How much influence does a portrait have?

The family portrait records the evolution of a family. Images of ourselves with our children, grandchildren, parents, and grandparents are certainly among the most valuable we will ever possess. Don't miss taking stunning maternity portraits during your pregnancy, relational images of your infants and children with their loved ones, family portraits showing togetherness, senior portraits highlighting the talents of your teenagers, romantic engagement photos for couples, candids of pets that make a difference, and touching images of the elders you love and respect.

Which lifetime milestones would you recommend I have portraits taken?

Don't miss out on recording the growth and development of your family. The best gift you can give your family during these monumental milestones are photographs to cherish. Here is our suggested checklist for a lifetime of beautiful photographs:

• Love and Marriage
  • Engagement couple
  • Bride preparing for wedding
  • Wedding
• Joys of Parenthood
  • Maternity: 6-10 weeks before pregnancy due date
  • Family Relationships: coordinate with children's portrait sessions
• Precious Children
  • My First Year
    • 0-3 months
    • 4-6 months
    • 7-9 months
    • 10-12 months
  • 2-12years: yearly
  • Graduations
    • preschool
    • elementary
    • junior high
    • high school
    • college
• Families Are Forever
• Family Portrait: yearly
• Formal & Special Events
• Pets and Their People
  • New puppy or kitten
  • Accomplishments & Relationships

My two-year-old won't sit still for very long, how do you expect to have him cooperate long enough for you to take his picture?

Having children of our own, Weston Photography realizes that from the time children begin to walk until about five years old, the best time to photograph them is while they are actively engaged--either indoors (tea party) or outdoors (playing in the rain). We can discuss an appropriate location and time of day that will best suit your child at his/her current age, stage, and attention span!

How long will my portrait session last?

In order to capture expressive portraits, Weston Photography spends between one to two hours with you during your portrait session. This allows time for concentrated creativity intermingled with short breaks for snacking and changing. Visiting with our clients while we are working, helps everyone relax and avoid the stress that is sometimes involved with getting your picture "taken". At Weston Photography, we don't "take" your pictures--we observe carefully, and you give them to us!

After our photo session, how long will it take before the images are posted for online ordering?

Your images will be posted online within 2 weeks of your shoot. At that time you, your family, and friends will have 60 days to order prints.

How do I access the online photos?

Weston Photography will provide business cards at your shoot with information containing website URL and secure login and password information for your shoot.

When will I get my digital negatives?

Knowing how valuable your portrait session images are, Weston Photography gives you the option of purchasing your high-resolution digital negatives (with a photography copyright release). You will receive your digital negatives within two weeks of your purchase.

What can I do with the digital negatives?

Negatives are power. In this digital age, you should expect the photographer to give you the option of purchasing the digital negatives from your portrait session. Keep in mind, it is best to order frameable prints through your photographer to assure the highest quality in color reproduction, cropping, and finish. With digital negatives, you can:

• use photo-editing software to edit & stylize your photographs (crop, convert to black & white or sepia, add borders, etc.). You can download Picasa for free!
• display your images on a digital photo frame
• order prints through your vendor of choice
• create your own albums at My Publisher
• put together a musical slideshow with PhotoShow software
• post your photos online for friends and family at Snapfish
• make custom creative gifts at Cafe Press
• preserve your photographs in a format that is longer-lasting than film negatives

What location and time of day are best for taking photographs?

Photography using natural light can be very flattering; however, timing is important. Because lower angles of light are most flattering, the first two hours after sunrise and last two hours before sunset are ideal for portraits. Find out when the sun will rise and set on your photo shoot day at www.sunrisesunset.com

What should we wear?

When selecting clothing for your portrait session, consider the following:

• Mid-tone colors look best—not too bright, not too dark
• Select clothing that compliments your skin tone, body form, personality, and environmental backdrop
• Fabrics like eyelet, denim, corduroy, velvet, and lace, add texture to your portrait
• AVOID black, stripes, busy patterns, or other very dark colors
• Select interesting collars, buttons, or other detail near your face
• Coordinate clothing within the group by selecting from a complimentary color palette

How can I prepare for my photo shoot?

Make a request list for specific photographs and names of individuals to include in each group shot. Eat. Nobody does well on an empty stomach! Print out and sign our model release (PDF)

Where should we take our family portrait?

Besides coming to your home or local park, here are a few excellent suggestions in Fremont:*

1. Shinn Historic Park and Arboretum
2. Central Park Visitor's Center & Lake Elizabeth
3. Vallejo Mills
4. Ardenwood Historic Farm (Tues-Sat 10am-4pm)
5. Don Edwards Regional Preserve
6. Downtown Niles

*travel fees apply if located outside the tri-cities area (Fremont, Newark, Union City).

Weston Photography is available for unique school and playgroup photography. Ideal for fundraisers, preschools, small or private schools, homeschoolers, park-days, playgroups, and parent support-groups. Contact for more details today!

How do you light your subjects?

Janine has a unique style--capturing life in a natural light. Whether it is the softness of window light indoors or the golden glow of the late afternoon outdoors, Janine harnesses natural light to paint your portrait.

What type of digital camera do you use?

Weston Photography uses a variety of quality lenses in combination with 8-megapixel Canon Digital SLRs. These cameras are not like your Uncle Fred's point-and-shoot digital. Our camera-lens combinations are capable of shooting much faster in all lighting conditions, allowing us to capture the action as it happens! With our cameras, we can then produce frame-quality prints up to 30x40 inches in dimension.

What are people saying about Weston Photography?

Read a collection of cheers for Weston Photography.