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Can you relate to this at all? I wake up every morning and wonder where the time is going. Do you ever do that? Have you noticed that, the older you and your children get, the faster time seems to fly? We are very lucky - We get to see our grown-up daughters Kris and Shelly and our grandchildren on a regular basis. They live here in San Clemente too. But, not a day goes by that I don't long for the days when I used to play catch with our daughters in the backyard, or when I could bounce them on my lap. Those times will always be precious to me, and I thank God that I have more than just the memories to help me relive them... There's Nothing Like Being A Parent. You'll Do Anything For Your Child. And When Your Child Smiles, It's The Most Wonderful Sight In The World... Imagine this: We have this great photograph of our daughters when they were toddlers. There's so much heart - so much emotion in this image. That one photograph means so much to us, I can't even describe how I would feel if I were to lose it. I took this photograph of them when they were only two and four years old, and I can still remember to this day exactly what that day was like. It was so perfect. And that entire day - that entire moment in our daughters and our life - is captured in their smile. It's the most real, most tender, most innocent smile, and it's completely them. More than any other photograph we took as they grew up, this photograph captured that childish spirit that will always make me smile. Kris and Shelly are thirty something now. What would a photograph like that of your child mean to you in 20 or 25 years? There's still time, but every day, your child's smile changes a little.
CLICK ON PHOTOGRAPH TO SEE These Kinds Of Photographs Are Not Accidents. They Are Not Snapshots. And Yet They are Not "Posed" Or Unnatural In Any Way. We have many tricks that we have developed over the years that get this natural look. You know your child better than anyone else in the world. You know his or her "real" smile, and you know his or her "fake" smile. But, you know what? Other people can tell the difference too. We all can. You've seen photographs where you could tell the photographer just posed the child and said "say cheese!" The lighting may have been good. The background might have been nice. But that fake expression that happens when a child is PROMPTED to smile - that just makes the photograph look like a snapshot instead of a special captured moment in your child's life. Imagine How Wonderful Your Child's Expression Will Be When The Photographer Has Become Your Child's FRIEND. Children are very smart. They don't just blindly trust anyone. And they NEVER show their true expressions to someone they don't know and trust. That's why the "Triplets" in the wagon photograph was so natural. They knew us after we spent time with them, and therefore they was able to totally be themself. We work very hard to capture those same priceless expressions for our other clients or VIP's. In addition to over 20 years as a photographer, we also have over 20 years of experience as a child psychologist in a way. That's What Makes All The Difference! The Perfect Portrait of Your Child Is Priceless - And It's ONLY Possible If The Photographer Understands How To Work With Your Child To Bring Out Those Natural Expressions. What do you think? Have we done it? So many photographers actually FEAR children. Well, we can understand that, right? Children can be pretty scary sometimes. Working with other people's children can be very intimidating. For most photographers, they don't even meet your child until it's time to create the photographs. So, your child is sitting there, under all these bright lights, in a strange place, in front of some strange person he or she has never met before. How scary is that? It's no wonder most photographers have to resort to telling children to "say cheese" in order to get any expression even resembling a smile. But That's Not Good Enough. Your Child Is Only Going To Be This Age RIGHT NOW - You Deserve The Perfect Portrait To Capture This Moment In Time Forever. When you find the right photographer, a photographer who doesn't merely understand photography, but also understands how to capture your child's best expressions, you have found a new friend you will value for the rest of you life. This photographer is going to do something for you that no one else in the world can ever do ---- This photographer will STOP TIME, and capture a cherished memory that you will be able to relive every day of your life. Nothing means more to me than family memories. No one (other than maybe the rest of your family) understands what your child means to you more than we do. That's one of the reasons we became a professional photographer - We want to help other parents hold on to their family memories forever, and never regret not having a special photograph of their child created.
