What to look for in a photography studio?

November 11, 2006 12:13 PM

My two siblings and I want to have a nice photo portrait done as a gift to our grandparents. I'm assuming that mall studios will produce tacky photos but I don't know what to look for in an alternative. I also don't know how to prepare for the portrait. I'm looking to have this done near either Cambridge, MA or Providence, RI. Any suggestions?
posted by davidriley to media & arts (6 comments total)

mall studios are very uneven in quality, some are great, some are horrible. Before you decide against it on general principles, go and look at the samples that they post outfront. (And make sure to ask if the people working there took them).
posted by stupidcomputernickname at 12:37 PM on November 11, 2006

A couple of ideas:

1. Ask around and see if anyone has any recommendations for a good portrait photographer. Look at samples of their work.

2. Find a friend with a good SLR (digital or film) and nice glass who would be willing to do some amateur freelance portrait work. If a studio setting is not available, your best bet may be to find a nice outdoor backdrop (taking advantage of the colors of a New England autumn) and shoot using natural light. Avoid direct sunlight, though. You can then figure out which shot you like the best and have it enlarged and framed.

On preview, stupidcomputernickname has some good advice, too. Some mall studios are better than others.
posted by roomwithaview at 12:41 PM on November 11, 2006

When I got married I got creative when choosing a photographer. We wound up using an art student with some really good equipment and a willingness to shoot our entire wedding for cheap, and then we used Shutterfly to turn his digital photos into prints. Perhaps you could ask around at a local university...a photography student might be willing to shoot your photo in exchange for a couple bucks or a six-pack.
posted by christinetheslp at 12:57 PM on November 11, 2006

I recently needed some nice photographs taken and it was Craigslist to the rescue. Not knowing anyone who I could get a referral from, I placed a simple 'wanted' ad in the Services > Creative section that described what I wanted, asking for links to their past work. Out of the replies I picked the one I liked best and a week later, the job was done. Nicely!
posted by peewee at 2:04 PM on November 11, 2006

Wedding photographers take family portraits as well. Do you know anyone who's been married in those cities and can recommend their photographer?
posted by GaelFC at 5:15 PM on November 11, 2006

Don't spend an arm and a leg with a wedding photographer. I can't speak for all mall studios, but Sears Portrait has gone all digital in the last year. They do waist up, traditional shots and more relaxed sitting on the floor poses. They do at least six poses and many will let you see what they look like as you go along. Flip through parenting or baby talk next time you're near one and a free sitting fee coupon will fall out. Before you get your pictures done, stop by the studio and ask if you can see some of the work they've done in house. Ask to see examples of adult photography. This time of year you will find 2 or 3 good photographers and 3 or 4 lousy ones. Don't go on a weekend (the christmas season started two weeks ago and will go on until christmas eve).

Full disclosure. I work at sears portrait. I have been there for seven years total and I'd put my photography up against any 'professional studio' and dare you to notice the difference. Our equipment is really top of the line these days. This isn't the same studio you visited as a child.

But, seriously, ask to see the photographer's work first and request that photograher. Also: after you make your appointment, call again and get the one right before it by using a fake name. It's not the employee's fault, but corporate schedules times far too close together.

JC Penny's is still film and produce crappier pictures in my experience.
posted by nadawi at 10:02 PM on November 11, 2006