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Tag Archives: Portrait photography
Location Photography Services for Business
The mark of a professional photographer is the ability to create original, high quality images regardless of the shooting conditions.
One of the hallmarks of my photographic career is an uncanny ability to shoot in any type of location, in any type of conditions and to consistently produce high quality photography. Adaptability as a photographer was I skill learned when I started out as an Army photographer. Anticipate, adapt, overcome is the mantra of an infantryman and the way Uncle Sam trained me how to approach each assignment. The goal was always get the image regardless of conditions and that is how I still work today.
My corporate photography assignment and editorial shoots involve photography at locations around the world. The range of shooting conditions run the gamut from primitive to regal, depending on the client. The job is and always has been for me to produce photography that illustrates the clients communication objective. If I’m standing butt deep in mud or hanging of a rooftop ledge it really does not matter, I will do what it takes to get the photo. An adventurous spirit helps but the skills and technique that my long experience behind the camera ensures that I always hit the mark.
This approach works for photography in the corporate setting equally well. Sometimes clients can’t get to the studio or remote employees are gathering in one location for a brief amount of time. No problem, I bring my fully mobile studio ability to the client location. Sometimes in an industrial photography assignment access to a difficult or sensitive settings is limited. I can get in and get out rapidly, working with the conditions as they exist to get the photos the client needs.
I have more that thirty years experience adapting to conditions and locations, producing original and effective visual communication with my photography. If you have a difficult location, a once in a lifetime event or you operate in an extreme conditions please get in touch. I will welcome you challenging conditions and of course create the photography that shows you and your organization at their best.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Photographer and photo educator Dan Splaine has more than thirty years experience producing photography for public relations, marketing and editorial clients. His company TEST of TIME PHOTOGRAPHY based in Nashua, NH provides commercial photography services in studio and at client locations all over the world. He presents a program of digital photography workshops and photography tours for adults throughout New England

Posted in Business Photography, Commercial Photography, Corporate Assignment Photography, Live event photography, Portrait Photography, Public relations photography, Travel Photography
Also tagged Business Photography, business portraits, commercial photography services, corporate photography, Dan Splaine photographer, editorial photography, event photography, head shots, location photography, mobile photo studio, on location photography, photography for social media, photojournalism, press kit photography, press photos, public relations, public relations photography, Test of Time photography
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Environmental Portraits for business

Environmental portraits present the subject in a context and the visual information presents the subject with more impact. Photographer Dan Splaine is an expert at location portraiture for editorial and public relations productions. This image of a Chef in the kitchen is an alternative to a standard studio portrait that editors will readily use. ©2012 Daniel J. Splaine – All rights reserved
Studio vs. Location portrait session – Editorial style ENVIRONMENTAL PORTRAITS
A professionally photographed business portrait is an important weapon in your promotional arsenal. At the least a headshot or profile type image is a basic requirement for business professionals. This type of portrait is typically used in sales letters, business cards and online profiles as a method to build your professional identity. Headshot photography sessions are usually conducted in the studio with the subject placed in front of a neutral background.
Consider having an environmental style portrait made in addition to the studio portrait. Environmental portraits are made at the client location which serves as the background for the portrait sitting. Placing portrait subjects in the context of a location adds impact to business portraits. Flip through your favorite business magazine and you will see how these editorial style images present people in more dynamic and dramatic setting.
Why would you need more than a studio portrait? Profile photos are useful for many publications; however having different styles of business portraits made allows you to capitalize on public relations opportunities as they occur. Editors and webmasters are always seeking high quality and interesting content. Providing an environmental portrait with your press releases and announcements will gain a higher rate of publication.
An environmental portrait adds visual information that informs the viewer about you. Photographer Dan Splaine is an expert at creating these custom portraits in locations as diverse as tropical rainforests to corporate boardrooms. Your studio portrait is a good presentation; your environmental portrait is a complete narrative. Let us tell your story in images book your editorial style business portrait session today.
For complete information about our business photography and portrait services go to the Test of Time Photography website or contact us at info@testoftimephoto.com.

