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The biggest complaint I hear
about Senior portraits is that the family does
not have a choice.
"We are forced to go to So
& So Photography because that's who the school
has contracted. If we don't go to So So
Photography, we won't get our pictures in the
annual".
Starting around midsummer, I
hear this time and time again, which is why I
decided to include this article in our
Tips for the Best Senior Portrait
articles.
First off, in the defense of
So & So Photography, I understand why they must
demand this policy. It's not an evil
conspiracy to force you to use them. Their
policy is because of copyright law. It is simply
illegal to reproduce a professional
photographer's work without written permission.
It would be a paperwork nightmare trying to
abide by the law and match all of the copyright
permissions to each student wishing to be in the
annual for an entire high school.
The next biggest complaint I
get about the contract photographer is, "They
all look alike" or, even worse..."I hated the
pictures because they all looked alike" or "I
know I take better pictures than that"!
Now I'm not in business to
defend the contract photographer but again there
are reasons...
Look at it this way. You're
out kickin' it on a Saturday night, just having
a good time with some friends. Someone suggests
cruising over to McDonalds and grab a few
burgers. Everyone piles in the car and heads to
the drive through. When you get there, half
the school had the same idea and the drive
through is uber long. Oh well, you're
here and hungry and MD's is crankin' it out.
Finally you're at the menu and its your turn,
"Yeah Dude, I want a number two, extra large
fries, and a coke." Everyone in the car orders,
you drive up to pay... [oops sorry... honest,
she really sounded like a dude in the
speaker]. Anyway, now you're chewing and it
only took around 10 minutes. All's right in the
world,only your value meal tastes the same as
everyone else's, tastes like the one you had
last week or last month, even last year.
Where am I going with all
this???
Here's where... Your senior
portrait is the most looked at picture you will
ever take up until about your wedding! It's
true, your senior portrait will be seen by more
people and looked at more closely than even your
newborn pictures. Honestly, this is the most
important photograph of your life thus far!
Notice, I haven't slammed the
contract photographer, not even once. Actually,
I feel a little sorry for them. Early in my
career, I tried that "take a number"
photography and had to slam as many cheese
burgers, I mean students, through that assembly
line as fast as I could hating every minute of
it. I hated it and it showed.
Talk about driving you
crazy... Having a passion for photography but
hating that contract environment.
Senior portraits, the most
important portrait of a senior's life, shouldn't
be rushed and / or shouldn't look just like the
portrait taken a few moments ago.
You are an individual at a very
important time in your life.
The goal of your senior
portrait is to reach past the camera and the
lights and capture what makes you, you during
this remarkable time. |
You just can't do that coming
from out of town for a 30-45 minute session.
But what can you do? To get
your picture in the annual, you have to use So &
So Photography. And who wants to go to the
expense of doing it twice?
Here's a way to get into
the annual, curb the expense and get the quality
and originality you need, worthy of your
senior portrait.
Unfortunately you still have to make the trip
and visit the contract photographer. But go in
confidence, now you have a backup plan. Your
contract photographer will do a fine shot,
suitable for any annual so take the picture.
You are still going be charged the creation fee
for their basic senior session but...
This is my promise and my
offer! Bring me your receipt from the contract
photographer and receive the total amount of
their sitting fee as credit toward the cost of
an RFP custom fine art portrait .
Here's what to expect, first
off we will have a chat to discuss the "look" of
your portrait. Actually, the time we spend
with you beforehand to plan and coordinate
everything, so the portraits are really special
to you is a unique characteristic of RFP.
I can help you with your
clothing decisions and hair and makeup
decisions. We can discus how to incorporate
props, cars, or pets into your portrait, and
show you how my portraiture is beautifully
enhanced for perfection. How all blemishes, etc
will be removed or even give you a fabulous tan!
Also, I understand that most
people don't feel comfortable in front of a
camera. Since we have met before the day we
actually do the portraits no one is the least
bit apprehensive. I
work carefully with my clients so they have a
great time during the photography.
After the session, we process
your images and get your portraits ready for
previewing and selecting. Once you make your
selection we complete the final enhancements
and prepare the pictures for the lab. After
printing, your portraits are flawlessly mounted
and hand lacquered for protection. Your wallets
are perfectly cropped then die cut with rounded
corners. Your gift sized portraits are printed
on the very same high quality photographic paper
as your mounted custom portraits.
Wouldn't you agree that when
investing in photography as important as a
Senior Portrait, that planning and taking the
time necessary to create the perfect portrait
that you will be thrilled with is worth the
extra effort?
We also do fewer sessions than
other photographers in this area. We do this to
take more time and create something really
meaningful to you rather than rushing you
through like a contract factory.
In closing, I want to offer
one last comment and describe another unique
factor of Ric Farrah Photographs.
You have no risk. The planning
consultations are absolutely free and without
any obligation what-so-ever. Furthermore, if you
decide to work with us and you are not thrilled,
not just satisfied, but thrilled with
your senior portrait, we will return all your
money!
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RFP
is Ric Farrah Photographs. We provide Fine Art and Black and White
Photography, Wall Portraits, and digital imaging.