What the Other Guys Give You

Somehow I don't think that when Leonardo finished the Mona Lisa he did this:

It wouldn't have occurred to him to make an 8x10, 5x7, 6x4 and a few wallet-sized versions. Instead he made one version and only one.

School photographers and Wall-mart do package prints like this, and really there's nothing wrong with it if that's what you want. But if you prefer a truly memorable heirloom portrait that will still be valued by the family fifty years from now, the standard package of prints probably isn't the way to go.

Always Archival

If a photographic print is 'archival' it's constructed from materials that are appropriate for a museum exhibition. Only certain types of printing processes and paper qualify, and the prints must be mounted on acid-free material.

The advantage is that if properly cared for archival prints should remain in perfect condition for anywhere from eighty to three hundred years. Standard prints can begin to fade in as little as three or four!!

All my prints, of course, are made to archival standards.

Framing

When it comes to home decor many families spend a lot of time and money to get just the look they want. They can be understandably pretty fussy about just what type and style of frame they want hanging on their wall.

For this reason I don't provide framing as part of my normal portrait package though it is available for a reasonable extra fee. The important thing to remember is to always have your portrait framed by someone who uses only true archival materials. If the framing is done through me this will always be the case.