Back to School

Sadly, yes, it's back to school once again in Toronto and just about everywhere else, and all the kids entering junior high and high school are terrified that they're going to be beat up. And if it's back to school it also means those dreaded school photos must be just around the corner, the ones they inevitably make you do right after gym class.

Of course those may be fine for the mugshot-sized shot everyone gets in the yearbook, but to kick off this term consider getting something a little more personalized and of genuine quality. The school years don't last long and they need to be remembered.

Image for the Rest of the Weekend

While I go off to enjoy the warm day and possibly follow the PGA Championship on my iPhone I leave you with this:

Children and Families

Like with most kinds of portraits, I always feel it's better to use a real setting even if it's just a backyard or the park. This allows for a more 'photojournalistic' type of style, and because the location is real everything just feels more...um, real. And none of those stiff poses or funky photographic backgrounds with the swirly stuff on them.

Camera Shy

There are lots of people who really don't like having their picture taken, or are actually afraid of the idea. And most of the time this probably stems from the worry that they just won't look good.

This is where the right sort of professional photographer can really help. First of all, an environmental portrait greatly increases the odds that the subject of the portrait will be relaxed, and that's most of the battle right there. A good professional also knows exactly how to set up a shot to show everyone at their best advantage.

So rest assured, if you're camera shy or want a portrait of someone who is, you can still end up with a great and unforgettable image.

Black and White or Colour?

While many people prefer a classic black and white look for an heirloom portrait, the answer to the question of whether to pick black and white or colour for your portrait is a simple one. It all depends which you like better!

Either way you'll get a print of museum archive quality. And of course you always get to look at a series of proofs before settling on a final choice. The proofs will show a selection of both colour and black and white images so the choice will be that much easier if you're at all undecided.

Duotone Prints

The image above may look like it's in black and white but if you look really closely you'll see it's actually in subtly different tones of one colour (in this case: yellow).

This is what's known as a duotone print. Not every sort of portrait and background lends itself to this approach, but when they are appropriate they can be spectacular.

This is just one choice to bear in mind if you want a truly memorable and unique heirloom portrait that can be handed down through the family.