It's important when starting the processes of having your senior portraits made that you pick the right photographer.  In fact, picking the right photographer is the difference between  awesome senior portraits you want to show your friends and family and ones you just want to hide away and forget they were ever taken. Below I've listed a few things you should consider when picking your photographer.

     1.  Quality of work:  Take a look at the quality of work offered.  Check out sample images and slideshows and look for the quality of light in the images.  Is the lighting dramatic?  Does it add to the images? Or is the images kind of washed out and lifeless?  Be sure to see large studio samples, 20x24 etc. to make sure the image quality translate into large prints. With the advent of digital camera many people simply buy a cheap camera and start shooting, the images my look good on the web but make a hi-resolution print and the quality quickly becomes poor.

     2.  Style:  Every photographer has his or her own style.  Take a look at their images and make sure its what your looking for.

     3. Indoor and Outdoor options:   For yearbook images this is a must as most school have very strict guidelines for yearbook images and they almost always require indoor studio images.  But, for your personal images you may want outdoor locations too.  If this is the case, make sure the photographer has the ability, both technically and equipment wise, to offer both fine art indoor studio images and gallery quality outdoor pictures.  This way you don't have to be stuck with whoever your school contracts out with for the yearbook images.

     4. Price matters:  Have you ever heard the phase "You get what you pay for"?  This is very true in professional quality portraits.  Many people pick up a digital camera and assume they can start doing weddings and portraits, but be careful.  I've had many years of experience and have honed my craft.  I've have a degree in photography and continue my education with workshops and professional associations. I love photography and have decided to make it my life,  I've been trained in posing, lighting, color etc.  I'm a professional, many amateurs grab their digital camera and try to sucker you into choosing them for your senior portraits. Their prices may be flea-market, but so is their work. I mean,  I've watched "ER" a few times, but I'm guessing you wouldn't want me to perform surgery on you or a loved one.

     5. What products are offered:  Make sure the photographer you choose offer the products you and your parents are looking for.  Do your parents want a 20x24 portrait for their home?  It won't do any good if the photographer only offers 8x10's.  How about folios or cool brag books and albums.  Edward Mendes Photography is a full service portrait studio.  If we don't offer something, just ask.  Their almost nothing we can't do.  Custom graduation announcement and Thank you cards?  We do that to.

To setup a consultation give me a call at 541.1815

www.edwardmendes.com