On the surface, one might think that it is easy to capture a quality picture of an oil painting, but it can be deceiving!

If you are looking to capture a high quality reproduction of your artwork, make sure that you consider the following:

1. Accurate color: the gamut of colors, brightness, and saturation should match the original.  The image needs to be white balanced to deliver a true gray scale.
2. No glare: Oil paintings are three-dimensional and light from any angle will introduce unwanted glare that robs the image of true blacks; it introduces a white cast.  You could correct it in Photoshop, but that will introduce unwanted contrast and color shifts.  This must be taken care of in the lighting setup.
3. Resolution: With today's digital cameras, smaller pieces are easy to reproduce with sufficient resolution to get a full sized reproduction, but what about a 20"x30" painting?  Without a high quality lens and high resolution camera, the full sized reproduction will not be crisp enough; it will look fuzzy.
4. Distortion: The tendency is to use a wide angle lens to fit the whole piece in the viewfinder, but that will distort the artwork and without a high quality lens could introduce aberrations on the edges.  
5. Perspective: If the camera and artwork are not perfectly aligned on equivalent planes, the top of the image will be a different width than the bottom (ex. camera is tilted up slightly to get everything in the image).

Make sure the photographer has a handle on the unique challenges of artwork reproduction, especially oil paintings with their 3D glossy attributes.

RWins Photography combines the knowledge of a Photographic Science degree from RIT with 30 years of photography experience and attention to detail that gives you an accurate digital rendition of your masterpiece!  Give us a call at 828-243-5392 and tell us about your needs!

You’re a savvy business person that recognizes the importance of your presence in the business community.  You have a website, you are building an online presence and developing an Internet marketing and social media strategy.  Very good!   However, do you have a picture of yourself to display online?  How old is that picture (2, 3, even 5 years old)?  What does that picture say about you?  Does your portrait convey a professional image that reflects who you are today? 

As the saying goes, ‘A picture says a 1000 words’.  This is so true in a positive and negative way.  A good quality portrait can convey confidence, professionalism, someone approachable, and someone your viewers can relate to.  However, a low quality, aged portrait can have a reverse affect; you can be viewed as less than professional, not a serious business person, or in a subtle way… not someone they care to do business with.

If you are serious about marketing, then you need to invest in a quality business portrait that captures your personality and conveys how you want others to perceive you.

A business or executive portrait is a head and shoulders portrait. It is a portrait of an individual and can be a set of individual portraits for the key employees in a business.

Where do you use a business portrait?

   Your Website:

• About Us page next to your bio
• Mission and Vision page where you win over clients with your principles

  Your Blog(s):

• Header of your blog to reinforce who is writing and/or publishing the blog
• In the resource block at the bottom of each article where you convince people to click the link that goes to your website’s key landing page.
• About Us page where you describe your company / yourself.

   Your Social Media sites:

• Twitter where you pass on key information to your community
• Linked-In where you hang your professional hat and talk business
• Facebook where you connect with where people are informally hanging out

   Your Business Cards

   Your Resume

   Printed Advertisements, Press Releases, and Public Relations

Where do you find a quality business portrait?

1)      Search the Internet for local photographer listings and review their portfolios

• Business portrait photographer
• Executive portrait photographer
• Headshot photographer

2)      Search other local businesses to look at their portraits then ask them who the photographer was.

3)      Ask your Chamber of Commerce for recommendations

There are many different types of photographers, you’ll want to find one that specializes in people and specifically business or executive portraits.  Review a photographer’s portfolio and ask yourself if their images convey how you’d like to be viewed?  Select a couple of photographers and setup a face-to-face meeting.

How to look professional?

Professional is a broad term and a professional portrait can be created in many different ways depending on how you want your prospective clients to view you.  To help you answer the question, look at your competitors’ websites and look through photographer’s online portfolios to see what the possibilities are and which images might best represent you.  

What setting do you want to be photographed in?

