Have you ever had a photo of yourself you did not like?
You know the shot... a silly expression or bad angle that did nothing to enhance your best features.
Many people immediately think of the years of awful school pictures they endured with the "one shot and good luck" mentality of the harried contract shooters trying to photograph 400 kids in a single afternoon.
In fact when Americans are asked what they fear and hate to do, being in front of the camera is in the top five year after year. Imagine... a photo session which should be a fun and rewarding experience is ranked right up there with speaking in front of a live audience, visiting your favorite dentist and having a personal chat with the IRS agent.
The good news is it does not have to be a painful ordeal to get the portraits you have always wanted. In fact here at Schmidt Photography you are GUARANTEED to get photos you love or your session fee is 100% cheerfully refunded.
How can that be done?
There are four major keys to looking like a million bucks in photos.
1...You want to work with an artist that has an eye for composition, line, color, texture, depth, lighting, pose, background and emotion. Sure, anyone with a camera and a Kinko's business card can call themselves a photographer, but can they handle all the artistic decisions necessary along with the technical details with operating the camera, exposure and finally the production of your important prints?
2... Pre-planning. In a world with infinite choices how can your photographer be prepared to give you exactly what you want without taking the time to map out your session to give you the most variety? This can be done days before your session in a pre-portrait consultation to talk about your preference and needs or it can be done at the beginning of your time in front of the camera. Communicate your vision directly to your photographer so you can work together to create the perfect portraits for you.
3... Even in a city as large as Redding there are only a handful a real photographers that actually have a full time studio facility and are not working out of a garage, spare bedroom or at some park or alleyway. These established studios have a business license and normal working hours so you can find them when you need them. They have an investment in the future of the community and are not likely to skip town with your money and images. (You hear about that a lot with wedding pictures and upset brides trying to get "an unbelievable deal") Of course your first concern with any of these "part time photographers" meeting you at odd hours and odd location is for your safety. Is saving a few bucks worth the risk, plus knowing that this photographer probably has no little or no training in making you look good?
4... Since you have different moods and different looks you need a studio with many options to give you plenty of choices. Shakespeare said it best..."All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players". You can be comfortable being yourself (or anybody you want to portray with T.A. Schmidt's three unique camera rooms--including the natural light "white room" and the only Hollywood style outdoor portrait park in the North State. There are hundreds of backgrounds, props, sets and opportunities to give you exactly the finished portrait you want. You will love the old barn, Victorian Porch, Beach Shack, New Orleans Ironworks, classic truck, tire swing, ski lift, Italian village, rustic doors, flower garden and so much more. It is always changing as we add more to the park through out the year. Of course we also go on location here in Redding to your home or favorite spot. Plus we make regular trips to the ocean around Eureka and San Diego.
