FAQ
The Imagery does Family, HS Seniors, Pets, Weddings, Events, and More…but 90% of our questions come in about HS Senior pictures…so here are some FAQs about HS Seniors to help parents out during this important time…
How much does it cost for HS Senior Pictures?
At the Imagery everything is designed so that the more you order,
the more you save, and the more coupons and bonuses you are offered.
It also pays to book early, because the largest number of discounts
are given out to those that book their sessions in June and early July
rather than waiting until the last minute. What to save REALLY big? Our largest discount and incentives are given to those that call us to make their reservation by May 13, 2010, don’t miss out!Our most popular session is the 4-outfit session, that is both indoor
and outdoor, and gives you the most variety. The 4-outfit session full
price is $100, but the earlier you book, the more this is discounted
(75% off in May, 50% off in June, 25% off in July).Our “point” system is a way to make it easier for you to order what you want. Other studios put things in packages and force you to order exactly what THEY want, not what YOU want. Our system is not meant to be confusing, rather, it gives you more freedom than other
studios, in that it is designed so that you can create your OWN collections.
The more “points” you order (wallets, 8×10s, etc.) the less “per
point” your order becomes. There is really no “average” order
at The Imagery, instead our clients order from a range of customized
collections that fit all budgets, from $400 range to the $2500 range and beyond. We have many high-end offerings at our studio, but if you want just the basics, we have that too!When budgeting for Senior Photos, don’t forget that you will
need to be ordering open house graduation announcements and party invites, and may want to add thank you notes as well.
We can also frame your portraits at the Imagery. We
want to be your “one-stop shop” for all your photo needs.
Do you go on location?
We can go on location, at your request,
with session packages that start at $100 for the location shoot,
and a minimum of $250 must be ordered from that location’s photos. We love going to exotic
locations that aren’t provided in our portrait park, however,
we do have a beautiful location, that for your convenience, is all-in-one
place, with no tourists walking through the background, and with
air-conditioned dressing rooms.The Imagery has 3 waterfalls, a 47-chevy
truck, a field, several rock formation/landscaped hills, a hacienda/villa
set, different barnwood sets, a “Caribbean” set, a “junk yard”, graffiti
walls, a traditional white porch, bamboo, rock archways…. And
more….and I haven’t even mentioned the indoor sets….you
get the idea…come see for yourself, set up a private tour and consultation, it’s free!Do you have more than one photographer?
Yes, on your session day you will work with
1 of 2 photographers working that day. We also, unlike our competitors, have assistants and digital artists that work on all of your images,
so 3 or 4 artists will have worked on your images before you see them,
creating digital effects, lightly pre-touching your images, and editing
them down for you, so you don’t have see any duplicates or
unusable images. We pride ourselves on providing consistent quality,
and your satisfaction is guaranteed. We would never consider shooting a session and then just giving you the cd. The HS senior session is more important than that, and something we take great pride in for being the best of the best in HS Senior portraiture.
Why do I have to buy my proofs to be able to take them home?
Unlike many other studios, the Imagery still
offers you the option of having proofs, but we require that you purchase
them if you want them, and they are paid beforehand, so we never
print any images that you don’t want to own.In the past, when we used film, the images were printed automatically
by the lab because this was the only way you could see them. Now, with
digital, we are able to show your images on our projection screen,
to the actual size that you will be purchasing them. We show you a
slideshow first, and then go through the images two at a time, and
gradually narrow down your favorites. The process takes up to an hour
and a half at the most, and with the help of our sales consultants,
we can instantly tell you whether or not an image can be displayed
in certain sizes, what finishes we recommend, and we can even suggest
digital artwork that will enhance images further. Because we are able
to assist you so well within the studio, taking the proofs home is
no longer necessary. However, there are still folks that want to own
the entire sampling of images, no matter what, so we do still allow
those clients to purchase their images and take them home for a few
weeks before their order.
Why do we leave a retainer?
If you purchase your original set (proofs), we do require that you
leave a retainer when you pick them up. The retainer, ($500 for 4-outfit
sessions, and $650 for curly/straight sessions) is 100% applied towards
your order, and is based on the average order amounts for the previous
year, divided in half, for those sessions. In the digital age, it is
very easy for images to be scanned and stolen, and the retainer amounts
protect The Imagery from theft or the temptation of theft.
What do I wear to my session?
If preparing for a 4 outfit session (our most popular session), we
want you to remember that all 4 outfits should be a reflection of
different sides of YOU, to give you the most variety. Avoid choosing
outfits that are all within the same style, instead, try picking
1 outfit that matches your eye color, 1 that gives you a casual feel
and reflects your “casual” self,
1 that is you “dressed for a night on the town”, and 1
that comes with some accessories that reflect different interests or
activities that you are involved in. We will send you out a sheet with
more suggestions, but this can be used as guide when planning your
outfits. Also, be sure bring things that are long-sleeved (don’t
forget your fall and winter wardrobe!), and bring things that are SOLID
COLORS…remember, the best portraits are about YOU and not
about your clothes.
