• General Questions:
  • Why hire Orion Imaging?
  • Can I combine your photographic and web development services into one project?
  • I'd like to explore my options for a project that I'm considering.  Can you offer me a consulting session so we can talk things over and brainstorm about different ideas?
• Photography:
  • I need some photography done ASAP.  How quickly can you get me deliverables?
  • How should I prepare for an upcoming portrait photography session?
  • How should I prepare for an upcoming commercial photography session?
• Digital Imaging:
  • What is this "digital imaging"?
  • Is the cost of digital imaging included in your photography packages?
  • I have an old photograph that is badly damaged.  Can you fix and restore this photograph?
• Web Development:
  • What are the benefits of building a completely custom website?
  • Do I need a content management system or CMS?
  • Have you done X, Y, and Z before?

General Questions:

Q: Why hire Orion Imaging?

A: The simplest answer:  We love what we do, and it shows in the quality our work.  We've taken on a wide range of projects in our history and have enjoyed the challenges that we've come across in the process, skillfully crafting custom-tailored solutions all along the way.

Q: Can I combine your photographic and web development services into one project?

A: Sure thing.  Photography and web development often go hand-in-hand and complement one another very nicely.  We'll be glad to put together a project for you that involves both skill sets.  And because of our experience with the web, we have a great deal of know-how when it comes to preparing images that are specifically optimized for web presentation.

Q: I'd like to explore my options for a project that I'm considering.  Can you offer me a consulting session so we can talk things over and brainstorm about different ideas?

A: Definitely.  We're happy to talk with you about the various options that may suit your project's needs, as well as talk you through some of the options and technologies that you may like to consider.  Our first consultation is completely complimentary, and after that you're welcome to retain our services as a consultant, or commission our photographic and web development services for your project.

Questions About Photography:

Q: I need some photography done ASAP.  How quickly can you get me deliverables?

A: The time needed to produce presentation-quality photographic deliverables really depends upon our current schedule and workload, as well as the nature of the deliverables.  We're glad to do everything we can to meet your schedule, even if that means shooting the same day as your request, then staying up all night to process the images.  If you do need deliverables in a hurry, go ahead and contact us and we'll do our best to make arrangements for you.

Q: How should I prepare for an upcoming portrait photography session?

A: A good question.  Here's a short list of the things that we've found to be very beneficial in preparing for a portrait photo session.

• Relax and enjoy yourself.  Being comfortable is one of the best things you can do to help make your photographs turn out well.
• Get plenty of sleep in the days leading up to your photo session.  "Beauty sleep" is not just a saying!
• Drink plenty of fluids the day before and the day of your photo session.  Being well-hydrated helps give your skin and complexion its best appearance.
• Think about the image that you would like to project in your photographs, and let's talk about it before the shoot.  Do you want your photographs to say "professional", "fun-loving", "beautiful", "glamorous", "down-to-Earth", "intelligent", "thoughtful"... ?
• Choose an outfit that matches the image that you're interested in projecting.  Lay out your clothing the night before, and if you would like to have several outfits, go ahead and have those ready too.  The more the merrier!
• Avoid very dark or very light materials in your outfits.  Generally speaking, it's easier to make fantastic photos when the contrast range is not too extreme.  Of course if you would really like to be photographed in a black suit or a white gown, no problem:  we'll work with you until we get the exposure just right.
• Choose solid tones and colors over strongly patterned outfits.  Very busy or geometric patterns tend to take the focus away from the subject, and it's really you that we'd like to be the center of attention.  But of course, if your favorite outfit does have a strong pattern to it, by all means wear it and we'll work with you to make the very finest photographs no matter what the pattern, color, tint, or tone.
• Is there someone special that puts you at ease and makes you smile?  If you would like to have them present for your photo shoot, please go right ahead and bring them along.  Sometimes this is the perfect catalyst for making great photographs, other times it's best to go solo.  You be the judge.
• Is there a music album that simply makes you feel great when you listen to it?  Let's make arrangements so you can listen to it during your photo shoot.  Music is one of the best ways to get into the mood of things and can truly bring out your best.
• Most of all, just be yourself.  We'll shoot lots of photographs and experiment with different poses, lighting, and exposures, so you'll have a diverse selection to choose from when your proofs are ready for viewing.

Q: How should I prepare for an upcoming commercial photography session?

A: In order to obtain the finest possible results from your commercial photography session, it's important that we're all on the same page in terms of your needs and expectations.  Here is a short list of the things that we should talk about before your photo shoot.

