The "Have it All" Family Portrait Option

The Family Portrait Session was pretty typical; Mom and Dad, three grown kids -- one married with a baby boy, and (great) grandparents. The location was the family farm, on a pretty spring morning.

Andi, the mom/grandma made all the arrangements (also pretty typical), and we had a fun time photographing the family while visiting and trying to get the dog and the baby to both look at the camera at the same time.

About a week later, Andi came to the studio to see the results, and she loved them all!

She loved the one of the whole family under the tree... but she also loved the one of them on the porch of their home.

Of course she also loved the one with the great-grandparents and grandkids...

But also the one of just the kids... and of course, the new little grandson!

Ultimately, she decided that since she loved them all, she should HAVE them all!

Andi's 24x36 Wall Panel

Andi's 24x36 Wall Panel

We created a unique multi-image composite that incorporated all her favorites into one beautiful 24x36 inch, framed wall art, to be proudly displayed in the home. We also created two more composite images, each slightly different to emphasize different individual images -- one for the great-grandparents, and one for the married son and his young family. These were printed and framed as 16x24 pieces.

The point is, there really AREN'T any "typical" Family Portraits -- because there aren't really any "typical" families. 

Composite Portrait Panels are just one of the many unique products at our studio, in addition to more traditional framed images. The right portrait for your family might be something completely different... but we want you to know that we are ready to work with you to create whatever you desire.

 

Two-day "Quick Take" Special, April 2 - 3, 2015

The kids are out of school for Easter on Thursday, April 2 and Friday, April 3.

Take advantage of the break and come by the Studio for our "Quick Take" Children and Families Special!

Reserve your quick and easy half-hour, one-outfit appointment and get a fun Studio Session, with your choice of a Framed 11x14 Wall Portrait, -OR- 6 Gift Size (8x10/5x7) Portraits for only $125.

To schedule your Session, or to ask us a question, call us at 217-228-1385 or use this contact form:



A Little Girl with a Great Big Tradition

This is our new friend, Mary. One morning last week, we had a lot of fun getting to meet her and enjoying her wonderful expressions.

Mary is wearing her Christening gown… but it’s not an ordinary dress. Mary’s Great-Great-Grandfather was born in 1900. Early in the year 1901, at the age of 4 months and 22 days, he had his portrait made — in this very Christening gown. That makes the gown 113 years old!

Since that original portrait in 1901, each new baby in Mary’s family has had his or her portrait made in the same gown, at the age of 4 months and 22 days!

So here is 4-month and 22 day-old baby Mary, in her 113-year-old Christening gown carrying on the family tradition. What an honor it was for us to be part of it!

Looking at the BIG Picture...

Here is a special project we've been working on recently...

30x60 inch Family Portrait

This is a 30x60 inch portrait we just finished for a great family in our Kid's Club.​ We will be personally delivering it in the morning.

We typically show samples of portraits in 20x24 or 24x30, and a lot of people say,

"Whoa! We can't hang that in our house -- we don't have room".

But as you can see, this FIVE FOOT WIDE portrait looks incredible hanging over the couch on the eight foot wall of our 8x18 waiting room. (I will almost guarantee that your living room is wider than 8 feet.)

This portrait is an example of our Portrait Commission Series. At our studio, we have our basic portraiture, the "Works Package" series, and Portrait Commissions.

The Portrait Commission is for those who have an idea... or a "vision" for something that is a little different, something that is not on the regular menu. A Portrait Commission starts with a call or a visit to the studio and some brainstorming. Do you want to incorporate a GIANT tractor and planter into a GIANT print? Do you want a set of "Day in the Life" portraits? What about a destination, or a series of images over time, or... whatever you can imagine? 

Needless to say, we LOVE doing Commissions, because they require us to stretch! Sometimes Portrait Commissions are a little higher in price than the regular menu items... but not always. Sometimes they are just different and unique.​

If you have an idea for something "different", please give us a call, or use the Contact Us here on the website. There is no charge to come in and tell us about your dream, and we would be thrilled to try and make it come true!​

​Here's a closer look!