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Question: "Just Suppose Someone Were To Create The Perfect Portrait of Your Child - One Where Your Child Looked Better Than Ever, Happier Than Ever - A Portrait That Meant The World To You - What Would That Be Worth?" No price tag can be put on your family's memories. They are and always will be priceless. So, why would you ever want to gamble with those memories? It's just a question of whether you believe a portrait of your children could really mean that much to you. If you were sick, and had to go to a doctor, would you want the "cheapest" doctor, or the best one? Well, there's really no question. It's the same thing with your family's memories. You can certainly find a cheaper photographer in town. But there are other things to consider than just price... The Photographer You Choose Should Care About YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR MEMORIES, Not Just About "Making A Buck" Off You. We pride ourself on becoming a family friend of every child we photograph. We have even had some clients invite us to their houses for parties and such. You see, we didn't get into photography to get rich. Believe me, there are better (and easier) ways to make a fast buck. I actually went to college to become a programmer. I could be making a WHOLE lot of money if I'd stayed in that line of work, but I quickly realized that I wanted to work with people rather than stare at a computer screen all day. But I CHOSE to become a professional children's photographer. Why did I make that career choice? Because I finally realized that all the money in the world meant nothing to us if we didn't feel like we was making a difference. I Realized That Childhood Memories Were Priceless - That There Was No More Noble Or Wonderful Profession Than To Become A "Memory Giver." We didn't become a photographer because we liked to take photographs. Don't get me wrong, we do like the "art" of photography, but that's NOT the reason we first picked up a camera. As a child, my mother was alwage taking pictures with her 110 Kodak box camera. Early on I saw the power of the pictures my mother was always taking. I cherish those photographs - they mean the world to me. As I grew up, and my father died, I cherished the memory of the moment those photographs were created even more. Now that my mother and father have both passed away, those photographs are priceless. I can't even imagine what it would be like not to having them. Now, we Have A Family Of our Own, And I Swore I Would Be Sure To Capture The Memories Of our Children Through Fine Portraiture. Time is the one thing that none of us have enough of. It's the one thing that money can't buy. It's the one thing that we all would give just about anything for. Through photography, we can hold on to the moments in our lives that we wish could last forever. And, if it's done correctly, these same photographs will become works of art that we display in our homes with pride for everyone to see and share.
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Don't Make The Decision As To Who Will Photograph Your Child Until You Chat With us. There Are Things You'll Want To Ask The Photographers... There's no cost, and no obligation to just chat with us, and it will make the whole difference as to how great your portraits will look. Our studio number is: Don't worry. We are not going to try to "sell you" on working with us. We are already very busy, and we don't need to pressure anyone to work with us as a photographer. We will just talk to you about your portraits, and help you discover what your photographs could be like. If you decide to have us create your portraits - great. If not, no problem. Throughout This Webpage, You'll See And Hear From Parents In Southern California and elsewere Who Have Had Their Lives Forever Enriched By the Lasting Memories Of Children's Portraits ---
--- But There Were Things Even They Didn't Know When They Started Looking For A Photographer... If you're like most parents, when you first thought of having a portrait created of your child, you probably pictured in your mind a tiny studio, with a painted background, some bright lights, with your child sitting cross-legged on a stool looking nervous. Maybe you even thought of a family member or friend of yours who fancies himself or herself as a "bit of a photography buff." Maybe you thought of having this person do a quick photograph of your child, and you'd call that good enough. He did get a cute little camera for Christmas and can print out pictures on his computer. Well, You're not alone. Most parents think this way at first.... ...but then, just like the other parents on this site, something made you decide to check out our website. You probably saw some of the children's photography we have created and said to yourself "that's what I want." Maybe you realized that this portrait of your child is so important, you're not going to trust it to just anyone. Believe me, you've made the right choice. The 6 VITAL Things To Look For In Your Child's Photographer - The Secrets 99% Of All People In The World Don't Know: By reading this far, you must at least be considering having a portrait of your child created. Well, that's great - you will probably never make a decision that will bring you more lasting joy. However, there are some things you NEED to know before your son or daughter steps in front of any camera. By the time you finish reading this webpage, you