Impressions Photography

Photography is something special, bringing back memories and feelings of people, places, and past events. It is something we save, take with us when we move, and something we hope to have around for many years. I have enjoyed photography for well over 20 years. It is my passion. I received my first 35mm camera in the early 1980s (it was a Minolta MAXXUM 7000, the "cutting-edge" at that time). I love taking photos of people just being themselves.

The FAQs

I have been a full time business owner and photographer since March 1998. I began printing black & white (B&W) in 1991 when I took classes at the University of Michigan. I have color printing experience as well, something that many photographers do not have and that I find very useful when evaluating color prints for quality.

Quality is important to me, as is personal service. My clients decide on how involved they would like to be in the process; I do the rest. I use only the best equipment (e.g. Rolleiflex, Bogen, Zeiss, Schneider, and Minolta) with backups for all. I offer the finest in framing and display services, including archival matting and framing so your photographs will last; they will be less likely to yellow or fade for many years to come. For example, I use UV filtering glass and Plexiglas, acid and lignin free mat/mount board (Museum Quality art care system, meets Library of Congress standards for conservation), and completely reversible mountings so that, if desired, photographs may be removed from their frames unharmed. I am the photographer; I do not hire assistants to do the photography for me. People hire me for my unique style, my particular photographic art – and that is what they get!

Digital or Film?

I offer both! Depending on your needs, I will recommend which I think is best. For example, with fiber based prints and hand colored oils, I recommend B&W film. For creative effects, such as split toned or digitally painted images, I recommend digital.

Right: Split tone image, Red/Cyan. Below: Digitally painted image.

For clients who prefer film, I recommend medium format for portraits. The larger 6cm x 6cm negatives, which are about 3 times the size of 35mm negatives, allow photographs to be enlarged to poster sizes – for example 30x40 inches. The drawbacks are that the camera is larger and heavier than a 35mm camera and requires manual focusing, thus increasing the time necessary to take photographs. 35mm is much more suited to the photojournalistic approach, while medium format is well suited to portraiture. For photojournalistic film weddings, I carry two 35mm cameras simultaneously, allowing me to shoot in color and B&W consecutively.

Appointments and Session Pricing

All work is done by appointment only. Please book ahead. A non-refundable retainer may be required.

Weddings

Wedding sessions are customized according to each couple’s tastes. Both traditional and photojournalistic styles are offered. Most couples choose to do a combination – traditional posed photos for bridal portraits, wedding party, and family, and photojournalistic (or documentary) style photos for the rest. Couples may add engagement and/or portrait sessions. Couples also decide on how involved they would like to be in the process. I work with each client to determine their expectations, using a list of suggested poses as a starting point. Many choices remain flexible even on the wedding day itself. For example, I photograph only one wedding on any particular day so that the day is completely devoted to the couple’s needs, thus I am available to stay as long as necessary.

A non-refundable retainer of $500 will be required to hold a date. Fall wedding dates can book 8 months to a year ahead. Weddings are limited to the first 10 a year. Only one wedding will be booked on any particular day, and only one per weekend. Negatives or high resolution digital files will be made available for purchase 2 years after the wedding date. Low resolution CDs and DVDs will be available immediately.

Wedding prices usually range between $3,500 and $10,000 all inclusive. To help offset costs, see the Gift Registry section below. Every wedding is completely customized. Please schedule an appointment for an estimate.

Portrait and Other Photo Sessions

Photo sessions vary by hour, number of photos, and type (digital, medium format, 35mm). Please call for an estimate. A typical session is one hour with 30 to 40 digital images or 12 B&W and 12 color medium format images.

Products

Gift Registry & Gift Certificates

Wedding guests may give a very special and lasting gift by contributing $25 or more towards wedding photography. They will receive a certificate to give to the couple and credit will be deposited in the couple's account. Gift certificates are also available.

Custom Framing

Select from a huge variety of frames, from metal to exotic wood in materials, and from traditional to modern in style. Whether it be an oval shaped frame with old-fashioned convex ("bubble") glass, or a rectangle shaped frame with UV filtering non-glare Glass/Plexiglas, you will find it here. Mounting/matting materials and techniques are archival quality for best preservation. Framed guest signature mats are an excellent alternative to the usual guest books that may end up just sitting on a shelf. Prices vary according to materials and size.

Window Murals and Banners

For a stained glass effect, window murals are chromatic images framed for hanging in front of a window. Sizes can range to 30x40 inches. Banners may be free standing or hung on a rod. Hanging them in front of a light source (such as a window) gives them a added light effect.

Custom Fiber, Hand-colored, Metallic, Toned, Watercolor, and Brush-textured Prints

Choose from several print options. Custom archival washed fiber prints are beautiful hand printed photographs that may be hand-colored if desired. Hand-coloring is done using time-honored methods with translucent oil paints specifically designed for this purpose. Prints may also be mounted on materials such as stretcher canvas. Along with brush texturing, this gives a color print an "oil painting" look. Effects may be added to the photographs themselves so that they look like watercolors or oil paintings then printed on watercolor paper or canvas to add to the effect. Images may also be printed on metallic paper and/or toned (e.g. sepia).

Albums

A variety of albums are offered, from several manufacturers including Art Leather and Jorgensen. Album prices vary according to cover size, number of pages, and cover materials such as Chamois, Book Cloth, Brushed Metal, Wood, Bonded Leather, Top Grain Leather, and Distressed Leather.

Flush Mount/Coffee Table Books and Magazine Albums

The ultimate in photographic display! This top-of-the-line album is the cutting edge. Hardbound books, from small to very large (coffee table books), come in a variety of colors and materials. Inside, photographs are laid out in a contemporary design, similar to what you might find in a wedding magazine. Completely unique, you review and approve design before final print. Bound books of prints, flush mount prints, or printed pages are also available and make great parent albums. Magazine albums have thinner pages, similar to those found in a magazine (although higher quality).

Image Boxes

An interesting alternative to albums, these boxes hold individually matted prints in a beautiful display. An easel or tabletop frame may be placed next to the box, or elsewhere, thus providing a rotating display of your photos. Alternatively, matted prints may be displayed on wooden rail shelves, on wall shelves, or in display cases. Image Box mats are individually cut, archival, and available in a large variety of colors. Mats may be signed by the wedding party or parents as a unique memento of the occasion.


		Impressions Photography, Inc. Phone: 919.918.4105 Mary Dimercurio Prasad Photographer

		imprphoto (Email: add @gmail.com to above.)

Introduction by the Photographer