Where Should I Have My Portrait Made?

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Stan_Cox_II]Stan Cox II
Where your photography is created does make a difference. There are benefits to having your photography done in a studio, such as greater privacy, complete control of the light and elements, and it doesn't matter what time of day the photography is done. In environmental portraits you will want to the photography done during the most beautiful light of the day, which is the Golden Hour. In studio that doesn't matter.
So for newborns, infants and boudoir portraits a studio session may be just fine. However even in those cases the even better choice would be to have the photography done in your home! Why? Because while with newborns, the environment of the studio won't matter to them, with infants it will be an unfamiliar place, and may cause uneasiness. In the familiar surroundings of the home, not only will the infant be more comfortable naturally, but you'll also have all the baby's toys, clothes and accessories right at hand if needed.
With a boudoir portrait session, it's almost the same as with infants and toddlers...That is, usually it's not the most comfortable situation for ladies to be hanging out in their "undies" in front of a stranger who is photographing them! So the additional comfort of the familiar surroundings of the home can help her relax and contribute to the success of the session.
With Executive portraits, or "Headshots", the studio can be a good choice as well. In some cases the studio is even the best choice, such as with a headshot portrait where virtually no environmental background would add anything. Again, with business portraits the time and convenience of the subject play a large part, so going into a studio where the lighting and background are all set up and ready to go can make it the ideal location.
However, when the executive portrait is to be � or full length, I believe that a location in or around the business should be used. The business is the environment of the businessperson, and can contribute to the overall impact of the portrait.
For personal and family portraits I really feel that a studio is absolutely the wrong place to have the photography session! The studio is meaningful only to the photographer. It is true that beautiful family portraits can be created in a studio, and there are a number of masterful photographers who work exclusively in their studios. However because it can and is done doesn't make it the right place, or the best place to have your family portraits made.
I have made thousands of family portraits in my career, and I used to make most of them in my studio. Over the years I have found that portraits that are photographed in a location that has some personal meaning to the family are appreciated and enjoyed by the family much, much more than those created in the studio.
Remember, portraits are all about the people, and emphasis is placed on the faces and expressions. In family portraits we also want to show the relationships and connections within the family. This can certainly be accomplished in a studio, but if you think about it, the home is really an extension of the family. It reflects the family's interests and tastes, and it uniquely comfortable to the family. So in many cases the home is the ideal location to have the photography done.
If the family enjoys picnics and or activities at a particular park or beach, that location has special meaning and is almost like a member of the family. When the photography is done at that special location, the location itself becomes like another personality in the portrait!
Almost any activity and associated location can be far more meaningful when incorporated into a portrait than a studio could ever be! If for example the family loves to go boating together, the family yacht could be the perfect location for the photography. What about a family that loves to go camping or hiking together? The favorite campsite might be the perfect setting for the photography, or the favorite hiking trail. Given a little thought and just about any location other than a studio can add immensely to the depth and meaning of a portrait.
About the author: Stan P. Cox II runs a Portrait and Commercial photography studio in Honolulu, Hawaii, and has been a professional Hawaii photographer specializing in portraiture for over 30 years. His web address is: http://www.paramountphotography.com This article may be freely distributed if this resource box stays attached.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Where-Should-I-Have-My-Portrait-Made?&id=6627250] Where Should I Have My Portrait Made?