Business and Professional Portraits

Visit Linkedin or look at the business page in the newspaper. Does every profile picture  present a professional image? How many don't even have a profile picture?

​Is this YOUR profile image?

​Is this YOUR profile image?

What about you? Do you have an image that enhances your professional image, or does your profile look like this:

It's important to project a professional image to the public, so why is it that so few of us do?​

You may imagine that having a Business Portrait made is going to be a long, painful, and frustrating experience... but after it’s over in 10 or 15 minutes, most of our clients tell us, “That was actually kind of fun!”

Give us 20 minutes of your time and as little as $65.

You won’t wait in line, and no one will try to sell you extras you don’t need. We'll take about a half dozen simple head-and-shoulder poses.

You will look pleasant and professional.

Pick out the one you like best online... or, let the image experts pick it out for you. Your Portrait is fully enhanced and delivered in multiple sizes and resolutions for publication and on the web.

You would never arrive at an important meeting not looking professional... you should project that same level of professionalism online and in print.

Please call or use the "Contact Us" form to schedule your Business Portrait Session today.

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How Do I Order My Portraits?

Why No Disks or Online Proofing?

Imagine you hire a designer like those guys on HGTV to create a new interior for your home. Suppose she hands you a stack of paint samples and says,

"Take these home and pick out the one you like, then let me know."

Would you feel cheated?

When your Portrait images are ready to be viewed, we like to show them to you first at our studio — in our special private projection room, adequately sized so you can see all the fine details.

First you will experience a moving slide presentation of all the images, set to music. Then, after you have seen each individual image, we will help you review the images, comparing them, examining them... until you have chosen the very best poses to fulfill all your needs; whether a large home décor piece, or a collection of smaller images to display as a grouping, or to give as gifts.

Sometimes clients ask if we can just "post them online so we can pick out what we want"... but we look at that as the designer just handing you the paint chips. Most people, after ordering in person at the studio, agree that it is much easier to decide when you can see all the images on the big screen, the same size that they will be on your walls at home, and they agree that it is helpful to have an expert to consult during the ordering process.​

Now ​— to be honest — sometimes it is not feasible to return to the studio for viewing and ordering... sometimes we make family portraits while everyone is home for the holidays, or there is some other reason why the decision makers cannot come to the studio. In those cases, we can post images online... but it is definitely not our preferred method.

Of course, the most important thing is for you to get exactly the right images for your needs, and we will do whatever it takes to make that happen!​

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Backgrounds and Props

WE OFTEN GET ASKED ABOUT BACKGROUNDS AND PROPS...

We have lots of different backgrounds and props, but really, that's not what makes a great portrait. A portrait is supposed to show your personality.

We'll use the right background and the right props to help your portrait look good, but we won't clutter your image with unnecessary props.

Remember, the main attraction of your portrait is YOU!

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Greatest Fear

ONE OF THE BIGGEST FEARS* PEOPLE HAVE IS GETTING THEIR PICTURE TAKEN.

There are a couple of good reasons for this:

  1. No one likes to be "put on the spot".
  2. No one likes to look bad.

People say,

"Oh, I don't take a good picture!"

​What they are really saying is,

"I hate it when I'm put on the spot and I have to "perform" -- I hate trying to 'look good' for a picture... I can never smile on command without it looking fake."​

But what you may not realize is that it's not up to you to make the portrait turn out, it's up to the creator of the Portrait! If you feel "put on the spot", your photographer is not making you feel comfortable.

At Coonrod Photography, it's not like "having your picture taken"; it's a whole different experience.

If all your previous portrait experiences were "school pictures" or standing in line or being told, "Sit on the box and smile!" you're in for a big surprise.

WE TREAT YOU LIKE A PERSON.

Here's a secret we've learned: If your Portrait experience is unpleasant and uncomfortable, your Portrait will look unpleasant and uncomfortable!

We take your portraits seriously, but we don't take ourselves seriously. If getting your Portrait isn't fun, it's not worth doing.

Your session will be fun, and when you have fun, you'll be comfortable - and when you're comfortable, you'll look great! We know it sounds simple... because it really is. When you feel good, you look good -- and we will do everything in our power to make sure you feel good at our studio!

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