Deutsch Photography | Portrait Frequently Asked Questions

No matter who I'm shooting -- models, a couple, a family, a baby, a dog, or any combination thereof -- my sessions are relaxed, casual and fun. My sessions aren't about posing for the camera; they're about interaction among everyone involved. Sometimes we'll wander around a location, sometimes you'll sit in my studio, or sometimes we might just kick back. But no matter the situation, I'll be observing and capturing real moments.

In addition to creating authentic images that reveal real emotion and personality, I create aesthetically beautiful photographs that are engaging and interesting. I shoot from just the right angles, compose arresting images, and utilize expert studio lighting or beautiful natural light to create portraits you will treasure.

2. Where do you shoot portraits? [Top]

The choice is yours. Personally, I often like shooting portraits in the subjects' environment. People feel comfortable and can usually be more "themselves" at home or in a familiar setting. Plus, the portraits are placed in a context that makes sense. For instance, for family portraits, I like to shoot at your home, at a favorite park, or at a similar locale.

I also have a studio in which I love to shoot. In my studio, I have complete control over the lighting, and and we can use a simple, undistracting backdrop which places all the emphasis on the subject.

3. Do you shoot indoors or outdoors? [Top]

I shoot portraits indoors and outdoors – there are advantages to both.

As I mentioned above, in my studio, I have complete control over the lighting, and we can use a simple, undistracting backdrop. Plus, it’s private and the weather is always good.

I also have portable studio lights and flashes that I can use if I'm shooting in your home or some other indoor location.

Outside, we have beautiful, natural light, which at the right time of day is the most flattering type of light. Also, many people feel more relaxed outdoors without the formality of studio lights. And, we can choose a setting that fits the look you want – urban/gritty, rural/bucolic, etc.

4. Do you photograph animals? [Top]

Sure. Whether you want portraits of your pets alone or with the rest of the family, I'm happy to photograph them. I'm a dog guy myself, but cats and other animals usually put up with me too.

5. How should I prepare for the shoot? [Top]

In no particular order:

a. Give some thought to the types of images you want. I'll bring my own style to the shoot no matter what, but if you have specific ideas about what you want the portraits to look like, it'll help me ensure that you are thrilled with the results.

b. You know the routine to make your skin and eyes look their best, so do it.

• for 72 hours before the shoot drink lots of water; avoid caffeine, alcohol, cigarettes and salty foods; stay out of the sun;

• moisturize;

• get lots of sleep the night before.

c. If you’re planning on using a makeup artist, come to the shoot with your face clean and product-free (except for moisturizer).

d. Take care of all your beauty treatments (haircut & color, eyebrow shaping, tanning, etc.) well in advance of the shoot (preferably about a week ahead) so the treatments are still fresh but look more natural.

6. What should I bring to the shoot? [Top]

• Clothes (see below).

• If we're shooting in my studio, bring music that relaxes you, revs you up, or just makes you happy. If you bring your iPod, I’ll plug it in. And if you don’t have an iPod, I have a pretty huge music collection available, so chances are we’ll find something to relax you, rev you up, AND make you happy.

• Hairbrush and any styling products you need.

• For babies or young children, bring a couple of favorite toys and/or blankets to help make them happy while being photographed.

7. What clothes should I wear/bring? [Top]

The most important thing is that your clothes reflect your personality and help you achieve your objectives for the photos.

That being said, I suggest you DO:

• Wear clothes that you like and feel comfortable in.

• Wear solid colors or subtle prints/patterns. (Busy prints or clothes with big buttons or other features might take away attention from that beautiful mug of yours).

- Feel free to wear nicely textured clothes and fine weaves; they often look good on film.

- Choose clothes that complement your skin tone and eye color. Fair skin and blue eyes? Try blues, pinks and grays. Green eyes? Try browns, greens and oranges. Medium or dark skin and brown eyes? You can probably wear most colors.

• Remove the lenses from your glasses if possible.

And, I suggest that you DON’T:

• Wear colors that closely match your skin tone (contrast is key). In general, solid white shirts will wash out your skin if you’re Caucasian or light-skinned.

• Wear bright red. It’s just too strong a color for almost anybody on film.

8. What happens after the shoot? [Top]

First I edit the pictures. I delete the bad ones and crop and color/density correct the rest. The results will be posted to an online gallery, usually within about 72 hours, and I'll mail you any CD/DVD that you've purchased.

After that, if you've purchased prints from me, you'll selected the final images, and we’ll talk about crops and retouching in case there is anything specific you want me to do. Then I’ll retouch the images and email you the results, for your approval. After I’ve received your approval, I'll mail you your professional prints in a few days.

9. Why do you like to meet before the shoot? [Top]

Meeting before the shoot gives you a chance to ask all the questions these FAQs haven’t answered, and it gives me a chance to learn what type of shots you’re looking for, which will help me plan the photo shoot accordingly.

But more importantly, by meeting ahead of time, we’ll get to know each other. Then, during the photo session, you’ll be more relaxed, and we’ll have more fun.

10. What’s included in the price of the photo shoot? [Top]

Each portrait session includes hand-editing of every single picture, a CD with proofs of your images, an on-line photo gallery, pre-shoot consultation, and travel within the 5 boroughs of New York City or up to 25 miles from Manhattan.

For complete details about what’s included in my portrait packages, please click here. If you still have questions, please contact me.

11. Do you offer a CD of my images? Is this included or is this an extra fee? [Top]

Every portrait session that I photograph includes a CD-ROM with a complete set of proofs. The proofs are “web ready,” which means they are perfect for viewing on a monitor, posting online, or sharing by email. They are not, however, photo-quality, meaning they are not high enough resolution for making prints.

For an extra fee, you can purchase high-resolution, photo-quality images from which you can print copies of your photos. For more information, click here.

