On this page I’ll point out some of the advantages you’ll benefit from when you choose Keith Photography for your Portraits.
Lighting: I’ve spent countless hours and many thousands of dollars studying lighting with the best of the best from all corners of the country. I welcome your questions about my lighting techniques and challenge you to ask any other photographer you may consider hiring about theirs.
I generally use at least three lights plus a reflector in the studio. Sometimes I’ll use as many as five lights or as few as one depending on the effect or emotion I’m trying to convey.
For outdoor Portraits I ALMOST ALWAYS use off camera flash. Did you catch those two terms? “Off camera” & “flash”. Let’s talk about the latter first.
With flash, I control a several very critical things.
First: With flash I can control the QUALITY of the light (remember, we’re still talking about on location – outdoors here). I’ll be able to assess the situation and decide to use my light either as the main or as the fill. Either way, the light will be flattering to you in your Portraits.(show examples of flat light and portrait lighting, no lighting, on camera, off camera). I’ll bring out a second light, a reflector or scrim as needed.
Second: With flash I can control the COLOR of light: OK, this is a tough one to write about so I’ll use visuals for this one. Visuals are forth coming. Check back soon and you’ll see examples of why it’s important for a photographer to have a handle on controlling the color of the light in a picture.
OK, so now that I have ranted for a bit, I’ll make a damning admission. I don’t usually print for accurate skin tones. You are probably saying to yourself “WT*!, You just told me all about controlling the color of light.” Here’s the difference, I shoot, process and print for FLATTERING skin tones. If you need to be warmed up a little that’s what I’ll do, if you need to be cooled down (very rare), I’ll do it. Basically, I shoot, process and print with flattering skin tones in mind. I print for skin tones that make my subject look the best. everything else is secondary as far as color goes.
I CAN do those vintage or currently popular effects and I sometimes do them. But I’ll NEVER do them to mask poorly light & expose an image
Three: QUALITY of light. Check back for examples of no light modification, on camera flash and off camera flash, with and without soft box, etc. You’ll easily be able to spot the difference in a properly lit image and that of one that is poorly lit. In a nut shell, I know where to place the light, & how much light to use in order to make you and your family look the best possible. I know what makes you look fat and what doesn’t. Which do you prefer?
Here’s why all this matters to you: I can light your Portrait(s) in any way necessary to deliver the Portraits (or pictures or whatever you want to call them) that will outlast you and me by several generations. Ultimately the Portraits you commission me to create for you will end up being far more valuable to your family than any dollar amount you may exchange for them today.
Posing: Along with lighting, Posing is VERY important to getting portraits you’ll be proud to own and share. If you want to be flattered in your Portraits be wary of a photographer that says they do all natural un posed photography. I can do Formal, very posed Portraits along with casual very natural looking Portraits. Whichever you choose, I’ll make sure you are posed to flatter you and your family.
Retouching: On every individual image we evaluate what needs to be done and how best to portray you and your family. Almost always that includes softening features like bags under eyes, whitening teeth (never over done), removing stray hairs and enhancing (but never over doing) eyes. Each image is tweaked for color and exposure (if needed). Then any blemishes or wrinkles, and bag under eyes are softened. We do this on an image by image basis. For instance, A full length portrait gets different retouching techniques than a close up of the same person. Just like a child gets different retouching than a 40 yr old women. A 40 yr old woman gets different treatment than a 60 yr old woman. Some photographers use the same “one touch retouch button” for all subjects. At Keith Photography your image will be processed depending on what it needs to make you look your best. See my page on what to look for if you don’t choose to us me for your Portraits. Link to follow.
I’m often asked can I make someone look 20 pounds lighter. The answer is yes. I do it through 1. Posing, 2. Lighting, 3. careful retouching.
Real Location: When dealing with Keith Photography you’ll come to a REAL store front location. I’ve been located at 434 Red Bud Rd NE, Calhoun GA 30701 since 1999. If you meet me at a location for a session it’s because you choose a location session. Not because doing studio portraits wasn’t an option.
I won’t ask you to meet ma at Starbucks to pick up your pictures and I won’t drop them off at your beauty shop (unless that’s what you really want)
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I’ve heard many stories about clients having to track down the photographer after being photographed just to find out they really didn’t have anything worthwhile from their session. The person that’s operating with just a cell phone, camera and a car could easily dodge you when something goes wrong or if they screw up your pictures. You don’t have to worry about that at Keith Photography. I’m always easy to find.
Also, along with the REAL location, I have dedicated dressing rooms that are connected to the camera room. You won’t be changing in the bathroom, closet or worse yet, in the camera room. If you are having your newborn photographed, I have a changing room with a fully stocked changing table and it’s a private area should you need to nurse your baby.
Oh, did I mention the Real Studio? Studios are getting to be pretty rare these days. I mean ones that actually have the capability of doing session IN the studio. I have enough lighting and backgrounds to suite almost any need.
Final Portrait Quality: At Keith Photography we go all out to deliver Portraits that will outlast us all by several generations. I honestly believe I’m putting out a product that is BETTER than anything else that you can get from anyone else in this part of the country.
Let me explain:
1: Our prints are made using archival pigments on heavy weight photo paper that have been proven by independent testing to outlast traditional prints by many, many years. In addition to using Archival Pigments we’re using them on heavy weight photographic paper that is specially manufactured for that purpose. Even without the ArtShield (you’ll read about that in a minute) you’ll notice the substantial weight of our prints compared to all others. Compared to a Keith Photography Portrait most others feel like they are printed on newsprint.
Stop by the studio and I’ll be glad to show you a traditional print that was printed at a Professional Lab seven years ago that is badly faded. As far as I know all other photographers in the area use this type of print from a professional lab or worse yet, from Wal-Mart, Costco, M-Pix, etc. Beware, they WON’T LAST!
2: All portraits at Keith Photography 4×5 and larger are protected by ArtShield. ArtShield is coating we apply as a finishing touch that makes your Portraits tough as nails. ArtShield protects your Portraits from scratches, moisture and other concerns such as exposure to UV, smoke, water, oil from handling them (fingerprints) etc.
ArtShield eliminates the need for glare producing glass when framing. Should your Portraits become soiled simply wipe them with a damp cloth. Try that with a traditional print! Should it get wet, simply wipe it with a dry cloth. You can’t do that with a traditional print.
We go to extra effort & expense to do all this. I think its well worth it. Future generations of your family will be glad you thought so too.
3: All Portraits 11×14 and larger are mounted and ready to frame. The mounting helps protect larger prints from damage and in general, it’s just the way a professional should deliver his or her product.
GUARANTEE: No one else offers one and if they have ANY guarantee, not one as strong as this one. You risk nothing!
Frame Guarantee: when I frame your portrait it’s guaranteed for life, PERIOD! If it fades, “not gonna happen” I’ll rep ace it. If the kids knock it off the wall while playing soccer in the house, I’ll replace it (frame and portrait). If you accidentally run over it with the moving truck, I’ll replace it… You get the idea. Ask any other photographer you might consider hiring about their guarantee. I suspect you may see them squirm or make something up on the spot.