I'd make sure that the person you're talking to is the one who'll also be doing the portraits. In some cases, you might be talking to the owner of the studio, and it would be another employee who would be assigned your portrait session.

Yes, it will cost a small fortune, but worth having the professional photo years from now. I still treasure DD's communion picture. The church had a photographer that shot for everyone, but I took her to a professional photographer whose work I admired. He usually shoots with very light or white backgrounds. I told him straight away that the white-light photos were not what I was looking for. I wanted more of an old fashioned-type photograph, think old time library, victorian style. He shot her with a brown-taupey backdrop, sitting in a Queen Anne style chair. Stunning. Actually put her portrait in the brochures for communions as he was so well known for doing the lighter settings. He wanted to show that he could do something a bit different. So, let the photographer know what your expectations of the photo are. You are spending alot of money, so you want the photos to have a certain style or look.

With the digital age, professional photographers shoot digitally. I've never heard of a photographer who will sell you negatives even back in the day of film. The photographer will arrange an appointment for you to view the digital pics or "proofs". It is a PIA and tough to make decisions on pics that way, but unless you are hiring someone to do a wedding or something on that scale, that's how the photographers in my area do it.

You may be able to find someone who still shoots film? But I don't think they will sell you the negatives. That's the way they make their money - by selling prints of their negatives.

We just returned from a beach vacation. Our house is at the end of the island where there are alot of jettys (sp?) and big rock formations just beyond the dunes. Every night there were oodles of families on the beach taking pics at sunset. It was fun to watch, they were all dressed in khaki and white or denim and white. DH commented that alot had their own equipment as opposed to hiring the "beach photographers" advertising in the shore community. Much cheaper, but surely not the same result.

I don't know where you are located, but you may want to ask a friend or someone whose had a beach photo professionally done for a referral.

DD2 said it's called unlimited print release.

Wow, good tutorial Allison!
Things sure have changed! (Can you tell it's been a while since I've had pro pics done, lol?)

Thanks.

When I said "prints made from the images," I meant the images on the CD, not the proofs. Don't want to confuse anyone!

Most have websites/blogs that they will put the proofs on also (sign in to view), and although if you drag those to your desktop, they'll print a pretty decent photo, the ones you'll have prof. printed will be 100% times better (due to paper and ink quality they'll use).

I'm making DD2 an album, and the ones I had printed by Shutterfly are decent enough for that, when you go larger sizes (for wall hanging) you really need to go elsewhere.

Dittoing Allison - most professional photos I have seen lately you have been able to have web access to photos/proofs. Just had a friend get married out of state a few weeks ago and in just a few days we were able to view their wedding photos. It also makes it easy for family and friends who might like to purchase some of the pix.

Checking on line porfolios is a very good idea - you should be able to find someone you like that way.

Good luck!

tina

Thank you!! I feel much more informed now. I'm a bit of a control freak and I hate doing something new or spending lots of money without researching first.