will know everything you need to know about how to have the perfect portrait of your child created - the one you will cherish forever! There are 6 VITAL things you must look for in a photographer! If your photographer is missing any one of these things, your child's photographs will be much less than they should be. Demand that your photographer does each and every one of these things! You may feel like having a children's portrait done is going to be a lot of work on your part. Well, it isn't! As long as you know the information on this website, it won't be any work at all on your part. ....So, let's jump right in! #1 Thing Your Photographer MUST DO: Most photographers WILL NOT DO THIS! Just suppose you had a portrait created, and your son or daughter didn't look natural in it. The photograph was "ok," but it didn't turn out spectacular. Should you have to pay for it? ABSOLUTELY NOT! we believe strongly that no one should ever have to pay for a photograph that isn't PERFECT. That's why we are the only photographers in Southern California that we know of to offer the following guarantee: CHECK THIS OUT - If Your Child Doesn't Look The Happiest & Best He Or She Has Ever Looked In These Photographs - If You Don't Cry (tears of joy) When You Look At Them - You Don't Pay Us For Them. That's my guarantee and personal promise to you. As far as we know, there's no other photographer around that will make you this super of a guarantee. These photographs will be completely meaningless to you unless they convey the real emotions and personality of your child. That's the only real reason to have a children's portrait created. So, if FOR ANY REASON you feel that the photographs we create for you are anything less than perfect - if you don't actually cry when we show them to you for the first time, you don't pay me for them. It's that simple. Obviously, We are totally confident that the portraits we create for you will be well beyond anything you imagine. We believe completely that these photographs will become your most prized possessions - that, if your house were on fire, you would grab them on the way out of your burning home. This is not arrogance. We can't stand arrogance. No, this is a complete belief in our abilities to capture natural, real emotions from children unlike anyone else. That's what we have devoted my life to, and that's why we can't wait to photograph your child for you. So, To Restate, Here's Our Fantastic DOUBLE GUARANTEE: If you are not THRILLED with your photographs - if you are dissatisfied for ANY reason at all, we will do two things for you: 1st - At NO CHARGE, we will photograph your child again, and make sure that anything that wasn't perfect is fixed, without you paying another cent. 2nd - If we are absolutely unable to thrill you - if we are unable to create a photograph that you feel you will cherish forever, we will refund EVERY PENNY you invested in them. You don't pay for your photographs unless you love them beyond expression! If we don't end up being your photographer, make ABSOLUTELY SURE your photographer offers this strong of a guarantee. If they are professional and really good at what they do, they should back up their work by taking all the risk off of you. #2 Thing Your Photographer MUST DO: No child is going to look natural and vibrant if they don't know and trust the photographer. That is just a plain FACT. Plus, besides making the photographs turn out so much better, think of how much more fun your child is going to have during the session if the photographer has become his or her friend! There's absolutely NO REASON why your child shouldn't enjoy having these portraits created. In fact, if your child is NOT having fun, the photographs will not turn out well at all. 20 years ago, we made a decision. We decided then and there that we would always try to meet with the child ahead of time. That single decision has made more of a difference to our clients than any other decision we have ever made. THERE'S NO COST FOR THIS PRE-SESSION MEETING, and it will only take about 15 minutes, but by the time those fifteen minutes are up, you and your child will be so comfortable with us that when we do the actual session, the expressions will be perfect, natural, and priceless every time. If we don't end up being your photographer, make ABSOLUTELY SURE your photographer will meet with you and your child ahead of time, and AT NO CHARGE. We can't stress enough what a difference this will make! #3 Thing Your Photographer MUST DO: This is such an important point - for so many reasons! First of all, as I mentioned earlier, one of the biggest challenges for a photographer is making your child feel totally comfortable, thereby getting totally natural and fun expressions. Well, in addition to meeting the photographer ahead of time, one of the best things for your child is to create the photographs in a location that is familiar or fun for the child. Where's the place most children are the most comfortable? IN OR AROUND THEIR HOME. Imagine being a child, and instead of going to some "scary" studio somewhere, the photographer comes to your home, and creates fantastic photographs right there in the home or in your own backyard! How great would that be? Think of how comfortable and "at home" you would feel as a child. Or, suppose going out to a park somewhere, or to the beach, or playing in the grass - and having the photographer take your photographs there. Not only will your son or daughter have