When will my previews be ready?

Your previews will be available for viewing about 10 days after sitting. Your viewing appointment is for

Who needs to attend the viewing appointment?

It is a good idea to have the person who will be responsible for choosing the pictures attend the viewing appointment. If this will include more than one person please feel free to bring everyone along.

What do I need to do before my viewing appointment?

Decide where you will display your wall portrait and what size would look best on your wall. A good rule of thumb is to measure the width of the area where your portrait will be displayed and divide by two. For example, if your portrait will hang over the sofa which is 80 inches long, the width of your portrait should be about 40 inches.
Make a list of everyone who will receive gift portraits.
Decide what size portraits everyone will need.
Estimate the number of wallets you will need.

What happens at the viewing appointment?

We will show you your previews on a monitor.
You will choose your favorite poses.
We will help you choose your best portrait package for your needs.
You will need a 50% deposit.

Why would I want to place my order at my viewing appointment?

There are many reasons, here are just a few:

You save money.
Your order will be finished much sooner.
You will eliminate at least one trip to our studio.
When you order any of our packages the day of your viewing appointment we will die-cut your wallets for FREE!
When you prepay for your order in full, we will give you an extra 10% off any frame order.
Retouch services are FREE

Selecting Your Portraits

Your proofs will be ready for your viewing approximately 10 days after your session. We will set up a viewing appointment at the time of your session. Between the time of your session and your proofing appointment, we ask that you begin to think about where in your home you would like to display your portraits and how many gift portraits you will need. It is helpful to have a list of your needs so that we can create a custom package to suit you.

Displaying Your Portraits

When selecting a location, consider a wall that is within a comfortable viewing distance and angle from the main seating areas. If you have to get up to see the portrait, you probably won’t (at least for a while). The most popular places for displaying include over a fireplace or above a main piece of furniture, such as a sofa, chair, or piano. Your portrait should cover 2/3 to 3/4 of the wall space available unless in a grouping.

Policies

Session Fees:

The session fee covers all costs involved in the creation of your portrait series, including time and materials, and does not include any finished portraits.

Portrait Payment:

Due to the custom nature of our product, payment of approximately one-half of your order is requested when you make your selections, and the balance upon delivery (normally in 4-5 weeks). Other payment plans can be tailored to meet your needs. MasterCard, Visa, Discover, cash and personal checks.

Finance Charges:

All finished orders not picked up within 30 days of notification will be subject to a 5% monthly finance charge. Valdes Photography is not responsible for orders not picked up within 30 days.

Tax Deductions:

Please remember that portraits used as office decor are fully tax deductible. We will be happy to produce a separate billing to your office should you so indicate.

Session Tips:

Very simple garments always photograph the best.

Turtle necks are flattering provided that it is not exaggerated in style. Avoid very wide or particularly deep V-neck garments, as well as bulky cowl neck sweaters that completely hide your neck.

Bold stripes, plaids, checks and prints are confusing and do not photograph well.

Especially bright colors, such as primary red and yellow will overpower the face.

When wishing to be photographed in full length you should wear long skirts, pants or dark stockings in order to keep the eye from being diverted toward the legs and away from the face.

If feet are to show in the portrait make certain shoes and stockings are in keeping with the visual intent of the portrait

Men should have hair cut about one week before the portrait session. Women should be photographed whenever they are happiest with their hair in relation to the time that it is styled. We recommend that women do not try a new style within three weeks before or after their portrait session.

Couples or small groups should choose simple garments within the same tonal ranges. Light and dark tones together create visual confusion, as one subject comes forward and the other recedes.

If you wear glasses ask your eye doctor to borrow a pair of frames without the lenses or temporally take the lenses out of your glasses.

Consultations:

A portrait session at our studio is an experience to treasure. A variety of session options allow you to create portraits that best capture you and your family. During an initial consultation, you have the opportunity to view our work and decide which style of photography describes the portrait you are in search of. Our consultation, at no cost to you, will save valuable time during the portrait session and assure you the customized results that you desire.

A word about creativity and customizing your session....

We are always open to new ideas. Please feel free to bring in any magazine, flyers or photographs with you for ideas.

Pets are welcome.

If you have an idea, please feel free to ask us. Our photographers are always happy to work with you no matter how unusual the idea may seem.

Props from home add a personal touch to your portraits. Bring any items that you would like to incorporate and we will do the rest.

Copyright:

The Copyright Act protects Valdes Photography by giving us the exclusive right to reproduce your photographs. This includes the right to control the making of copies of any kind. It is illegal to copy or reproduce your photographs elsewhere without written consent. Anyone making copies other than Valdes Photography is in violation of Federal Copyright Laws and may be fined up to $50,000.00. We will try to accommodate all reasonable requests. Please feel free to discuss your needs with us so that we may have the opportunity to serve you better.