Welcome! Get Ready for Custom Portraits You'll Love!
Hello! I'm Adam Weatherly, founder of Weatherly Custom Portraits. I'm thrilled you're considering us for your senior or family portraits! Get ready for a fun, relaxed, and personalized experience resulting in images uniquely tailored to you – memories you'll treasure for a lifetime.
This guide is designed to help you prepare for your session, know exactly what to expect, and answer many common questions so you can feel confident and excited on picture day!
My Unique Approach: Passion, Experience, and Custom Artistry
What makes my approach special? I'm a Missionary whose goal is to purposely make and artfully craft resources. I also have a deep passion for creating high-quality, meaningful visual imagery. Alongside my ministry work aiding pastors and churches, photography allows me to capture the beauty and personality of individuals and families like yours through Weatherly Custom Portraits.
But my passion is backed by extensive professional experience! From 2005 through 2019, I worked full-time as a designer, marketer, retoucher, and photographer for various respected studios. During that time, I had the privilege of learning from some of the best Master Photographers in the USA, honing my skills in lighting, posing, and digital artistry. I'm an award-winning photographer and previously held memberships with the Professional Photographers of America (PPA), Metro Professional Photographers Association, and the National Association of Photoshop Professionals.
My goal at Weatherly Custom Portraits is to blend this technical expertise with a heartfelt, collaborative approach, creating portraits that are not just pictures, but true, custom reflections of you.
Let's Get Planning!
WhatsApp: +34 662 467 325
II. Planning Your Custom Session
Session Types:
I love capturing personalities in different settings! We offer custom sessions:
Studio Sessions: Held in my controlled studio environment, perfect for classic looks, dramatic lighting, and focusing purely on you.
On-Location Sessions: Let's head outdoors or to a meaningful spot! Parks, urban settings, beaches, or your own backyard can provide beautiful, natural backdrops that tell more of your story. (We'll customize the location based on your preferences!)
These sessions are perfect for both High School Seniors celebrating their milestone year and Families wanting to capture precious moments together.
Booking Your Date:
Ready to make it official? Simply send a WhatsApp message to +34 662 467 325 to inquire about available dates and book your Weatherly Custom Portraits session!
Session Fee: €250
This creative fee formally books your portrait session date and time with Weatherly Custom Portraits. It covers:
My time and talent during the custom session.
Pre-session communication and collaborative planning.
Professional developing of your images after the session.
Preparation of your private online proofing gallery.
Please note: The session fee is due at the time of booking to reserve your date and does not include any digital portraits or physical products. These are purchased separately after you view your proofs.
Pre-Session Consultation (Optional but Recommended!)
While not strictly required, I highly recommend a pre-session chat! A quick call or WhatsApp exchange helps us brainstorm ideas, discuss locations, coordinate outfits, and ensure we truly customize the session perfectly to your vision. Let me know if you'd like to schedule one!
III. Preparing for Your Session (The Fun Part!)
Getting ready is part of the excitement! Here are tips to help you look and feel your absolute best for your Weatherly Custom Portraits session.
What to Wear (Crucial!):
Variety is key! Aim to bring more outfits than you think you'll need – we can choose the best ones together. To capture the different facets of your personality, Senior sessions typically allow time for up to three distinct outfit changes. So bring those favorites! Think about dressing head-to-toe, including coordinating shoes and accessories!
General Advice: Choose clothes that fit well, make you feel comfortable and confident, and reflect your unique personality. Check for wrinkles before you arrive!
Classic & Timeless: Solid colors photograph beautifully! Bring dark options (black, navy, deep jewel tones) for dramatic shots and light options (white, cream, pastels) for brighter looks. Long sleeves are often flattering for close-ups.
Casual Comfort: Your favorite everyday outfits! Think well-fitting jeans, nice t-shirts (avoid large distracting logos unless intentional), sweaters, or school spirit wear.
Dressy & Formal: Time to shine! Bring your prom attire, a favorite dress, a suit and tie, or any outfit that makes you feel elegant.
