What am I paying for when i use a professional portrait photographer? And what deciphers good from great?

Question

We recently had a portrait done of my siblings, spouses and children for our parents. The resulting portrait- on canvas and print- came out with my daughter's eyes half closed and me with a horrendous double chin-which I've never ever had in a portrait, it's not a natural feature. My sister is saying that's not the photographer's responsibility, and I am saying it sure as heck is, otherwise I'd go to Sears. Who's correct here? I mean, isn't it their responsibility to make sure they have a good capture? She barely took but maybe 3 pictures, with all of us looking down at her- which i believe may be the culpret- but still, we had 2 proofs to choose from, both practically identical. If it isn't their responsibility, then possibly is this what deciphers the good from the great photographers out there? Because her other work is good, though I didn't see more than a family of 4 in her work, but mine was awful. Print quality was superior, but what good is a superior print of an awful pic?

Answer 1

This question could go either way here with alot depending on how much you were charged for the sitting. Prints on canvas arent cheap themselves so try to put that in the equation when trying to say how cheap or expensive the shoot was.

Yes it has a lot to do with the photographer in a situation like this. Large groups of people get harder to do the more people you add into the shot. Making sure that you get a good shot in the first place is of the utmost importantance. Thats why you will see many pro or advanced amertures take 3 shots of each pose (I say many because not all do).

The whole "otherwise I would go to Sears" part I agree with wholeheartedly. I mean you dont have to search and find a photog that you like and then book an apt. and all that other stuff but the drawback is that you dont get really good photogs working in a place like that. My wife worked at another place (just across the hall from Sears in the mall) in the portrait studio and the only thing that they could control was the way people sat and posed and one light could go up and down depending on the heighth of the subject. That was it, just click click click. You got the same results every time though. With a pro you should get so much more. Especially when you are getting it put on canvas. That stuffs expensive. Even where my wife worked they would delete the pics with peoples eyes closed.

You say you had 2 proofs to choose from, its too bad you couldnt see the detail in those 2 proofs.

I havent seen the offending photo but if what your saying is true, the photographer should have known better.

Answer 2

At my studio it is called a "redo". I ain't happy until you are happy.



"Print quality was superior, but what good is a superior print of an awful pic?"

Copy that! A gold plated turd IS still a turd!

Answer 3

Without a link to the picture in question its to hard to answer you for me. Double chin could be your posture, the lighitng or a bad view point/angle used - without a visual I can't answer you.

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