Frequently Asked Questions

What is fine art portrait photography?

Why should I have Colleen take my portraits when I could go to the mall?

What type of equipment do you use?

What type of paper does your lab print from?

I really like your sample brag book. If I purchase a brag book or receive one in my creation package, will you put the prints I ordered in my book for me?

Where is your studio located?

Do you use color or black & white film for portraits?

Do you offer any other types of services?

What forms of payment do you accept?

How do I set up an appointment with Colleen for portraits of my children?

Does Colleen do on location photography sessions?

How long does it take to receive the prints that I have ordered?



What is fine art portrait photography?
Fine art portrait photography is capturing an image in its natural candid state. The images capture action, expression, movement, and time. Fine art portraits go beyond pleasant records of what you or your child looks like by creating serious works of art with timeless beauty.

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Why should I have Colleen take my portraits when I could go to mall and spend less money?
That is an excellant question. First, Colleen is a fine art portrait photographer whereas the photographers at the mall are not. They are only there to make a record of what you or your child looks like and nothing more. Colleen goes far beyond recording what you or your child looks like by creating serious works of art and beauty. Colleen does on location photography sessions. You can choose to have your portraits taken at a park, a playground, or even the convenience of your own home. Colleen also takes the time to learn about who she will be photographing prior to the photo session. The photo sessions with Colleen generally last at least a couple of hours, giving plenty of time to create great photos of you or your child. Finally, on average, a parent spends $250 on a 10-20 minute session with $7/hour mall photographer when they go in for the $9.95 special. How is that? The $9.95 special is just for that 10-20 minute photography session, all the portraits are purchased at an extra cost. So what you end up with when going to the mall for your portraits is low quality records of what you or your child looks like for $250. On the other hand, if you have Colleen take your portraits, you end up with high quality pieces of art that represent you or your child for who he or she really is at that time in their life for as little as $98.

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What type of equipment do you use?
We us Novatron and Speedotron flash heads for all indoor flash photography. Occasionally, we use natural lighting for some portraits or a Nikon SB-24 on camera flash. A Nikon N90s or Nikon 8008s camera with Tamron, Sigma, or Nikon lenses are used for all portrait photography. Check out our Equipment & Quality page for more information on the process and equipment we use.

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What type of paper does your lab print from?
For all color portraits, we either use a lab that prints on high quality Fuiji paper, or a lab that prints on high quality Kodak paper. For all black & white portraits, we use a lab that prints on high quality Ilford paper. All portraits, both color and black & white, are printed with a matte finish.

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I really like your sample brag book. If I purchase a brag book or receive one in my creation package, will you put the prints I ordered in my book for me?
Yes we will. We will place any prints ordered into the brag book unless otherwise specified. For your convenience, the images are not permanently attached to the book so you can easily change the photographs as your loved one grows.

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Where is your studio located?
Our studio is located on the west side of Ann Arbor. Since Colleen does 90% of her work on location, we keep our prices low by working out of her home. We do have a small studio set up for those people that wish to come to us for their portraits.

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Do you use color or black & white film for portraits?
We like to use both for every subject. Each format reveals different moods and creates different effects that may emphasis the image we are trying to capture. If you would rather us use one or the other, instead of both, please let Colleen know when scheduling your appointment.

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Do you offer any other types of services?
Yes. We offer special framing and digital coloring of your images. Please explore our Specialty Framing and Specialty Coloring sections of this website. Please let Colleen know if you are interested in either of these services during your photo session. This way she can keep this in mind while capturing images and create sample frames or coloring for you to view in your personal online web gallery.

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What forms of payment do you accept?
We accept cash, personal checks, Visa, and Mastercard.

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How do I set up an appointment with Colleen for portraits of my children?
You can email Colleen at or call her at 734.637.3318.

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Does Colleen do on location photography sessions?
Yes. That is primarily what she does. Colleen will set up a mock studio in your home where your children and family members feel most comfortable or if you have another location such as a park or playground, that can also be a great place for a photo session.

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How long does it take to receive the prints that I have ordered?
Pleas allow 3-4 weeks for delivery of prints. If you need them sooner, please contact us at as soon as possible.

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