Portrait Party FAQ:
Please read the following answers to some of the most frequently asked questions
regarding home portrait parties If you have any additional questions, please call your
hostess.
How does a home portrait party work?
You call your hostess to schedule a time that is convenient for you to have your portraits
taken. On the day of the party, each guest takes turns having portraits taken in our mini
studio, which will be set up in your hostess’ home. You will be able to view your proofs
online about 1 week after the portrait party. You will have 4 days to place your order.
Your completed order will be ready in 3-4 weeks.
Why we sell digital images on cd’s at our home portrait parties?
* You get more portraits for your money. We like to provide value. You can make
as many printed portraits as you’d like, and have them printed anywhere you’d like,
at very economical prices.
* You can give them as gifts.
* They are great for digital and regular scrapbooking.
* You can email them to family and friends.
* You can put them on your blog, myspace, or facebook.
* You can create holiday cards, invitations, and birth announcements.
* You can put them in a digital frame to create a beautiful slideshow.
* You can use them as custom screen savers on your computer at home or at work.
* You can put them on a purse or jewelry.
* You can archive them for future generations. We suggest making one back up copy
right away, and keeping it at a location away from home. It is also important to make
updated copies every few years as technology changes over time.
(Our digital negatives can be printed as portraits up to 11×14 inches. Larger portraits
require additional processing, and can be ordered from Cherish Portraits.)
How long will my session be?
Each session is scheduled for 20 minutes. We suggest you come with one main goal
in mind, and a second, if we have time. Please arrive ten minutes before your scheduled
appointment to allow your child time to adjust to a new environment or wake up from a
car ride. Due to the time restrictions of a home party we do our best to stay on schedule.
*Please have your children fed and well rested before their photo shoot, you will
get much better portraits when your children are feeling their best.
I may need longer than 20 minutes, can I schedule two time slots?
No, portrait parties are meant to be abbreviated sessions. For those wanting a more
detailed session, we suggest scheduling a standard portrait session at our studio. The
standard studio sessions include one hour of time, several outfit changes if needed, etc.
Please see our standard pricing page for more info.
What types of props and/or backgrounds do you use?
I have an uncomplicated, modern classic, relaxed style of photography which means I
do not rely heavily on formal posing or props. We use very basic backdrops, and will
use the same one for the duration of the party. Please contact your hostess to find out
which one will be used so you can plan accordingly.
What to wear for your portrait session:
**Due to time restraints of a portrait party, we can not allow clothing changes for
guests.
Please come to the party with your children already dressed for their portraits.
Clothing is a very important part of your finished portrait. Very simple solid colored
clothing, in medium or dark tones photographs best. Babies photograph best without
clothing. Bright colors, and clothes with prints, patterns, or logos are distracting, and do
not photograph well on adults, but can be cute on children. Solid colored, but textured
fabrics photograph very well, especially in black and
white portraits. You’ll want to avoid
wide or deep necklines. On adults and teenagers, long sleeves look best. Short
sleeves or bare arms can appear to add weight in portraits of teenage and adult women.
Be sure to bring matching shoes for each outfit if some of your poses will be full length.
Avoid white socks, as they will show, and are very distracting in your finished portraits.
Make sure that your hands and feet are well manicured. Your hands will show in many
of your poses, and many people choose some poses with bare feet- this is optional.
*If you wear glasses and want to wear them in your portraits, ask your optometrist
If you can borrow a pair of glasses without the lens in them on the day of your portrait
session, this is the only way to completely avoid glass glare in your portraits.
Group portraits: It is extremely important that everyone wear coordinating colors in group portraits.
Solid colors, with no prints or patterns photographs best for most group portraits.
Jewelry: Less is best. Subtle jewelry is okay, but too large, or too much jewelry can
be very distracting in portraits.
Makeup: It is unnecessary to wear lots of extra makeup, simply apply your makeup as you normally
would for evening.
***Avoid makeup or nail polish that is glittery, sparkly, or frost; matte makeup
or nail polish always photographs better. You may want to put mascara on female
children with blonde or light eyelashes, to bring out their eyes, this is optional. Some
children benefit from clear lip gloss, but please keep it uncolored. You’ll want the child’s
portrait to look natural, not made up, or adult-like.
Can I bring my pet?
Due to the problems associated with pet allergies, shedding, messes, and the possibility
of some guests being afraid of some animals, we do not allow guests to bring their pets
to home portrait parties. Your hostess should have her own pets contained away from
the party while guests are there.
Please check our galleries for many great samples or to get ideas for your session.
*Thank you to Sarah Ulrich for sharing her wording for this page.