DEFINITIONS to TERMS WE USE MOST OFTEN (Alphabetized)
CANVAS - Lustre images, vacuum-mounted to canvas, then stretched over a wooden frame, ready to be framed. (They do require frames)
CLOSED-LOOP SYSTEM - From camera to computer, then monitor, software and printer - our system is calibrated for the end result of a professional printer. Once an image-file leaves our system a lottery of results can and will occur.
We always recommend turning off your retail printer’s auto-correct function. We have seen the best results between what we create and what a retail lab will produce, when they are printed as delivered.
CMYK - Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black. A color space used by most ink-jet printers. Unless you have a closed-loop system, what you see on your screen, will not match what comes out of your printer. We are calibrated to match our professional printers, therefore only deliver sRGB files for printing on silver-based photo papers.
DESK PORTRAITS - Anything 8x10 or smaller (except wallets)
EDITING - This word gets used as a broad stroke in photography, applying it to anything computer-related with your images. WE use it to refer to the time spent backing up, duplicating and then culling your images. (weeding out the blinks, rhetorical or occasional misfire of lights). Color and exposure-correction, cropping and adding custom file names.
Brian prefers to do his own initial editing vs outsourcing, or one-size-fits-all software. Each frame is edited on it’s own unique lighting, color & composition before being presented as a proof.
FILES - A file is an individual exposure of a pose. When you purchase a file, it is not uncommon that we deliver multiple versions of that image. Color, Black & White, hi-res (for printing) and lo-res for web/screen use.
GALLERY WRAP - Same as canvas, only 1.5” thick, with image wrapping around the edges - no framing needed.
IMAGES - The visual results that you see from a session.
IMAGE PURCHASES - Those images that you choose to purchase as printable, digital files and/or printed portraits.
JPG - Also called jpeg are highly compressed files. Because the screen you are reading this on only requires 72dpi, a low res image can appear very large on your screen, without using a great deal of data. Higher resolution jpg files are usually 240dpi (for retail printers) and 300dpi for inkjet printers. They contain enough data to print to a maximum size - determined by the exported file size.
IMPORTANT NOTE: When you change anything on a jpg file (edit), the file degrades a small percentage. The degradation of the image will become visible on each re-save of that image. By your 4th or 5th save, it will become too visible. ALWAYS USE THE “SAVE-AS” function, which will create a unique file with your edits, leaving your original jpg in tact. When you close the original, choose “DON’T SAVE” to the changes on your original.
LUSTRE - Matt paper, not glossy, but has a light sheen to it. Our printed papers are thicker than what you’re used to at Costco or school photo packages. (Quality = Longevity)
METAL - Literally printed on metal, and again - sturdier, higher quality than what you find at retail stores.
METALLIC - An even thicker paper, with a higher, gloss-like sheen, almost 3D in the contrasted areas.
RAW - We shoot only RAW files. These are huge files (68 billion colors is a LOT of gradation) that have far more data within them than any printer or computer screen needs. The jpgs that we export/deliver, contain only the 256 tonal values of RGB needed by printers and screens.
RAW allows us an immense level of enhancements in post-production without corrupting the original file. Adjustments are made as a side-car file, meaning the changes are only displayed on our editing screen until actually exported as a JPG, TIFF or other file formats.
RETAINER - Deposits are refundable, retainers are not. When you reserve a time using our live calendar, we are no longer available to others, so session payments are retainers. When you book, there is a link to cancel, reschedule etc. If you need to reschedule, we can move the date for you without forfeiting your retainer. Please give us reasonable notice so that we still fill that time.
RETOUCHING - Retouching is a step beyond editing, done by our professional artist. It is the embellishment of an image. Basic retouching of people images include: Removal of dark lines under eyes, blemishes & stray hair (without looking like a cut-out).
Brian prefers to do his own culling and editing (since he’ll know you better than a 3rd party culling service), but allowing an artist to retouch allows a photographer more time to shoot.
SESSIONS - Creative time spent with photographer. Session fees are a service cost, and do not include product purchases (prints, files etc) They vary in time, inclusions and price.
SOOC - Straight out of camera. A term we’d only use to help you understand the difference between hiring a professional to deliver finished images, vs. hiring a camera with a person to push the button. It is rare that even a metered, white-balanced and well-exposed image cannot use a little tweak. We only sell edited and/or retouched, finished images.
sRGB - This is the color space that most retail printers use to print your image files. We export all purchased files as sRGB unless otherwise requested. This color space is used for silver-halide photo papers. Your ink printers use 4+ colors (CMYK), meaning an entirely different color space (and a lottery of results from each printer).
STUDIO - More than flat backgrounds, we have a few indoor areas to shoot dimensional backgrounds with some furniture, and a few great outdoor options. Some sessions are restricted to background types, because of setup times required.
WALL PORTRAIT - Portraits that are frame or hang-ready. Unlike desk portraits, they are mounted on acid-free surfaces of canvas, wood, metal or acid-free sintra board (sturdier than foam core). On occasion, we do use foam core on some fine art papers of unique sizes. Wall portraits also receive special UV coating to increase longevity. Paper quality of our wall portraits far exceed those of retail labs.
WATERMARK - A digital logo or text overlay on an unfinished copy of your proofs. Also added to non-commercial web copies for social media sharing.