General:
How would you classify your photographic style?
I love contemporary portrait photography; placing more emphasis on capturing emotion and relationships in an unposed environment. More often than not black & white photos tend to lend themselves well to this style of portrait photography.
Do you photograph weddings?
No. My focus and passion is portrait photography. Spreading myself too thinly by doing wedding photography would detract from my portrait work and the high quality of images that I (and my clients) expect. However I am happy to do sessions to celebrate engagements.
Before the session:
What does the session fee include?
Payment of the full session fee will be needed to book the date. In addition to the session itself the fee also includes a pre-session consultation and a viewing session. Two free prints are also included in the fee.
What is the pre-session consultation?
This is a chance for me to get to know you a bit better; the type of photographs you like and what you are hoping for from the session. For home photo shoots I would recommend that we meet at your home. This will give me the opportunity to come up with ideas for some unique shots as well as let me know what the natural lighting conditions are like.
Can I skip the pre-session consultation?
Of course. We can easily correspond by phone or email prior to the photo shoot. However I find that an informal face to face meeting beforehand yields better results on the actual day as all parties are that little bit more relaxed
How far in advance should I book?
You should aim to book at least 3-4 weeks in advance.
Your session:
Where will our portrait sessions take place?
We can either do the session at your home, on location around Singapore or at the studio. More natural, contemporary looks are best achieved in surroundings that people are familiar with (especially small children)
How long will our portrait session last?
Sessions will last around 90 minutes but can be extended if required.
What if it rains during an outdoor shoot (this is Singapore after all)?
During the pre-session consultation I will discuss back-up locations in the eventuality that it rains. As a last resort we can reschedule the shoot for another day.
What are the best times of day for a session?
There are a number of factors to consider here. From a lighting perspective, outdoor/home shoots are best done either early morning or late afternoon as the sunlight during these periods is not as harsh and can produce very nice portrait images. You will have to weigh this up with your schedule and, if we are taking photos of babies or young children, when they will be at their best.
What happens if one of us is ill on the day?
Usually it is best to reschedule if someone is ill, especially small children. I aim to capture you at your natural best and not with runny noses or watery eyes. The session should be fun for everyone too, not a chore. I also don’t want to catch a cold!
What should we wear?
The most important thing is that everyone feels comfortable in what they are wearing. Try and avoid clothes with busy or chequered patterns as these tend to be distracting in portrait photos.
After the session:
When will I be able to view my photos?
The viewing session will be 1-2 weeks after the photo shoot (depending on your availability). We can conduct the viewing session at your home if required. It is best that all the key decision makers are present. At the session we can discuss various options on how you could display your photographs. If you wish to order at the viewing session itself then a 10% discount will be applied to our usual prices.
How many images will I be able to choose from?
I will typically show you around 25-30 edited photographs from which to choose from
What editing do you do to photographs?
I use both Lightroom and Photoshop to edit my photographs. However, I tend not to overwork photographs to the point where the colours or images look unreal. You won’t find unnaturally smooth porcelain skin or alien looking eyes on any of my photographs. The key is to use these tools in a subtle way, to enhance what should already be great images straight out of the camera.
Can I view my photos online?
I prefer to show you the photos in person. If you need more time to decide on your selection then I can leave a contact sheet of the images with you.
How do I book a session?
Please email me at info@gronow.com or call me on 9366 5972
What is your philsophy?
That’s very hard to put into words. Please take a look at happiness.pdf for some inspirational quotes that strike a chord with me