Environmental portraits present the subject in a context and the visual information presents the subject with more impact. Photographer Dan Splaine is an expert at location portraiture for editorial and public relations productions. This image of a Veterinarian in a surgical suite is an alternative to a standard studio portrait that editors will readily use. ©2012 Daniel J. Splaine – All rights reserved.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Photographer Dan Splaine has more than thirty years experience producing high quality images for corporate, institutional, and individual clients. A location and live action specialist, he is most noted for his images of people. His corporate assignments and photography projects have taken him to dozens of countries and settings as diverse as tropical rain forests to the halls of the US Congress. In addition to photography services he presents a full program of digital photography workshops and photographer yours throughout New England and internationally

Posted in Business Photography, Commercial Photography, Corporate Assignment Photography, Public relations photography, Studio photography
Also tagged actors headshots, Business Photography, business portraits, commercial photography services, Dan Splaine photographer, editorial photography, editorial portraits, Environmental portrait, head shots, media campaign, photography for social media, press kit photography, press photos, profile photos, public relations, public relations photography, Public Relations tips, social media photography, social media public relations, studio photography, Test of Time photography
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Your business portrait…one of the most potent business marketing tools available to an entrepreneur today!
In the past an “Executive Portrait” was a standard fare for CEOs and titans of industry but not for all business people. Those iconic images have graced corporate lobby walls and annual reports for decades. In today’s business environment a professionally shot, well executed, custom business portrait is an essential tool for any person engaged in commerce, at any level!
Commerce is fully integrated with the internet and social media. This ground shift in how we conduct business only increases the necessity and value of your business portrait. From solopreneur to the head of a large firm, all business professionals can benefit from an investment in professional portrait photography. How does a business portrait build your personal “brand”?
Despite the rapid increase of dependence on the internet, one feature of human behavior remains true. People buy from who they know. They reflexively gravitate towards products and services from sources they are most familiar with. The challenge for today’s entrepreneur is how to become known to people is this new media environment, to become a familiar face to your prospective client.
A professional business portrait is an important way to present yourself to the marketplace, to become that “familiar face” and to establish your positive identity in the customer’s perception. Gone are the days of your executive portrait hanging in the corporate lobby, this powerful marketing tool is displayed in ever-increasing number of ways and to wider and wider audiences.
Put your best face forward and invest a professional business portrait. Create a statement about your identity, your professionalism and your personal brand.
To learn more about business photography services and business portrait packages go to the Test of Time Photo website. We conduct our corporate/business portrait sessions at out studio in Nashua, NH or at the client’s location. In addition to standard portraits we create editorial style photography, environmental portraiture that presents our subjects in the context of their surroundings.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Photographer Dan Splaine has more than thirty years experience producing high quality images for corporate, institutional, and individual clients. A location and live action specialist, he is most noted for his images of people. His corporate assignments and photography projects have taken him to dozens of countries and settings as diverse as tropical rain forests to the halls of the US Congress. In addition to photography services he presents a full program of digital photography workshops and photographer yours throughout New England and internationally.

