The graphic below shows the new proof gallery screen, illustrating how to navigate between photos, see larger views to better pick expressions, "star" favorite images, view price list, add item to your cart, and navigate to check out.
(See short video below this graphic for detailed directions) Click image below to enlarge Our INSTANT DOWNLOAD FILE is NOT fully retouched or adjusted beyond exactly what you see when viewing your proofs online, less the "proof" watermarks. It is an 8" wide sized 300dpi srgb .jpg image file that has been adjusted but not fully facially retouched like our Deluxe Printed Portraits are, and will let you print high resolution images up to 8" x 12"
Download files come with a text use license delivered via email, so you can have them printed at your favorite photo lab or at home. You may also share the images freely online at places like Facebook, etc. They are delivered by .zip format file containing the image and you are responsible for downloading and archiving the file(s) as downloads are available for only 30 days after ordering. Why do some colors look kinda funky on my screen or in prints from the one-hour lab ? The field of "Color Management" is a complicated one and things vary by device. Most people do not realize it, but they are likely looking at monitors that are wayyyyyyyyy too bright, contrasty, and usually blue tinted too. Monitor makers want customers to be impressed by how "bright" screens are and how sharp text looks on them. What this means usually is that the default settings of your monitor are not really the ones to be viewing portraits with if you want people to look the best on-screen. Pro photographers like ourselves use expensive hardware devices called Colorimeters to measure and carefully color calibrate our displays to strict industry standard levels. A file coming from a color calibrated workflow is sent to a photo lab ready to print with no adjustments needed. In fact, when having our files printed, you MUST be sure that the lab has "Auto-Correct" set to OFF, or the labs computers will try to "fix" our already corrected file, and that will make dark, ugly colored prints! Remember, AUTO = OFF when printing at a lab and you should be in good shape! There are sites on the web that can help you learn more about color management. Remember to be SURE that auto-fix is off when printing at a local photo lab or online photo printer as that is the most common mistake people make when printing. We are not responsible for any color management or printing issues and do not provide support for such issues. Always be sure to do a small TEST run first to make sure things look good before running many prints. |
FAQ - Frequently Ask Questions
HOW TO ORDER A PLATINUM OPTIONAL UPGRADE FOR ANY PORTRAITS, PACKAGE, OR FILE YOU ARE ALREADY BUYING.
The PLATINUM OPTION IS NOT AVAILABLE ALONE - YOU CAN ONLY ADD PLATINUM TO PRODUCT OR FILE YOU ARE ALREADY BUYING, AND THE COST IS $ 15. EXTRA PER (1) EACH UNIQUE IMAGE. Order ONE Platinum Upgrade for every unique image design desired at $15. extra per unique image (pose). You can tell us which Background and/or Bling style you want in a NOTE TO STUDIO as you are in the check out process. In that note, please let us know the file numbers and then the exact numbers/names of the customization elements you desire - ie; P15 "Stormy" Background + B17 "Passionate" Bling + Dancers Name and Year. We'll email any questions once your order enters production. Custom Created, so download files with Platinum Option takes same time as prints. Please allow 6 weeks from order deadline. --------------------------------------------- Any ?, please contact us. I ordered my portraits already. When will they be here? Please allow 6 weeks for processing from the studio order deadline date. You will get a tracking number email from USPS when it actually ships out to you via insured, Priority Mail. When are proofs available and how do I see my proofs ? By 9pm on the date shown for your studio (usually about 10 days) on the front of our site here, proofs are posted online for your review in a Private, password protected gallery. You will get a private email invite with a link and password PIN # for that gallery on that date. Simply visit Ericphotos.com and enter the your email when prompted, click on the Gallery # shown on your password card and enter password PIN# when prompted. Follow directions online to find, view and order your child’s portraits. We have posted a video tour with a demo of how to view and order photos, posted here on our FAQ page. What if the dog ate my password card ? No more password cards! Email only, so please please please be sure you are using a REAL ACTUAL EMAIL YOU WILL SEE and not your throwaway spam account as everything is done by email. IF YOU DO NOT GET AN EMAIL FROM US BY THE DATE WE LIST