FEATURED POSTS

Have you been searching for a Northern Virginia Photographer that offers the finest quality prints and art products available to preserve your family’s history?  Are you looking for a photographer that can transform your digital (pictures) images into works of art?  Have you hired a photographer previously with every intention of transforming your family’s pictures into a canvas or an album, but somehow haven’t had the time?  Me too… We all get busy and have every intention of creating that beautiful piece of art we love.  With my own experience, I’ve learned we all need a little help and guidance.  Would you love for your family photographer to take the reins of creating what you love and design and deliver your wonderful family album and/or frame and hang my recent family portrait.
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​If you’re like me and want to have someone who will take on the hard work of photographing your family, creating an heirloom family album, or hanging your family most recent framed portrait; I’m your family photographer.  ​Continue reading below and you’ll learn more about the archival prints and finished work that’s available to preserve your family’s legacy.  
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​Everyone likes to receive digital images from their family photographer, but did you know you’ll love the Canvas Wraps that are offered.  Tamieka Smith Photography is proud to design and offer professional museum quality gallery wrapped canvases.  Each canvas is Museum quality canvas and is a stunning way to display your family’s favorite portraits in your home.  They are the perfect décor for your home because it not just art…it’s your family.

Decorating our homes is one of the hardest things to do.  Which color should I paint the wall, should I hang pictures, which pictures should I hang, what frame should I use, and on, and one.  I'm exhausted just thinking about it.  

Well Tamieka Smith Photography is here to assist and make your life so much easier.
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Once your portrait session is completed, we schedule a viewing/ordering session with each of our clients.  During this session, we walk through your images from your portrait session.  While viewing we'll indicate your favorite images and determine how you would like to display your images.  Many clients want to turn their images into wall art.  We hope you decide to do this as well.  We can help you choose the best frame for your images, also help determine what the final product will look like with or without a matting (example below with a white matting).  If assist is needed to get the perfect alignment of your portraits, we have a Art Installer as well.  ​

One of the most popular questions I receive is how much is it for digital files?  My reply is, may I ask how would you like to display your images; via computer or wall?

I always hope the answer will be on my walls.  However, more often than not it's on my computer.  We live in a digital and social media age, so many clients want the digital files to share with friends and family via their social media accounts.  Does anyone remember MySpace?

Here are a few things to consider when deciding whether to purchase digital files or wall art.

Electricity - Electricity is always needed to view the files.  Unlike a portrait album or wall art that's perfectly displayed in your home on your favorite coffee table or your favorite wall, digital files have to be displayed on an electronic device.  

Obsolete Technology - Do you remember the floppy disk?  This was the most common type of disk drive about 15 to 20 years on computers.  Many photographers delivered their clients portraits via this type of medium.  However, if the client didn't purchase prints via the photographer or another venue, do you think the client would be able to view or print the files from the disk?  Can you guarantee computers will still be sold with USB or CD ports in ten years?

Corruption - According to Computer World, the average CD last 2 to 5 years.  After a particular amount of time, files naturally begin to corrupt and become unable to access.  Even if the files are transferred from the CD or USB to a computer's hard drive, there is still the possibility for corruption.  

No electronic device or storage system is infallible!

As illustrated in the image below, this family doesn't have to power up their computer or hope their digital files will corrupt because they have taken their favorite images and placed them over their fireplace in their home.  The portraits displayed should be a reflection of the beauty of your family and captured in the best possible manner.  Every visitor will be able to experience their family love simply by looking at their portraits.  
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Organic Bloom Frames are one of the most unique, creative framing companies out there and we are so pleased to be able to offer them to our clients.  We feel that their fun, fresh style meshes well with our photographic style here at Tamieka Smith Photography and would look wonderful with any images from your session.  

We are also offer these frames for purchase for any photograph in your home, whether your a clients of ours yet or not!  

We are happy to provide a Digital Frame image to give you an idea of what your photo might look like in one of the Organic Blooms frames.  We are also happy to make color and style recommendations if you’re having a hard time narrowing down your choices.  Design mock up is complimentary for current & past clients.  Non-clients can have up to 3 designs mocked up for a nominal fee.  The fee is merely to cover our design time and will be deducted from the price of your order, if purchase is made.

There’s nothing like hanging a fresh gallery up in your home.  A gallery wall is like an open photo album on display to every visitor in your home.  Your favorite session photos can be displayed as canvases, traditional or Organic Blooms frames.  Gallery walls rock for many reasons, but here are three:

·         They are simple, yet stunning

·         The frames or canvas are gorgeous, large and complimentary to your home

·         It’s the perfect way to showcase your family’s photos

There are several display options or displays may be customized like the image above to suit a particular wall size.  The living room above is displaying (2) 16x24 and one 20x30 canvases.  

There are endless possibilities with your family's portraits.  From gallery wraps to traditional frames to Organic Bloom Frames, there are so many options to proudly display your families heirlooms.  

Can you guess what's the best size to order and display on your walls?  When asked, many people would respond "8x10".  Unfortunately, a 8x10 will not stand out on the wall...it's too small.  Is there a difference between a 8x10 or 30x40?  Why of course it is.  Using the powerful display guide will help determine the correct size to order for wall display.    

Most of the time, your wall space will call for a larger display than you think.  The image to the left is one 8x10, the center image is displaying a 24x36, and the image to the right is 1-24x36 & 2-16x24 prints.  

Are you ready to create custom artwork for your home,  Call 310-529-5437 or schedule an initial consultation today.  I'd love to discuss your goals for creating custom artwork for your family, and in turn, create heirloom artwork that can be handed down to your children.

When you visit your parents or grandparents homes, do you see framed portraits of your family members from generations past?

I remember as a young child visiting my grandmother's home and being able to see portraits of her, my grandmother's siblings, as well as her children.  With the invention of digital cameras and social media, many parents do not have framed portraits displayed in their homes.  Instead those precious keepsakes are stored on computers (that have a risk of crashing) and memory cards (may be lost and/or forgotten).  We're living in a time where countless amounts of pictures are taken on a daily basis, however 5 years from now we will forget about our favorites!  This is a tragedy!!! 

Don't let this happen to you and your family!