• In the studio to employ distinct portrait lighting and background
• In your executive office space (desk, bookshelves, window view)
• Out ‘on the floor’ of your business
• At a client
• Within an environment where your product or services are used
• An outdoor setting like a park, lake, or beach

What background and lighting is best?

You want a background that complements your clothing colors, separates you from the background and isn’t distracting.  It can be a busy background that conveys a certain environment (bookshelf, trees, your business), but the background MUST be sufficiently out-of-focus so the viewer’s eyes naturally flow from it to your face.

• Classic look: Subtle solid colors, neutral colors, neutral textured backgrounds
• Entrepreneur look: Use your lobby, out-on-floor of your business
• Vibrant look: Bright saturated colors, high-key white
• Casual look: Outdoors with out-of-focus foliage
• Strong authoritative look: Darker background with carefully placed lighting

What tone do you want to convey?

You need consider aspects of your personality that you want to show?

• Casual or formal?
• Serious or smiling?
• Authority figure or approachable?
• With your glasses or not?

How should you dress?

Your portrait will represent you and your business, so you need to dress for success. Consider wearing business attire that is appropriate for your client base; clothing that conveys success and   engages your customer-base.

• Men: a suit jacket, sweater, or dress shirt.
• Women: a blouse or a tailored jacket.
• Long sleeves are more flattering.
• Avoid wearing patterns, they draw the eye from the subject’s face.
• Solid mid-tone colors that don’t blend with the background
• Avoid wearing bright reds, yellows and oranges, they are a distraction
• Avoid wearing white or flesh tone colors (beige, tan, peach, pink), they blend with your face
• Avoid clothing that shows wrinkles, it conveys sloppy and unprofessional look.

However, you must feel comfortable in your clothing or your images will show a stiff and unnatural look. 

Get photographed in at least 2 wardrobe changes per setting and at least 2 settings. What might look good during the shoot may look different in the final image (ex. Something out of place or just doesn’t feel right).  Having options is always a good thing!

What about jewelry?

Jewelry can complement your wardrobe and emit a professional polished look.  Like the colors and patterns of your wardrobe, jewelry should be an ‘accessory’ and not be so bold as to distract from your face.  It should only accent your wardrobe and not overpower it.

For women, wear shorter necklaces that conform to the neckline of your shirt.  Pearl necklaces and earrings offer a classic look.

What about make-up?

Your make-up should reflect how you are seen with your clients.  If you don’t normally wear make-up, then keep it light with a basic foundation to even skin tones and reduce shine.   Like jewelry, make-up should not be overdone.

• The camera tends to emphasize make-up, especially blush.
• Avoid glossy or shimmery make-up, it will catch the light and be distracting.
• Bring extra powder to the portrait session to avoid facial shine (nose, chin, forehead).

Should you purchase multiple images?

Consider having different wardrobe and different settings for different purposes. It is helpful to have a range of photos to use for your business. 

• Website
• Social media sites
• Conference agendas
• Printed ads
• Press releases

Consider rotating out images with a slightly different pose or look over time

Purchase several different images from the same photographer to save money, time, and provide consistency that shows an added measure of professionalism.

What services should the photographer offer?

• Good customer service: prompt replies, good communication skills, personable
• Suggestions on setting, wardrobe, lighting, make-up, and posing
• Professional quality portrait retouching (ex: removing blemishes, reducing under-eye circles, brightening eyes, whitening teeth, reducing wrinkles)
• A professionally retouched image that doesn’t look overdone, minimized distractions, and accurately represents you.
• A high resolution digital copy for printed media (ex. 300 dpi: 8x10)
• A set of web-ready digital images (ex. 72 dpi: 150 pixel, 300 pixel, 550 pixel)

What product should the photographer offer?

Who owns the copyright to the image?

The photographer retains the image copyright but grants you permission to use your image for business purposes. Some photographers will charge different usage rates based on its purpose and breadth of distribution that image will have (ex. National ad campaign); other photographers will grant full usage rights to the client as a part of the portrait image fee.  You need to ask about usage fees up front. 