12. Can I buy the negatives? [Top]

Nope. I only shoot digital these days. But you can buy high-resolution images from which you can print your own pictures. See FAQ #11, above.

13. Can you post my pictures online? [Top]

Yes. I have partnered with Pictage.com to provide online picture galleries that can be shared with family and friends. All Pictage galleries can be password protected so that you control who can view the pictures.

14. Can my friends and family buy prints? [Top]

Who am I to say ‘no’ to people who want to buy my pictures? Anybody to whom you provide the password can view and purchase pictures of your portraits at Pictage.com, one of the nation’s leading professional photography labs. All photos are printed on Kodak’s finest Endura professional papers, the industry standard for print-life longevity.

15. Are color and B&W photography included or is there an extra fee for B&W? [Top]

I shoot digitally, which means it’s easy for me to convert your image into B&W (or sepia) at no extra charge. Sometimes I see an image and I feel compelled to create a B&W copy of it before providing you proofs. But even if you don’t see a B&W proof image, just ask and I’ll convert if for you to B&W or sepia.

16. Do you Photoshop the pictures? [Top]

At no additional cost to you, I tweak every single shot with Photoshop before you see the proofs. Not to bore you with technical mumbo-jumbo, but I shoot in RAW format (as opposed to JPG, for instance). Simply put, RAW files are like unprocessed negatives, while familiar formats like JPG and TIFF are more like the pictures you get back from the photo lab. There are many advantages to shooting RAW, perhaps the most important of which is that it gives me the maximum amount of control over the finished product. Before I can make the pictures available to you, I have to convert them into JPGs, which involves adjusting various qualities including color balance, exposure, shadows, sharpness, etc. It’s a time-consuming process, but I think it’s worth it to ensure that all my final images are gorgeous.

I do additional retouching on every 8x10 or larger enlargement that you order from me.

I can also do some pretty extraordinary picture manipulations with Photoshop. I do charge extra for this service, but if you want a picture modified, just let me know so I can give you an estimate. Modifications range from the simple (cleaning up stray hairs or getting rid of a bit of acne) to more complex (removing extraneous people, changing backgrounds, adding smiles, or even opening blinked eyes) to artistic (turning a photograph into a line drawing or cartoon or “hand-painting” colors into a B&W image). I’m a member of the National Association of Photoshop Professionals, and I take pride in my artistic and technical Photoshop abilities. For examples of my retouching, click here.

17. Do I need professional hair styling and makeup? [Top]

For women

Makeup: For formal portraits, it's difficult to underestimate the importance of makeup. The makeup you wear in your daily life is not the same as makeup for photography. So, I suggest you get your makeup done professionally. A professional makeup artist knows what makeup looks good on camera and will make you look your very best.

For casual portraits, professional makeup is not necessary, but it can still add to the shoot. A makeup artist can make you look your best but still keep you looking very natural.

Hair: Unlike makeup, there is no magic to doing hair for photos. But a hairstylist can make your hair look its best for the shoot. Ultimately, it's up to you.

For men

Typically men do not require makeup or hair styling, but it certainly cannot hurt. I provide cover-up and powder for men at no extra charge.

18. Do you have a makeup artist or hair stylist available? [Top]

Yes. For information about prices, click here. Please pay the makeup artist directly with cash or check.

19. Do you shoot digital or film? [Top]

Digital. For you gearheads out there, my primary camera is a Canon EOS 5D, a superior 12.8 megapixel camera. I use a variety of Canon professional (“L” Series) lenses when shooting portraits.

20. Why digital? [Top]

Oh, digital, how I love thee. Let me count the ways:

1) You don’t have to decide beforehand if you want color or B&W shots. I shoot everything in color, and it’s easy to convert to B&W later.

2) We will be able to view your pictures as we shoot (on my large computer monitor if shooting in studio).

3) I can easily and quickly post your images online.

4) I can easily retouch your images as needed.

5) The only limit to the number of shots I can take is the amount of memory cards I have at the shoot. And, we’ll run out of energy before I run out of memory.

21. But don’t digital pictures look worse than film? [Top]

No. Digital photography has come of age. The quality produced by a high-end digital camera and lens is now equal to or even better than most film cameras. Indeed, both formats are capable of producing incredible images in the hands of an experienced professional, and the vast majority of people cannot tell a professionally shot and processed digital photograph from a professionally shot and processed film photograph.

22. How long will you store the digital files? [Top]

I make my best efforts to store your files for at least one year from the time of your event. In addition to my regular hard drive, I have dual backup hard drives, and I regularly backup files to DVDs that are stored offsite to prevent loss in case of fire or other catastrophe. I also upload high resolution JPGs to Pictage’s servers (or other servers) for posting online, and those servers act as an additional backup. Nobody can guarantee that digital files will never be lost or corrupted (just as nobody can guarantee that negatives will never be lost or damaged), but I do my best. Plus, you always have the right to purchase the digital files and store them yourself.

23. Let’s get down to brass tacks. How much do you charge for portraits? [Top]

For information about prices, click here.

24. How do I make a payment? [Top]

I accept cash, checks or credit cards (via Paypal). Please pay the makeup artist directly with cash or check.

25. Is a deposit required? [Top]

Yes. To reserve a session, I require a 50% deposit.

26. What if I need to cancel? [Top]

Life is crazy, and I understand that cancellations are sometimes unavoidable. If you cancel more than a week before the shoot and reschedule, I will apply your deposit to the new shoot. If you cancel less than one week before the shoot and reschedule, I will apply half your deposit to the new shoot. If you don’t reschedule, you forfeit the deposit. However, if inclement weather forces us to cancel an outdoor shoot, I will refund your entire deposit or apply it to a rescheduled shoot.