Some thoughts on professional portraiture quality and service...

These days there are more photographers around than ever, all trying to make you their client. Now with the times being the way they are, many people choose a photographer based on price, and I can totally understand that. As a professional photographer supporting my family though, I can't afford to compete on price. So I have to deliver what some other photographers either aren't capable of, or don't have the time to do. A lot of that value comes in how I help clients plan their session ahead of time in terms of location, clothing and timing. At their ordering session, I take the time to help them narrow down the many choices, by pointing out small details that they often don't notice. Then I help them choose the products that best fit their need and budget, whether it be large wall portraits to fill their walls, albums to cherish forever, smaller prints for gifts and desktops, or digital files to allow them to print and share at will. If they're looking for a wall portrait, I have software that I can use to show them exactly how any size of their own portraits will look on their very own walls! I can also provide a personalized app from their session that allows clients and their loved ones to mount the app on their phone or tablet.

Of course, more than anything, I strive to create images that really wow my clients. All good photography starts with good lighting, but that's just the beginning. As a photographer, I'm often imagining what I can do with a well lit, well composed photograph after I've taken it. With years of training in photoshop, I'm able to create more than just a pretty picture. Not every image requires the kind of advanced photoshop techniques you'll see below, but I hope they'll show you what I am capable of.

As winter is approaching, and most of my portrait work will be done in studio, I'm attaching some before and after studio photographs that illustrate what I can do. And yes, this kind of time intensive work does cost more than most semi-professional photographers charge, but for those that appreciate high quality photography, and editing, I think you'll appreciate the differences. Contact me today to discuss your custom studio portrait photography experience. My studio is in Fort Erie, Ontario and my clients come from throughout the Niagara Region and southern Ontario.
Email me at mail@chrismccooey.photographymail@chrismccooey.photography
View my website HERE

From the camera vs after editing. Click on each image to really see the detailed work I've done to make these images the best they can be.

Kids Studio Photography

November Special Offer!

For the month of November, I'm booking studio portrait sessions for kids age 5 to 18 for only $300 and includes 10 digital files (regularly $400). This is for individual kids only. Whether your child is an athlete, a dancer, a musician, a fashion maven or you just want some stunningly cute photographs of your child, I will work with you to create the best photographs you have ever seen of your child. Watch the video for samples of my studio work and see the difference that truly professional photography and editing makes. My studio is located in Stevensville, Ontario just minutes from Niagara Falls and a short drive from St. Catharines.

Email me at mail@chrismccooey.photography

 or call 289-407-8559

Sessions are limited so act soon!

Outdoor Portrait Photography in the Niagara Region

The beautiful background of the scenic Niagara Region, offers so many opportunities to create stunning outdoor portraits! Whether it be along the shores of Lake Erie or Lake Ontario, or the Niagara River, or one of the many gorgeous parks and trails, or even within our cities and towns, there are limitless options for your outdoor portrait session.

As a professional portrait photographer in Canada, I spend the long, cold winters doing mostly studio portrait photography and using our gorgeous natural environment in more comfortable weather conditions. Family portrait sessions, especially in the fall, are ideal outdoors where kids often feel more relaxed than in the studio with lots of lighting equipment around. Individual portraits done outdoors are completely unique works of art that blend the environment, the natural light, my outdoor lighting and creativity and the expressions and personality provided by my subjects. 

While I do a lot of natural light photography when the lighting conditions make that the best choice, my preference is to enhance the natural light with my own mobile studio lighting equipment. At times I use my lighting just to add a spark of life to the eyes, or to create dramatic stylized imagery that stands apart from natural light photographs. Beautiful photography is all about light, and as a professional photographer I feel it is imperative that I am able to use both natural light and supplemental studio lighting outdoors.

I’m always open to suggestions for new locations to try out in the Niagara Region and throughout southern Ontario. I’ve photographed clients in Fort Erie, Niagara Falls, St. Catharines, Welland, Port Colborne and beyond in order to fulfill the vision of my clients. Planning is key for outdoor portrait sessions both in terms of location, weather and time of day for optimal lighting conditions. Before each session, the client and I discuss their vision and how best to achieve it. This also includes detailed conversations about the clothing worn for the session. As you’ll see in my outdoor portrait photography portfolio, great attention to detail is given to all of these considerations to ensure that clients are overwhelmed by the stunning images I’m able to create for them.

View more images from my outdoor portrait portfolio gallery HERE.

Contact me by email at mail@chrismccooey.photography or phone 289-407-8559 and let’s discuss your one of a kind outdoor portrait session in the Niagara Region!

Children’s Studio Portrait Photography - Niagara Region

Winter is an ideal time for a children’s portrait session in my Fort Erie studio! Clients from throughout the Niagara Region have been bringing their little cherubs for fun, creative studio portrait sessions since 2009. I enjoy working with moms (and dads… but it’s the kind of thing that moms often handle) to plan out a vision for the session. Some parents just want cute studio portraits to hang on their wall while others like to dress up their kids in costumes, sports wear, princess dresses, vintage duds or a myriad of other ideas. Whatever your vision, I will work with you to create stunning images that you’ll be proud to display in your home.

As a father of a young child, I know that kids personalities and expressions are more than just adorable smiles, though I love them too. My goal is to make photographs that show the unique, quirky, loveable character of your child. Sometimes that includes smiles, but it also includes all the other expressions that are so much a part of who we see as our children. Many of my most powerful images are of a child looking directly into the camera without a smile. The intensity of a neutral expression can be overwhelming!

