The Process

The first thing that happens is the family contacts Studio Plumeyer.  From there, Michael will set up a consultation either via in person, via e-mail or on the phone.  Once upon a time, it was required to do it in person, yet families have become so busy with the growth of New Braunfels and the increased number of activities that everyone joins in on, Michael has decided that he'll be able to do consultations not only in person, but via phone or e-mail.  During the consult, clothing is discussed as well as who the portraits are for.  Prices & fees are discussed during this time as well.  After the consult, the appointment time (session) and they type of appointment (studio or location) is decided and the appropriate fees are paid.  When the day arrives, Michael will meet the family at either the studio or at the location and the photography commences.  He will do the various different poses and make sure that everyone gets a natural smile.  Once he has completed the appointment, he and the important discussion makers will schedule an appointment for them to view and order the images created that day.  Approximately 3 to 5 weeks after the order is made, the portraits will be ready for pickup by the clients.  After they're picked up, they'll be taken home and enjoyed by the family for many years to come. 

Contact the studio to schedule your consult or your appointment before you forget.  That happens way too often and don't let yourself be counted in that group.  Call today, don't delay!

The Importance of Family

In a day and age where we're surrounded by imagery that can be created by the smart phone in our pocket with apps that can change stuff that are on there, we forget the importance of Family.  While it is not very common for families to sit at the dinner table and talk as was shown in the television shows from the 1970s, it still happens occasionally.  Today, the family communicates more via text than in person around the dinner table.  When they're together, and they decide to take pictures, those pictures are posted to Facebook for the parents and Instagram & Snapchat for the kids.  These images are not printed out and are not put on the wall.  This means that while they're still there, they're not easily found.  Let's not even think about the possibility of your profile being deleted (with your images) or the entire social media just up and disappearing (it's happened before).  The best way to prevent this is to have your family pictures printed up. 

Family Portraits 100 Years Ago Were Professional Portraits

If you've seen the old photos of your ancestors from 100 years (or more) ago, they were created by professional photographers.  This was due to the fact that not everyone was able to take their own pictures. It wasn't until World War II and after that photography became much more readily accessible to the average individual and this included where they could get their film process and printed.  Before World War II, it was only the professional photographer that had not only the camera, lights, background and more but also had the equipment, room and chemicals that were needed to process and print the negatives into photos or portraits.  This was the only way to have a family portrait done.  The cameras were so big and unwieldly that they couldn't take them out of the studio.  That is why when you see not an album but a wedding photo of your grandparents or great grandparents.  They could not have a photographer at the wedding because it just wasn't done.  Instead of having one there, they went to the studio in their formal suit and wedding gown (or maybe they changed there, depending on how big the studio was) to have a formal portrait done with their new spouse.  When a new child was born, they brought the child to the studio to be photographed.  When the child had a new event or outfit, they brought them to the studio to be photographed.  They wanted to have a portrait of the family to send to their grandparents that still lived in the old country, they went to a professional photographer's studio. 

35MM Film Was Feared to be the Undoing of Professional Photography

When 35mm film finally became readily in the 1960s, so many people could purchase 35mm cameras and film, and it was so easy to use, there were many professional photographers that feared it would be the end of professional photography.  They thought that so many people would go out, buy the camera & film, then take it to a kiosk (there used to be kiosks where you could drop off your film and it would be processed and printed by the next day) that they would be out of business.  These professional photographers of old were right..and wrong.  Yes, people started taking lots of photos but they didn't stop using professional photographers.  They understood that their cameras were good for fun pics of friends and family.  Dads took photos of junior while mom brought in the birthday cake or mom took photos of Dad and the kids with the fish they caught.  For important events like high school seniors, weddings, first birthday for baby, and, of course, family portraits.

Creating Timeless Family Portraits Is Not Easy

It requires more than taking a lot of pictures during the session.  The photographer needs to know how to light the members of the family properly.  The family must also be posed correctly, in each different variation, as creating family portraiture requires showing more than just the entirety of the family.  It needs to show the relationship between each parent and the child and/or children.  This is not easily done, but it does require something that very few do these days.  It requires cooperation and planning.