Some of the best portraits are ones I call a Character Study—that is a portrait of one or two individuals that focuses on mostly their faces. These are best done in either very low key color or my preference is to do them in black and white. If you strip out the color the viewer tends to focus more on the subject matter.

Why a character study? What better way to preserve a memory of a loved one than to have a wonderful classic portrait of them. This can be a child, a parent and child, a grandparent or a combination of any family members.

For a character study we do recommend a classic black and white portrait and will work with you to make sure that the subject is dressed appropriately. There is somewhat of a science behind a great black and white portrait in the digital age. We don’t simply use any backdrop and outfit then “click a button” in post production and hope everything magically turns out great from a color image to black and white. We match tones of clothing and background to look good in black and white. Then it’s a several step process in editing to create the right black and white look.Next the selected image is printed at a commercial lab and then mounted and paired with an archival mat before framing. Sometimes a series of portraits work well together and sometimes just a stand alone image.

The end result can be a stunning piece of art for your home. Next time you’re considering a portrait of you or loved ones why not think about having a character study done. Want more information? Give us a call @719.475.0160 or email us and we’ll schedule an appointment for a consultation for your session.