So you have a fancy camera or better yet know someone that may have a DSLR? Why visit a portrait studio when you can take these amazing shots yourself? What if I told you that you needed $20,000 dollars to do so. Well lets start with a little education of what goes into taking these Shots. Lets run a little tally and add it up shall we?



• Experience - most people that own a DSLR never use it to its potential because they haven't been properly trained on how to do so. It takes months of hands-on training to learn how to use pro-sumer equipment and most people don't have the time or money to do this. Our photographer has trained for months doing this at our cost and to your benefit.  $2000
• Camera - You must have a good camera to capture all the vivid details. Your visual range is much better than even the most expensive camera on the market. The better the cameras sensor and software, the better it can capture these vivid colors and details. We use professional grade Nikon camera bodies for this reason. $3000
• Lenses - A three thousand dollar camera might as well be a 200 dollar camera with cheap glass on it. The "kit glass" or lenses that generally are packed with the camera in a "kit" are poor grade and not used in professional photography. High power lenses provide crisp detailed images. $2000
• Studio Lighting - On camera or pop-up flashes make an image out of balance. They provide no depth and the images are flat and white washed with flash "white" all over the subject. Studio lighting provides the ability to "shape" light and make images interesting and colors soft and warm. $6000
• Backdrops and Props - A nice backdrop provides an interesting ambiance to an image but does not take away from the focal point (usually the face or eyes). Quality backdrops have no wrinkles and provide a nice low gloss to reflect just a little light back on the subject to reduce unwanted light. Interesting props can also set the entire tone of a photo. Who can imagine newborn photos without a nesting set-up or a toddler photo without interesting child chairs? Or even adult and teen photos minus sports effects or passion items like music equipment? These things bring a simple photo to life. $2000

Software and Computer Equipment - Finally, a photo that you may want to blow up to a 30" x 40" Art print and hang it over the mantle usually involves retouching, finishing and much more. Having the specialized software and knowledge to use it is essential for a finished product to look professional. $5000



So there you have it, $20,000 dollars goes into each professional grade studio shot you take at HotShotz Portrait Studio. So the next time Uncle Fred offers to record your special moments, remember what it takes to get "the shot"!