In my studio you’ll be able to view a variety of modern, ready-to-hang wall portrait options. While you will love all the pictures I take of your children, there are usually a few that are truly special to you. The best way to show them off is on a wall portrait displayed prominently in your home!

The majority of my children’s studio portrait clients come from cities and towns in the Niagara Region, including Niagara Falls, St. Catharines, Welland and Port Colborne, to my Fort Erie studio. One of the advantages of studio sessions is that weather is not a factor (except for driving on occasion) so studio portrait sessions can be booked at anytime of day and the lighting will always be perfect.

Have a look at my portfolio of children’s studio portraits by clicking HERE.

Fall Family Portrait Sessions in and around the Niagara Region of Ontario!

As we approach my busiest season of the year, I thought it would be a good time to show you some of my past fall sessions. 

Along with the beautiful coloured leaves, fall also has perfect weather for outdoor sessions. The cooler temperatures allow clients to wear long sleeves and layers comfortably, which are ideal for portrait photography. Clothing selection is key to great family portraits and along with a PDF I send to clients regarding clothing choices, I consult with many of them to ensure they've chosen wisely. Location is another key element and I have several favourite places in the Fort Erie area, that guarantee great images. I'm more than happy to explore other options in the Niagara Region and southern Ontario.
Here are few images from past fall family photography sessions to show you both good clothing choices and excellent locations.

Check out my family portrait photography portfolio by clicking HERE.

Contact me by email at mail@chrismccooey.photography or phone 289-407-8559 to book your session!

Limited spaces available for October.

Lessons learned...

2016 Edit

2010 Edit

Just over 6 years ago, shortly after launching my professional photography business, I did some business portraits for a client. The other day he contacted me as he couldn't find the file I'd given him, and he needed another one for a project. When I looked at the file I had given him, I quickly realized that while the lighting was good, the editing no longer represented the quality of editing that I’m now capable of, so I re-edited it. Comparing the 2010 edit to the 2016 edit made me think of some lessons I’d learned along the way.

Lesson #1: always keep your files, especially the ones that a client has purchased. You never know when they might come back to you for a replacement. Having that file undoubtedly earned me some good will with the client.

Lesson #2: keep your files organized. It took me longer to open the software than it did to find the file, because I have a system that I rigorously follow to keep files tagged and organized. A file isn't much good if you can't find it.

Lesson #3: always, always keep learning, practicing and improving! Let's face it, a professional photographer cannot compete on price with all of the '$100 for a disk' fauxtographers out there. To succeed you must be able to do what they can't do, in order to attract clients who value your work and are willing to pay what your work is worth.

Lesson #4: the details matter. Being a nitpicking perfectionist, I probably spent about an hour re-editing the file with things like background colour adjustment, skin softening, wrinkle relaxing, sharpening, colour corrections, detailed work on the eyes, lint removal, etc.. While the client will never notice that I removed a 1mm piece of thread from the button hole, or that I removed several tiny pieces of lint from the jacket and many of the other tiny details that would only show up on poster size print, they will know that the overall look of the image is very professionally done. Attention to detail is just another way to set yourself apart from the masses of amateurs who charge money.

Lesson #5: don’t rest on your laurels, but do be cognizant of your growth as a photographer. It’s rare that I’m truly satisfied with any of my images, but when I put the 2010 edit beside the 2016 edit, I was proud to see how far I’ve come. Like a lot of photographers, I’m sometimes guilty of comparing my work to those whose work I really admire. While it’s great to continue striving to reach new photographic heights, it’s good to glance back at your own footsteps and see how far you’ve come.

At the moment I'm almost completely booked up with outdoor fall sessions for families and kids. However, if you're in need of a new business portrait contact me for a November session at my studio in Stevensville (Fort Erie) just 15 minutes from Niagara Falls.
Email me at mail@chrismccooey.photography or call me at 289-407-8559.

Check out some more samples of my business portraits at this link

Inspirational Quotes on Photographs

To be honest, I've never been a big fan of putting quotes on photographs. I prefer to let the image speak for itself. However, if that's what a client wants, then that's what I'll do to the best of my ability. Sometimes it can be very beneficial from a social media standpoint as I learned today. I recently photographed three hockey-loving siblings in my studio. I was experimenting with some edgy lighting with a plan to make the shots even grungier with post processing. The parents absolutely loved the images and they garnered a fair bit of attention on FB and IG.
The dad asked me to add a quote to one of the boys' photographs, which I did. That resulted in more likes, views and shares.
Then the mom asked me to add a different quote to her daughter's photograph. That's when things got crazy. I posted it yesterday (Jan. 22, 2015) and as of this moment (12:08pm Jan. 23, 2015) it has reached about 40,000 people on Facebook alone and has been shared over 400 times! If you're a small business owner who doesn't pay for FB adds, you know that that's a lot of attention. Hopefully it results in some sessions booked. If you're interested in a session, check out my website at HERE or email me at mail@chrismccooey.photography
Here's the photograph that's blowing up my analytics.
Update: this photo continued to be viewed, liked and shared and now stands at about 462,00 views on my page and 6,600 shares all over the world. Unfortunately, it has also been downloaded, degraded and reposted without any links to me or my business resulting in thousands more 'orphaned' shares. I've also seen it printed without permission, in violation of my copyright. So, I've also learned about the negative side of viral content. Once it's on the web, it's impossible to control. It's great that a lot of young girls have found this inspirational, but it sucks that people would print this without my permission, or the permission of the parents!

#NiagaraPortraitPhotographer