Becoming comfortable in front of a camera:

Some people love being in front of the camera, others aren’t as comfortable. We know how to deal with the natural camera shyness that most of us have. That’s our job. Achieving an easy give & take going between us is the way to get you to relax. Once that it done it’s easy to express who you really are and have fun with the camera, and actually enjoy the photo session. It really is fun. We can teach you everything you need to know to look good in pictures in 60 seconds. This alone is a great benefit for your Wedding day, you won’t feel awkward and uptight because you have already learned what to expect and how to look good and have fun with your photography. More than anything have fun with each other.

Share you passions:

Do you have a favorite car, Harley and maybe even a furry friend. Please let us know so we can work it into the session. Let’s shoot your session like a magazine cover shoot, maybe high fashion in the desert.

Don’t be afraid to show off your personality through your wardrobe:

We suggest that you bring at least 2 changes of clothes and maybe something you won’t mind getting dirty in, you never know what fun ideas may happen. Some couples like to match the clothing style & colors, but having completely different outfits that fit each of your personalities can be lots of fun too.

Selecting a location:

Choose a location that says something about you as a couple. We have shot everywhere from beaches, farms, pool halls, gardens, cityscapes and mountain sides. You can have your e-session at more than one location, so use your imagination. If you don’t have a specific place in mind we can suggest areas and show you images from those spots.

Communication and Collaboration:

Great photos come from having a trusting relationship with your photographer. The Engagement session is the single best way for the couple and the photographer to form that bond.  As your photographer we want your input, your ideas, your vision. Tell us your story and how you want to be portrayed. The Engagement session makes us in tune with each other and work together as team.

Using your photos:

We like to make a custom sign in book from your e-session. It also nice to have a beautiful 11 x 14 print on display at your Wedding. You can use the images for your Save-the-date, invitations or programs. If you have website or Facebook that you are using to keep everyone up to date on your Wedding plans we are more than happy to give you web sized images free of charge. We also make Business card with a image from your e-session with the password to your Wedding photos so that your friends and relatives(or anyone who could not attend) can see your Wedding online.

Tyecha & Tarik were married in San Pedro CA . You might recognize the Korean Bell is some of the shots.

Alorn and Brent were married at the Eagle Glen Golf Club in Corona CA.

If you want to see the videos please visit SpecialTee Photography at Facebook. Please comment if you do visit our Facebook. I would embed the video links here but Facebook link is very low resolution. So if you want to see the video please click on our Facebook link and view the video on the video tab, the wall replays them in low resolution too.

For those that don’t do Facebook I have embeded the YouTube videos.

Tyecha & Tarik

Alorn & Brent

God Bless,

Tee & Davidah

New features include:

Downloading directly from the shopping cart (This has to be requested before the images are posted and does not apply to Weddings, too many files)

Favorites, you can save images as favorites and come back to the shopping cart at your convenience.

Invite other people to see your images.You can send an email right from the shopping cart.

Add comments to images that are in your cart.

Compare images side by side.

Redeem print coupons.

Order from multiple photo sessions. You can order from your Engagement session, Bridal session and your Wedding all from one session, or from any other portrait session you have a password to and put everything in one cart.

You only have to enter your Gallery Password one time per event. Once you have registered with us, any password protected gallery you have visited will be added to your list of gallery. When you log on with your email and user password you will see a list of galleries you have visited and with one click you can go that gallery.

step 1: Go to our website and select Client Login. It is located at the top right hand side of our website.

Step 1, click on Client Login

Next is an information screen. Click on the link to continue.

From here you can go back to the web site or continue into the cart system

Step 2

If you are a new user or haven’t registered with this cart system you will see this screen. Please follow the directions and register with us. This is a necessary step (you won’t be spammed) in order for you to save favorites, order prints or have your gallery access remembered by the cart system.

If you are new you must register and create a new account.

So please register your email and a unique user password so the system will recognize you.

Create your user account. Use your email and a user password.

Once you have registered with us and created your account you will not have to do this again.

Step 3

Accessing your photo gallery:

Now that you have registered with us (thank you) you can use the password we gave to access your photo gallery.

Enter the password we have given you to view your photo gallery

Step 4

Using the cart.

Under each image is an icon, there are 4 icons shown here. If you are allowed to download from the cart there would be 5. By putting your mouse cursor over each icon is will cause text to come up explaining the function of the icon.

Each photo thumbnail has icons under it, put your mouse over the icon to see it's function.

To add a photo to your cart or to just view the a larger image you can click on the thumbnail or on the cart icon.

Step 5

Adding images to your cart:

Here you can add photos to your cart, select sizes and quantity. Return to the thumbnail screen by selecting the gallery name above the enlarged photo, or by clicking on “Thumbnails” which is in between the “<<previous” and the “next>>” navigation buttons.

Select the size and quantity of the photos you want to purchase.

Step 6:

Your shopping cart / Checking out.

