The greatest lights in your life are all changing. One instant they glow like phosphorus. The next? Pouf. Love grows gray. Kids grow up. Pets go too soon. Family follows not long after.
Don’t let light escape you. Capture it with the aid of Eden Prairie’s best portrait artists for hire, whose experience spans decades: photographers Liz and Tom Hanly.
“I was glued to my Brownie by the time I turned ten, and devoured every high school photography class I could take,” said Tom. “I loved looking for new perspectives on the world; views that shatter the ordinary.”
“I was also smitten with the artistry of photography at a young age – particularly taking pictures of people,” said Liz. “More than that, I loved taking pictures for people: understanding their vision, planning their perfect shoot, and seeing their reaction once everything glides to fruition. Knowing they would cherish my work forever? There’s no greatest reward.”
“We met in photography school,” said Tom, “and we would continue to bond by studying together for many years to come. In addition to earning Craftsman and Master Photographer degrees, we both became Certified Professional Photographers. It’s a title held by fewer than eight percent of photographers in the United States, which requires proof of technical and artistic mastery.”
“Many wonderful photographers hold fewer distinctions than Tom and I,” said Liz. “That being said, photography is treated as an entry-level job by many, and few consumer protections are available to those who hire unprofessional ‘professionals.’ Our accreditations show that we are qualified, and share the skill we need to capture precious moments in their fullest.”
To Liz and Tom, planning the perfect shoot extends well beyond the where and who. Lighting. Composition. Background. Clothing. Mood. Even the size of the room and style of frame the photo will hang in. No detail escapes their design.
“We go into even greater specifics depending on the subject,” Liz continued. “Take, for example, a newborn, who would be lost in a wide shot or against a busy background. Newborn photography requires intimacy, connection between the parents, and, ideally, a freshly fed and rested newborn.”
“Toddlers bring the exact opposite energy,” added Tom. “It takes patience and persistence to photograph a child after they have learned the word ‘NO!’ You have to make a game of it, and associate with them at their level. It is not at all beneath this Certified Professional Photographer to have his wife bonk him on the head with a rubber chicken.”
“Senior photos underscore the importance of having a consultation before every shoot,” said Liz. “We want to learn what makes each soon-to-be grad unique. What are they looking forward to? What are they most interested in? For one recent client, it was Star Wars, so we got a great shot of him flourishing a lightsaber with a brilliant arc of light trailing behind him. For another, it was baseball. It took some fine-tuning, but we soon determined the best exposure to capture the full drag of his swing.
“We adore working with pets as well, and have so far photographed dogs, cats, rabbits, and even a chinchilla, porcupine and ball python. As always, consultation beforehand is key. It helps us gain insight into the pet’s personality, and know which demeanor, stimuli, and treats will help them reveal their truest self.”
“Dogs are the opposite of newborns,” noted Tom. “The best dog model is hungry and tired!”
Liz and Tom are here to make your light immortal. Visit PosersPhoto.com or call (612) 719-6661 to learn more.