MARYLAND PROFESSIONAL PORTRAITS & HEAD SHOTS
Maryland’s Professional Portrait Specialist
INFORMATION
Here’s what you can expect in working with us:
• Good communication
• Quick responses
• Collaboration before, during, and after the shoot
• A commitment to making you look your best and the skill to complete the task
• Honesty: I’ll give my perspective on what I think looks good and what might work better
• Long-term support
Good portraits begin with communication
• Your purposes
• How you will use them
• What do you want viewers to infer about you – that you are serious, businesslike, “a presence,” warm, approachable…?
• Knowing these things helps us plan and create the best portrait possible!
What we do
Your photographer will be an experienced Master Photographer and Certified Professional Photographer. You probably wonder, what does that mean? We explain that elsewhere on this site, but let’s just say that those titles mean that Chris has invested many hours and dollars in developing his craft and earning credentials that set him above the crowd of photographers who call themselves professionals without any proof that they can deliver!
We have been in business for more than 10 years and have vast experience in portraiture, general commercial photography, and other categories of imaging. Over that decade we have learned important lessons about working with people, as well. Making a good professional portrait involves so much more than expensive equipment and settings. It involves good conversation and planning before the session, careful questions intended to learn your needs and goals, intentional facial analysis to help determine the best position and lighting to make you look your best, warm interaction in the camera room to help you feel confident and relaxed, posing skills, lighting expertise, and finally, expertise in post processing.
I will be happy to explain and demonstrate any of these abilities and factors if you want to hear more! The bottom line is this: We have the experience and skills to make a portrait that shows you at your best! We want you to consider your experience to be so much more than you expected!
We usually have images online for your to proof within 24 hours, but we will tell you at your session if the time will be different. Once you place and pay for your order, it usually takes up to 2 days to receive your final proofs. Once approved, you will receive a Dropbox delivery almost immediately.
Interested in more information or ready to book your professional portrait? Follow one of the links below to review some recommendations for getting ready for a professional portrait, or, to book, click the Book Now button! You can also use the Contact page to get in touch and request further information or help. We look forward to hearing from you!
How to Prepare for Your Portrait Session
Most clients are rather gun-shy when considering having their portraits made, for whatever reason — they have only had poor experiences or unflattering results with previous photographers, they shudder at the memory of “picture days” when they were in school, or they just don’t know what to expect when they are in the “spotlight.” We do everything we can to set you at ease, starting with good communication and good listening. We want to know who you are, what your experiences have been, and what your goals are. We keep in light in the camera room and simply enjoy talking with you and hearing your story. Before you know it, you will be smiling and thinking of things far from the lights and lens, and somehow, you will be delighted with how you look when we show you the shots we’ve made! One thing that sets people at ease is receiving guidance on what to wear and how to prepare so that when you arrive for your session, you feel confident and relaxed.
Are you ready to book your professional portrait or office portraits?
MARYLAND HEADSHOTS
Chris Paulis, M.Photog.,Cr., A.F.,F.Ph.-MDPPA, CPP
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Anatidae paleo gastropro authentic flexitarian fixie tote bag, scenester Chordate sweater irony locavore.
Anatidae paleo gastropro authentic flexitarian fixie tote bag, scenester Chordate sweater irony locavore. Gentrify Aves Ayelsbury craft beer aesthetic Echo Park. Polaroid Marfa cray dreamcatcher, chambray ennui hella Godard mallards fap Terry Richardson XOXO. Sartorial vinyl passion, fap kogi Austin meh Terry Richardson art party hella. Master cleanse Eider trust fund, grummage craft beer biodiesel Wes Anderson hashtag Intelligentsia hoodie. Ethnic DIY 8-bit, paddles ennui narwhal Tumblr platyrhynchos Helvetica asymmetrical fap twee viral 90's aesthetic. Blue Bottle kale chips hashtag, jean shorts disrupt semiotics wayfarers pop-up aesthetic retro kogi Tumblr put a bird up it.
Anatidae paleo gastropro authentic flexitarian fixie tote bag, scenester Chordate sweater irony locavore.
Book Now
If you are ready to speak with us about what’s involved in having a professional portrait made, then send an inquiry through our Contact page. Use the BOOK NOW button to go to our scheduling page. We would love to hear from you and be honored to make your professional portraits!
Prices
Pricing for individual professional portraits begins with session fees, which are due on booking. Image fees are charged separately according to the schedule below and are invoiced after you place your order and at delivery. Image fees include basic retouching; extensive retouching (such as removing wrinkles, smoothing skin, or reshaping) is charged extra and on request. Office portraits of more than one person falls under “Office Professional Portraits.”
