From a creative point of view we like to be relaxed and comfortable during your portrait session and so should you. We will do a pre portrait session talk. This will give us chance to get a feel of the style you require and answer any other question you might have. The pre-portrait session talk is normally done over the telephone three to four days before the session. A studio session covers up to an hour of studio time or till we believe we have the right photographs for you.
Studio portrait sessions are available Monday - Tuesday, Thursday - Friday between 9.30am and 4.30pm. Weekends are available by booking well in advance.

Location portrait sessions are available any week day between 10.00am and 4.00pm and will take place at a pre-arranged venue - either at your home or a local beauty spot. You can include as many people as you like in a location portrait (venue size permitting!)
A standard location session covers up to one and a half hours of time within a 30 minute drive of the Darlington Studio (venues further than this will incur an extra time charge).
Shooting on location, or in the studio, Risbeys Photography create portraits with memories to last a life time.

FAQ

What should we wear?

For Vivid style
Avoid formal clothes - it's not the style!  Chances are you'll end up sitting on the floor (indoors or out), so casual is going to be a keyword. This portrait style is relaxed so the Sunday best just won't cut it.

For Lifestyle style
Bring the type of cloths that you would everyday or when you are going out for fun. This is about you and we want you to feel comfortable.

Traditional Style
This is the time for your Sunday best or even a suit or possibly that nice dress you fancy. For the men long sleeves tend to work best. May also apply to some of you women but you will know if you have the arms for it.

With all styles try to avoid clothing with big logos and patterns - they'll just detract from your face (which is the main focus of most portraits). The whole point of the session is to capture 'you' - not the clothes you're wearing. (If it's a fashion shoot you'd prefer then have a look at the model portfolios section of our web site).
With groups it's a good idea to pick a 'theme', but don't stick rigidly to it. If you all wear slight variations of a chosen colour then you'll coordinate well together - without looking too loud!

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How far in advance should we book?

We offer a limited number of portrait sessions through out the week and would therefore suggest that you book well in advance, if you have a specific date in mind. Weekend appointments are particularly popular and in limited supply due to our wedding photography commitments. You will probably need to book 5 to 8 weeks in advance for a Saturday. Midweek bookings can usually be made around two to three weeks in advance.

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How do we get to see our photos?

Your photos will be available to view at your dedicated portrait viewing appointment. This is normally between 3-10 days after your portrait session. After the studio viewing all the photographs taken will be put on our website. They will stay on-line for five weeks whilst you can choose extra prints or of course, you can pass on the web address to your friends and relatives. So that they can see and order photographs for them selves.

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How long will it take to get my prints?

Usually it takes around three weeks to prepare your order (although it can take longer if frames are included). However, if you have a deadline to meet, please let us know. We can usually hit them!

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When do we pay?

Portrait prices are made up of two components - the session fee (studio or location), then the cost of prints/frames etc.

The session fee or location fee is paid at the time of booking your appointment. £45 pounds for the studio fee and £60 for a location fee within a 30 minuets drive from the studio.

At the studio viewing after you have seen all the photographs and chosen to make an order that is when we take payment in full.
We accept payment via cash, cheque or credit/debit card.

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