more fun being photographed this way, but it will also be a much more personal and unique setting. There's nothing personal or exciting about a photograph taken in a studio. The setting will look just like the settings of hundreds of other child photographs. Yes, WE can create images in OUR studio if you would like. But AT NO EXTRA CHARGE, WE will come to your home, or take you and your child to a couple of locations in and around south Orange County that are perfect for this type of photography. You'll have options - we'll do some in the studio, and some on location. You see, not only do we not mind doing location photography, which takes more work on my part - We actually ENCOURAGE it. After 20 years of photographing children, we know that location photographs tend to be the photographs that parents like the most. If we don't end up being your photographer, make ABSOLUTELY SURE your photographer will create images on location as well as in the studio, and AT NO CHARGE. #4 Thing Your Photographer MUST DO: Now, this is something no other photographer around does. If your child is being photographed in the studio, this is a great way to make him or her totally comfortable - and to insure they have fun. You see, we have this wonderful, big, fluffy, warm, fuzzy, INVISIBLE puppy that lives in our studio. Really, we do. His name is George. And he LOVES to play hide and seek with children. When you and your child come to the studio for the session, we will immediately tell your child about George, and tell him or her to start looking for George. It's a wonderful game, and it puts them at ease right away. You should see a child's eyes light up when we tell them about this loving soft invisible puppy that's running around my studio just waiting to be discovered. Throughout the entire session, if your son or daughter isn't really "getting into the spirit" of the photography, we will tell them we just saw George running through over there. Immediately, their face will light up, and that's when we snap the photograph. Okay, just between you and me, there's no such thing as an invisible dog who plays hide and seek with children. But, once again, the psychology of capturing your child's unique personality is what this game is all about. There are variations on this idea, so be sure to ask any photographer you consider hiring how they work with the children. That is even MORE important than the type of camera they use! And it works! If we don't end up being your photographer, make ABSOLUTELY SURE your photographer does something special to insure your child will have fun and give you great expressions! URGENT::: MAJOR Myth, Mistake Or Misconception About Your Child's Photography: "There's No Rush To Have A Portrait Of Your Child Created Right Now." Before we continue with the 6 THINGS YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER MUST DO, let's talk about this for a moment. So many people think they have all the time in the world to have a portrait of their child created. But, you know how things are. If you don't pick up the phone right now, and at least call us to chat about your child's portrait, you will probably get swamped with other things, and forget all about it. Then, before you know it, a year - two years - five years have gone by. How different will your son or daughter be by then? You see, time is ticking.... and it's never going to stop. First, Your Child Takes His or Her First Step. Next, Learns To Ride A Bike. Later, Gets A Driver's Licence. Graduates From High School. Gets Married. Starts A Family Of His or Her Own. These are precious times, and although things will change, this moment never has to slip from your fingers. Don't put this off. You know how life is. We put things off, and before we know it, everything has changed. If your life is half as crazy as mine is, year after year you find yourself frustrated at the things you wanted to do, but never got around to doing it. Other, less important things keep stealing your time. A portrait of your child - as he or she is right now - is something you deserve. Plus, You Will Save 50% By Acting Right Now! Just suppose you call our studio and chat with us. Just suppose you decide you would like us to be your child's photographer. As long as you are one of the first 19 people to call us (for your FREE chat), we will deduct 50% off the creation of your child's portrait creation fee - NO MATTER WHEN YOU DECIDE TO HAVE THE PORTRAITS TAKEN WITH US! What does that mean? You don't have to actually have the photograph created immediately - just call us to chat. If, after that call, you decide you want us to be your photographer, we will photograph your child for 50% off creation fee. WHAT SHOULD YOU DO RIGHT THIS SECOND? (and why?) Pick up the phone now, and call our studio. CLICK HERE for the number. Even if it's after business hours, still call right now. I've got an answering machine that is just waiting to cheerfully take your message, and I'll personally call you back so we can chat. Just let me know when is a good time to call you back. Don't worry, I'm not going to try to "pressure" you at all into working with me. Plus, there's no cost at all for us just to chat. When you call, we'll chat briefly about the things you need to know. We will tell you a bit about us. We will answer all your questions about how to prepare for your child's portrait - including things we don't have time to put in this letter. It won't be a long call, but it will be