A good family portrait is more than just stylish editing. A good image shows your personalities, expresses your relationships, and shows the beautiful. Lighting, Posing, and expression combine to make a meaningful family portrait

They Need to Strengthen Your Family

A beautifully printed and well displayed family portrait in your home can have a powerful effect over your family and your relationships. It can reinforce a sense of belonging among members of your family.

They Need to Last Multiple Generations

Digital Photography has shortened the average life of your portraits to between 5 and 10 years. Most prints only have a 8 to 12 year longevity. Archival printing is a must to keep your family portrait available to future generations.

The Portrait Process

1. pre-session
2. Session
3. Select Favorites
4. Perfect Displays
5. Installation

Preparing for the Session

We Want to Communicate With You

It is super important for us to communicate. We will not be sending a ton of information but we will be sending you things for each step of the process. The information we will be sending is important and WILL make your experience better if you look at the information. We use email, text and phone calls - let us know if you don't receive them.

Choosing the right Clothing

Here are a few tips to get you started. If you would like some personalized help feel free to contact us at 801-612-9799

Keep it Simple

It's rare that an outfit completely ruins a family portrait, so, don't over stress. Solid colors and classic looks are best. Avoid busy patterns or too trendy looks that will be out of date in a year.

Be Comfortable

Dress for the weather. It's best if you don't suffer while taking pictures. Add coats and sweaters to your look. Make sure clothes fit right and you look and feel good. TIP: Start with mom's outfit then figure the rest.

Think Accessories

Accessories can add a level of interest if you need it. Think scarves or necklaces for the women and vests or jacket for the men. DO NOT feel you have to add these. They are optional.

Clothing Ideas Here

The Portrait Process

1. Pre-Session

Preparing for the Session

Choosing a Date and Location

Fortunately, this can be much easier than you think. Throughout the year we have scheduled what we call Family Portrait Photo Safaris. We choose the dates and the amazing locations that look great for that time of year. They are usually on Saturdays. This makes choosing your date and location super easy. You can either choose the date that works best for you and see where the location will be for that day, or you can find a location you like and then see what day we will be at that location. You can click the button below to see the dates and locations and to get more information about our Family Portrait Photo Safaris.

See our Photo Safari Dates

Choosing the right Clothing

Here are a few tips to get you started. If you would like some personalized help feel free to contact us at 801-612-9799

Keep it Simple

It's rare that an outfit completely ruins a family portrait, so, don't over stress. Solid colors and classic looks are best. Avoid busy patterns or too trendy looks that will be out of date in a year

Be Comfortable

Think Accessories

Accessories can add a level of interest if you need it. Think scarves or necklaces for the women and vests or jacket for the men. DO NOT feel you have to add these. They are optional.

2. The Session

Make the Session Day Easier

!! MOST IMPORTANT !!

We want to have fun at the session. We will play, joke and laugh. It makes for great expressions.

!! IMPORTANT !!

Children younger than about 6 have a hard time dealing with being uncomfortable. So, if they are cold, hungry or tired, they will probably not cooperate the way we want them to. Keep that in mind when planning your time. Also, make sure everyone is on time. With children, they have a time limit of about 15 to 20 minutes of being cooperative. If we are waiting for family to arrive, the timer for the children waiting may begin before they arrive.

Session Order

Timing is everything. The order we shoot in will greatly affect how successful we will be. These are general guidelines and may not apply to your family. If you have specific questions about your situation, please feel free to call us. 801-612-9799

Start with the Whole Group

It is super important we start with the whole group. Remember, the children have a timer and they are easier to get good expressions for the whole group when they are fresh.

Then Photograph the Children

We want to photograph the children together next. If the group has grandkids, we will want to include grandma and grandpa, the children will be much better.

Finish with Individuals or Small Groups

Once the big groups are done, we can then focus on the small groups. Depending on the size of the group, we may or may not have time for individual people.

3. Select Your Favorites

Select Your Favorite Images You Want To Use

After the session, we will have you come to our preview room to select the images you want to display in your home as well as the images you want to give to other people.