Your Personal Style: Show off what makes you YOU! Trendy pieces, funky outfits, vintage finds – whatever expresses your current style.
Activity-Based: Represent your passions! Bring sports uniforms, dancewear, Letterman jackets, or outfits related to your hobbies.
Things to Consider/Avoid: Very busy patterns or large logos can distract from your face. Be mindful that sleeveless tops can sometimes make arms appear larger in photos. Avoid clothes that require constant adjusting.
Layer Up! Jackets, cardigans, vests, and hoodies are fantastic for creating different looks quickly without a full change.
Accessorize! Don't forget the details! Jewelry, hats, scarves, belts, sunglasses, and fun shoes/boots add personality and polish to your outfits.
Hair:
No Last-Minute Experiments: Avoid trying a completely new haircut, style, or color right before your session. Give yourself time to get used to it.
Timing is Everything: Aim for haircuts or trims 1-2 weeks before your session date.
Roots Be Gone: If you color your hair, check for root regrowth and schedule touch-ups accordingly.
Bring Your Tools: Pack a brush/comb, hairspray, and any clips or ties you might need for quick adjustments.
Makeup:
A Little Goes a Long Way: Even if you don't wear much makeup daily, studio lighting can wash out features. We recommend at least a base foundation, mascara, and a touch of lip color.
Amp It Up (Slightly): Consider applying makeup a bit heavier than usual, especially eyeliner and mascara, to make your eyes pop.
Shine Control: Matte powder is your friend! It helps reduce unwanted shine under the lights. Bring it along!
Touch-Up Kit: Pack your lipstick/gloss and powder for quick refreshes between outfits.
Nails:
Your hands often show in portraits! Ensure nails (fingers and toes!) are clean and neat. A manicure/pedicure is great, but simply avoiding chipped polish makes a big difference.
Skin & Complexion:
Don't Stress Blemishes! Standard retouching on all your ordered portraits includes softening blemishes. Relax!
Sun Smarts: Avoid getting sunburned right before your session. Heavy tans or burns can look unnatural in photos and may incur extra retouching fees for tan lines. Use sunscreen!
Oily Skin Prep: If your skin tends to get oily, use a mattifying moisturizer and bring your powder for touch-ups.
Glasses:
Eyeglass glare can be tricky! Here are options:
Ask Your Optometrist: See if they can lend you a pair of similar frames without the lenses just for the photo session.
Retouching: We can often reduce or remove glare during retouching, though significant glare might involve an extra fee.
Braces:
Smile naturally! Don't feel self-conscious about braces. If you'd prefer them removed, some orthodontists may offer to remove your braces for the session. Typically there is an additional charge for this.
IV. What to Bring (Props & People)
Make your Weatherly Custom Portraits session uniquely yours!
Personal Props:
Bring items that showcase your interests, hobbies, and personality! Consider:
Sports equipment (balls, bats, rackets, helmets) & uniforms
Musical instruments
Books, sketchpads, art supplies
Collections (meaningful items, not everything!)
Vehicles (cars, trucks, bikes – please ensure they are reasonably clean!)
Pets Are Welcome (With a Few Notes!):
We love incorporating furry (or scaly!) friends into your custom session!
Allowed? Yes!
Restrictions: Due to photographer allergies, no cats or rabbits, please. Also, please only bring pets you'd comfortably have inside your own home and that are generally well-behaved around new people/environments. For example, please no cows, horses, bears, or buffalo.
Leash/Carrier: All pets must arrive on a leash or in a suitable carrier and remain contained when not being photographed.
Handler Required: Please bring a dedicated friend or family member (who isn't being photographed extensively themselves) to handle your pet throughout the session.
Clean-Up Crew: The pet owner/handler is responsible for managing the pet's behavior and cleaning up any messes immediately.
Friends & Family:
Having support can make the experience even better!
Bring Someone: Yes, please feel free to bring a parent, sibling, or supportive friend!
Parents Required: At least one parent or legal guardian must accompany clients under the age of 18 for the entire session.