one of the most important calls you make. #5 Thing Your Photographer MUST DO: This is a biggie. Most photographers are trying to crank so many sessions through in a day, they only have a short amount of time to photograph each subject. Did you know that the average child photographer spends ONLY 12.5 MINUTES photographing a child?! That's insane! Once, I stopped into a studio to see how they worked. The photographer sat the child down on the floor, stood up, took her camera looking down at the child at a 45 degree angle. She said "Say Cheese" and clicked the shutter just as the child looked away. That was it. You should have seen the expression on the mothers face. I'll never forget it. I just walked out feeling very mad that a photographer could do that. Total time was less than ten minutes. Fine children's photography is like a great meal in a fine restaurant: It CAN'T be rushed. The photographer is like your personal chef, preparing the meal for you. The photographer is going to have to "add all the right spices" into the photograph to make it just right. This takes a bit of patience, and a lot of focus. If your photographer knows that in about 15 minutes the next client is going to show up, you're not going to get the attention you deserve. Now, it may not take the whole hour to photograph your child. However, we ALWAYS set aside at least one hour for every child session we book. We have done a few sessions that only took about 20 minutes or so to get a number of stunning images, but the point is - it's vital to leave that much time open. Don't let your photographer rush through this. Remember, these are your memories, and it's up to you to make sure your photographer realizes his or her responsibility to you and your child. If I don't end up being your photographer, make ABSOLUTELY SURE your photographer spends AT LEAST ONE HOUR creating the perfect images for you - this cannot be rushed! #6 Thing Your Photographer MUST DO: We love this part. You see, this is a two-fold benefit here. It's going to make your child so much more comfortable, and at the same time, it's going to add yet another level of personalization to the final photographs. As you know, children love familiarity. Nothing can calm them down like that "security blanket" they love to haul around the house, or that special beat-up raggedy old stuffed animal that Grandma gave them on their first birthday, or that cherished family pet that is like their best friend. Imagine the wonderful photographs that will come from allowing your child to play with something that is so special to him or her. Some of the most emotional and memorable portraits we have ever created involved a child playing with a toy or a pet or even a family music box. We've all seen children almost seem to "slip into another world" when they play with certain things. Those are the moments I live for, and those are the moments we are going to capture for you. If we don't end up being your photographer, make ABSOLUTELY SURE your photographer encorporates your child's favorite toy into the photographs! Why Your Child's Portrait Will Become More Valuable To You Than Anything Else In Your Home: Do you have a photograph of your child that, if you were running from your burning home, would be the one thing you save (other than your family members, of course) on the way out? I only ask that because I actually had a client whose house was burning, and on her way out she actually grabbed her photo albums containing the photographs of her wedding that I'd created for her! Can you believe that? That's how important those photographs were to her. Do you have a photograph of your child that means that much to you? Now, we are not talking about a "snapshot" that was taken during a family outing on the Fourth Of July. I'm talking about a wonderful photograph, created by an artistic photographer, that not only captures your child's true expressions and personality, but also does so in a way that you'd be proud to display in your home for the rest of your life. It's Not Too Late. This Moment, Right Now, Can Be Held Onto For The Rest Of Your Life - For You To Share With Family And Friends. You don't have to make a big decision right now. You don't have to choose your photographer - you don't even have to decide that now is the time for your child's portrait. Just take one small step toward holding onto your child's happiest moments RIGHT NOW. Just Call My Studio, And We'll Chat. And, If You Decide You Want Me To Create Your Child's Portrait, Save 50% Off It's Creation. It's All Up To You. You can call any time. If we don't answer, just leave your name and number at the beep, and we will call you back. If you're thinking of this photograph as a GIFT FOR SOMEONE, let me know, so when I call back, I only ask for you, and don't spoil the surprise! Once again, CLICK HERE for the direct phone number to our studio. The Perfect Portrait Of Your Child Is Only One Phone Call Away... Make the call now. It will be a call you will be glad you made for the rest of your life. We look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely,
Frank and Marlene Ritenour P.S. - Remember, call us just to chat, and if you are one of the first 19 people, and if you choose to have us photograph your child, you will save 50% off the creation fee! You've nothing to lose, and so many great memories to gain. Call our studio now - no cost, no obligation - CLICK HERE. |
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