About Your Portrait Session

Consultation
Prior to your portrait session, we will have a phone consultation so that I can find out more about you and the ideas you might have for the photo session, discuss clothing choices, and answer your questions.

Session
The portrait session lasts approximately 1 to 1½ hours. I take a variety of poses and groupings indoors, outdoors, or both; whatever you like, this time is yours! During the photo session, I look for opportunities to create images that will become elegant pieces of art for your wall, tender sweet moments, and fun images that will make you smile!

The portrait session fee at my country studio is $150, on-location fee is $225 (plus a travel charge for distances over 10 miles). Sessions generally take about 1 to 1 ½ hours. Both sessions have a $300 minimum print order.

What Happens Next?

Immediately after the photo session or a few days later, you will return to the studio to see a slide presentation of the created images. This is when you place your order; no images go home with you, so please invite everyone who wants to take part in ordering to come at this time. The presentation/ordering appointment takes approximately 1½ hours. The images are projected from small gift sizes to large wall portraits, so you can see what they will look like in the sizes you are considering. I will show you various cropping, framing, and grouping possibilities for your favorite images. I love sharing my years of experience; we will customize your portrait order just for you. Clients invest a minimum of $300 to several thousand, depending on their order.

What Type of Payment Do You Accept?

I accept cash, checks, debit, and credit (Visa or MasterCard). The portrait session fee is due at the time of the photo session. At the conclusion of the ordering appointment, 50% of the portrait order is requested to put your order into production. The remaining balance is due upon completion of your order in approximately 3 weeks.

What Types of Products Do You Offer?

I specialize in creating unique portrait photography and custom fine art wall portraits to be displayed on your walls that will be treasured for years to come. Once your favorite images are selected, they will be made in your choice of sizes and printed on smooth, metal, or canvas surfaces. I have a variety of frames available and will provide personalized assistance in selecting a frame that best complements each portrait. I also offer a variety of gift sizes, storyboards, custom-designed holiday cards, and gift certificates.

I include hours of meticulous artwork on each image, enhancing and retouching (replacing patches of fur, making old dog eyes look younger, removing scars, drool, or collars and leashes). People in the images will also get a nice facelift!

Where Are You Located?

My country studio is on my farm near Wilsonville, just a few minutes off Interstate 5 at Exit #286 Elligsen/Boones Ferry Road. The studio is open by appointment only, and directions will be mailed or emailed to you after your portrait session is scheduled. The farm is a fun and relaxed setting. However, there are many interesting things to see and chase here – donkeys, horses, deer, and squirrels. For your pet’s safety, please keep dogs on a leash at all times and bring cats in a carrier.

What Should I Wear?

The images we capture in your photo session will last a lifetime. Solid colors and classic styles create a timeless look. Busy patterns, bold stripes, large graphics, wording, and hot/bright colors can be distracting. The emphasis should be on beautiful faces and great expressions!

Try on the clothing you’re thinking of wearing and check the fit. Is it too tight or too big? Does it need to be ironed? Do undergarments show through?
For groups, coordinated clothing of similar colors gives a unified look; a variety of colors is distracting.

Consider these combinations:

White tops with blue jeans, tan or khaki pants, or skirts.
Black tops with blue jeans, tan or khaki pants, or skirts.
Please don’t wear black if you are being photographed with a black animal.
For outdoor portraits with the family, get your dog a new collar, without tags, that will blend in with their fur color or coordinate with the family’s clothing color choices.
Be sure it fits snugly and securely; we don’t want any escapees!

Eyeglasses

If you normally wear glasses all the time, you should wear them in your portrait. Please check to make sure they fit properly and sit level on your face without tilting or sliding. If you wear glasses that get dark outdoors, you might consider going to your optician and borrowing or renting a pair of glasses with clear lenses that look like the ones you normally wear, so they stay clear outdoors.

Dogs

Bathe or brush your dog before the photo session. If your dog goes to the groomer, we will schedule the photo session around their grooming appointment. Some people like the freshly groomed/clipped look, and others prefer to let a fresh haircut grow out a little and take their dog back for a quick fluff up for the portrait. Be sure your dog’s collar fits properly, so they don’t slip out of their collar and run off. Dogs must be on a leash when outdoors. I can delete the leashes, so they won’t show in the final portrait. I occasionally work with treats. If your dog is on a special diet, please bring food they can safely eat that is soft, not hard, and crunchy (small pieces of cheese, chicken, etc.).

Cats

Please bring cats in a carrier. I only photograph cats in the enclosed indoor studio. Usually, a quick brush will make kitties look their best.

Horses

I have very sharp lenses, so dirt, stains, or dirty and broken tack will all detract from your portraits. Make sure the tack fits properly. A rope or leather halter looks better than nylon halters in portraits. Also, don’t forget the lead line. Ensure it goes with the halter color and style. It is imperative to have a helper to get the horse’s attention. If more than one horse is in the same photo, additional helpers are needed.

Outdoor Portraits

Early morning, or late afternoon, are the best times of day for outdoor light. May and June are great times when the grass is green and wildflowers bloom. August and September appointment times fill up fast, so please schedule early.

Family Portraits

Families come in all sizes, from just you and your pet to multiple generations of people and pets. Everyone has snapshots on their phone but having a family history/heritage is essential to grace your walls. If you have children, summer is a great time to schedule a family portrait session to avoid busy school schedules. Celebrate your family!

Senior Pet Portraits

Our animal companions are not with us as long as we would like. Life gets busy, time flies by, and then it is too late. Now is the perfect time to have their portrait made, don’t wait. Senior Pet Portrait Special $75 for the photo session at my studio plus a $50 credit toward the purchase of a beautiful wall portrait.

Puppy and Kitten Portraits

Have your new puppy or kitten’s portrait made now and receive a certificate for a complimentary portrait session to come back when they are all grown up!

If you have a litter of puppies, they are best photographed between 7 and 8 weeks of age. I only photograph litters of puppies in the studio. Call to schedule a portrait session as soon as they are born, so you can get an appointment before they go to their new homes.

High School Seniors Portraits

The summer between junior and senior year is the best time for senior portraits, so schedule early before school starts in the fall. I invite seniors to bring their pets, cars, musical instruments, sports equipment, or any other favorite thing to include in their senior portrait. Whatever tells their own unique story!

See Black in a Whole New Light

Does your black dog or cat look like a black ink spot in your photos? Black animals are not a problem; I photograph black dogs with black backgrounds! I know how to make any pet look fabulous!

Do You Have a Mighty Mini

Small dogs might be little, but they take up a huge space in your heart!

Can I Share Images on Social Media

I will provide you with small images for social media or to put on your phone from the images you order so that you can show them off to your friends! I love referrals! You will receive a $25 credit for anyone you refer to me.

What About Copyrights?

Lamm Photography images are copyrighted and only for personal use. Scanning, copying, or reproducing them in any form is prohibited. Additional images may only be ordered directly from Lamm Photography. Please make arrangements in advance if this is to be a commercial photo session. Occasionally reproduction is granted for limited use with written permission from Kathi Lamm; a usage fee may be applied. Please respect artist copyrights.

100% Guarantee

You must love your portraits, or they will be reprinted or your money refunded. You and your loved ones deserve the very best!

I look forward to working with you to create portraits you will love forever.

Heartwarming portraits of people and the animals they love!