You can view what is in your cart by Selecting “Shopping Cart” or “Check out” at the top right on the cart screen. These can both be accessed in the same area on any screen of the cart system. If you log off your selections will stay in your cart so you can return at any time and see what you have selected.

Select your shipping options and confirm your personal information.

When you select “Check out” you can select your shipping options, and the “Continue”

After that all you have to do is click on “Place order” and a copy of the order is emailed to you and to us.

The last step. Place your order. Just click the button.

This Cart system is called Photo Cart, the website is located at http://www.picturespro.com/i/photo_cart/  , the also have a tune cart for musicians. Their Facebook is at PicturesPro .

There are some details we have not covered, like shipping to remote locations.  The cart system will only present some options depending on the details of your order. This is the best system we have found for selling prints online and it has already proved itself with wedding photography and portrait sessions. It took us quite a while to narrow our choices to this cart system and we feel it will help all of SpecialTee Photography’s friend and clients in their photo and album selection.

Generally, your locations should be in a 20 mile radius of the studio. There is some flexibility here, so if you are not sure then please just ask us. We like to have fun during the photo shoot too, so if it’s a cool area or idea then we are more than happy to discuss it with you.

Your Senior photo session can be in the studio, on a location or both. It’s best to do both because you will get a better variety of photos to select from. There are some things to consider about your locations, weather, distance and permit costs. Some places like beaches require a permit. This is news to most people but the laws have been on the books for a long time. If you want to shoot at a beach a permit must be acquired first, this can take up to 3 weeks depending on the area so it’s best to plan ahead and get the permit taken care of before the shoot.  If you are stopped on the beach and asked to show your permit and you don’t have one the fines start out at $500.

Other factors such as the time of day, weather, and accessibility. You don’t want to shoot at high noon in 100 degree heat with the sun directly over head, it will obviously be uncomfortable and the landscape will be flat looking because there will be no shadow texture. It’s best to shoot outdoors in the morning well before noon or the last couple of hours before sunset.

If your ideal place is a 3 hour drive, then you should expect to be charged extra for the time and mileage, and you will probably have to do your entire session at that single location. So you need to be sure that the location has everything you want as far as variety. You will need to check ahead of time to see what if any restrictions exist before traveling to a far away location, you wouldn’t want to travel all that way to find out you can’t shoot there, or it’s closed or shut down for maintenance.

Your photographer will know of good local areas to shoot at that will not have any extra costs, these areas are becoming harder to find because of the number of amateur photographers trying to make extra money with their hobby. This has caused many areas that were free or charged very little for photo sessions to really limit professional photographers with time constraints, higher permit fees or just forbidding any type of commercial photography. So you should not expect a photographer to tell you where they shoot before you have booked your session. I know this sucks, but it’s a reality we have to deal with.

Here are some samples, these are all local areas.

Outdoor senior portrait session

Outdoor senior portrait session

Outdoor senior portrait session

Outdoor senior portrait session

Outdoor senior portrait session

Outdoor senior portrait session

Our Senior Portrait package information can be found here.

Our Senior Portrait Pricing.

Don’t try a new style of hair or cut that you have never tried before, either experiment way ahead of time or play it safe with what you know looks good.

Don’t get sun burnt, there are a lot of things that can be fixed during the retouching phase, we cannot replace your skin.

What to do:

Get your hair cut about 1 week before the shoot.

If you are going to use a makeup artist then make sure they blend the make up into your neck and chest so it doesn’t look like you have a mask on. If you are doing you own makeup, start out light and add only if needed.

Get a good nights sleep, you want to avoid dark circles under you eyes.

A pedicure and manicure are good to have if you are planning on having you feet and hands in your pictures (you will) and you want them to look nice.

Guys should shave before the shoots, and girls if you don’t want hair to show then get it waxed(3 days before the shoot) . You will be having close up shots taken.

Clothing:
Select a variety of clothing designs and patterns, everything  from formals to cut off jeans will work. A variety of colors is good to have.If you have some favorite outfits then bring them too, you can’t have too much to choose from.

Get your wardrobe ready at least 3 days ahead of time.

Bring accessories, hats, bags, jewelry, a cool jacket, scarves etc…

Don’t roll your clothes into a ball, use hangers or fold them appropriately.

Props:What are you in to ? Music, sports, bikes, cars or trucks?? If it’s something that you identify with then bring it. If you are not sure then just ask us.

Foot wear:

Bring a variety, match your shoes to your clothing (and don’t forget a pedicure for the barefoot shots).

This is part 1 of How to prepare for your High School senior portrait shoot.

Our Senior Portrait package information can be found here.

Our Senior Portrait Pricing.

Here is a small sample of photos from the event.

The Stronghold Ranch entrance

The Gambler

Horse shoes

A slick card player and a pretty woman riding the bull

Guests enjoying themselves

Team bull riding?

Characters in character

The quick and the dead,... and the fun couple.

Guns and alcohol, hmmm.