Greg calls himself a portrait artist, but what does that mean?
An artist begins with a blank canvas and a subject that sits for him as he or she paints strokes on the canvas. How the portrait turns out depends largely on the colors the painter chooses, how he/she holds their paint brush, etc.
Much like a painter, Greg depends largely on his own discrimination when creating the final product. For the very best outcome, though, there must be a bit of collaboration between the photographer and the client. At our studio, we find it best to plan a short consultation to get a picture of what you expect.
For instance, if a client wants a session with her boyfriend, it might be helpful to know if they want something fun and flirty or something more dramatic. We’d ask what they plan to wear, what time of day they want their session and whether they want to be photographed inside or out.
We’ll also ask what you plan to do with the images. Will you want small prints or something for the wall? Would you like an album, or do you simply want them to share on social media.
After compiling all your information, we’ll form an idea of how your session will go. This collaboration that takes place the month before or maybe a few days before helps us answer a few basic questions about your session. Still, when you arrive the day of your session, we’re still mulling over hundreds of ideas on lighting, posing and backdrops in our head.
If the photographer is skilled and experienced as Greg is, this creative process is quick and seamless.
A good photographer knows it takes more than telling the client how to sit or stand. In order to give you the beautiful, timeless portrait you’ve dreamed up in your head, an expert photographer will spend the time to get to know you before the session in order to be the creative genius you need him to be. The trust a photographer gains during this process, gives you the confidence you need to look great for your portrait.
At G Patterson Studio & Gallery, “So Worth It” is more than our slogan, it’s how we’ve built our business.