How long has Houston Event Photography been in business?

We started our professional photography business in 1976 in Lake Jackson, Texas and moved into the Houston area in 1983 were we became a division of TLS Graphics Inc. and Scott Wilson Studios. Our Biography can be read here.

Do you have any suggestions for what I should wear?

Yes we have a page set up that should answer most of those questions for you just click here
for our portrait sessions tips

Do you offer on-site printing?

Yes we do. We also capture digitally so that you may preview your photos immediately. We also can make custom digital backgrounds and borders sometimes called "Green Screen" which personalize your event. There may be a setup charge for digital back grounds and borders depending on how difficult they may be to create. Please ask we may have a stock border or background which will work for your event.

Most on-site digital photographers are printing on Epson, Canon or other inkjet printers. Some of these prints fade over a short period of time and water easily damages them. What do you use?

We use the Kodak 8500 Thermal Dye Sublimation Photo Printer © . The print paper looks and feels like a photograph should and is archival, waterproof and UV coated meaning it will last as long as a traditional light sensitive print. This printer uses original Kodak ® material which is a name that can be trusted to provide the finest photographs available today. All on-site prints are printed on glossy finish only.

We also have recently started using the Mitsubishi CP8000DW Thermal Dye Photo Printers which offer high speed 5x7 printing. These printers offers the same excellent quality as our Kodak printers but at a much quicker speed. These printers also use a UV coating for long archival life similar to the Kodak prints.

What are the advantages of using digital cameras?

• Immediate feedback: Because the image can be viewed right away, everyone can walk away from the shoot knowing that it has been successful. In cases where the photographer is “shooting for expression”, this is extremely valuable. In many cases, Polaroid's can simply not show what you get, because expressions change so fast.
  
• Easy editing: A photographer can make the shoot available for viewing over the Web quickly, sometimes before the end of the day. The photographer and client can then discuss which images work for the project, and can put them into final production immediately.
  
• Decreased turn-around time: Digital capture consolidates the production of images in one vendor. The digital photographer is able to provide a product ready to be dropped into a document, and sent to a printer for final settings and output. This could easily remove six messenger fees and the associated time delay from a project. And in many cases, the entire delivery of images can be done electronically.
  
• Reduced liability: Clients frequently accept large potential liabilities when they take responsibility for original film. The liability for loss or damage of the image is no longer a consideration with digital capture and delivery.
  
• Digital is a great tool for photographers: I think using a digital camera makes me a better photographer. I can balance light and experiment with blurs and make sharp infrared photos much more easily than with film. And when you start talking about actually doing something with the photos—e-mailing them, or making large color prints, or Web pages, or Quicktime movies, or 4x6 prints, or beautiful black-and-whites, whatever—the idea of a photograph that you can pipe straight in to the computer looks very attractive.
  
• Archiving and retrieval: A well-planned archive may be the most attractive advantage to digital. A piece of film can exist only in one place, unless expensive dupes are made. A digital file, with keywords written into the IPTC tags, can live in multiple files, and can be available a the touch of a keyboard.

Are these digital images capable of being used in a publication or web site?

Yes. And, we can transmit them to you via e-mail or supply them on CD depending on the need. Final image sizes can reach 40 megabytes or larger at 8x10, 300 dpi so they will be supplied on CDs in TIFF or EPS format. For publication printing most commercial printers want images saved in TIFF or EPS format. Web images can be saved in much smaller and compressed formats such as JPG or GIF at 72 DPI which can be easily e-mailed to you.

Are the quality of digital cameras as good as film?

I feel that the quality is as good are even better than film cameras depending on the situation or event you are using them for. In some situations film still has it's advantages but digital is catching up and I feel soon that film will be falling behind compared to most professional digital cameras. I have personally made 40" X 60" prints using my cameras that I can say were far better than what I would have expected if I had been using film.

If you are digital shouldn't it be less expensive than film based photography?

No, just because we use digital it is not cheaper than film. There are many reasons including processing time. Almost every image will take some time to tweak in post processing. We adjust color balance and make minor improvements and adjustments to our images in Photoshop. For every hour shooting I would say there is at least an hour in post processing. In studio situations most of this post processing can be eliminated because we can make minor adjustments while we work were we control our environment and lighting, but in the field this is almost impossible.

When we used film there was also things happening behind the scene that most people were not aware of that cost money. Labs did all of our post processing and charged us for doing what we can now do ourselves. And I feel we do a better more creative job by keeping control of our work ourselves.

Why is your digital camera better than my friends who also wants to take my pictures?

I get asked this all of the time. Most consumer digital cameras are capable of making excellent snapshots and some can even produce excellent prints. I even use them for my snapshots when I am out with my friends. But the cameras that professional photographers use are far superior in image quality. The pixels are larger and sharper than the consumer camera that most people are buying today. Also the glass in the lens is not professional quality glass. A lens for professional cameras can cost many times more than the camera body itself. I have lens that cost as little as $400.00 and as much as $5000.00 and like we have all been told "You get what you pay for". That is true when you hire a reputable professional for you event.

