Environmental vs. Studio

The studio is located just three miles east of Cummings, North Dakota, fitting in nicely with the farmland surrounding it. Quiet and peaceful, you're able to enjoy a little country on your portrait day. Outside we're able to photograph with wagon wheels, arches, trees, park benches, an old '49 International pickup and more. Inside, a recent expansion of the studio provides more space and wider variety of background areas to choose from.

The studio interior was designed with an atmosphere of home in mind. Children & adults are invited to explore the studio - becoming familiar with the surroundings adds to the comfort of the portrait.

Within the camera area there are paper backgrounds, canvas backgrounds, muslins and other materials, chairs, props, flowers & lots of other stuff to photograph with. But, of course you are always welcome to bring the special things from home that would add that personal touch.

Environmental location portraits. Within a short distance of the studio there are barns, fields, old houses, old bridges, train cars, railroad tracks and bridges, museums parks - and so much more. North Dakota has no shortage of beautiful places.

And, never underestimate your own home. A family portrait in a family setting speaks volumes about the people and the place. Inside or out, these portraits are sure to be treasured for generations to come with the additonal memories your surroundings provide.

A personal consultation may be arranged to discuss the many options available, or to look over a home environment or other location for ideas. Please call for an appointment

Session Planning

Often the most difficult part of a family portrait is finding a time that agrees with everyone's schedule. Our studio is available for early evening and weekend sessions to help accommodate this dilemma. A pre-session consultation may be arranged in the studio or home. Please call for an appointment if this is desired.

When children are involved, try to arrange sessions around their schedules, staying away from nap or meal times. Consider bringing a snack and favorite beverage along for children. They tire easily and sometimes a short break between sets will have them ready for more..

Color

Try to create a “key” of color - blues with khaki, white on white, white on black, earth tones with denim, etc. Whatever the color scheme is, all members should dress accordingly. This is not to say that everyone needs to dress identically, but rather, coordinated.

Darker colors tend to slenderize and blend bodies together highlighting the face - great for formal or traditional portraits. Bright colors and prints tend to distract from the face, bringing more attention to the clothing itself. Short sleeves and shorts tend also to be distracting and are often not what we like to see in ourselves.

Lay all the clothes out where you can stand back to view them. If one article of clothing stands out, the person that’s wearing it for the portrait will too. Consistency in color and types of clothing tends to create a more unified portrait.

Other Considerations

While everyone is together it’s a good idea to consider the various groupings that might be photographed within a family. Combining a variety of groups from the same settings in a wall cluster tells a wonderful story and adds to the memories. Some examples of these are: Mom & dad, just the kids, mom with new baby, dad with new baby, mom & daughter(s), dad & son(s), grandparents with grandchildren, etc. Sharing these ideas prior to the session is important so that both time and film are allowed.

If you normally wear glasses you should wear them for your portrait. Your optometrist may be able to borrow you a pair of blank frames, otherwise every effort will be taken to keep glare out.

Blemishes can be retouched, but can be expensive, so it’s best to minimize this in advance if possible. Foundation and powder can work wonders to accomplish this - for the guys as well as the girls.