Posted in Business Photography, Commercial Photography, Corporate Assignment Photography, Portrait Photography, Public relations photography, Social Media Public Relatons
Also tagged Business Photography, business portraits, corporate phorograpy, custom portaits, Dan Splaine photographer, editorial photography, editorial portraits, environmental portraiture, executive portraits, head shots, location photography, photography for social media, press kit photography, press photos, profile photos, profile portraits, public relations, public relations photography, Public Relations tips, social media portraits, social media public relations, Test of Time photography
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Business Portrait of Jack Penkala from the TEST of TIME studio
- New business portrait of Jack Penkala made at TEST of TIME photo studio in Nashua, NH ©2011 Daniel J. Splaine -Test of Time Photography
One of the best things about working as a photographer is the folks I get to meet in the course of creating images for my clients marketing and promotions.
The image posted here is from a business portrait session held in the TEST of TIME studio with Jack Penkala of Halo Branded Solutions. I became acquainted with Jack through our mutual participation in local business networking groups. Not only is he good guy, he is terrific resource of marketing expertise for businesses. Jack makes his living selling marketing calendars and promotional products but in reality he provides his clients so much more. Jack’s genius is that he operates primarily as a business consultant, not as a sales rep. His goal is to learn about his client’s enterprise and then identify methods for them to use for building their business. His primary concern is their success not getting the order.
I would confidently recommend Jack to any business in the Nashua area that is seeking to improve their marketing ROI. You can check out his products and get at touch with him at:
www.JackPenkala.HaloCatalog.com
To book a business portrait session at the Test of Time Photography studio or at your company site contact me at info@testoftimephoto.com. I create custom headshots and profile photos for use in your marketing and social media promotions. Test of Time Photography offers a full range of business photography services and business portrait packages.

Posted in Business Photography, Corporate Assignment Photography, Portrait Photography, Public relations photography, Social Media Public Relatons
Also tagged Business Photography, business portraits, Dan Splaine Photo educator, Dan Splaine photographer, executive portraiture, head shots, Jack Penkala, press kit photography, public relations photography, social media public relations, studio portrait, Test of Time photography
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Photography HOW-TO: Window Light portraits
WINDOW LIGHT PORTRAITS

Portrait of young women made with available window lighting. Photograph©2009 Daniel J. Splaine -TEST of TIME PHOTO
One of the most common subjects and one of the most challenging for in-experienced photographers is portraits. Photographing people requires communication skills and photographic techniques that can be intricate and hard to manage. Lighting for portrait photography can be infinitely complex but I want to suggest a simpler method that can produce fantastic results and make your portraits look great.
Window light is an exceptionally useful lighting source for your portrait photography. By using available light (the window) you avoid the complexity of using flash – artificial light-and the exposure control issues that it presents. We often over complicate the photographic creation process to the detriment of the results we get. The mantra “keep it simple stupid” (the KISS rule) should come to mind for your next portrait session. By simplifying the lighting you will be less stressed and can concentrate on developing a positive connection with your subject.
Ambient window light provides a large, even light source that provides a gradual transition from highlight to shadow. That quality of the lighting is soft and natural and can be very flattering for your portrait subjects. Electronic flash tends to be direct, contrasty and destroys the subtle transition between that highlight and shadow which is unflattering for portraiture.
When I refer to “window lighting” I have some particular features and qualities in mind. Direct noon time sun glaring through your window is equally harsh and unflattering as direct flash. What I am describing is the soft, diffuse lighting that you get from a cloudy day. North facing windows on an overcast day provide the best representation for this light source. This lighting has been used effectively in traditional painting for portraits and still life studies for centuries and should be a standard in your photographic inventory.
How does this old school (some would say original source of lighting) help in the digital camera era? The ability for film or digital sensors to record a range of lighting intensities in your photographic scene is limited. The dynamic range of the scene is the ratio between the minimum (shadow) and maximum (highlight) recordable light intensities. The human eye has an amazing ability to distinguish luminance difference, something in the order of 20 stops (20 EV) of exposure range. Your digital camera sensor has a recording range of somewhere between 6 to 10 stops of exposure depending on size and quality).

Scene from a Tibetan Buddhist Temple in Tawang, Aruncahel Preadesh, India. The lighting of this dark interior space was provided by a large open door ("window light") behind the photographer position. ©2010 Daniel J. Splaine / TEST of TIME PHOTO- All rights reserved
The diffused light from a window is lower in contrast and easily falls in the dynamic range and recording capability of your camera. Having a dynamic range of 5 to 7 stops of exposure means that camera is readily able to record detail in all the tones from shadow to highlight. Your results more closely match the natural range of tone we perceive with our eyes and creating a favorable response from the viewer of your photograph. Simply said the portraits that you can achieve with window lighting closely match what we can see with the natural eye.
By using window light illumination we reduce contrast, the severity of the tonal transition from highlight to shadow. Having a gradual transition in brightness adds dimension to portraits that is favorable to your subject’s appearance. How we position the transition zone, the arrangement of our subject to the direction of light, is how we control this effect. Learning how to “read” light and using it to improve your images is a fundamental skill. Using this source with your people photography is great way to build those abilities.

