Questions & Answers
I can't get my whole family together for a design consultation...
That's okay. The design consultation is not meant for your whole family, just for you and your spouse. Leave the children at home so that the two of you can have a quiet calm time to think about your portraits and talk with us.
Do I have to come to the gallery for both the planning selection and to select my portraits?...
Yes, a consultation at our gallery is an essential part of the creative process and is required. The selection of your portraits is also done at the gallery and is for both parents.
May have a weekend appointment?...
Consultations and selection appointments are scheduled at the gallery, Tuesday through Friday, daytime or evening. Portrait sessions are scheduled shortly after sunrise or about three hours before sunset, Tuesday through Friday. (We can tell you what time this will be.) With a $10,000 prepaid commission, Saturdays are available for portrait sessions.
I do not know where to have it done. ...
If your home or vacation home has special significance to you, have the portrait created inside your house or in your yard. It will add a sentimental depth to the portrait not present in a portrait created elsewhere. In addition, it may involve the least amount of travel time for you. If your home does not have any special significance, or if it isn't an option, wait until you are at your design consultation to decide. You will see portraits of people in all types of locations and Sterling will help you to choose one that is right for you.
I don't know if the location I want will work for a portrait.
If you have already picked a location you may be concerned that while it looks good to you it may not be suitable for the portrait session. Don't worry. After your consultation and prior to your session, Sterling will preview the area to decide how to best use it. If he doesn't think it is suitable, he will help you by suggesting other wonderful locations where he has created magnificent portraits.
My house needs decorating and my yard needs landscaping....
Explain the situation to Sterling at your consultation. He will preview your property and let you know what he thinks. Your entire yard or house will not show in the portrait and may work well in spite of some imperfections. Most people don't believe their property will work! Sterling is excellent at finding angles and nooks that you would never have considered. Remember, it's only what shows through the camera that matters. Cluttered and/or unattractive areas will not be included in the scene.
My adult children never tell me in advance when they are going to be in town. How can I schedule a portrait? ...
The way to handle this is to have the design consultation now and plan all the details in advance - the clothing, the location, the groupings, etc. Then, when you call at the last minute to schedule (because your children have called you at the last minute!) we will only have the portrait session to schedule, not the consultation, the location preview and the session.
I want an outdoor portrait but I'm worried about rain....
While it's natural to worry, the weather is not as big a concern as one would think. Cloudy skies make for the best lighting and, in case of rain during your session, we will have allowed extra time in the schedule so that we can take a break and start again as soon as it has stopped. (We have ways of dealing with wet ground.) Sterling will ask you at the design consultation if you would prefer to reschedule if the weather does not cooperate. Sessions that must be done on a specific day, as with an extended family gathering, should have an indoor backup location.
I can't decide what type of clothes we should wear....
You should wait until your design consultation to choose the color and style of the clothing. Sterling will have a lot of advice and assistance to give you. The formality of the clothing is up to you. Most of our clients choose relaxed, somewhat informal clothing because that is the feeling they want their portraits to convey.
I can't decide about our pet....
Please include your dog. It will help, not hurt, the portrait! Pets are often an integral part of a family. Don't exclude them because you think they will be difficult to handle. All of our team members own pets and we have lots of experience in this area.
I want portraits of my family but it has always been such an uncomfortable experience. I'm really not looking forward to it....
Sterling has a wonderful ability to put persons of all ages at ease. The people in his portraits look wonderfully relaxed and natural because they are relaxed. Sterling makes portraiture fun! Don't miss this opportunity because of previous bad experiences.