You see, there are five major highlight areas on your face. And they must be PERFECTLY lighted, or you won't look your best!
Also, I don't want to get too technical here, but if you're still reading this, you realize how important this portrait is, and you sincerely want to look your absolute best. So... the "Transition Zone" of light, between the highlights and the shadows is what "paints" the contours of your face, and brings out your personality and "SPARKLE." So we want to be darn sure that this "Transition Zone" is perfect, too! I could go on and on, but you get the idea.
Also, light is equally important for outdoor senior portraits! It must be absolutely PERFECT if we are to create a portrait of you which truly "Sparkles". So, the type of outdoor portraits you like will then determine the perfect TIME OF DAY to create the portraits. It's so important.
Mistake #8 determines a great portrait or a terrible one!
Nine out of ten seniors don't realize how important posing is. The most important word when it comes to posing is "NATURAL." You absolutely don't want to look stiff and fake! One of the most common comments we hear from our clients is how "natural" the portraits look. Our seniors love how good they look, but they also love how "natural" they appear in the images.
You see, I understand that you want to look really great, but also you don't want to be put into some weird, stupid, pathetic pose that makes you look stiff and unnatural.
Yes, I will "guide" you so the composition and "look" of the portraits is really great. But I will NOT push you around and try to put you into unnatural positions that are just plain crazy looking. You and I will work together to help you look confident, comfortable, and just plain great.
This is extremely important to you! Don't miss this...
You want to be sure to select a photographer who will not "manhandle" you with the posing. Almost all the photographers in our state tend to touch their clients and push them around way too much when posing them. (In my humble opinion.) The posing is so important, and should not be done by sticking you in the middle of your back if you aren't sitting up quite straight enough! But that's what so many photographers do. Why? Because they're in a hurry. They have another 51 seniors to photograph before the day is over, and they can't take the time to "guide" you. They just stick their hand into your back, grab you by the shoulders, and get you to sit up straight. Not only does this make you really uncomfortable, but it also makes you look stiff!
That's why I call it "guiding". I will guide you with words. I don't grab you or poke you. This is so important to helping you feel comfortable!
However, I am really picky. I'll be very careful, and very attentive to detail. I may pick a little at your hair if something is out of place. I straighten your collar or sleeves. I straighten your shirt if it has a funny wrinkle in it. Don't worry about a thing! We'll make sure you look "like a million bucks"! We're very picky, but we don't manhandle you - and we won't drive you "nuts" with being overly picky either!
Strange, but true...and you'll be very glad.
In fact, I have a nickname here at the studio. They all call me "Eagle Eye." And they call me that because I'm so darn picky. Everything must be perfect before I expose the film. I'll work quickly, but carefully.
The key thing with posing, is that you look honestly natural. The seniors I photograph tell me all the time how great their photographs look from a point of view of being natural. They say things like this: "It's like I just sat down naturally, by myself! That's exactly how I sit! I can't believe it! How'd you know that?" And you see, that's what "guiding" will do for your portraits, too!
We're talking about where your arm is in the portrait. And if your hand is in the portrait, does it look natural?
And so many seniors and their parents don't realize this when they're calling around to different photographers. They have no idea how important this is. So look at the photographs done by any photographer you're considering selecting. Do they look natural, or do they look "posed" or stiff?
If you'll look at the photographs I've included throughout this website, you'll see how natural and comfortable they look. And read the comments the people have said about their senior portraits. Hopefully that will help you.
Mistake #9 is of enormous importance! Don't miss this one!
This mistake has ruined so many senior portraits! It's the mistake of not choosing a photographer who GUARANTEES THAT YOU WILL BE REALLY HAPPY - and who will give you all your money back, if you aren't!
Here's our guarantee: "You will be THRILLED (not just 'satisfied') with your portraits, or we will do whatever is necessary for you to be thrilled, or we will return every penny of your money. No hassles and no hard feelings either. We want you to be THRILLED with your senior portraits, and will spare no effort or expense to see to it that you are! We absolutely guarantee it!"
You see, only a photographer who really believes in his product and service is going to be willing to have such a powerful guarantee. So his guarantee is your first indication of whether or not you even want to work with him. I just can't stress this enough. Ask about the guarantee. Listen to their reaction. That will tell you if you want to trust your senior portraits to that photographer.