Select a photographer where you can arrange for unlimited use; you want the freedom to broadcast your image widely on the Internet and on printed media as you see fit.

How much should a business portrait cost?

That depends on the skill of your photographer and what you are looking for.

On the low end, a 1 hour in-studio session might cost $50-$100 just for the sitting or session fee which does not include the images, digital prints, or the rights to use them.

Rich Winslow has 30 years of experience in the photography industry and specializes in portrait photography in Asheville and throughout western North Carolina.  By mentioning this article, you’ll get a 15% discount on your business portrait session. Learn more

Do you need your products photographed?

Wondering what you need to do to prepare for a photo shoot?

Want to know what to talk to the photographer about?

It's the photographer’s job to know the correct lighting, setup, positioning, and perspectives (angles) to use while photographing your product, but you as the designer, should be able to visualize and articulate your expectations to the photographer. A good photographer can do this for you, but you can save time and money coming into the shoot with some visualization.

To fully visualize what you are looking for, you'll have to consider lighting, positioning, and perspectives (angles) yourself. Before the shoot, arrange some of your product, get down at eye level with it and consider the possible angles. Look at it through your own camera and try different angles (higher, lower, left, right).

To save time and money, consider the following for your product shoot:

• Multiple Setups

  The designer, whether crafting food, handcrafted work, or packaged merchandise, should prepare their product in at least 3 different ways (or bring three different pieces) to give the photographer options.

• Curb-Appeal

  Select the best examples of your product, clean it, make sure labels are on straight, and remove visible tags so they don't show in the images. Your product needs 'curb appeal' to make people want to buy your product. The photographer will add lighting, cropping, and perspective to further enhance the curb appeal. Clean all props and background objects too (spotless plates, silverware, and glassware).

• Fresh is Best

  When dealing with food, make sure all of the dishes are freshly prepared to bring out its color, texture, and depth.

• Communicate

  Tell the photographer what you expect and any ideas you have; don’t be afraid to speak up. Good communication is key and will allow you to spend more time creating and less time critiquing.

• Notice Everything

  Be aware of product placement, what's in front and behind it, and what looks best with it. For example, you don’t want to shoot your glossy product on a polyurethane-coated table. Likewise, a bold color shouldn’t be placed with a bright background. They will cancel each other out.

• Avoid Clutter

  Viewers reject visual clutter because their eyes subconsciously can’t figure out what to focus on. Even though your products complement each other in use, one must visually dominate the others via placement, orientation, and/or lighting.

• Isolated Shots

  Always get a shot with the product by itself, even if you decide to group your items together. That way, if the group image isn’t benefiting your sales, you can rearrange and/or construct a different combination in post-processing.

• Plenty of Room

  Even though you may sell small products, always request to shoot in a spacious environment. The photographer will be able to bring the right equipment and take the room necessary for outstanding images.

• Lighting is key

  You’ve seen it on Pantene commercials. Your images will sell if you have properly engaged lighting to enhance your image. You can go from dull to dazzling in five seconds!

• Use ladders

  It is amazing what a downward angle can render with certain products.

• Consistent Environment

  Your background and table should be the same color in most instances to isolate your product and minimize distractions.

• Competency

  Use a photographer who is competent with their equipment. It's one thing to have the latest equipment, but if that equipment isn't an extension of the photographer's body and mind, they will be inefficient and ineffective. They should be concentrating on the creative aspects; the technique aspects should be second nature.

• Resolution

  Request your images at an appropriate resolution for their purpose (240 dpi for printing, 72 dpi for websites) and consider whether you might repurpose your images later (ex. display on a web site now, but print them later).

It never hurts to be prepared, but you greatly increase your risks when you are not. No one likes being caught off guard, so plan upfront, talk to your photographer about your ideas and concerns a day before the shoot, and come prepared to have your product shot in the best light.

Time is money but compelling photographs will make you money!