Individual Professional Portrait Session Fees
- Basic Professional
- $85
- Studio portrait session
- One background, one outfit
- Images created are head & shoulder length
- Up to 10 images to select from (image purchase not included)
- Professional Executive
- $145
- Studio portrait session
- Up to 2 backgrounds, 2 outfits
- Images created may be head & shoulder, three-quarter, or full- length
- Up to 20 images to select from (image purchase not included)
- Ultimate Executive
- $195
- Studio portrait session
- Up to 4 outfit selections; multiple background options
- Images created may be head & shoulder, three-quarter, or full- length
- Up to 40 images to select from (image purchase not included)
- Corporate Executive
- $300/hour
- Session may be scheduled for your office or an outside location
- One clothing change or add a group image to the session
- Travel fees may apply based on your location
- *Social Media 50/50 — for LinkedIn, Facebook Profile, etc.
- $50
- Must couple with $50 unretouched Social Media Image purchase
IMAGE PURCHASE OPTIONS
- Single Image Purchase
- $125
- Your selected image will include light artistic enhancement and be sized at 5x7” at 300 ppi
- A reproduction rights release will be included
- The Press Kit
- $85
- In addition to your single image this buys:
- 1 hi-res black and white image
- 1 email and 1 web-sized black and white; 1 email and 1 web-sized color image
- Complete Image Buyout
- $500
- All images from your session with simple cropping and lo-res size
- *Social Media Image (for Social Media Profile sessions only)
- $50
- Cropped to square ratio and sized for the web
- Portrait Prints
- $65
- First 8x10 or smaller print - $65
- Additional prints 8x10 and smaller - $49 each
- Larger print prices available
Image Enhancement Options
- Basic image enhancement (included in all hi-res images and prints): includes light blending/softening of facial lines, neck lines, and shine; blemish removal; stray hair removal.
- Extended Enhancement (Ask for quote): including reduction of wrinkles; removal of eye-bags; skin softening; lightening of eyes; subtle enhancement of eyes; gentle facial reshaping; body reshaping (tastefully done).
Office Professional Portraits
We offer significantly lower image prices on location office packages and even include group photos. We bring our studio to you and can set up in an open office, conference room, or building lobby. We can also use either a studio backdrop (gray recommended) or an environmental background to obtain the look you want. Pricing includes basic retouching (blemish & stay hair removal and teeth whitening); additional retouching charged a small additional fee.
- Business Package
- $300 setup + $115/photo
- 2 to 5 persons
- Executive Package (1 group shot free)
- $200 setup + $105/photo
- 6 to 9 persons
- Presidential Package (2 group shots free)
- $95/photo
- 10 or more persons
Business “Portrait Day"
We also offer Portrait Day packages in partnership with building management companies or other entities to arrange a date and space for us to set up a studio and they enroll participants from various businesses for web-sized digital images at a discounted rate. Once set up, if the agreed-upon minimum number of persons book, we handle the photography and transactions! Inquire if you are interested, or refer your building manager who may take advantage of this win-win experience!
Preparing for Your Portrait Session
Before considering the clothing, please talk with Chris about the look you want in your portrait. This will shape the location and background he selects. Clothing must blend well with that background so that the faces draw the attention!
Here are some basic options:
- High Key Portrait: Background and clothing are white, accenting the face.
- Low Key Portrait: Background and clothing are dark or black.
- Mid Key Portrait: Background and clothing are neither light nor dark. Clothing and background colors blend. (White tops draw too much attention from the face in this key.)
- Environmental Portrait: a shot in which nature or a location is the background.
For a single portrait or headshot, please select:
- A long-sleeved shirt or top with a solid and subdued color. Avoid bright colors and patterns, as they distract from the face. Be sure the clothing is pressed and neat!
- A high neckline, turtleneck, or V-neck style. For group portraits, please coordinate your outfits so that everyone blends:
- As with individuals, choose subdued, solid colors. Typically, select a light color for the top and a darker one for the bottom. Everyone should wear the same colors.
- Long sleeves and high neckline, turtleneck, or V-neck style.
- If the plan is for a “low key” image, we will select dark or black shirts or tops. Likewise, if you desire a “high key” image, then white shirts are needed. Discuss this with Chris beforehand if interested.
- Before the shoot, lay the group's outfits out on a bed. If anything jumps out, it is wrong for the portrait.
Hairstyles:
- So that the portrait will have lasting value, please style your hair in a simple, classic way
rather than a trendy manner.- Style to keep the hair off the face (where it can cast undesirable shadows).
- Be careful of styles that produce curls that may be distracting if light shines through them from behind.
Makeup:
- For women, this is a must; but it should be subtle and not draw attention to itself. Use foundation blended to the neck, and avoid different colors between the jawline and the neck. Use mascara. If you use eyeliner, be careful to use it only to add definition, rather than strong color. Wear colored lip gloss or clear lip gloss over lipstick to enhance the lips.