Christine Simmons Portraiture

1. Phone consultation

2. Understanding of photo event will be part of the preparation. Pick location, date, time, and discuss all the details around the event.

3. Deposit is made on the photo session in advance. If new a new client, a portion of the photo event is paid upfront to reserve date and time.

4. If possible before the photo event to meet the client and have the opportunity to chat about the vision for the photo event.

5. Final payment is due at the end of the event. Digital files will be uploaded to a private hosting site for client review with in 3-5 business days.

6. Once order is place, the photos are complete within 3-4 weeks. Depending on the size of the order and product being ordered.

I have been a working photographer for 30 years. I started my business in Southern California and then traveled to South America to work there while my family was living there. After settling on the East Coast, I opened a photography studio in New Canaan, CT and Darien CT for about 14 years. I have specialized in family & people photography, weddings and head shots for my career. I enjoy people and dynamics that they bring to the images. I work part-time now, which allows me to focus on what I really want to do around my schedule. Photography has provided me with much joy, creativity, new friends and the ability to give a beautiful gift to the people I work with.

I took an adult education class at night when my youngest child was about 8 months old. I loved it so much that I enrolled in junior college to pursue a photography certificate.  When I was doing that program, my own children were tired of being photographed so I turned to my neighbors kids and families. Then the word spread, before I knew it I stopped doing it for free because I was a student.  I then charged $25 for a family portrait session fee. I have come a long way from those first few years that I learned so much so fast.  I feel my images are so natural and beautiful... right now my business is 50% repeat clients and 50% referred clients.  I don't do any advertising at this time. I pick the clients that I feel will be fun to work with and give me the creative license to have fun with them while photographing them.   

 All types.  Full families with grandparents down to a baby.

I have worked with difficult clients and amazingly wonderful and thoughtful clients.  Many of my photo clients have become personal friends. I pride myself in that I have been doing this long enough that I am now photographing weddings of clients who I photographed as very young children.  They ask me to photograph their weddings, because they say they know me and love my work. They want it to be natural and fluid in sharing their wedding day. 

My own son's wedding.  He got married in Oct 2018. I photographed the first half of the wedding with a second shooter.  I would have been heartbroken if they ended up with horrible wedding photos.  I got to have fun with the rest of the family during the reception. The photos came out beautiful + I spent that special and intimate time with the bride and groom right after they were married.  How much more fun could that be? It was awesome to share those moments with them.  

Usually you get what you pay for.  Some of my clients during the years felt I was pricey. So then they would try a new photographer for a holiday card and family photos. The next year they will come back and have me do the photos... .they usually don't leave again. There is nothing more beautiful, meaningful or stunning as amazingly awesome photos.  My clients look natural, relaxed, beautiful, handsome and they have a good time too. 

What is their vision and what do they want.  This way I can try and create their vision and then do my creativity. In general they pick my photos,,,, Experience is key. I can't tell you how many clients show me horrible photos taken by photographers who think they are professionals with phone cameras. Don't get me wrong, there is a place for all types of photography in the world today. But high level photography is usually more expensive, a tad more time consuming than the average client wants to spend ( usually I hear... I just need a few shots!) + it takes preparation on both sides.  Preparation by me the photographer for my client and the client prepares for the photographer, so they can put their best forward. I feel the photographer and the client need to click and have a quick responsive relationship to achieve natural looking photos. 

Engaging photos, Rooted photographs that are technically layered and beautiful + I am devoted to my craft.