“The Artfully Mastered” Image

“The Artfully Mastered” Image

When was the last time you had a professional portrait taken? Chances are, it was just… OK.  This will be the image you display for all to see, it will be part of your brand. Do you want it to be just OK?  As a Board Certified Master Photographer, I believe that each image should reflect quality and perfection. It should showcase the individual at their best.

With the new technology available, it is no longer acceptable to deliver an image that has not been “Artfully Mastered”. Just what does that mean?  It used to be that a photographer captured an image and it was delivered with very little retouching. Now, that photographer has to be more than just a photographer he/she has to be a photographic artist. That means taking advantage of the technology that we have available and then use our skills and training to know how to make that image perfect.  With that being said, just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. After many years of being an instructor, I realized that many in the profession would over use and over do an image just because they thought it might be cool and artsy. Simple enhancements are all that is needed to perfect an image.  I guess it’s all in perception and everyone has their own opinion, but the customer has to be pleased with the image. We always make a point to ask what they would like and then advise on how that can be done.

In the example below, many would deliver the image on the left, which would you want? Simple enhancements to the hair, eyes and lips make the image on the right more desirable.

Many consider the eyes to be the “window to the soul”,  the eyes are certainly what makes a portrait come to life. People want to be engaged and a proper portrait can make an individual think, “I want to do business with that person”, or ” I like that person”. We all know you have only a few seconds to make an impression, so why would you display a branding image that was not “Artfully Mastered”?