Mistake #10 is so obvious, and yet most seniors or their parents don't do it!
What's this mistake? Not asking lots of questions when you're talking with photographers. Now, if you're still reading this, you certainly have the questions to ask, right?
Remember, you are the customer - you have all the rights! You have the right to ask the tough questions, before you make any decisions!
You ask them first about their guarantee, and see how they respond.
Then you ask them if they will meet with you in person, at no charge, to discuss the clothing, etc, and give you a tour.
Then you ask them if they will guarantee that they'll remove any and all blemishes you might have at the time of the photography.
Then ask them about how they light the hair perfectly? Ask them if they know who George Hurrell was, and if they understand his techniques.
Then ask them how much time they are going to spend with you. And do they do outdoor portraits, as well as indoor portraits.
Ask them if they are understanding if you call on the day of your session to reschedule, because "today isn't the day."
Ask them if they understand the importance of the correct lighting of the "Five Major Highlight Areas." Ask them if they know what a "Transition Zone" is.
Ask them if their posing is natural, or more "posy and stiff."
See how much you have learned so far? Pretty amazing, when you think about it, isn't it?
Mistake #11 can ruin everything!
What's this mistake? It's choosing the WRONG PHOTOGRAPHER FOR YOUR SENIOR PORTRAIT. Everything depends on that one decision.
And hopefully, now that you know these 11 major mistakes that most seniors or parents make - you won't make those mistakes! You'll be able to chose the right photographer for yourself, based on all this new found information you now have!
Now, we may not be the right photographer for you. But the fact that you're still reading this means we probably are. Because we care about all the things I've talked about to you here. But the only way you'll really know for sure if we are right for you or not is to call us.
So what should you do right now?
Now, while it's fresh in your mind, pick up the phone, and call me so we can chat on the phone. No charge. No obligation. No sales pitch. We're not that kind of studio.
CLICK HERE to find the number to call. We'll just chat.
You can ask us any questions you may have. We'll see if there are any session times still remaining for seniors. If there are, and if you'd like to, we can set up a time for you to come in and we can show you around the studio, and chat a bit. There's still no charge or obligation. You do not need to have made a decision to hire us, before you can come in and chat with us! No way!
Then, after we meet and chat, if you feel you'd like to have us create your senior portraits, fine. If not, fine also. We are here to help you in any way we can. But we're not here to pressure you into doing anything you don't want to do. The decisions are completely up to you.
However, I do want to urge you to act immediately! My schedule is almost completely full at the time I'm updating this site. Very few senior session times remain! Why? Because I have such a great reputation from my past seniors I have worked with. They tell all their friends, and then they all call me, and my book just completely fills up. Plus, because we spend so much time with each one of the seniors we photograph, we can't photograph as many seniors as other photographers who have more of a "factory" arrangement.!
So if anything I have said here sounded the least bit interesting to you, CALL NOW! DO NOT WAIT EVEN ONE DAY ON THIS! CLICK HERE right now to get the number to call.
I have a very special offer for you...FREE! (But ONLY if you're one of the first 49 people to call me!)
As long as you are one of the first 49 people to call me - just to chat - I will make you a FANTASTIC OFFER! You can save 50% off the creation of your senior portraits (or those of your son or daughter)! That saves you a bunch of money! But you'll need to act quickly!
Call right away. I can't wait to talk to you about your senior portraits! CLICK HERE.
Sincerely,
Bob Gosselin
Professional Senior Photographer
P.S. Call us now. We have an excellent reputation in the community, and we'll take really good care of you. So call us today. We'll just chat. No charge, no obligation, no sales talk. But don't put it off. I know that at this moment, you aren't sure about your senior portraits. That's fine. But, please understand that because we spend so much time with each one of our seniors, we only have 49 session times remaining for this special offer. Once they are gone, you will not be able to get the 50% discount off the creation of the images. So call right now.
P.P.S. One last thing. Having your senior portrait taken is such a personal thing, that you want to be sure you select a photographer who is not only really driven to help you look fantastic, but who you (or your son or daughter) also like and trust. That's why I urge you to read the comments from some of the other seniors we've photographed, and then call us and chat on the phone. This will give you an immediate feeling as to the type of people we are, so you can decide now, while we hopefully still have some session times available, whether or not you'd like to at least come in and chat. CLICK HERE to call right now. We will enjoy hearing from you! |