Do you retouch the photos?
Yes, we do all of the artwork to our images
in-house. We have a staff of digital artists and photographers, so
more than one, sometimes more than THREE sets of eyes are looking
over all your images. We hold a very high standard of quality here,
and your satisfaction is guaranteed. We do not retouch the original
set (proofs), but all the final prints are retouched. Retouching
is included in the price, unless in certain cases where retouching
needs are extreme. Your sales consultant will help you on a case-by-case
basis if there is extreme acne, redness, or other cosmetic “surgery”,
but in most cases the retouching is included.
Do you retouch the original set (proofs)?
No. We do digital artwork and some pre-touching
to the proofs, but the images are never fully retouched until they
are ordered. The quality of our originals are excellent, and printed
on 4×5 photographic paper…the
only difference between them and a finished order is that they are
not fully retouched. The pre-touching we do eliminates any embarrassing
factors that may hinder you for enjoying the pictures, but proofs are “as-is” images
and special retouching or artwork can only be requested on final
prints.
How long are your sessions?
At other studios you will have to have a
longer session to get the same variety of photographs that we can
do within an hour at The Imagery. Our sessions vary from an hour
to an hour and a half, and typically give you twice the variety that
other studios will take with 3 to 4 hours. This is due to the fact
that at our studio we have hundreds of background options, inside
and outside, all in one convenient place. Every 10 feet of our outside
and inside is designed to give a new look, and, it is your private
park (no tourists will be walking in the background and getting in
your shot). Even studios that say they have a “portrait
park” do not have a park in which you can quickly get from one
set to another…at The Imagery, it is all within minutes, rather
than 10-15 minutes…so there are no long walks between shots
means that you stay cooler, you get more done in a short amount of
time, and you have more FUN infront of the camera!
What high schools do you do pictures for?
Actually, each year we work with students from over 20 different high
schools, and Burnsville is only a small percentage of that total number.
We work with students as far south as Northfield and as far north as
Forest Lake, as far east as western Wisconsin, and as far west as Waconia.
For the most part though, our students come from all over the south
metro, with about 5-10% of each of the student bodies of Burnsville,
Eastview, Eagan, Prior Lake, Lakeville North and South, and Apple Valley.
Why should I come to the Imagery?
Simply put, we are the best value for quality,
location, and service….
If you haven’t made up your mind yet, here are some things
to consider….
- We are the best value for the price. We tell you what
our prices are up-front…this is how it works a.) you tell me what
you are looking to purchase b.) I will tell you exactly what your
bill will come to, and, send you all of our price lists in advance,
no surprises. I will also warn you, with my years of experience,
honestly, what you can expect to spend on not only the prints and
wallets, but any extras that seniors are expected to purchase (albums,
frames, grad cards) and help you determine whether or not these items
are right for you. We
don’t have a lot of “it’s extra for this, or extra for that”…retouching
is INCLUDED in the final product…we want our images to look good. Period. And
that means we give you the folders, the mounting, the die-cutting,
the retouching, all as part of the included price. - We are the best value for quality. Rod Oman is the current Twin
Cities Portrait Photographer of the Year AND Senior Photographer of the Year (2009), and his folios for HS Seniors have consistently placed in the top 3 year after year in the Twin Cities, State, and top 10 position in the nation. Now,
awards don’t really mean anything, except that they kind of indicate
that he knows what he is doing, other than that, our biggest awards
come from the clients who return year after year. - We are the best value for trust. Family owned and local. For
22 years there has been a studio in this same (Burnsville) location,
and owned by my husband Rod for the last 12. During those years
we have done an average of 400 high school seniors a year and around
150 families and kids each year. We are responsible for making
you happy, and if we don’t, for any reason, we will do what we can
within our power to fix it with integrity and accountability. - We are the best value for all-included
experience. Our studio
has 3 indoor camera area and an outdoor portrait park. I
cannot describe it in words, it has to be seen. We also have a “uniqueness
guarantee” which means that if any of our clients feel that their
pictures are too similar to their friends pictures, we will re-do their
session, free of charge. Because of our unique facilities,
we can easily make that promise.
We will work late hours to make sure the
studio succeeds…and by “success”,
We insure that you were happy with your experience….from the session
to the final pick up. Senior pictures are important enough
that they will last a lifetime…and we are always working to make
sure that you will proud of your finished product, forever, and that
we become your trusted family photographer, forever, as well.
Give us a try…visit us a free consultation and tour our studio and park. I am trying to entice our special referrals
by calling them with a private invitation to receive a free gift, but,
you’re right, none of that really matters, it matters that you get
the best…but don’t wait too long and miss out on specials for booking early (or class of 2011 deadline for the best specials, is CALL BY MAY 13!
Our address (we are by appointment only):
11804 Kennelly Road
Burnsville, MN 55337
Phone: 952-890-7640
