Michael Loftis Photography
Portraits

A Portrait Should Tell a Story

Don't settle for a posed smile. A portrait should capture the essence of who you are at the time. In my portraits, photos are taken while you are doing something that is important to you today - a hobby, a sport, at work. Or, to document a special moment - maternity, a new baby, first haircut, a performance, graduation.

Standard Portrait Session
Session fees are based on time. The standard rate is $150/hour, but rates may vary for unusual types of portraits. After a session, I will select at least 25 of the best images from each hour of the session and put them on a CD. Photo files are large jpeg files (3600x2400), large enough for creating 8x10 prints. This CD comes with a "personal use" release so you may have prints made at your favorite photo lab. The photos can also be placed on my website for friends and family to purchase their own prints, or for you to purchase larger prints.

For a standard portrait, a portrait application can be downloaded by clicking here. (If you do not have Adobe Reader on your computer, you can get it here: http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html)

What do you do with your time? Play a sport? Play music? Cook? Work on cars? How you spend your time defines who you are today. In 10 years, when you look at an old portrait, which will bring back more memories: a smiling face at a studio, or you doing something that was important to you at the time? Whatever you do, I will go to where you are to create memorable images of your life while you are living it.

Memories of your senior year will always be an important part of your life. What is your interest this year? A sport? Your car? Art or music? Whatever it is, photos of you spending time with your passion will be invaluable in the future.
I know this from experience. I was a gymnast in high school. There is only one photo of me in action. And that photo is only in the yearbook. Preserve the memories of your senior year in photos.

Motherhood is very special. Capture the beauty and emotions surrounding this event. There are various types of maternity photos. The popular portrait is at around week 32, when your belly is big, but you are not too uncomfortable to move. The intent is to capture the relationship between the monther and the new baby. Often, the father or older siblings are in the portrait, too.
Another type of maternity portrait is intended to document the changes in the body. This is usually a series of monthly sessions photographing very similar poses, sometimes ending with a newborn session using the same poses.

Sessions are photographed at your home or any location you prefer. They usually last between one and two hours.

You landed a part in a play. You perform music. You teach martial arts or yoga. You are pitching in a final softball game. Whatever the situation, this is a one-time, major event in your life and you want to record it with professional photos.
I will work with you to create a portfolio of memorable images. Together, we will plan the session and obtain any necessary releases or permissions to allow me to photograph the event. If you desire a release for commercial purposes, it can be done, however, there may be other fees.

I photograph beach portraits of individuals and small families on Navarre Beach and at Beasley Park in Ft Walton Beach. Although I photograph some of the traditional "smile at the camera" portraits during this session, I prefer to play more: walk along the water, build a sand castle, etc. These casual, unplanned photos capture more personality of the subjects and are more meaningful in the future.
The prices above are for a family of five or smaller. For larger groups, there may be additional charges and/or may take more than an hour.

If you need a beach portrait of groups larger than 10 people, or if you are in the Sandestin area or South Walton County, please contact www.destinportraits.com, or call them at 850-582-5182.