How many photos can you produce at an event?

Our 8x10 printer can produce about 100-120 prints per hour. Our 5x7 printers can produce 250-300 prints per hour. Our 4x6 printers can produce 450-500 prints per hour. We may take hundreds of photos during your event and try to print all of the formal posed portraits that are purchased while we are on location so they can be taken home immediately.

How many photos do you typically shoot at most events?

We typically shoot several hundred photos per event. This is many times more than we did when we used film. At many of our larger events and wedding we exceed 500 or more shots. Some people say we give too many choices but we would rather capture too much than not enough.

What is the maximum print size available on-site?

8 X 10 borderless is the largest print size we can offer on site at the event. Larger prints can be ordered for later delivery by viewing your prints at the event or on the web site after the event.

Are my photographs kept private?

Yes, most events have a password which enables people who were at the event and given the password to view their photographs. Business cards or forms will be handed out during the event with the web address and password on them.

Can I order copies of my photographs?

Yes, we publish all events on our web site so they can be viewed later for your approval before ordering. On line ordering is easy and convenient using your credit or debit card. Photographs ordered after the event will be produced by a professional photo lab and will be printed on Kodak ® or Fuji photographic paper. Several choices of finishes may be available. Photographs will be shipped directly to your mailing address.

How long do you keep the photographs posted on the web site?

We usually leave them up for at least one year after the event. If needed we can leave them up a little longer.

How much room will you need to photograph our guests?

Generally, we'll need a space no smaller than 12' by 15'. However, 25' by 25' feet is optimum. Click Here To See A Sample Of What We Need For Our Set Up

What other needs do you have?

We need 20 amps of electricity with at least two electrical outlets close to your photo location. We also prefer a controlled light environment where we can turn the ceiling lights down if available. We will also need to have at least two large 8' tables and a couple of chairs to set our equipment up on. Our printers weigh 27 pounds each.

Click Here To See A Sample Of What We Need For Our Set Up

How do you charge for your on-site photography & delivery?

Based upon location, number of prints, number of photographers and photo assistants and how much time we will be required to stay at the event will determine what we charge so please call us for a quote. If your event is large enough for us to cover our expenses and make a profit selling photographs we may not charge you anything for photographing the event. Contact us directly for a quote and more specific information.

Do you provide the skilled talent to operate your photographic equipment?

Yes, we are full-service photographers. We own our equipment. We do not rent out our systems because of the technical skills necessary to run the computers and software. Properly lighting portraits is a skill not often obtainable by untrained photographers. Our knowledge, expertise and professionalism insure your event will be successful.

What type of events do you cover?

We will cover any kind of event that needs to be photographed. Examples are Banquets, Proms, Dances, Socials, Church Events, Valentine Parties, Weddings, Special Events, Business Events, Runway Modeling, Grand Openings, Charity Events, Sports, Schools Events, Dance Recitals, Drill Teams, Cheerleading Events, Parades, Holiday Parties, Dance Recitals and the list goes on and on.

Here are some of the services we provide. Contact us to see how we can solve your photography needs.

Public Relations Coverage: We will cover your event and provide a CD with all of the images in high resolution (300PPI/JPEG Format)

Trade Show Promotion: We will shoot and print on location. Your target audience of trade show attendees will be encouraged to visit your booth once they see others roaming the trade show with this unique premium. A custom designed border with your logo and tag line is included.

Holiday Parties: We will shoot and print on location. Why not reward your employees and their guests with a beautiful 5x7 portrait with a custom border to commemorate the event? Everyone is already dressed up for this important annual social event. They won’t stop talking about these photographs!

International Meetings, Conferences and Convention Photography: We will shoot and print on location. Get the best of both worlds. Hire us to provide professional coverage and we will sell to your conference attendee’s on-location. Everyone, national and international visitors alike want to commemorate their visit to Houston, Texas.

Viewing and Selling Online: We provide the professional coverage for your event and allow your guests to view and purchase their images online.

Here are a few suggested events that we can cover

What other services do you offer?

Film based photography. Most of our events are shot using professional digital cameras but some customers still prefer film based cameras. We still offer this service for those who choose to utilize it. We have equipment to handle just about any need.

We also offer videography services using Sony DV-CAM digital video cameras. The cameras we use are professional 3-CCD cameras and not the types that are sold in typical consumer electronic stores. Wireless microphones are also used to capture the audio.

What will your photographers & assistants wear?

For conventions, parties and special events, our photographers and assistants are generally dressed in slacks and professional looking company shirts or attire. However, if your company would like us to wear a particular shirt, or type of clothing to match other vendors, we do that as well for an extra charge if we have to purchase the clothing ourselves. Either way, our photographers will look appropriate to your special event.

How do we pay you?

We accept cash, checks or credit cards. We require payment at or before the time service is rendered unless other arraingments have been made.

Again we would love to be of service to you and your organization. If you have other questions please contact us by phone or e-mail and we will promptly answer your questions.

You may contact us at:

Houston Event Photography
PO Box 891411
Houston, Texas 77058
832-250-8897
info@houstoneventphotography.com