Your portrait session is a custom experience designed around the people and animals you love.
Everything we do, from choosing your wardrobe to preparing your dog, is considered with the finished artwork in mind. The goal is to create portraits that feel beautiful, timeless, and completely at home in your life.
You do not need to know how to pose or worry about what to do in front of the camera. I will guide you throughout the session and create the space for genuine connection, beautiful expression, and refined portraiture.
Come prepared. Come present. I will take care of the rest.
WHAT TO WEAR
Think timeless, not trendy.
For portraits that will still feel beautiful years from now, I recommend choosing clothing with a timeless, elevated feel rather than dressing around current trends.
Think of what you might wear to a beautiful dinner, a wedding, or a special celebration. You do not need to be overly formal, but a little more dressed up than your everyday clothing photographs beautifully.
The goal is for the focus to remain on you, your family, and the connection between you, rather than on the clothing itself.
COLOR CHOICE
Start with simple colors
Choose two or three colors that work beautifully together rather than dressing everyone in the same color.
Soft neutrals, deeper earthy tones, charcoal, cream, tan, black, and rich jewel tones such as burgundy, emerald, or cobalt all photograph beautifully.
You can mix tones and textures within the same color family to create depth and visual interest.
Rather than matching, think coordinating.
TEXTURE
Texture photographs beautifully.
Knits, wool, linen, velvet, suede, denim, tailored cotton, and other natural textures add dimension to a portrait without competing with the people in it.
Layers are especially beautiful. A jacket, cardigan, sweater, or coat can add shape and give us more than one look without requiring an outfit change.
Consider the entire outfit
Portraits may include your full body, so think about everything from head to toe.
Shoes should feel intentional but understated. Avoid anything that pulls attention away from the portrait.
And do not forget the little details: socks, belts, jewelry, nails, and anything else that may be visible.
It’s crucial that you and your family are well rested the day of your dog’s session. You both want to look your best, and getting enough sleep the night before is an excellent first step. Allow yourself extra time to perfect your wardrobe, style yourself, and travel.
What to Wear for Families
Here's a Pinterest board for outfit examples and ideas:
Dresses photograph beautifully and offer a natural sense of movement and elegance, but they are certainly not required.
A tailored blouse with trousers, a beautiful sweater with a long skirt, or a simple dress layered with a jacket can all create a sophisticated portrait.
In general, solid colors and clean silhouettes photograph especially well. Clothing that follows the shape of the body tends to photograph more beautifully than very loose or oversized pieces.
For hair and makeup, think polished and natural.
Professional hair and makeup is a wonderful way to begin the experience feeling confident and cared for, but you should ultimately look like yourself. Matte, natural makeup tends to photograph beautifully, and simple hair styling keeps the focus on your face.
Beautiful nails and a few intentional pieces of jewelry can complete the look.
FOR MEN
A well-fitted jacket, sweater, coat, or button-down creates an effortlessly polished portrait.
Layering adds depth and visual interest without making the outfit feel complicated.
Dark denim, trousers, textured sweaters, tailored jackets, and classic shirts are all beautiful choices.
The most important thing is fit. Clothing should feel comfortable and well-tailored rather than overly loose.
FOR CHILDREN
Children do not need to dress exactly like their parents, but their clothing should feel connected to the overall color palette.
Textured sweaters, dresses, tailored pieces, vests, simple button-downs, and classic shoes are beautiful choices.
For younger children, comfort matters. Choose clothing they can move in and feel good wearing. We want them to feel like themselves.
BEFORE YOUR SESSION
Give yourself more time than you think you will need.
The experience should feel unrushed, so plan ahead for hair and makeup, dressing, travel, and any last-minute details.
Everyone should arrive having eaten, hydrated, and feeling rested.
Haircuts and trims are best done several days or even a few weeks before your session rather than immediately beforehand.
If you are having professional hair and makeup, allow enough time that you can arrive feeling calm rather than rushed.
INCLUDING YOUR DOG
Dogs are part of the family, and I photograph them with the same care and intention I bring to every other member of your family.
A little preparation beforehand can help your dog arrive feeling comfortable and ready to be part of the experience.
Before you arrive
Give your dog some exercise before the session, particularly if they are young or high-energy. A walk, play session, or other familiar activity can help take the edge off and make it easier for them to settle into the studio.
Please make sure your dog is well rested as well.
A fresh brush, clean face, and neatly trimmed nails will help them look their best in the finished artwork. If your dog has longer fur, take a little extra time to smooth and groom their coat.
Please also let me know ahead of time about any anxieties, sensitivities, allergies, mobility limitations, or special needs. There is never a need to apologize for these things. The more I know, the better I can create a comfortable experience for your dog.
Bring something meaningful
You are welcome to bring a favorite toy, collar, blanket, or other meaningful item.
We may or may not use it in the portraits, but sometimes those small details become some of the most personal parts of the artwork.
If you bring a favorite toy, please keep it hidden until we decide to use it. Once your dog sees their favorite squeaker, it can be difficult to convince them that we are doing anything else.
Once you arrive
The first few minutes are simply for your dog to settle in.
We will give them time to explore the studio, meet me, and become comfortable with the environment. I will also introduce them to the lights so they can get used to the experience.
From there, we will begin photographing in ways that suit your dog's personality and abilities.
Some dogs love to sit and pose. Others would rather stand, move, or simply stay close to their person. There is no single “right” way for a dog to be photographed.
Sometimes the best portrait is not the perfectly posed one.
