All posts by Bob McEvoy

Freelance Photographer.
Weddings and Events

Planning an Engagement Photoshoot. 

Perfect Timing for Your Engagement Session
At Portraits2Go.co.uk we suggest you book your engagement shoot as early as possible. Here are some reasons why:

If you are going to use any of the photos for “Save the Date” cards, invitations etc then remember they might need editing, you have to allow for printing time and getting them posted out to everyone – even the far corners of the earth.

We can provide a full print service for photo cards and photo invites by the way, please ask us for details.

While we do have some availability out of normal hours, you probably need to think about having an afternoon off. In fact you might want to treat yourselves to a special day out with your session being part of your fun day.

If you are having a location engagement shoot, remember we might need to re-schedule because of weather. It doesn’t happen often, but you don’t want to be running out of time because of a rainy day.

If you are using your engagement photos for a slideshow at the reception, then remember to choose them well in advance. Some people find choosing the right images can be quite time consuming.

We can create slideshows for you with exciting visual effects and music if you wish. We are happy to include other people’s photographs too if you have them (and have permission).

Photo-Technique

Getting the Levels Right

Here’s a useful wee gadget I use in the studio. Made by Lastolite, it helps set the white, black and grey points in post capture processing. 


I simply meter the light in the studio, set the camera to the appropriate aperture and shutter speed (usually 1/125th sec) and then take a shot of the triangle thingy. 

In Lightroom, I will then adjust the white and black sliders to show the triangle as perfect white and black. I select all the files then sync the settings. 

That’s it. All the levels in the whole shoot are now set!  

Uncategorized

Price List Restructuring. 

Price List Restructuring. 
We believe in complete openness and honesty, so we are informing everyone that as from 1st August 2017 we will be restructuring our Studio Price List. 


This is the first real change in the Price List from 2005 and it is needed in order to meet the challenges and demands imposed by the wider availability of cheap inferior digital print services both online and in the local town squares and shopping malls. Some of these are ignoring the Copyright Laws. 

To enable our studio to compete and to make a small profit we are making some changes. These are:

1. Single Prints. There will be a small increase in the cost of individual (single) prints. Single prints are our least profitable line – because of set up costs, postage etc. 

2. Print Packages will rise very slightly, but will be better value, with additional product at both Bronze and silver level. 

3. Digital Downloads. Here is our real challenge, and the threat to our existence. Our complete digital download package has been too cheap to reflect the true costs of production and the loss of wall-art sales due to cheap and inferior print services. The Gold full-resolution digital download will now be £250. That is still cheaper than other professional studios AND for the first time we will offer to sell single digital files and low resolution digital downloads. These will be £36 each for single files and £150 for a full gallery of low-resolution images (fine for mobile/Facebook etc.). 

4. Photobooks remain a real value item. To reflect set-up costs the 10 image and 12 image books have risen slightly. The larger books have not changed.  

5. Booking deposit. As previously announced a refundable booking deposit of £25 will apply to every booking without exception. This will be refunded or credited at the viewing. This change was reluctantly introduced only because of time wasters who book and then don’t turn up. 

These changes will apply to all studio appointments from 1st August 2017. 

Bob & Janette. 

Studio

No Show Sorrow…

Booking Deposit £25

Please note that from 1st August 2017 EVERY studio booking (Including Promotional Vouchers, Charity Events etc) will be subject to a £25 booking deposit. This deposit will be fully refundable at your gallery viewing or can be used as credit towards our print packages. Please have your card ready when you ring to book. 

‘Mini-Models’ and ‘Pet Portrait Awards’ etc where a charity contribution is involved, will have the contribution deducted from the amount before refund or credit. 

We regret that this has become necessary due to a small number of inconsiderate people who fail to keep appointments and give no notice.