Portrait of young women made with available window lighting. Photograph©2009 Daniel J. Splaine -TEST of TIME PHOTO
Another advantage of window lighting is that is a constant light source. Studio flash heads have a “modeling” light to provide an approximation of the changes in illumination and position make. You can observe those changes directly with window light. As you move your subject closer or further from the light or rotate them you will observe the changes in exposure levels and shadows. You can have side lighting, backlighting or full frontal lighting depending on the position of the subject and the camera location. Widow light is a very versatile light source that can be adapted for multiple lighting effects.
The ironic thing about all of the studio lighting equipment and modifiers that I have purchased for my inventory of photographic tools is that they are primarily used to replicate the qualities of window light. Granted the inventory gives me absolute control and the ability for creating predictable photographic results on demand. For a photographer building their skills as a portrait photographer I would recommend mastering using this available light source and learning about the qualities of light it produces, before I would recommend investing a dime in any advance lighting equipment.
I often extol my students in my photography workshops and tours about the importance of practice in becoming a better photographer. Giving yourself regular photo assignments to be accomplished is great way to help your performance with your digital camera. Window light is readily available so why not include it in your next practice session. Go makes some images!

Posted in Digital photography tips, Learn Photography, Photo workshops, Photographer tours, Travel Photography
Also tagged Dan Splaine photographer, digital photo how to, head shots, learn digital photography, photo how to, photo tip, photography skill building, photography tips, portrait lighring how-to, portrait lighting technique, portrait photo how-to, understanding photography, widow light portraits
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Preparing for your portrait photography session
When I create custom portraits for my commercial clients and individuals I use my craftsmanship to produce an image that shows then m at their best. Despite my considerable arsenal of photography skills I always require some assistance from my subjects to make portraits that they will cherish.
One of the best suggestions I can make to ensure that we get terrific results from your TEST of TIME photography session is simply ask you not to rush through the experience. Many people feel anxious about being photographed so being hasty will only add to the discomfort. My style of interaction with my portrait subjects is very relaxed and I make every effort to put my clients at ease. I promise to do my part and I would request that you would use the following suggestions to make better portraits for you.
First make sure you get a full night of restful sleep the night before your photo session. We all have visions of super models living a wild nightlife but the true secret of their success is hitting the hay early. When you are well rested you look and feel better and that will show in the photos we make. Sleepy faces never look their best.
Secondly try not to be in a hurry the day of your portrait session. Allow enough time to carefully prepare you wardrobe and keep yourself relaxed. Take your time with your grooming and preparation and allow plenty of time for travel to our photography location. If you are not sure of the destination take the time the night before to plan your travel. If you’re harried and running late that tension will reflect in your body language.
Arrive early for your studio session or get to your outdoor location 20 to 30 minutes ahead of our scheduled shooting time. Having an early arrival will benefit your portrait results in a few important ways. You have the time to calm jittery nerves, to relax, and shift gears from the hectic activities of your day. You can take the time to discuss the details of the shoot and to become familiar with the studio. If we are shooting your family portrait in an outdoor location we can walk the terrain and pick our spots.. With group shots and large families the extra time will help in arranging poses and organizing.
My job as your portrait photographer is to make images that you will absolutely love. You can do your part by following these suggestions. The benefits of taking our time is that your experience at TEST of TIME PHOTOGRAPHY will be pleasant and calm and your photos will look great!
To learn more about my portrait and photography services call me at the studio or email me at info@testoftiemphoto.com.

Posted in Portrait Photography
Also tagged Business Photography, Dan Splaine photographer, modeling tips, photography tips, portrait session planning, portrait tips, studio photography
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