This in-person preview is SUPER Important.

It will make the experience much better and easier. We will talk about the details of the images and choose your favorites. This is also the best time to order any images you want to give as gifts to other people.

4. Perfect Displays

Create the Perfect, Meaningful Displays

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING:

The thing that endears you the most to your family portrait is being able to see the expressions of each person. Identifying from where you want to enjoy the image is critical. Then, choosing the head size required to see the expression from that distance.

Head-size is most important

How we help

We tried for years to give advice in the preview appointment for the wall displays. It just led to confusion. We had a client give us a great idea and now we offer it to everyone for free.

In-Home Display Consultation

We come to your home and help determine on which walls will you most enjoy your family portraits. Then (and this is most people's favorite) we bring sample sizes so you can see what you like in the locations you have chosen.

5. Installation

Finish Your Session With Free Installation

We know the last thing you want to do is have to find time to install your portrait and make a ton of holes in the wall trying. In our desire to make the family portrait process as easy as possible, we include professional installation for free. Once the images are done and ready to install, we call and make an appointment and you just sit back and watch your home be transformed with your amazing family portraits.

What is an Archival Print and Why Does It Matter?

The second purpose of a family portrait is that is needs to last long enough to be able to connect multiple generations together. We will be remembered by future generations by what has been written and by what was photographed. That assumes that those records will be recorded in a way that future generations can enjoy them.

All Photography used to be Archival

When film was the only method of photography, ALL photography was archival. Negatives usually lasted between 40 and 60 years. Most photographic printing lasted between 14 and 40 years and if it was black and white would even last much longer.

Digital Has Shortened The Life Of Photography

According to the US Library of Congress, the average life of a digital file is only 5 to 10 years. Most photographic printing has been replaced with a dye-sublimation print which has an average life of 8 to 12 years before it will start to degrade. There are actually very few options for the average person to preserve their photographic memories.

Average Life of a Photograph

Traditional Film (60 yrs)

Digital Files (5-10 yrs)

Dye-Sublimation (8-12 yrs)

Our Forever Prints (120 yrs +)

Introducing our "Forever Print"

We desire that all of our images will last for many generations. We have researched the best and most archival processes available and have found a process that is truly archival as well as cost effective. The process we use is scheduled to last at least 120 years before they will start to degrade. You can see the details of what goes into our prints to make them last so long.

Expected Life of a Forever Print

Customers served! 0 Years of Life

Creating a "Forever Print"

What About Digital Files? You Can Have It All

"I like to have the digital files, because I want to share them with family and friends"

You Can Have It All!

Our primary focus is to help you get prints that you will enjoy and that will last a long time. However, we know that people enjoy having the digital files as well.

You can and probably without paying any more money to get them.

How It Works

For every dollar a family spends towards prints, we give a 50 cent credit towards the digital files. The digital files come in a variety of resolutions to fit what the family needs. So, most of the time, after the family has decided what they need for prints, they will already get some form of the digital files for free.

BONUS

Any image you choose to print will be fully retouched with enhanced eyes, smoothed out skin tones and blemish removal, whitening teeth, stray hair removal and slight slimming done. Those retouched images are included in your digital files.

Here's Your Checklist

Choose your Date and Location and book your session
Review the information in this guide
Show up to the session
Come in for your in-person preview session and select your favorites
Schedule your free in-home evaluation to determine where to display your images and figure out what size looks best to you.
Make your order
Schedule a time for us to come and install you prints for you and receive your digital files.

About the Photographer

Hi,

I'm Ryan Hadley

I have been a professional photographer since 1995. My brother, Jason, and I founded Masterpiece Images in 1998. I have loved the journey of first learning film photography and then digital photography. The thing I love the most, however, is I love photographing people. I want to create portraits that will be super meaningful for the family I am photographing and also for the future generations of their family. Ask me about this - I'd love to tell you more.

2338 Washington Blvd (in the back)

Ogden, UT 84401

801-612-9799

info@mpiphotovideo.com