Photographing hundreds of families over the past 20 years has been a joyful experience for me, and one that has allowed me to provide my clients with the very best professional portraiture experience.
In designing my studio – a beautifully restored turn-of-the century barn situated on a rambling bluff – I put the focus on creating a playful and relaxed atmosphere to help clients feel at ease while enabling me to provide the best possible customer service. The studio allows me the flexibility to photograph clients either bathed in the graceful, natural light that filters in through large river-facing windows or in the gentle, soft brilliance of studio lighting. The end result is an artistic collection of archival-quality portraits, session books, and artfully framed natural prints that add life and love to the home of my clients.
Q & A
- What makes Cheryl Hall Photography unique?
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What is the process of working with you on a custom portrait session from start to finish?
The first step is for me to learn about you and your family, what makes your family unique, and your photographic goals. Next, we meet for our portrait session where we capture images of you and/or your family that are natural, artistic and fun. In the meantime, start peeking at the spaces in your home or work place – walls, hallways, mantles, kids’ rooms – anywhere that could use a picture or two to brighten your day and make you smile. Three to four weeks later we will meet for your personal ordering session where you will view your proofs and make selections. In this age of photographers handing clients a CD that collects dust on a shelf or leaves the client with the job of finding a place to have images beautifully printed and select the best sizes to fit a wall, I believe in helping you through the whole process. I LOVE offering this service, and clients tell me that they find it so helpful! I have many years of experience designing portrait walls, collages and session books and I’m here to assist you in selecting your favorites and how to best display them beautifully in your home.
For maternity clients and out-of-town clients, I will send a link to a private online slideshow which you are welcome to share with friends and family. The link will stay live for two weeks. A telephone call or email consultation is always available when needed. -
How long do sessions take?
The length of a session depends on the number of subjects and their ages. Typical session times are:
Maternity: 45 to 60 minutes
Newborn: 90 minutes
Children: 60 to 75 minutes
Families: 60 to 75 minutes
Seniors: 45 to 60 minutes
The session times provided here are intended as a guideline to help clients with planning. All sessions are unique, and the time is adjusted as appropriate to ensure that the very best images are captured for each client. -
Where does the session take place?
Photography sessions take place at the Cheryl Hall Photography studio in Dexter, Michigan.
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How far in advance do you book up?
Availability for booking varies seasonally, but sessions typically fill between 4 and 6 weeks ahead of time. It’s always best to call as far ahead as possible to ensure your favorite time and day will be available to you. Payment of the session fee is required at time of booking in order to confirm your session.
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What should we wear?
I believe that when you like what you’re wearing, it shows in your smile. Wear what you love. I recommend wearing mid-tone colors. It works well when everyone wears the same range of tones without matching. Textures such as linen, knit or denim look great. Pictures look best when jewelry and accessories are kept to a minimum. Always avoid big logos or images on clothing. I love Crew Cuts and Tea clothing for kids. For maternity sessions, I recommend yoga pants, camisoles and jeans without stretch panels. Seniors should bring a few outfits so we can go over them together.
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What should we bring to the session?
For children’s sessions, bring a couple of outfits, snacks, bottles and your phone with their favorite music. For seniors or older children, bring something that they are passionate about (e.g., their instrument or ballet outfit). There is something very special about the expression on a young person’s face when being photographed with these special possessions.
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What if my child gets sick?
Please let me know as soon as possible so we can reschedule. If you sense a day or two before your session that your child might be coming down with something, just give me a call and we will work something out.
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What are the best ways to help my children come to their session feeling relaxed?
It’s best to schedule your session when they are normally awake and rested. It is best to avoid normal nap or eating times. Try to plan very little the night before or morning of the session to ensure a relaxed and happy mood.
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Can I go shopping in town or get coffee and leave my kids or senior with you to photograph?
Yes, please feel free to relax, catch up on a book, or go gift shopping downtown at my favorite store, Christine’s. Enjoy!
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What should I bring to the ordering session?
Please bring measurements of any spaces in your home where you would like to place your artwork, as well as digital pictures of these spaces. Also, bring anyone that might like to be part of the selections. I recommend that this session take place without the kiddos if possible, as it usually lasts an hour to an hour and half.
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What happens after my ordering session?
I meticulously retouch and custom crop all images to prepare them for printing. Prints are ready within four to five weeks. Add four to five weeks for framing, wood prints and session books.
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How much should I budget?
Most clients reserve 1500. on up for their portrait experience. Clients choose museum-framed collages or archival canvas prints for the walls, single prints and a complete boxed set of proofs. My goal is to create artistic, beautiful portraits that you will treasure and enjoy for a lifetime.
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What if I'm not sure how to best display my favorite pieces?
This is the best part! Together we can select your favorite images and decide how to best present them at your home. I can assist you with size selections, collage design or the creation of a custom photo wall. A dedicated wall makes a beautiful focal point in your home. I adore documenting families from pregnancy all the way through adulthood, and my work is intended to coordinate and grow with your family.
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Will you sell the digital files to me?
I want you to have the highest quality archival images and products. That’s why I firmly believe in printing in-house. My printers painstakingly print each image to my exact specifications with spot-on color and tonality. The printers and I like to make it easy and simple by doing the work for you. I understand that clients like to use digital files for other purposes such as online sharing, holiday cards, digital frames, and archiving. The option to purchase digital files is available after orders of 1500. Please inquire for fee information.
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What payment methods do you accept?
Cash, check, Visa and MasterCard are all accepted. Payment of the session fee is required at time of booking in order to confirm your session. Prints, session books, framing, and other products are purchased a la carte at the purchase appointment.
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How long do you store the images?
Due to the size and large number of files, I am unable to archive images indefinitely. I retain printed, purchased images for one year. If you think you would like to have access to all of your images or would like to have them longer, you might consider purchasing the digital files.
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Do you work exclusively in black and white?
I love the timeless and classic beauty of black and white images but I also appreciate the playful nature of artistic color photography. One of the many advantages of working in digital is that I am free to choose between black and white or color for any given image based on aesthetic considerations and client preferences. Love lots of color? Adore mostly black and white? We will talk about your preferences when we get into the details of planning your session.