Summary of the Process
Please arrive on time and be ready to begin the session. No need to worry about wrinkles in clothing; we can retouch most wrinkles.
The first 5 minutes are for your dog to get to know us and relax. We let them walk around the studio and get used to the new sounds and smells. We will also test our lights to see how your dog reacts to strobes. Most dogs are unimpressed by the flashing lights. If you think your dog will be scared. Please let us know. We have some tricks to get them used to the flash.
Once your dog is comfortable, we will begin the session. We do a variety of poses for the dog depending on their abilities. Then we will bring the owners into the portrait for a beautiful family and pet portrait session.
Once your session is complete, you can relax while we download your portraits for your ordering appointment. Your dog will get treats and a special gift for being a good dog model.
We will then review a slideshow of the best portraits from your session and guide you through selecting your artwork. You don't have to wait to view your portraits! You get to see them on the same day. We've set aside time to help you choose your artwork. Please ensure that all decision-makers are present for the ordering appointment.
Artwork Investment
Pet Portraits NW specializes in creating finished printed works of art. Our artwork is finished on high-quality art paper or handwoven cotton canvas. Our larger pieces always come framed and/or ready to hang. All finished artwork has our full artistry. Our smaller gift prints start at $500. Framed artwork starts at $ 1,500 and increases from there. Our regular client will invest between $1500 and $4k on their artwork, depending on size and finish.
All our artwork is 100% guaranteed and has been rated to last longer than 150 years.
Studio Policies
We strive to fulfill your needs and meet your expectations. To achieve this, it is essential that you are aware of how our studio works and our policies.
PLEASE ARRIVE ON TIME: We have appointments throughout the day, and we try very hard not to run behind on sessions
ORDERING: If you are visiting our Oregon City Studio, you will view your portraits on the same day as your portrait session. This is when you are able to design and order your artwork. Please ensure that all decision-makers are present, as studio promotional offers are only available at this time. If you are attending a session that is not held at our Oregon City studio, we will schedule a separate time for either a virtual meeting or a visit to the studio for your ordering appointment. The studio does not send online galleries.
STUDIO SPECIALS OR PROMOTIONS: Specials will only apply on the day of the appointment. You will have an opportunity to order your portraits immediately following your session. You can expect a short wait (approximately 10 minutes) after your session, allowing us time to prepare your slideshow. Payment is due at the time of ordering. We also have payment plans.
DIGITAL FILES: The client may share social media files from our social media accounts. The client does not have permission to apply filters, copy, download, screenshot, or capture photographs in any other fashion. We do not sell disks or high-resolution digital images, as we specialize in heirloom-quality printed products.
PARTIAL FAMILY: We do not photograph families when a family member is not able to attend the portrait session. We are more than happy to reschedule a new appointment for you when your entire family can be together.
INVESTMENT: What does our average client invest? We have clients who invest $800 to $ 8,000 and beyond for portraits. Most clients will spend between $ 1,500 and $ 4,000 because they want something prestigious. Our museum-quality wall portraits are our most popular items and what we are best known for producing. If you have a gift certificate, no purchase is required. But you are welcome to upgrade your certificate to a larger-sized wall portrait.
SAFETY: We always thoroughly disinfect the studio for you and your pets. We also ask that pets be fully vaccinated. We have dogs who are in hospice care come to our studio. We need to ensure that all our clients and dogs are safe during their sessions.
CANCELLATION: If you have a sick pet or family member on the day of the session, please call to reschedule. We are happy to reschedule your appointment if needed. Please let us know as soon as possible, as we are reserving two hours in the studio for you and your pet. We have a firm ONE WEEK RESCHEDULING POLICY. Cancellations within one week of your appointment can be rescheduled with an additional booking deposit.
GIFT CERTIFICATES: Gift certificates are valid for studio portraits only and are redeemable for the recipient, their pet, and family. A family includes parents and/or grandparents, along with their children of any age and their pets. The certificate is only valid if used by the named recipient. Gift certificates are non-transferable. Gift certificates are not redeemable for cash and cannot be used to pay any outstanding order balances for the recipient or any other client.
PAYMENT: Payments are due at the time of the ordering appointment and can be made by cash, check, or credit card. Payment plans are available by arrangement.
CUSTOM ORDERS: Due to the custom nature of our work, payment for your order must be made in full before we proceed. Once an order is sent out for production, it is deemed non-refundable. Please allow 8-12 weeks for delivery of your product, since each piece is an artistically handcrafted work of art.
RETOUCHING AND CONVERSIONS: Standard retouching for albums and small prints includes light blemishes at no additional cost.
COPYRIGHT: All images, original and processed, remain the sole property of Kolu Westcott. It is ILLEGAL to copy or reproduce any photographs, either physically or digitally, without Kolu Westcott's permission. Violators of this federal law will be subject to its civil and criminal penalties. The client may not download or take screenshots of any digital image produced by Kolu Westcott without express permission. The client will not receive any RAW files and may not edit the work nor remove watermarks. The client may NOT submit any photos taken by Kolu Westcott for use in contests. All images, whether physical or digital, purchased or provided to the client, are intended for personal use only. No commercial use by the client is permitted under this contract, including but not limited to resale, promotion of personal business, or use in contests or exhibitions.
MODEL RELEASE: Clients give permission to publish and use photographs on the studio's website and for social media sharing, which might be for advertising, promotion, trade, exhibition, and distribution. Clients may apply restrictions on use.