Limit Extras: To keep the focus and avoid distractions, please limit additional guests to a maximum of two people not actively participating in the session. (For Seniors: typically 1 parent + 1 friend is great. For Families: max 2 observers.)
Nervousness Factor: Sometimes, having a boyfriend or girlfriend present can make seniors feel a bit self-conscious. Consider if their presence will help you relax or make you nervous.
Senior Focus: Please note that standard Senior Sessions are designed to feature the individual senior. Friends will not be photographed with the senior during this session type (though they are welcome to come for support!).
V. The Session Day!
Be On Time:
Your session time is reserved just for you! Please arrive on time, or even 5-10 minutes early, to allow for settling in. Running late may unfortunately require us to shorten your session or reschedule, as sessions are often booked back-to-back.
What to Expect:
Get ready to have fun! Here's a general flow for your custom session:
Arrival & Setup: We'll get you settled, review outfits, and confirm our plan.
Shooting Time: I'll guide you through poses and expressions, moving between different backgrounds or spots within our location. We'll change outfits as planned. My goal is to make you feel comfortable and capture genuine moments reflecting your personality.
Wrap-up: We'll finish up, answer any immediate questions, and discuss the next steps for viewing your images.
Your Input Matters!
Have specific pose ideas or seen something you love? Tell me! I welcome your input – it's part of the custom process! I may even show you a few sneak peeks on the back of my camera during the shoot to get you excited! The main goal is collaboration to create images you adore.
VI. After the Session: Viewing & Ordering Your Custom Portraits
Your Online Proofing Gallery:
No need for a return trip to the studio! Here’s how it works:
Development: After your session, I carefully develop your images, selecting the best captures.
Proofing Gallery: Within approximately one week, you'll receive a link to a private online gallery containing lightly edited "proofs" of your session images.
Viewing Window: This proofing gallery will be available for you to view and make your selections for one month.
Placing Your Order: Choose your favorite images directly from the gallery to purchase as digital portraits.
Your Final Digital Portraits:
Professional Retouching: Once your order is placed and payment is received, I will professionally retouch each selected portrait (this includes blemish removal, skin softening, eye enhancement, teeth whitening).
Final Gallery: Within approximately one week of placing your order, you'll receive a link to a new private online gallery containing your final, retouched, high-resolution digital portraits.
Download Window: This final gallery will remain active for 30 days.
Your Responsibility: Please download your purchased high-resolution images immediately and back them up in multiple safe places (computer hard drive, cloud storage, external drive). After 30 days, the gallery will expire. Weatherly Custom Portraits is not responsible for long-term archival of your images beyond this period.
Gallery Extension: Need more time? Access to either gallery can be extended for €25 per additional month.
Order Changes: Once the final retouched gallery link has been delivered, the order is considered complete, and no changes can be made. Additional portraits can be ordered and retouched for €50 each.
Portrait Education:
Cropping Awareness: The images I capture have a specific rectangular shape (aspect ratio). When you print these images in standard sizes (like 8x10, 5x7, etc.), which have different aspect ratios, some parts of the original image will inevitably be cropped out. Keep this in mind when choosing images and deciding on print sizes later – allow some space around the main subject!
Retouching Philosophy: My goal is natural, beautiful retouching.
Standard Retouching (Included on Ordered Portraits): Removal of temporary blemishes (acne, scratches), softening of under-eye circles/lines, subtle teeth whitening, and general skin smoothing for a polished look.
Not Included / Extra Cost: Extensive retouching like removing braces, fixing significant tan lines, major stray hair removal across faces or backgrounds, or altering body shape requires significantly more time and may incur additional fees. Please inquire if you need these services.
Special Effects: Classic Black & White or Sepia tones can be applied to any ordered image upon request at no extra charge. More complex effects or digital composites can be discussed and quoted separately.
Products & Investment:
My focus at Weatherly Custom Portraits is providing you with beautifully finished digital art you can print and use as you wish.
Primary Product: Professionally Retouched High-Resolution Digital Portrait
€50 each
Delivered as a high-resolution JPG file.
