Garaventa Photography

During a typical portrait session I photograph tethered to a computer.  This process creates a collaborative atmosphere between subject and photographer.   Together we can judge our progress and make midsession adjustments to create the best portrait.  

With each selection made during a photo assignment I provide the following, four files for the image that has been processed.  One will be a 5x7" at 300dpi (dots per inch) for publications, one 3½x5" at 100dpi for web use and one 400x400 pixel image for LinkedIn Profile portraits and one 200x200 pixel image for facebook profile portrait. 

I take pride in my craft from start to finish.  From Lighting, Posing to Post Production, I pay attention to details that the average person may not think about but subconsciously notices

A word about post production. Photoshop                                                                                                               Let's face it, when having our portrait made, we all can use a little help.   But! The public at large has become hyper vigilant a pointing out and exposing over photoshopped models and celebrities.

I believe that when it comes to post production and portrait enhancements, it is not an issue of less is more, but proceed with a gentle hand.  I often tell my clients that "I am not going to make you look 21 again.  But, I am going to make you look damn GOOD."

30 years experience.                                                            4 years as a freelance photojournalist at the Hartford Courant.                                                                         Graduated top of my class in photography at The Art Institute of Atlanta

I have a standard pricing that I have printed on a pdf that I am happy to share with those interested in my services.   My Creative Fees are based on $1200 for a full day, $600 for a half day, and $300 on a quarter day.  

Excerpt from Artist Profile  

John Garaventa is a corporate photographer specializing in the unique ability of telling a story about “People on location” in one or two photographs.  "I didn't start out to be a photographer it's just more fun than milking cows."  Garaventa explains that his photography career had a unique beginning.  He graduated from the University of Connecticut with a degree in Agriculture.  While pursuing a masters degree in Extension Education from the University of Missouri, he was selected as an Agricultural Specialist to work on a 1978 4-H exchange program in the USSR.  National Geographic learned of the exchange and approached the group explaining the KGB had  effectively closed all of their staff  writers and photographers out of the countryside assuming them to be CIA operatives.  John's earliest formal photography training was in a National Geographic version of photography boot camp.  The result was a June 1979 article in the magazine with contributing photos of Life on the Farm Soviet Style.  He later continued his formal education in photography at The Art Institute of Atlanta graduating first in his class.  After graduation he freelanced at the Hartford Courant from 1984 to 1988.  He formed Garaventa Photography in 1989.  

I service two markets                                                       I: Corporate                                                                    II: Families and Children                                                  My corporate clients range from name brand fortune 500 companies, universities and colleges, small companies, law firms and medical practices, to entrepreneurs.

I love photographing families and children. I work with schools, day care centers, to families small and large.  

In recent years I have photographed large families of 38 & 39 people.  For these two families the end product is not just a portrait but an heirloom.   I love when a mother comes back to me with tears in their eyes telling me the portrait I created of their child looks just like one of their grandparents at the same age.

For my corporate clients I take great pride in advancing their company or individual careers. Of course recent company event trips to The Virgin Islands, Sedona AZ, Marco Island FL, NYC have been fun as well.