• How are you going to use the deliverables that result from your photo shoot?  Different output mediums will require different mindsets and post-processing, so it's important for us to know if you plan to use them for the web, print publication, or other medium so that we can tailor the deliverables to your specific requirements.
• Backgrounds are a key part of determining the look and feel of your images.  We'll be glad to work with you in order to determine the best background for your photo shoot.  In some cases you may even like us to shoot on a blue or green background so that we can chroma-key in a background of your choosing during the post-production.  You may be unsure as to what background may be best suited for your project, in which case we'll be happy to do a shorter test shoot with several different backgrounds to give you an idea of how things are going to work out.
• For location shoots it's important for us to have the proper clearance to access the location.  Please let us know if there is any special documentation or credentials that we will need for accessing the location, and it's a good idea to let the proper channels know that there will be a photographer on-site for the day(s) of the shoot.
• For product photography please have your products ready-to-go and complete with any peripherals or props that you would like to include in the photo shoot.  We'll be glad to discuss with you beforehand any special presentational needs or wants that you may have in order to present your products in the best possible way.  We'll also be glad to do a shorter test shoot to give you an idea of the various options that may be available.

Questions About Digital Imaging:

Q: What is this "digital imaging"?

A: A good question.  Digital imaging is the modern equivalent of a photographic darkroom, but with even more flexibility and available tools.  It can be used to correct defects, fix damage, alter colorations, or even create new images that would be virtually impossible to capture in real life.  Often times the results of post-processing and digital imaging go unnoticed when admiring the beauty and poise of a presentation-quality image, as well they should.  As with experiencing the effects of a fantastic play or opera, when experiencing a great photograph you're enveloped in the image and not necessarily thinking about the tools and techniques required to bring about such an experience.

Q: Is the cost of digital imaging included in your photography packages?

A: All our photographs are processed through a "first-tier" optimization:  the adjustment and matching of brightness, contrast, and color balance.  Now this does not include retouching or other special digital imaging techniques.  But we feel that the benefits of digital imaging are so important that for many of our photography packages, we'll include a certain amount of digital imaging to be used as you see fit.  Each photo is completely unique in its imaging requirements, and so one photograph may take many hours of imaging to perfect, while another may take only 15 or 20 minutes.  We're happy to discuss with you the available options and provide you an estimate of the imaging time that will be needed in order to obtain the results that you are seeking.

Q: I have an old photograph that is badly damaged.  Can you fix and restore this photograph?

A: Absolutely.  We have a lot of experience with the tools and techniques needed for photo restoration.  Even though it may seem like it, digital imaging is not magic and there are limits to what we can do, but you might be surprised how much can be done for an old or damaged photograph.  We blend both technical expertise as well as creative vision to remedy damage and imperfections, while also keeping the unique character of the original image.  We'll be happy to talk with you about what you would like to accomplish and the various possibilities that are available to you.

Questions About Web Development:

Q: What are the benefits of building a completely custom website?

A: This is an excellent question, and the answer has many different dimensions to it.  For starters, a custom website is by far the most flexible way to go.  Of course that flexibility doesn't come cheap, but once you have a foundation to build upon, a custom website can be extended and extended for very many years to come, and its functionality will be uniquely suited to your particular needs.  You may have seen template-driven site builders out there or other "instant" solutions:  now for some projects that may be the smartest approach, but there's really no comparison between those and a fully custom solution, both in terms of quality and extensibility.

Q: Do I need a content management system or CMS?

A: You may have heard of these intriguing pieces of technology known as "content management systems" where you can update and make changes to your website yourself, without the intervention of a web developer.  Some examples include WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal.  First off, one thing to keep in mind is that for most sites, 90% of the content stays the same for 90% of the time, and there's no CMS in the world that can duplicate the efforts of a professional web developer.  That said, the ability to make your own updates can be a very beneficial.  So often times we'll suggest a hybrid approach, combining the benefits of custom web development with the convenience of a CMS.  Two packages that we hold in high regard are WordPress for blogs or promotional websites, and Magento for projects that are geared towards e-commerce.

Q: Have you done X, Y, and Z before?

A: We've written code specifically to solve the problems associated with X, we're working on state-of-the-art solutions for Y, and we're intriqued by the problems and prospects that Z proposes.  Honestly, for most of the projects that we take on, we're building things that we've never done before.  Building on years of experience, we're constantly pushing the boundaries of custom web-based software development.  With each new problem brings a galaxy of new potential solutions, and we find it inspiring and very satisfying to bring about custom-tailored software for each of those challenges.