Includes a personal print release, allowing you to print images for personal use (prints, albums, cards, sharing online) at the lab of your choice.
Client Responsibility: You are responsible for arranging and paying for your own physical prints, frames, albums, etc.
Typical Investment: While the session fee is €250, most clients find they fall in love with multiple images! The average total investment (session fee + digital portraits) typically ranges between €500 and €800.
No Minimum Order: There's no pressure or minimum purchase requirement. Order only the portraits you absolutely love! (But let's be honest, after investing in a custom session, you'll definitely want to treasure these memories!)
Turnaround Times:
Proofing Gallery: Approximately 1 week after your session.
Final Retouched Gallery: Approximately 1 week after you place your order, and payment is complete.
VII. Studio Policies (The Fine Print)
Please take a moment to review these important policies for Weatherly Custom Portraits.
Payment:
Accepted Methods: Cash, Bizum, PayPal, Cash App.
Session Fee: Due at the time of booking to reserve your date.
Digital Portrait Orders: Payment for your selected digital portraits is due in full before retouching work begins and the final gallery is created.
Copyright & Image Usage:
Photographer Copyright: Adam Weatherly retains the full copyright to all images created during your session under Weatherly Custom Portraits. This is standard professional practice.
Prohibited Actions: It is illegal and prohibited to scan, copy, screenshot, print, reproduce, or alter any images from the proofing gallery or purchased images beyond the rights granted in the print release.
Personal Print Release (for Purchased Digitals): Purchased high-resolution digital portraits include a release allowing you to make prints for personal use (display in your home, gifts for family/friends), create personal items (cards, albums), and share on personal social media accounts.
Sharing Online: Feel free to share your purchased digital images online! Tagging Weatherly Custom Portraits is appreciated!
Restrictions: Commercial use, selling images, entering them into contests, or submitting them to publications is prohibited without express written permission from Adam Weatherly / Weatherly Custom Portraits.
Studio Image Use (Model Release):
Unless agreed otherwise in writing, Weatherly Custom Portraits reserves the right to use images from your session for promotional purposes, such as its portfolio, website, social media, marketing materials, and photography competitions. Your privacy is respected, and names are generally not used without specific permission.
Digital File Storage:
As mentioned, your final retouched gallery is available for download for 30 days. You are solely responsible for downloading and securely backing up your purchased digital files within this timeframe. Weatherly Custom Portraits is not responsible for storing your images long-term after this window closes. Retrieving files after gallery expiration may incur a fee, if possible.
Satisfaction Guarantee:
I pour my heart and expertise into every session and image at Weatherly Custom Portraits. I strive to create portraits you'll absolutely love. If you're genuinely unsatisfied with your session experience or the technical quality of your final retouched images, please communicate with me promptly so we can discuss a fair solution.
Pricing:
Prices for sessions and digital portraits are subject to change without notice. However, the pricing stated at the time of your booking/order will be honored for that specific transaction.
Agreement & Understanding:
Acceptance: Booking a session and/or placing an order with Weatherly Custom Portraits signifies your understanding and acceptance of all policies outlined in this guide.
Nature of Service: Please understand that Adam Weatherly engages in photography through Weatherly Custom Portraits as a personal passion and artistic pursuit alongside his primary missionary work assisting pastors and churches. This photography activity is conducted personally and is not structured as a formal, commercial business entity. By booking a session, you acknowledge this context and agree to hold harmless Adam Weatherly and any associated sending organizations from liability related to the photography session or resulting images. (Disclaimer: This statement reflects the user's request. It is recommended to consult a local legal professional to ensure its appropriateness and enforceability.)
VIII. Ready to Create Your Custom Portraits?
Thank you for taking the time to read through this guide! I hope it's helpful as you prepare for your session with Weatherly Custom Portraits. My ultimate goal is to provide you with a wonderful, personalized experience and stunning portraits that capture this special time in your life.
I can't wait to work with you!
Warmly,
Adam Weatherly
Weatherly Custom Portraits