PROOFS, PLEASE CHECK YOUR SPAM FOLDER AND CONTACT US IF YOU CANT GET IT. Can I share my proof gallery with relatives or friends ? You can share your private Gallery and Password PIN # with anyone you desire so friends and family near or far can see your dancer and maybe purchase portraits for themselves. Grandparents in other states really LOVE this option in our experience! The same expiration deadline applies to anyone else you share your gallery with. What are payment options for online purchases ? MasterCard, Visa, or Amex Credit Cards (or Debit Cards) are accepted for online order payments via a verified secure payment system. What if I don't use credit cards or don't want to order online? Contact us and request a “Mail-In Order Form” that you can simply print out and fill in with your order information, enclose payment via check or money order, and mail back to us postmarked by the your studios Order Deadline date. We can also send a you paypal invoice. How long do I have to place an order ? There is an “Order Deadline” date shown on your password email, as well as on the proofing page of our website that is 10-14 days from when proofs are first posted online, and your orders need to be placed by this date. Pictures are online for 30 days total, but orders placed AFTER the initial posted studio order deadline date do not qualify for sitting fee rebate. How are portraits delivered and When ? Your finished portraits are conveniently shipped directly to YOU at your home address, carefully packaged and boxed for safe delivery by tracked USPS Priority Mail. In order to allow time for attention and careful processing of your image(s) , completed orders arrive at your home about 6 weeks after the deadline date, with the expected delivery date for your studio also listed here on the Proofing page. A single $7.00 s/h fee applies to all orders placed together. Florida state sales tax is added to all FL orders as required by Florida law. What makes Finished Portraits so special ? Besides the super cute subject and great image captured <g>, each finished portrait includes the same level of retouching we use on Senior and Family Portraits, which includes an average of one hour spent on each individual image ordered, doing fine tuning of colors and exposure, retouching facial blemishes (acne), eyes, and teeth if needed, and reducing of floor debris. That retouched file is sent to our professional portrait photo lab, where the absolute best quality Kodak or Fuji Professional true photographic papers and processing are used to present a stunning portrait made to last many, many decades. All 8" x 10" and 5" x 7" sized finished portraits in packages or ala carte are delivered in a Black with Gold Trim Deluxe Gift Folder that looks great showing off your portraits on a desk or shelf. This gift folder makes an elegant way to share your portraits with loved ones! I love them ALL! Can I just order a download file with EVERY image? So glad you love your portraits! Sure you can! Our new larger sized digital files have been basically hand color/exposure corrected/cropped, but download files are NOT custom retouched or fine tuned beyond what you see on your online proofs. These instantly downloaded files are our least expensive product, designed for folks who want images quickly for online sharing or who desire owning every image. We offer a quantity discount for folks wanting to buy many or all images by download, using the "PACKAGES" options. Can you do "head swaps" and other complex retouching? Sure, we can do almost anything in Photoshop, or have it done by retouching artists, for a fee. Special retouching requests will be quoted on a per image basis, with photoshop time being billed at $75.00 per hour, $20.00 min. Are you hiring? Sorry, we are not hiring at the present time, preferring to remain a small family company focused on delivering a personal level of outstanding service to a select group of customers each year. Do you photograph other kind of things? Yes. With over 40 years of full time pro experience, we specialize in volume photography on location, including Dance Studios, Gymnastics, Events, and More. We do offer our services to a select group of individual clients each year, providing Family Portraits, Senior Portraits, and Pet Portraits to families. Eric no longer photographs any weddings, sorry. Can we get Eric to photograph another dance studio we use? Maybe - let's talk. :-) If you are a dance studio owner, teacher, or parent from a dance school or studio that may be interested in working with us, please let us know. It’s our pleasure to reward those friends of ours who help us secure new business handsomely with a nice selection of free images as a thank you! Have a question not addressed here ? Please feel free to contact Martha or Eric by email or phone. We're happy to help! |