WHY HIRE A PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER:

A truly professional portrait photographer is supposed to have the knowledge and tools to produce good images irregardless of the conditions. He is trained in using different lighting technique, composition, color coordination and all sorts of other crafts that make his photographs work. Should parts of his equipment fail on any given job he is expected to have backup equipment and the knowledge to improvise in order to come up with the desired results.

How can you distinguish between a true professional portrait photographer and some others who only call themselves as such. Unfortunately in Canada there is nothing in place to protect the unsuspecting public from crooks who call themselves professional photographer, portrait artist or likewise while in reality they may have little or no knowledge at all about portrait photography. Anybody can call himself a professional photographer. Luckily today most portrait studios have web sites. Simply open Google, www.Yahoo.com, www.MSN.com or any other search engine and type in the search box: “toronto family portrait photography” , “barrie portrait photography”, "muskoka photographer" or whatever you are looking for. This will give you several pages of portrait studios serving the Muskoka, Barrie or Toronto area with the type of photography that you are searching. Check out the quality of their work In the comfort of your home. Not only can you see if the photographic images look professional it also provides you with the style of photography from each portrait studio. Do they show you a reasonable quantity of photographs to verify their quality? If you find only two or three photographs you may ask yourself what is the reason. Any photographer loves to show his work, unless he or she is just starting out and doesn't’t have more to show, or maybe this individual was able to pull off a few good shots but his general work cannot compare.

You can also verify if the studio is member of the “Professional Photographers of Canada”, the “Professional Photographers of Ontario”, the “Professional Photographers of America” or another regional photographic association. However keep in mind that while most good portrait photographers belong to some or all of these associatins, there are some good photographers which decided for whatever reason not to participate in a professional association. Basing yourself on this information you will soon come up with some of your favorite portrait studios. Give them a call and tell them about your project. How do you like the conversation? After all portrait photography is a very personal affair. Does the conversation give you a warm comfy feeling or did it irritate you? I could go on with this but I am certain you get my point by now. Take it from here and go with your gut feeling. I hope you will find what you are looking for.

The Barrie photography studio is operated by Dania and Gerd Harder. It is located between Thornton Ontario and Cookstown, one exit south of Barrie in the Greater Toronto Area. Their second Muskoka photography studio near Port Carling is serving the Muskoka and Georgian Bay area.

The Harders excel in producing award winning portrait photography and creative commercial imagery.

The Barrie portrait studio is situated only minutes away from Barrie and about fifty minutes north of Toronto. Outstanding creativity in their portraiture is attracting clients not only from Barrie, Alliston, Newmarket, Aurora, Vaughan and other surrounding cities but from the entire Greater Toronto Area, from the Muskoka lakes, Georgian Bay region and beyond. The desire to get more than the usual photograph convinced many of the studio's patrons to make the trip.

Others are taking advantage of Harder Photography's on location services. The portrait studio has acquired a reputation for excellence in outdoor portraiture as well as family photos taken at their clients' homes. Gerd Harder actually specializes in on location portrait photography.

At most photographers portraits are predominantly taken at the studio. In many years of practice in his profession Gerd had acquired a solid knowledge of lighting, the use of different backgrounds and general craftsmanship as a professional photographer. All this made working in studio convenient. Once a photographer is leaving this behind he is finding himself in all sorts of environments with sometimes challenging lighting conditions. On the other side of the coin these same difficulties represent tremendous opportunity. They allow the experienced portrait artist to turn these same challenges into beautiful decors for his family portraits.

Years ago a client insisted on having his family portrait taken at his home near Cocoa Beach in Florida. The proud owner of a beautifully designed property was looking for a professional photographer able to document the love and care which went into the decoration of his living quarters and combine this with his family portrait.

Gerd enjoyed the experience. Although more time consuming than a studio portrait the uniqueness of the final result made it outstanding. The image came out great and got displayed in the reception of Harder Photography's Florida studio.

In the following years other family portrait patrons saw it hanging, liked it and decided to get their session taken at their homes or gardens. Before long several on location family pictures graced the studio's wall and now Gerd's patrons started asking for different sorts of portraits taken at their premises.

Consequently nowadays it isn't only the family portrait at the cottage up north any more. The pet picture of your dog resting on his place at your couch, the glamour or boudoir photograph for your hubby's Valentine present, the children portrait or mother and child photo taken in the comfort of your home all have one thing in common. They are showing you in your own environment, the decors you have chosen and which will become part of the memory in your portrait image.

Dania Harder specializes in fine portraiture and artistic illustrative and commercial photography in the following photographic categories:

Children portraits, babies, outdoor family portraits, beach family portraits or studio family portraits, mother and child, maternity and pregnancy pictures, pet photography

Gerd Harder specializes in fine portraiture and artistic illustrative and commercial photography in the following photographic categories:

individual portraits, outdoor family portraits, beach family portraits or cabin family portraits, model portfolio photos, glamour photography, boudoir and artistic nude photography, digital images, fine art photography, beauty pictures, fashion prints and commercial photography.

If you visit the Algonquin Provincial park, the Georgian Bay area or the Muskoka Lakes region you might find Gerd shooting scenic and wildlife photography. He has received numerous awards for his animal portraits and landscape photography in the Canadian North and beyond.

FOR EXAMPLES OF OUR PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY CLICK ON ANY OF THE LINKS BELOW AT THE RIGHT