The Portrait Process

I believe that the portraits I make for my clients today will be looked at, enjoyed and treasured every day for the rest of our lives and throughout the lives of their children and all the generations that follow.  With that said, I am committed to producing the very finest portraits I am capable of making – a true family heirloom.

Each Mark Gregory portrait comes with an unconditional guarantee of satisfaction.  The following steps in the portrait process have been refined throughout my career to ensure that you enjoy the entire portrait experience and are thrilled with your finished portraits.

The Planning and Design Consultation

Every portrait begins with a face-to-face meeting between the artist and the client.  Whenever possible I highly recommend that all decision makers are present and participate.  The purpose of this meeting is to exchange ideas and information, to acquaint you with the many options available, to provide you with an opportunity to view current samples of my work, and to answer any questions you have. Among the topics discussed and decisions made are:

• Who will be photographed: the entire family, kids – together/separate, mom and dad, grandparents, pets?
• The personalities of the people in the portraits
• Your preference for style – formal or casual?
• Will your portraits be made at your home or another location?
• The best day and time to ensure optimal results
• What normally happens during the portrait process and why
• Where in your home will your portraits be displayed

During this hour long conversation Mark Will discuss with you the concept and scope of your portraits.  At this time some decisions will be made regarding the style of portrait you desire, the date and location of the portrait session, clothing suggestions, background preferences, composition, and where you will display your portraits.

If you have young children please make arrangements for their care during your consultation.  This will allow you uninterrupted concentration and help avoid any unwanted surprises as we work together.

The Portrait Session

This step is not quantitative with regard to time spent together or number of images captured.  Session lengths vary depending on the quantity and ages of the subjects being photographed.  I always recommend you allow for two hours of uninterrupted time – without cell phones or emails.  I approach every session as if I were photographing my own family and ask “What would I want to see and select from when the session was over?”

The Selection Appointment

This next meeting is scheduled at the conclusion of the portrait session, typically for a time within the next 7 to 10 days.  Images will be viewed using a state-of-the-art presentation allowing you to clearly see final size, composition, cropping, and to view each image in great detail.  Artistic changes and retouching will be discussed and noted.

All decision makers must be present and prepared to make final decisions on the portraits you choose to own.