?

If you wear glasses all or most of the time, and people see you that way, then it’s a good idea to shoot your portrait with them. Also ask yourself how do people most often see you–with the glasses or without? If you use them for close-up work or driving, but not so much in the company of people, then consider not wearing them for the photo. Having said that, I suggest we do photos both with glasses and without. Then look at both versions on the back of the camera, and a clear preference will reveal itself. You can also make a decision after you receive the proofs which way you prefer.

WHAT’S THE BEST MAKEUP FOR A PORTRAIT OR HEADSHOT?

My best recommendation is to have a makeup artist come to the studio for your appointment and do makeup before the shooting session. There’s no humidity, rain, wind, weather, traveling, or passage of time to mess things up. I recommend Jacquelyn Orfei-Pagel, a very accomplished makeup professional. You can make arrangements with her beforehand to do the makeup at the studio prior to shooting. She knows the right questions to ask you regarding your makeup preferences and your goals. Contact Jacquelyn Orfei-Pagel, Sensations Day Spa, mobile: (860) 306-1068, www.sensationsdayspa.biz

ARE STUDIO PORTRAITS BETTER THAN OUTDOORS OR ON LOCATION?

Neither better or worse––different. Good results can come from both studio and location shooting. Location can mean outdoors, indoors, in a building, office, and most anywhere. It’s mostly a stylistic difference, especially when it comes to background and lighting. Do you have a personal preference? Are you using the photo for a specific purpose? Who’ll be seeing the portrait of you? Answers to those questions can help determine whether to shoot in the studio or elsewhere.

CAN YOU HIDE A SCAR OR TEMPORARY BLEMISH?

Yes, Photoshop works very well for that. Lighting can also accentuate or de-emphasize features to some degree. Some features people absolutely want to keep: freckles, moles, battle scars, birthmark, and tattoos. We can talk about what to fix and what to leave alone. Also works to reduce lines, wrinkles, shadows, slenderize, and more.

I HAVE A BLINKING PROBLEM IN PHOTOS––WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Not a problem! Some blinking is an involuntary response to the studio flash, and is often a split second after the shutter has already taken the picture. You may feel like you’re blinking with every shot, but the back of the camera lets us know everything’s OK. Catching some blinks is inevitable, but doesn’t ruin the shooting session. The beauty of the digital camera is we can shoot generously and look at the shots on the back of the camera We make sure we have plenty of shots with your eyes open.

ONE OF MY EYES LOOKS SMALLER THAN THE OTHER––WHAT CAN YOU DO?

There is some degree of eye size change possible with Photoshop, but its success depends on each individual person. And there are limits to what it can do without looking grotesque. For many of us, our eyes squint more when we smile, it’s an involuntary reflex and also very much a part of a smiling face. In Photoshop I have successfully swapped someone’s own more-open-eyes from an adjacent shot and combined them with the overall shot that looks best but has squinty eyes. When done carefully, it’s undetectable. When I propose doing this for a client, I provide a side-by-side rough draft comparison for you to see and approve before going ahead with such a plan.

MY NOSE OR SMILE ALWAYS LOOKS CROOKED IN PHOTOS––CAN YOU FIX IT?

Within reason, yes. Small changes work very well. Drastic alterations might look distorted or fake. Too much of a change might misrepresent you, especially if people see your portrait first, then meet you in person. I can supply you with a side-by-side comparison of what the camera got and the proposed Photoshop alteration, then you can decide for yourself which you prefer.

I HATE HAVING MY PICTURE TAKEN––WHAT CAN YOU DO?

I’ve found many times this stems from a poor experience with a previous photographer short on people skills. I emphasize that my camera and I are your advocates, not adversaries. It’s my job to make people look good. Photographing people has always been, and always will be an enjoyable practice. I coach, encourage, support, and work my utmost to make you comfortable with the picture taking process and get first-rate results. We engage in a collaborative effort together, and encourage you to talk about how you feel as we look at the shots on the back of the camera. We work to identify the most flattering expression and lighting. I don’t settle for second best!

CAN I BRING A FRIEND TO THE PHOTO SHOOT?

Yes, you can. Bring a chaperone, confidant, best friend, family member, or partner. They can be your cheerleader and also be a second pair of eyes on what looks good of you. Animals, too, are welcome, if they’re trained and obedient to your command.

I DON’T LIKE THE WAY THE CAMERA MAKES ME LOOK––WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Showing less of the upper body and shoulders can help get good results. Moving in closer for a headshot, too. Take more shots with animated or varied expressions and edit rigorously on the back of the camera. See what looks best, then do more like those. Angle, positioning, and lighting can also help. Standing with good posture, not sitting, can work. To de-emphasize the neck and under the chin, a helpful technique is face the camera and slightly project just your head towards the camera. Resembles a turtle sticking its head out of its shell. After the shoot, Photoshop can do slimming and slenderizing as well.

I’VE PUT ON WEIGHT––WHAT CAN YOU DO TO MAKE ME LOOK THINNER?

There are several things we can do at the time of the shooting. A closer view as in a headshot and showing less of the body can work. Lighting and positioning the angle at which you face the camera often helps. Selective and moderate slenderizing afterwards in Photoshop is also an option that works well.

WHAT IF I DON’T LIKE ANY OF THE PHOTOS?

It’s my purpose to shoot photographs that make you look good and satisfy you. As we shoot, we take breaks to look at the images on the back of the camera to determine that we’re on the right track. We can make tweaks and changes in between batches of shots. If necessary, I’ll ask you to identify and tell me what you do or don’t like. Before ending the shooting session, I make sure you approve of the images. If we need to shoot more, then we will. If it is a photographic issue, I will do my best to understand your concern and satisfy you. If it’s a non-photographic problem, then it may require a non-photographic remedy, for which I’m not trained. When I have your assurance near the end of the shooting session that everything’s in order and to your satisfaction, we can call it a wrap.

CAN YOU MAKE ME LOOK YOUNGER?

Even thought that sounds like a trick question, in a sense, yes, it’s somewhat possible. Using Photoshop to slim face shape, reduce lines, darken hair, and other changes, when done in moderation can create the illusion of a younger self. But if overdone it may shock someone who first sees your ‘younger’ photograph, then meets the real you in person. I suggest use it sparingly.